So, I’m allegedly all clear on the artery side of things. 4 stents and rating to go. Except today. Last stenting done 19th July, been fine since. Today I have done a fair bit - changed bed, cooked a roast and made apple pie, cleaned out chickens. I felt angina as I was serving the pudding, sneaky double spray and it eased off quickly. But how do I have this if my arteries are clear now?
To say I’m feeling pissed off is an understatement.
Well Sillyfroggy
I have beautifully clear coronary arteries too and still live with angina at rest why?
Non obstructive coronary artery disease
Wellllll.
First, any doubts, phone 999!
It’s not yet a month since your last stent, so a bit of angina can be from where your heart is still healing, especially if you had a HA. There are also ‘bedding in’ pains as it adjusts to the new shape etc.
There are conditions that still give you angina after stenting, such as
MVA but, from my personal experience, it’s a bit early to worry about that. If you still get pain and/or other problems after a another month or two, then it needs looking at. Unfortunately that has happened to me, but it was only 10 weeks after HA that it became clear the stents hadn’t solved everything.
Thanks, that’s helpful. My HA was in April, one stent then. As part of that they found more problems in the LAD so 3 more stents put in non-emergency. This was definitely angina, and not the stent settling twinges. I’m at cardiac rehab tomorrow so will mention it to nurses. I hope it is not MVA!
I’m due to go back to work on 19 Aug, and can’t wait. Been off since the HA in April, this has already dragged on too long.
Could the MR/enlarged left atrium cause this, I wonder?...
Sillyfroggy
I hope its not Microvascular or Vasospastic angina too aka non obstructive coronary artery disease ( NOCAD)
Having lived with both for the last 7 years not conditions I would wish on my worst enemy 😖
I hope the Cardiac nurses are up to date with MVA. I know from my experience that the awareness of MVA and Vasospastic angina is not as it should be amongst the Cardiology world.
Stents and bypassing are used to treat CVD (cardio vascular disease), i.e. narrowing of the main coronary arteries. Only the worse affected ones are treated as it would not be possible to treat them all. Typically any less than 50 - 70% blocked would be asymptomatic. The degree of blockage is also a guesstimate as it varies along any given artery and arteries are not neatly circular with annular rings of plaque!
As said things will still be settling in. If GTN does not relieve symptoms then call 999. Sometimes post stents/bypass stents may be needed if another artery is affected/restenosis occurs/a bypass fails. The lifestyle changes and medication are intended to try and minimise this and any progression of the disease.
If it reoccurs have a word with your GP to cover all bases.
A number of reasons why you are still getting some angina, as I understand it. Lots of these covered above. But also a heart attack will reduce the muscle power of your heart, so it will strain sooner, on effort (you’ll steadily learn how much you can do now, without angina).
Also, when I had 5 stents in one go, and had angina after, I was told there was a likelihood of a bit of plaque breaking off during one of the procedures, and blocking the vessel lower down. Too small to stent. My suspicion always, has been that’s where my unstable angina came from (now much better controlled, after lots of drug juggling).
Also, it’s not exactly like plumbing! Cardiac nurse told me it doesn’t like being messed about. Apparently interventions can really irritate it, for a bit.
I hope your return to work goes really well.
I had stent in last November. Had on going mild angina attacks for 6 months. Had to keep on pressing cardiologist finally got change in meds that worked in May and been clear since then.
A lot of heart pain is caused by wind and stress. I go for a walk + upper body stretching and even get my wife to "burb" me. All that helps me.
Stents and Angina
possible angina ?
Snorkelling with stents
stents 
Alcohol post NStemi and 2 Stents
