New here, post stent x 2...and still working out the kinks..apologies a long story!

[Hatchjd]

As like many here I thought I was fit and healthy with normal blood pressure and cholesterol.... but both my brother and father had heart attacks in their 30's. I made it to 61 before I was taken down by a cream scone!! I couldn't decide if I had indigestion but had mild tingling in my jaw and my heart rate was fast. No chest pain or other symptoms. I am a retired nurse so after debating with myself if I was overreacting I drove myself to the local A&E where I was seen immediately. Nonspecific changes on EKG and a rise in cardiac enzymes of only 3 so not diagnostic of HA. I almost made it out the door when the Dr. decided to do a cardiac stress test. It was stopped at 6 minutes with positive EKG changes. An angio via the radial artery followed and showed 90% blockage of LAD and 80% of the left circumflex and two drug-eluting stents were inserted. I was awake during the procedure and did experience burning discomfort in my chest with the dilation and stent insertion.... it persisted until the next day when I was discharged and a similarly off and on for several weeks.

Discharged on Ramapril 2.5mg Bisoprolol 2.5mg Ticagrelor 90mg, Atorvastatin 80mg and Aspirin 75mg

Post op has been interesting! At 3 days post op saw my GP as my blood pressure was 88/50, heart rate in mid 40's... I felt OK but lower than my normal so Ramipril was decreased to 1.25mg.

In the first couple of weeks at home I found any time I increased my pace from a slow walk I developed a spasm sensation with burning pain and fullness in my chest and neck and pain between my shoulders. I also felt very bloated under my ribs. Quite restricting and worrying as I had no chest pain before the stents.

The Atorvastin and the Ramapril were stopped which helped some. A repeat stress test at 4 weeks post-op was negative. It was determined the pain was not cardiac and thought to be GI. I was started on Zantac 150mg.

The Zantac helped some but mild burning chest pain continued off and on, worse in the am's after the meds. I made a switch from soluble aspirin which I had been dissolving in water to enteric-coated and within 24 hours the burning had all but stopped. The Zantac was increased to 300mg 2x day to cover any irritation from the aspirin and the other meds and I finally got to start rehab. The spasm sensations subsided about 6 weeks out. I am now 8 weeks out and enjoying the rehab classes and walking 3+miles a day at a good clip. I do not feel back to "normal" yet and still, have the odd weird sensation or burning pain episode especially if I don't pace myself when starting out but consider myself lucky I dodged the "big one".

My husband has been undergoing a scheduled cardiac workup for stable angina with classic symptoms of significant chest and arm pain on exertion over several months. Ironically, his angio last Tuesday was clear, only some mild plaque on the right side. He was in disbelief, actually thought they had given him the wrong report.

It does show that the severity symptoms is not always a predictor of the degree of heart disease.

It is good to hear other stories on this site and know we are not alone on this journey...

[Maisie2014]

Welcome Hatchjd. It’s good to know you got the right treatment eventually. No more cream scones (not for a while at least). It’s a shock to know you dodged the big one.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! I am.glad to hear your recovery is now going well. Sorry but I have to nag slightly. Anybody with an ongoing angina attack or who thinks they are having a heart attack should not drive as an increase in pain or loss of consciousness could result in a serious accident. Also if you have an angiogram you cannot drive for 48 hours and if you have stents a week subject to getting the OK from GP/cardiologist.

[Hatchjd]

Michael, I totally agree with your driving advice. Like many women with coronary disease, my symptoms were vague and ambiguous. I think most of us are guilty of not wanting to make a fuss or bother other people. My symptoms were not acute and I did not think an ambulance was warranted but when I decided to go to the hospital I should have asked a neighbour or family member to take me.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Hatchjd]

Okey dokey you are forgiven! 🌝 The problem I have is that too many people ignore advice about not driving. Post bypass you are not meant to drive for a minimum of four weeks and not until you have the OK from your GP. Yet I have heard of people deciding they are fit earlier and "anyway it is so inconvenient"! I also attended a clinic for diabetic retinal scanning. People are told not to drive for a number of hours as their pupils have been dilated. Yet one knows a number chose to ignore this advice as it does not suit them!

[Qualipop]

Glad you decided to get it checked. The only symptom I had was bad indigestion and I'd been taking meds for it for two days. It was only when I got slight pain in my arm that I decided to ring 999. Even when I got to hospital I was left alone for hours. I was told later it was because I didn't have the "Classic signs of a heart attack" ie grey, sweating and in pain.

[Beccamoptop]

Ah, that does explain a lot ......from scone addict to type 2 diabetes to HA.

Seriously though, an interesting observation. I would never have identified a humble scone as being 'worse' for you than chocolate.

[Hatchjd in reply to Beccamoptop]

Interesting that the cholesterol vs sugar ( insulin resistance) discussion is in the news currently. My cholesterol has always been normal but I have always had a sweet tooth for scones, chocolate and similar items. There was a previous thread that suggested that A1c blood sugar levels should be monitored for people with CAD without diabetes. I am not diabetic but wonder if there is a genetic component that means my arteries get damaged at a normal sugar levels or perhaps I have transient highs ... the cream scone being an example.