I recently saw a comment here on intervention, stent and meds not always solving things first time. Has anyone experienced this please?
I had a mild nstemi and one stent fitted just over 5 weeks ago but am still getting on and off soreness and discomfort, sometimes up to 3 or 4 out of 10 pain level but mostly very mild. Both the rehab nurses and my GP are saying that this shouldn't still be the case at this stage. It's worrying as I constantly flit from feeling like I'm getting over the Cardiac event but then switching to worrying that my issue wasn't solved by the angioplasty and feeling in danger.
A little after the stent was fitted I ended up calling 999 through some quite bad pain but, once the Accident and Emergency department of my local hospital had established that it wasn't another heart attack, they weren't interested in finding out what it actually was and merely sent me home. This now means that I'm never quite sure what to do when I get pain which to be fair is usually either brief or mild. When I've used the GTN spray most of the time it helps but doesn't solve for a brief period then the issue returns.
Thanks
Colin
Written by
OneCrow
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Hi Colin. I think this is one to take back to your cardiologist at the hospital where you had the stent out in. Perhaps via the cardio nurses? A&E at another hospital and even your GP are unlikely to be interested until you’re fully signed off.
For what it’s worth - 5 weeks is pretty soon and from what I can remember my arm (as an indicator of what my insides were like) was still very bruised because of the anti platelet treatment.
But I’d definitely push for an appointment with the cardiologist.
Yes, the cardio nurses said that the meds may have been leading to muscular pain although it is pretty localised. The bruising on my arm following the stent has long since healed
My stent required quite a bit of pushing the artery around. And the cardiologist did say that hearts don’t like being treated like that! Maybe yours was similar?
Yes, instead of the expected 45 minutes to an hour it took two and a half hours. It was done by someone clearly still in training under the supervision of the consultant and took a few goes, including getting caught on it once in place with the wire.
I had my 3 stents put in around 7 weeks ago. I still have niggling pains and some days more severe chest and/or back pain.
When they put one of my stents in it actually came out again (that is what I heard from the mouth of the cardiologist telling a nurse whilst I laid there having it done; this was a university hospital so maybe I too had a trainee?) so they did that one a second time.
I’d try to give it more time to settle down, but use your gtn if necessary and get an ambulance if the gtn spray doesn’t work as I’m sure you’ve been advised. As Steve says, well worth a chat to discuss.
Hi Colin. I am one of those that has posted about having repeat angios and stents and lots of drug juggling, Today, I’m doing pretty well after 8 years.
Each stent inserted it’s taken a few weeks for my heart to settle down after the ‘messing about’.
I thought after the first 5 stents (all at once) things would go back to normal.
But I still had lots of anxiety and angina, and was back and forth to A and E, mostly just being checked for a HA. I had three in total.
The A and E Consultant told me their job there was to make me safe. So I don’t expect great investigations, just getting stabilised, and I go back to my GP afterwards, if I’m sure I need some follow up.
She has either taken action herself or contacted my Cardiologist by phone, and taken her advice, or got me an early appt, whichever is needed.
I think anxiety often plays a big part, but it’s v hard to know what’s anxiety and what’s a symptom that needs quick attention. Of course the two are related...
I have nearly always taken action and rung 999. Paramedics are brilliant, always and always reassure me to do it.
I hope this helps and doesn’t cause you more worry. I’m sorry if it does.
Hi just read your podt & would like to tell u about my husband who has had similar trouble.He had a heart attack anterior stemi & a stebt fited. Sent home after 2 days & was not well at all. He could not sleep with chest pain & breathlessnes. He was told to use the angina spray & it was quite normal to feel like thid. After 7 days he had a funny turn went very grey & sweaty & the cardio nurse was visiting at the time. She called 999 the paramedics came said all was well & left. Later that day a Doc called with blood results & said he needs admitting at once. Paramedics came & he was taken back to CCU & monitored. This was xmas eve & he is still in hosp but doing well. They have altered his drugs & it has made a huge difference. No longer has chest pain just a little breathless but they said that will go in time. Hopingto be home on Mon. So sometimes after a stent things not always what they seem even though docs say " its anxiety or normal to have this" they said the damage to hid heart was abit worse than thet thought but will repair in time. So keep asking & complaining if u not at ease with thingd. Hope you get the support u need & things improve. Take care
Sorry he’s had such a difficult time. I hope he comes out feeling a lot better. If the same thing happens again (I hope not) don’t hesitate, please call 999 again, You just never know.
Hi OneCrow. I've been experiencing similar. About 12 weeks post nstemi, and ongoing fleeting pains in chest, down arms and in face. Extreme fatigue, nausea and dizziness, pressure in head and periods of sweating - just like the original HAs. I rang 111 a few days ago to ask advice, as I was feeling particularly ill and 'not right' and they booked an ambulance straight away. I had an overnight stay in hospital, my sodium levels were low, but like you the staff questioned why I would have symptoms when the stent had dealt with the blockage. Medication was tweaked, an anti-angina one added (why, if my arteries are now clear?) and the message was that it was probably side effects of medication, along with anxiety. A nurse did mention that in her experience these symptoms are common for a while after HA and stent, due to the heart receiving an injury and trauma and bruising, and it wasn't surprising that it took a time to heal. The medication has knocked me sideways, personally. I am trying not to worry so much now, as I know there are no current blockages, but we know when we feel 'not right', don't we?
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