3 Months Post Stent

[Phil_London]

Hi, I am also 3 months post stent tomorrow (not that I'm counting) single stent in LAD, it seems to be a roller coaster, some days great other days I still think should I go back to A&E and get checked out due to chest pains, I am trying to work out what pains are from meds, what pains are muscular or gastro and what ones I should really worry about, I sailed through rehab, connected stress test to the full, cycled up to 20km and up hills, heart rate raises and drops really well and overall good days are getting more and more. So off I go on hols with the family, last week this week and my BP is up, chest discomfort throat discomfort and dizziness, some I can feel is muscular, twitches often but told twitches are not really heart so dont panic, I'm at the point of wanting to go to spanish A&E to get checked out bit really dont know when to worry and when to try and relax, I'm on Bioprososl 2.5, asked to drop to 1.25 ut as P went up started to go back to 2.5mg Rampiril 2.5, statin 80mg, Ticagrelor twice a day and asprin, followed by Omeprazol to keep stomach acid down so a real.cocktail of meds and not sure even after reading the side effects what's causing what. Anyone had similar issues? I think my biggest issue is although I had a minor NSTEMI with a 70% blockage, I never had Angina SO I really do not know what it feels like and told often that at 52, slim and can do this excersise single stent, all others clear I ''should'' be fine, but being a realist, I know should be is not a guarantee.

[Phil_London]

I am pleased to bear I'm.not alone in so many areas and they do think that I will be able to reduce the meds as time goes on but as it's still early days, it is all being monitored for now, as said they reduced my Biopsrsol by half but as I noticed BP go am while I am on holiday (not sure if that the heat or anxiety) I have gone back to the 2.5mg to see how that works until I am back in UK. As for the stress test, I pushed for it and said I wanted some peace of mind before I flew so it is not always done, you need to keep pushing and I had a great nurse who listened at lot and saw me with a lot of anxiety, iv heard that's normal at younger ages for people who are of ''reasonable'' fitness, my issue was always I use to drink to much, I was often out with clients and was racking up 60/70 units a week but to be honest they are not sure if that really contributed to the artery narrowing, mine was thought to be hereditary as my father passed away from narrowing before stents were in early stages. At least I can now know that it can still bother you but gets less, the last 2 days have been more burning sensations higher closer to my neck at my higher part of my chest, occasional stabbing around the left side lower closer to the heart, I just have to note what the rehab guy has said and that is that if the stent had a problem then you would really know about it, so it's a constant weighing up- is it bad enough or an issue should I go to A&E. it's a mental mine field, then I go for a long fast walk and they go, I get more sensations in my throat sometimes when I walk but chest nothing. did they give you stomach ant acids when you first started the meds, if heard it's normal as the meds cause gastro problems which can also cause all the symptoms we are talking about.

Thanks for your reply, all good to hear.

[NorthantsSteve]

Hi Phil. Welcome to the club. I was 55 - no family history, never smoked, kept fit, lowish cholesterol BP etc etc. Heart attack and stent to LAD 2.5 years ago. Went through exactly the same experience as you and now feel great - especially when I started to drop meds after 12 months (Ticagrelor and Lansoprazole). I haven’t had angina either - but I’m told it’s like the pre HA experience. I’ve had a few twinges etc but now this is very rare.

Hope that helps. Take it easy.

[DavidG1971]

I’m 7 months in and know what severe Angina feels like. .....it was totally crippling. I’d be folded up in agony for 10-15 minutes. In retrospect hard to believe it was written off as muscular pain. Anyway - now I get all the little twinges and worries that you do - but nothing like that.

Latest stress is bruising / swelling. I took a light knock at football last night. Now have a massive bruise and swelling on my left hip bone. Will be over the moon to drop the blood thinners.

[Phil_London]

Thanks all for the information, it almost makes the discomfort stop when I read so many similar issues and wonder how much also is anxiety pains, (not all though) Like others I didn't know I was having a heart attack, I had no chest pains at all, I knew I had a severely restricted LAD after a CT scan in early May this year then admitted on the 24th May, I was doing a 5K park run the week before (and I wasnt a runner, it was a new keep fit stratergy that I had been doing for about 6 weeks so it was a new stress to my body) when I found out about the severely restricted LAD, I stopped the running and then one afternoon just felt really dizzy, faint and weak is the only way to describe it, it happened twice and I called the ambulance when it woke me up one night, so I can't say I even know what the HA pain feels like either, I got lucky but more through my diligence than just luck, I could have shrugged it off and gone back to sleep but was told, it was very very close to the big rupture of plaque, maybe luck and diligence. As such, chest pains post stent are all a new experiance which is the complete opposite of what normally happens but it sounds as though so much might be gastro and meds from what you all say. As said 2 days ago, I cycled 20KM up two very steep hills, no pains no problems, then I'm sitting resting and it starts aching and spiking and bothering me but I am seeing this is so often post food now I am monitoring closer. Does anyone get throat discomfort (not the Ramparil cough) Iv heard throat discomfort can also be Angina so another thing on the list to check but again I dont get it when under heart stress, often however when I'm walking, not when I'm cycling. It is a huge cycle of what's doing what. from what all of you say and I would know Angina if I was having it.

[Jack2019 in reply to Phil_London]

I posted a while ago asking the same question about this throat thing, I know exactly what you feel. I also get it randomly, not because I've stressed the heart. I am certain it's ticagrelor because I've dropped all the other meds

I was at the doctor just yesterday and he was not at all concerned so that leads me to believe it's a side effect of the anti platelet drug, brillinta

I am almost at a year out, had nstemi and 70% LAD that was stented. Never took the statin and like yourself had no issues at rehab or three stress tests.

