Chest tightness

[Barcelona74]

Hi, im 45 and had 2 stents put in Oct 2019. Overall been okay, last couple of weeks been getting random tightness in the midchest area and feel short breath’d. Been in to get it checked out, angina or acid reflex (reaction from the daily meds) seems to be what they say. Been given some gastro tables to take 30 mins before meals. They will monitor for a few weeks. Has anyone had similar symptoms as it can be quite worrying? Thanks, Bob

[NorthantsSteve]

Hi Bob. It’s good that you’ve gone back to the hospital to get checked out. I didn’t have a reaction to Aspirin/Ticagrelor as the cardiologist routinely prescribed Lansoprazole to avoid any issues. I did eventually drop the Lans when I stopped dual anti platelet therapy after 12 months. Indigestion (+ anxiety) is well known to mimic heart pain. Ha e you been using your GTN when you have chest tightness? And did it work?

[Barcelona74 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Hi Steve, i have used the GTN spray and that does help. How have you been after dropping the medications after 12 months? Thanks for sharing your experience.

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Barcelona74]

I felt a lot better when I dropped Ticagrelor (are you on that or Clopidogrel?) and at the same time then dropped Lansoprazole which did mess around with my digestive system a bit, I’ll be honest! I’ve been lucky (had heart attack and 1 stent 3.5 years ago age 55) in that I’ve had no further pain once my heart and stent settled down. If I remember right it did take a few months before the tweaks and niggles died down. BTW just because GTN relieves the pain it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s angina.

[Barcelona74 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Thats very re-assuring! I was on the Clopidogrel once in mornings, but a few weeks down the line they recommended Ticagrelor twice a day (more potent med) after i was having some symptoms of heart muscle repair!

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Barcelona74]

Are you on aspirin as well? If you weren’t on a PPI (Lansoprazole or similar) when they moved you over to Ticagrelor that could have tipped you over the ‘gastric’ edge.

[Barcelona74 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Yes aspirin in the mornings alongside, ticagrelor, bisoprolol and ramipril. Evenings ticagrelor and atorvastatin. They definitely clear the stomach!

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Barcelona74]

And now with your PPI/Lansoprazole in the morning? Try taking it 30 mins before breakfast and then the Aspirin and Ticagrelor after you’ve eaten. Good luck Bob. Hope it is indigestion.

[Barcelona74 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Yes lansoprazaole in the mornings. I will definitely take 30 mins before breakfast. Thank you for your messages, been very supportive and a real peace of mind!

Best wishes Steve.

[Marie1212]

Who is monitoring you. Your cardiologist or a G.P. I hope it is the former.

[Barcelona74 in reply to Marie1212]

Hi Marie,

Previously it was the GP, it will be the cardiologist in the next few weeks.

Thanks

Bob

[Qualipop]

I have exactly the same problem right now; feels like a tight band round my chest as if I can't fill the bottom of my lungs. GP can't work out whether it's my spinal problems (Very painful collapsed discs|), stomach , costochondritis or heart. I worry because last time I felt so breathless, he insisted it was muscular / spinal and I ended up with a heart attack and two stents. Can't be tablets as I'm only on furosemide, aspirin, ranitidine and simvastatin.

[Barcelona74 in reply to Qualipop]

Yes it is worrying when its not pin pointed to the cause. Hope they able swiftly diagnose your problem. Best wishes.

[Qualipop in reply to Barcelona74]

GP just couldn't decide which problem was causing it. Very worrying. Told me to go off my insticts! But he did arrange an ECG which was fine. My instinct says it's spinal but hen my instinct was wrong last time.

[Barcelona74 in reply to Qualipop]

Hopefully its not heart related, thats the main thing i guess!

[Qualipop in reply to Barcelona74]

Very true but once you've had a heart attack that worry stays there. I know Ihave

two more part blockages that weren't bad enough to stent.

