Anxiety and pain after heart attack and stents

[Angina42]

Hi all,

10 weeks ago I had a heart attack and had 3 stents placed. It was all successful and I left the hospital with lots of medication that took time to get used to.

My cardiac rehab was delayed and I rested for 6 weeks at home and anxiety really kicked in. I didn’t feel confident and I really pulled back from socialising, leaving my bedroom and it became so bad I could no longer leave the house at all.

I finally had my cardio rehab and this was really informative and the nurse really made me feel a lot better. I was told I didn’t need to return and that I just need to start getting outside and walking.

I’m only 42. This was a shock for me to deal with. Heart attacks do run in our family but never at this age. I worked all the time and travelled a lot for work. Never ate correctly or at the right time and normally never healthy. My work was also very stressful and I just kept pushing and hardly took down time to rest or look after myself.

Moving forward I finally had my cardiologist appointment and he thinks everything is going well. I have told him I continue to get pain in my chest on the left side. It’s always in a similar spot and can be sharp or last all day. The ER thought it may have been Angina but my cardiologist didn’t think that was really what was going on and took me off the Duride.

All my hopes were laying on my stress echocardiogram test. This would be the first time a professional looked inside at my hearts function after exercise and see the blood flow. I was anxious but I passed. So much relief !!!!!!!

But my pain is still there I really just wanted to reach out to see if anyone out there that may be in the same situation feels pain. Is it anxiety ? is it my stents settling ? Is it all of the above ?

Are there other tests I should do to really make sure ?

I will be starting anxiety medication this week but Codine/ Panadol and Valium seems to ease my pain but I just hope it’s not masking something that could be more serious.

All my tests are clear. Blood, ECG and X-ray plus the stress test now not being an issue I’m still kinda just left wandering what that pain is now.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Shayne from Australia

xx

[cashew78]

Hello, similar situation here. Had 3 stents in and will be going for another, final angiogram and possibly a 4th stent in a couple months. I never had a heart attack, and I'm only 45. Heart attack runs in my family along with a million other mental and physical health issues 🙄 hooray...I would get sever pain in my chest due to what I thought was severe stress and anxiety brought on by depression. It turns out that it's a little more complicated, but it was probably also angina due to the narrowing of the arteries around my heart. My upper back is clenched up but a little better because, I assume, return to more normal blood flow and mental health support to help navigate stress. I still get an annoying, noticeable pain down my left arm.

The doctor's office is a little difficult to communicate with, so I'm making a semi-educated assumption that the pain is related to the narrowing of my arteries; either near my heart (this is a symptom of my condition afterall) or in other parts along the way. It's not like your pain however; it doesn't floor me for the day. Based on that detail, I'd keep pressing to speak to a doctor; yes, 10 weeks isn't necessarily enough time for things to settle, and you are feeling better... but pain is pain. It usually indicates something is wrong, off, or different. If it's something you just will have to live with then I suggest it's better to know exactly what it is.

Finally, there is a support group here on HU for cardiac care... but it's all in English.... English English, not Canadian English, so I find the difference in terminology a little confusing. Being from down-under, you may have the same issue, but hey, it's better than nothing 😉.

Good luck.

[Hidden]

Hi, it sounds like you've been through a lot. I'm glad your surgery went went and the dr says everything looks fine. I will tell you that anxiety can mimic heart issues and your cardiologist should be able to talk to you about that. I had a heart attack in Nov 2022 and now I have PVCs (premature ventricular contractions). It's a strange feeling because my heart skips a beat or adds a beat and sometimes I can feel it. I can also feel it fluttering. All of this increases my anxiety and it's a vicious circle. All we can do it keep on living the best way we can. Whatever will be will be. Worrying won't fix it. I'm saying this to myself here because I need to be reminded not to worry so much. I hope you start to feel better soon.

[SayNOtoPanic]

Lifting you in prayer for continued recovery and blessings. 🙏🏻I’m sure the increased anxiety is part of what u went through and recovery. Definitely share and press on all the questions you have to your specialists.

[punkster]

Wow! Your experience sounds a lot like my husband's. About 18 years ago my husband had a heart attack and had 8 stents put in over a three day period. He had discomfort and pain for almost a year. This made him very anxious, which gave him panic attacks. He was hospitalized four times the first year, but it was anxiety, not a heart attack. He told me that he wanted to be safe than sorry each time he went to the hospital, which was understandable. Since that time my husband has had triple bypass surgery and more stents. He no longer has angina, but he has had shortness of breath. He has made it a point to exercise regularly, which has helped with the shortness of breath. Keep going to cardiac rehab, and when you're done keep exercising.

[jain88]

u have more of mental pain , try to reduce that , relax and focus more on relaxing , reduce mental burden , that will help u come out of heart and other body organs , all connected to mind only , if mind good all good

[Teaching]

I do get chest pain from anxiety. If every test is good, then it may be anxiety related. Glad you are doing well.

[Angina42]

Thank you everyone.

My GP actually thinks I’m out of alignment.

The other day he took a picture of me standing tall and straight from behind and you can clearly see my shoulders are tilted off to the left.

It would make a lot of sense due to slouching and being in bed for 6 weeks after my heart attack due to anxiety and not leaving my room.

I had a CT scan yesterday just to make sure so I’m hopeful that nothing is wrong there. Then I can start physio to try to fix my alignment and fix the pain I’m feeling.

This sux though. I feel for anyone going through sn illness. All the unknowns all the appointments. It’s a scary thing isn’t it.

My anxiety medication seems to have kicked in I’m taking less Valium and getting up and outside everyday now.

Hope you’re all doing well and I’m here for support for anyone that needs it.

Thank you xxx