I thought I was having a heart attack!

my attacks usually last for about an hour.  I also have a terrible cold pain go up my left jaw and into my head, as well. It's like the most painful brain freeze ever.  Once the pain even went through to my back. I have had those heart "aches" for my entire life, too,  and I have spasms/flutters every so often.  Always at rest.

The first time I did not. What a looney!  I went to my doctor, and she did an EKG. That was normal, which it is with Prinzmetal. This is so rare that many docs don't know about it. And since it is so rare, many docs act like you couldn't possibly be one of the few.  The symptoms are crazy... a normal EKG, normal blood enzymes, a normal Echo, a normal Echo with the treadmill test simultaneously, a normal stress test. normal blood tests, everything that they look for with heart disease is normal. And it is unpredictable when an attack comes again. So you are told to keep your cholesterol down, keep a healthy weight and exercise.

They will put you through these steps. When they all come out normal, you should ask for the iodine test. It's a little dangerous, but it's the only way to tell for sure.  Like I said, they will furrow their brows at you when your tests are normal. They will doubt you. They will make you feel like a hypochondriac. But stick with it.  Get a second opinion or more. It's worth it.

I have gone to the hospital for all of my subsequent attacks. I live in California and am used to earthquakes that we wait out to see if they will get bigger. So, I have a tendency to do that. I don't call an ambulance, since they are so expensive, and I typically have a family member home who can take me.   When you say you are having chest pains and think you are having a heart attack, they take you right back.  Whatever you do, DO NOT drive yourself. 

Each time the hospital has kept me overnight for observation. It takes 9 hours for the blood tests anyway. 

The worst thing for Prinzmetal is a beta blocker. They will probably try to start you on that.  If you have Prinzmetal you need a Channel blocker. 

I take one every morning.  I also now carry nitro spray in my purse.  It should stop the attacks once they start. My doctor said that if the spasms have not subsided after 2 doses to go to the ER.

Hope that gives you some direction.

Sound like a good idea to do the testing.  Two years ago I had endoscopy, colonoscopy and MRI.  Really did not find anything but slight acid reflux.  Food really effects how I feel.  I do not eat gluten, and lot of things and if I cheat I am in trouble.  But I found if I don’t take care of the pain right away it effects my heart.  I know it has do with my stomach because if I use Tums it take care of it. 

Yes, chelation has saved me from being under the knife or dying.  I go to health doctor that knows way more about my health and what is going on in body than my Cardiogist. My Cardiogist told me this last fall he cannot believe how healthy I am without drugs.  It amazes me why my Cardiogist does not do these tests and know the same knowledge.

I had triple-by-past surgery in fall of 2009 by spring I had same pain.  What I found out after surgery was Chelation treatments.  I started taking them by May and what difference it made for me.  The heart surgery was just a bandage on my problem.  Angina is plugging up of the arteries.  I need something that would help clean them out.  I have also learn from my Health doctor (which is also md) what exactly is causing the plugging and we treat with certain supplements and Chelation treatments.

Oh Lordy. I forgot about all of the other tests and the other doctors.  The gastro tests, the colonoscopy ,the galblatter, the liver,  the girly things...  gotta keep ruling everything out. And all the while they shake their heads at you and tell you that you are healthy.  Of course!!  I just have spasms in my heart haha.

With Prinzmetal there is no build-up in the arteries. They are fine. It is the squeezing that interrupts the blood flow and causes the irregular beat and massive pain. 

I take Diltiazem 30mg  it is the generic for Cardizem.  I don't know if it is helping, because I never know when I will have an attack. Ironically I had one on December 1st of 2016 and my son reminded me that the last one I had was on December 1st of 2015!  He knows, because it's his birthday!

Hmmmm. makes me wonder. haha

I don't know if your case is different or more complicated because of your Hashimoto's diagnosis.  That may play a part in getting to the root of what happened to you.

I have learned over the years that mine is connected in some way from a drastic and sudden change in heat/cold.  Each time I have been in a warm area and either ran out the door or opened it quickly to a big gust of wind or had the air conditioner in the hotel fire up in the middle of the night or have my husband open a window above my side of the bed.  Those have been the biggest attacks. So I am watching that.  See if you can find anything that correlates. (Of course these don't count for the little twinges and pains that come watching tv or resting. These are just the huge ones.)

Hope you get solid answers soon.