[Surreychica_1]

Yes. I was kicking up my heels when I had the stents put in, think fabulous the end of my problems. Wrong it was the start - well I didnt have a heart attack at least - however I had terrible reaction from the medication - Ticagrelor- , shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations etc. They did change my medication to different once and there is most definitely an improvement, but I still, as times, suffer from shortness of breath and funny twitches. But of course there is a tendency to put everything down to you heart etc but a lot of time it is other things, such as your back and the way you are sitting. I hope you feel better soon.

[Qualipop in reply to Surreychica_1]

I was just like you with bad reactions to tablets especially ticagreolor, atorvastatin and bisopralol. Ended up having everything changed except furosemide and aspirin.

[Barcelona74 in reply to Qualipop]

Might be worth me getting my tablets changed.

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Barcelona74]

You need to do that. Google that anticoagulant - if you have not done so already - and a list of what bad reactions you can experience whilst taking Ticagrelor

[Barcelona74 in reply to Surreychica_1]

Yes i should definitely look into it, i was going to wait for my appointment which was in 2 weeks time, but at least i can prep some notes in the meantime.

[Barcelona74 in reply to Surreychica_1]

How old was you when you had the stent?

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Barcelona74]

OOooh never ask a lady her age!!! Well older then you by mmm let me see, a good 20 years!

[Barcelona74 in reply to Surreychica_1]

Sorry, wasn’t intentional !

Well you did better than me then, an extra 20 years pain free. 😊

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Barcelona74]

Yes but yours will get better also now you have the stents. A friend of mine who is a medical doctor had a heart attack whilst he was running a marathon. Believe it or not he had 98% blockage in his main artery and didnt have any symptoms. After having stents he is back to running marathons again and you will be back to normal soon with a bit of tweaking of medication and after the year is up for taking those meds which make you feel bad.

[Barcelona74 in reply to Surreychica_1]

So re-assuring, thank you!

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Barcelona74]

Yes keep your chin up and look towards the horizon and also be glad that the cardiologist and medical doctors are now aware of your heart condition and therefore you are being monitored which means you are unlikely now to suffer anything unpleasant apart from the medication which many of us find very unpleasant, but here it is, we are still alive and kicking!!

[Barcelona74 in reply to Surreychica_1]

Definitely so!!

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Qualipop]

Bisopralol is also horrid and you can get bad reactions to that.

[Barcelona74 in reply to Surreychica_1]

What reactions was you getting?

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Barcelona74]

Breathlessness, aches and pains in all my joints, weakness and depression. Only able to walk and function at a very slow pace. Terrible. It would take me a day to clean one room. Always had to keep sitting down after 10 minutes.

[Barcelona74 in reply to Surreychica_1]

I hope the change of medication has helped significantly.

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Barcelona74]

Yes it has but I cannot wait for the day when I no longer have to take the anticoagulant.

[Barcelona74 in reply to Surreychica_1]

Which tablets did they change you too?

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Barcelona74]

The changed the Ticagrelor to Clopidogrel and the bisopralol to Nebovilol. A lot better but I shall be pleased to come off of the Clopidogrel. I think you have to take them for a year.

[Truesta123]

Hi I'm get airy feeling stomach up chest just worry 20 weeks after 3 stents feel hypochondriac now piss tablet doing it feel line want go toilet lot

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Truesta123]

I go to the loo a lot as well. At first I was going at least every two hours. Sleeping was terrible as I get waking up to go to the loo.

[Hidden]

A percentage of bypasses, stents etc fail within the first 12 months - restenosis- so getting medical support as you are doing is critical. Hope it’s something simple.

[Barcelona74 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your message and info 👍

[Jack2019]

I felt exactly as you described. I am 4 months out from being taken off ticagrelor (reached 12 month mark) and am finally pretty much recovered from that tightness and reflux symptoms and breathing almost normally now. I must admit though, I made a personal decision and stopped taking the aspirin at the six month mark,' cause I did not want to take a PPI and my research on the benefits of dual anti platelet therapy for 12 months versus dual therapy for 6 months.

[Barcelona74 in reply to Jack2019]

Thats re-assuring to know that your feeling pretty well after coming off the medication, I’ve pretty gathered that all falls into place overtime and definitely so after the initial 12 months of tweaks!