New Guy and feeling worried

[47Dale]

Diagnosed in feb with angina, stent fitted early April but still getting aches in centre of chest, is this normal, did not have HA just chest ache originally.? Have been out walking a lot and doing 10 mins on bike is this too much as Cardio team felt OK as I was so fit before treatment

[Charpop]

Hi. I had my HA on 30th April and stent on 1st may. Nearly 5 weeks later I'm still getting lots of pain in centre of my chest. I spoke with cardiac rehab a couple of weeks ago on phone they put it down to anxiety and told me to slow down on excercise. I was doing 1 hr walk every day and like you was active before. I've spoke with GP and just get that the stent is bedding in. I'll be interested to read other replies as it's a worrying time.

Hope you feel better soon

[47Dale in reply to Charpop]

Cheers

Your right I think I need to take it easy and not do too much

[Squash1961 in reply to 47Dale]

Hi Charpop and Dale

I had my HA on the 8th May, 2 stents in the RCA. Three months down the track and I am still getting tightness in chest and aches in chest and ribs (as if I have bruised them). I am a keen cyclist and I was back on the bike within a week, and found that I get no pain when I exercise (it actually relieves any aches and tightness). First 6 weeks or so I was also getting sharp pangs deep in the chest (seems like the heart) and my Cardiologist said that this is probably due to the stents settling in, these pains are now gone. I was worried all the time about the aches and tightness, but was reassured by the Cardiologist who told me that it is probably a combination of anxiety and the drugs I am on and not heart related as long as the pain is not the same as when I had my HA. (I had bad indigestion and stomach cramps).

So, the likely culprit is the Rosuvastain I am taking (40mg dose) and/or Ticagrelor (90mg x2) who's listed side effects are chest pains and aches. Have you checked whether it could be the cocktail of drugs that you are probably on, like me?

Anyway, today I have a follow up angiogram, and the results where all good. Stents embedded, no thrombus and endothelial cells growing nicely over stents. Flow excellent, no other signs of any significant plaque build up in either RCA or LMCA. My doses of statin has now been reduced to 20mg and also the Pantoprazole (for acid reflux) by half. We will see if this reduces the chest tightness, etc, at least I am certain its not heart related and that helps greatly with the anxiety.

Hope my expereince (after just 3 months) helps, and it may help explain some of your symptoms, but we are all different and so best to ask the experts !

Good luck

[Charpop in reply to Squash1961]

I'm so pleased you're on the road to recovery. I have found this morning pain got a little better after my BHF fitness video . My follow up appointment has come through and it's the end of October which will then be 6 months after my HA so feel like I've just been left to fend for myself. Talking it through with others is reassuring so thank you

[Maisie2014]

I had heart attack and stent fitted in February 2019. Got really bad chest pains while visiting Clinical Psychologist. She asked if I was feeling stressed at the time and I said it was. I noticed whenever I was upset about anything (including TV programmes) I’d get chest pains so I try not to stress about anything now and haven’t had pains since.

[47Dale in reply to Maisie2014]

Cheers really helpful have always been a worrier and suffered anxiety attacks

But not sure I can be anyone else

[Andyman]

My heart attack was 8 years ago. What I think we do is have a twinge or a pain and immediately go to the incident we suffered when in fact we get twinges all over our bodies and never think about them. We never did before and now they are prominent. Not suggesting they are not real concerns. But as I always say if in doubt contact your go or cardiologist. I still think pains or twinges are the chest area is me dying again. But they pass and I'm fine. Talk to your GP. This is just my experience we are all different.

[47Dale in reply to Andyman]

Cheets

[Maisie2014]

Of course you can Dale. My heart attack has changed me. I don’t worry about what I can’t change. I just accept. Take care.