Hi,
I am new here. My husband had bipass surgery a few years ago and then this year had another heart attack and needed a couple of stents fitted. His heart attack symptoms are quite low key in that he gets a prolonged ache/mild chest pain.
Since his stents he has experienced very confusing occasional chest pains which on investigation have turned out not to be cardiac. They do cause great anxiety and then we are not sure what to do. Has anyone else had similar experiences?
Hi there Ritaj,
Yes I would say we all have exspireanced this.
Mine was mine was pretty bad about six months ago.
I couldn't help thinking it was also a bit of anxiety though. I had and still have to a point a lot of stress in my life.
I know I have heard of imaginary pain from memory of a past trauma. So I think because I had pain for months before my HT Sep 2014. Then the HT its self of course, then the Bypass Nov 2016.
I was vulnerable due to stress.
As you probably already know, when you are unwell for whatever reason, be it STRESS therefore tempory mental illness, or PHICICAL phisicly unwell, be it a cold, headache, backache, or something like that. Or maybe evan pain from an opp or injury. You are then vulnerable. So when we are vulnerable our old weakness's come to surface once again.
Sometimes when we have had some kind of physical trauma to our body in the past. That can then become our weakness in the future.
The pain isn't really there, but the human brain is so powerful that it sences a weakness' and thinks, oh yes, I remember this?
My body is feeling down or a bit under the weather. So what do I do, what do I do?
Mmmm, I know? I'll zap it with a bit more of that heart pain I used before.
So long story now getting shorter.
I believed this was what may have been happening to me.
So I asked my Gp if I could see a councillor to learn how to approach and cope with my every day stress a little better.
I didn't want to constantly be getting chest pain and palpatations making me wonder if it was another episode/incident happening.
If I was going to have another episode, I wanted to know what I was dealing with.
Just before the councelling I found this forum which has been an amazing help. Everyone gives fab advice from true exspireance. I feel exsteamly comfortable talking to the guys and girls on here.
So I tried out the group councelling first, one session I knew it wasn't for me.
But I did six sessions of the one to one, I found that much better. Found the first couple of sessions' a bit strange but thought what have I got to loose. We didn't really talk much about the heart stuff, but just talking one to one about me for a change was quite refreshing.
And yes in the long run I think it has helped.
I do still get sharp pains and palpatations here and there. But I think I know that it is all ok. Well I am past the thinking I may need to call the Gp or cardiac team anyway.
If I have what I call an episode, I rest and monitor. So far, so good.
So I guess what I am saying is, the on going twiches are quite common for most of us on here. And you do get to the stage of where it becomes like a migraine where you know it can be a bit scary as it is so intense. But you know really in the back of your mind, it's not a brain tumour as you have had the migraines for years. You know with rest they will subside.
I have worked out for me over the last few months. That I have learnt to know what I should be really concerned about.
I think this will happen for your husband eventually. He will recognise what pains need investigating. He would be advised to learn some relaxation tecneats, as this could help him to gain confidence in coping his recent traumas. Counselling could help you both on how to move forward for a brighter future.
In the mean time he should write everything down.
Dairy of diet, exercise, sleep patterns, what time he takes meds.
What he had eaten or been doing leading up to each episode of pain palpatations etc.
Then book an appointment with Gp, practice nurse or cardiac team.
Sit down with them, let them have a few minutes to read his diary. Then talk about his concerns and how it makes him and yourself feel. Let them know that you are both feeling pretty anxious.
Well let us know how you are both doing. Look after yourself too because you have also been through this trauma therefore need support.
Things do and will get better as long as you know it is ok to ask for help.
Happy new year to you both, talk again in 2018 💖⛅
Hi Ritaj
I had a stent fitted in September and experienced chest pain and discomfort for quite some time after.
They are very worrying pains but I was reassured by my consultant and nurses (and on this forum) that these were settling down pains.
They felt very different to the chest pain I was getting before and gradually they went.
Always get checked out if is a prolonged pain though.
All the best for the future
Daren
stents
Pain after stents
Chest pain
Heart attacks and stents
Pain 5 months after 3 stents