[Phil_London]

Sorry David, yes on the bruising, I am.the same any small knock and bingo bruise and large, so from.what you say it's the blood thinners, I'm on Triagalor 80 morning 80 evening and Asprin 75mg once a day, however, I am happier being here than not at all, my big draw is always having a drink, I am trying to keep to the 14 units and most of the time managing that it I do like red wine, I am hoping I am not alone as wanting a drink, I have read a few entries on this site that have been very strict about not drinking and as much as I am very happy to be lucky enough to be here and caught the problem early enough, I do want just a little of something that's a luxury.

[COYW]

Hi Phil. I’m in the Two Stent Club. Four months on. When I complain of chest pain my wife says ‘when you last had that pain was it a heart attack?’ I say ‘no’, and she leaves me to my own conclusions 😀😂😀. Being on blood thinners and statins really does reduce your chances of an episode. No guarantees but they didn’t exist pre stents anyway so enjoy yourself!

[MydogBrandy]

Hi , my hubby Colin has had a stent and had about 6 episodes of angina since. He says it feels like a mild heart attack. When it has been bad and he has already taken two puffs of his angina spray we have called ambulance who check him over, give him 2 aspirins to chew then take him in to have his blood checked. They check the numbers which determine whether it has been a heart attack or not. He also takes gastronomic tablets and is always clearing his throat or losing his voice. I.e. very gruff at times .

Have you got a spray, if not it might be worth asking your g.p. If the pains are angina incase you need one.

Good luck regards Ursula x

[Phil_London]

Hi, I do have the spray and used it a few times in the early weeks and never really worked, difficult to say, I think the stress took over and I was never sure what was doing what, if it worked or not, sometimes pain eased other times not. Out of interest after the stent and the angio, have they said all other arteries are clear? if so is there any reason that the angina is coming on? is it under heart stress or at rest? and when they do the blood checks, is he clear and no Troponin rise? how long ago was his stent fitted?

[Phil_London]

Good comments, so I am safe in knowing that it wasnt another heart attack and good to know also that the spray will respond to anxiety, you read so much (or I seem to have) but always something new you learn. I think we all need that little treat sometimes also, the cheese on toast sounds like heaven, I love cheese and had to seriously reduce to almost none due to the amount of saturated fat, but slowly starting to bring back the odd treat and an evening of some cheese or cheese on toast and for me also wine sounds like a perfect combination, I keep being told, it's all ok in moderation. I think the last 24 hours of writing and reading these posts has really relaxed me, I have 3 days left in the sun on holiday so I will try to relax and enjoy. Thanks for all the input, I went for a walk yesterday talked to a local chemist about the meds and the guy was very informative and relaxed me more about certain side effects, checked my BP in the chemist for me in the evening and came up as a perfect 120/70 and things all started to feel better, sometimes we just need to communicate and talk a few things through. Great site for that!!👍😎 I just hope all who have been replying can get some peace of mind and relax a bit also, This is a big scare and mortality check to happen in life at any age, it's almost as you put the future on hold, but I think we all need to realise how good the support we get now, how good the doctors are and technology is now, my father at 55 in the mid 80s had a similar issue to me (a bit worse but still) no stents or early stent days then, they wouldnt bypass as all his veins were in a poor state, he was given pills and left to just wait, to this day I wonder what pain he went through, he never said and for my sins I never asked, I wonder what thoughts he had every day about his future or what would be left of it, he deid of a HA 7 years later, but if that was now, I am sure with stents and meds, he would have had 20 or more years, so let's all smile a bit.

[Phil_London]

Jack, thanks for the comment, as you are a more months in, I will be interested to hear if the throat stops for you when you stop the Triagalor, it's a strange one bit as said I have been told by a Gastrologist and cardiologist that you can feel Angina in the throat but why do we not get it under stress and if like me you are being g told, al other arteries from the detailed Angio are fine, single stent you will be fine, go on and get on with life and come back if and when things go bad, I unfortunately am seeking more info, I just want to feel safe with the knowledge it's something else or one thing or another.

[Sphen]

Just crack on Phil I had exactly the same thing last October just keep walking everyday or and start running the pains will start to go away after about 6 months then if your fit you will start to feel normal again trust me it’s been horrible but feel great now, I don’t know what your weight is like but the lighter you get the better too. Cheers 👍

[Sphen]

You sound exactly like me also one stent last October, I thought I had indigestion turned out to be Heart Attack never used to think anything was wrong then dice this went through hell with pains trips to A and E panic attacks. Now I know you just got to try keep fit and don’t go mad when it’s party time but it’s important to enjoy yourself

[Phil_London]

Hi, My weeks are mixed, some weeks great then the next a pile of discomfort in a variety of places, throat still, chest but never comes on with excercise, I am slim and started to run and cycle again, I am almost putting it down to the day after exercise for a couple of days I seem to be a bit bad so maybe it's my body getting back into it all. I have stopped the beta blocker on advise from.the hospital to see how it goes, now I panic my HR is to high as it's always been low, never seem to find the perfect answer to all.the discomfort, gastro, Hiatus hernia, and so far every time it's been checked it not my heart bit I just seem in these early days to worry about it blocking and not knowing about it. I guess if become a worrier, other days I am on top, walking fast, up and down stairs, lower HR, blood pressure spot on just cant seem to keep it consistent ut maybe it is just early days, on coming up for 4 months post Stent, my big worry at the back of my mind is always restenosis, just wish there was an easy check they could do for our peace of mind, even though the new DES stents are said to be so good, I guess we just worry!!!