Newbie recovering from a stent

[Lozy92]

Hi Iv had a stent fitted earlier this week due to a narrowing of an artery ( no heart attack, thankfully) Since the procedure Iv had constant chest pain and shortness of breath if I do anything . I’m assuming that the chest pain is the trauma of the procedure and being breathless is normal as is lacking in energy. I’m a 50 year old lady x

[Urssy]

Hi.

I haven't had a stent. In fact I'm due to go in June for a angiogram with possible stent in the LAD. So intrested In replies...I have no idea what to expect, can I go straight back to work ? etc.

I read on some posts it takes a while for your body to adjust.

Hopefully someone has so helpful info

[benjijen]

I felt a bit 'weird' after having my 2 stents fitted but went back to work after a week once I was allowed to drive. I work in an office so it may be different if your job is more strenuous. You should be called for cardiac rehab soon so you really should go to that, it's brilliant and the nurses can advise you. If you're really worried then you should go to see your GP. I didn't have breathlessness but I do now when I walk uphill and will see GP soon.

[Maisie2014]

Hello. I had a heart attack with stent fitted in February. I have not been breathless or had any chest pain and was told not to expect any. I do have tiredness but put that down to the medication. The cardiac rehabilitation is very helpful. I think if I had those symptoms I’d call GP for advice.

[Lozy92 in reply to Maisie2014]

Hi I called the GP who suggested I contact the cardiac unit, as they could offer no advice

The cardiac unit said everyone is different but to remember that I’d had an angiogram 3 weeks before the stent so might feel bruised after 2 lots of surgery

Think I’ll just turn up at cardiology unit today and ask for an ECG and check up .

[Henry20]

Hi Lozy

I had 2 stents fitted last July and August (no heart attack).

One thing that I have learned is that no two people's recovery will be the same. I would suggest that you go back to your doctor and discuss your symptoms with him/her. You could also call the BHF helpline nurses and talk to them. They really helped me to see that I should ask my doctor, it wasn't just me. They may be able to tell you if there is something needing further investigation.

You need reassurance at this time and it will take time to recover from what, to me, seemed like a small procedure, a nick in my wrist, 30 mins on the operating table. I had walked in and I walked out; it all seemed so trivial. But its not trivial at all.

For me, I now separate the effects into physical and my mind; my mind had suffered too and needs to to adjust to what had just happened to me. I just wanted to get to the cardiac rehab course quickly; I thought I should be ready for that. But they listened carefully to what I was saying, the pains I felt, my lack of energy etc. They kept putting me off, and they were right, I wasn't ready. My recovery needed time before starting on the the classes. I have now completed the NHS classes and go to what are called phase 4 classes, and really do benefit from the workout, the most strenuous exercise I have done after a lifetime of an office job (now retired, over 70).

I have also had to change my eating habits and this has been, I think, significant - too much fat, too much meat, cut out salt, not enough exercise. I know that my old likes had to go, I had to change or there would be a repetition for certain. I stopped drinking totally. There are no guarantees in this; its all a matter of reducing the chances.

The pains I felt immediately post-op lasted quite a few weeks and at times I did feel breathless, but these symptoms did slowly reduce. I do still get reminders from my body of what has happened, I think it has only really been since Christmas that I have felt that I have actually 'recovered'. I still have my GTN spray with me; But now, I am thinking that these symptoms are for other reasons, but I am wary of what I do, particularly lifting heavy things above my head.

I hope this helps; remember that you and your problems are unique, seek guidance and help and learn to listen to to your body and follow the advise on the BHF website.

Good luck for the future

Henry

[Avarae]

Hi lozy.i had stent Feb and I still got pains after.i was scared thinking it was another heart attack but it's only stent settling down. I hardly feel any now and it's been 11 week the breathless is my medication they told me.its ticagrelor I'm on..im 56 and feel great now. X

[Qualipop]

Heart attack and 2 stents last AUgust.NO pain at all

[Doseyokel]

Don't despair, we're all different. I had almost no symptoms before my 4 stents were fitted but afterwards almost a year of chest pains until the problems were traced to finding medications and dosage that I could tolerate. Since then I've followed the advice from the BHF on lifestyle, diet and used their exercise support services. Now 3 years on I feel so much better. As part of the exercise support my 'body age' has been measured as 16 years less than my actual age, a lot better than dying with a heart attack 4 years ago!

During much of that first year I worried about what was happening and if I would survive. Now every morning I wake and think 'what a lovely (bonus) day I've been given' and make sure I get up and enjoy it.

Things will start improving as your brain and body get used to the treatment and medication and that you'll soon feel much better. Best of luck.

[Harbourside]

I'm 44 and had a heart attack end of January and stent inserted. During the first 6 weeks, I had some niggling pains, which the clinic attributed to the stent/body 'settling down', they've now gone. I have experienced some breathlessness but since I'm asthmatic, it's difficult to know the exact cause. (I attend cardio rehab and mentioned this and 2 other patients said they'd experienced the breathlessness at the same time as me; both are asthmatics and all of us suffer with hay fever. Since it was during the recent hot weather, our cardiac nurse has attributed our problems to a combination of asthma and allergy. Things do improve but it does take time.

[Lozy92]

Hi just to let you know Iv been back to the hospital (A&E) as advised by the cardiac unit. After having an ECG an Echo and an X-ray lots of bloods and reassurance I was told that everything is normal.

The chest pain and shortness of breath is because Iv had two angioplasties in three weeks and my chest is traumatised and bruised. My body also needs get used to the foreign body that has been inserted to keep my blood flowing.

So Feeling much better now I know it wasn’t a heart attack and that the consultants had to work hard to get my stent in. Need to get my head round the fact Iv had heart surgery and have coronary heart disease .

Lots to take in and slow recovery ahead

Thank you for all your kind words and hopefully I can help someone else in the future xxxx

[DavidG1971]

I felt very twitchy after mine - tender in the area where the stent was fitted. Medical people seem to think it was my mind playing tricks on me....I’m not sure. I remember 10’days after the stent i tried to hoover and somehow felt like i strained the stent area. All sorts of niggling pains.....I was forever rubbing it. Now 4’months on I’m far more robust - though I still catch myself massaging it sometimes. I’m 47 and now playing football again.