How long after stents before chest pain goes

[BigGary]

Had a rotablation several balloons and stents and a subsequent heart attack and more stents two weeks ago. Consultant said ‘no more angina now’ but I’m still getting chest pain going up stairs and walking outside. Is this normal after just two weeks after an MI and five stents ?

[Henry20]

BigGary

Anyone who has had stents fitted wonders about this, I suspect. I certainly did. It's a new world you have entered and it's all strange and unfamiliar, so we become disoriented and I felt more than a little lost, not knowing what to do.

First and most importantly, no-one here is qualified to give advice, we can only write from personal experience. So, particularly as you get used to all this, you really do need to talk to medics, doctors or cardiac nurses. The latter will be very used to your type of queries. I found everyone very willing to answer questions and I relied on them.

If you are having pains, phone and ask. Better to have a chat, rather than discover later that you should have had a chat.

When I started to write, I had intended to describe my experience in detail, but as my fingers have plodded over the keyboard - well, I wonder it is right to do that? We are all different and I suspect that what will be OK for me may well not be for you. Yes, I had pains but not in the way you describe nor doing the things you mention. But then, I had only two, but one of those was two inches long, does that count as four short ones? Things did take time for me and it is important to take things easy, particularly in the early stages. I'm still here nearly 2 years on, and I'm sure there is no reason why you should not be around for many more years.

By seeking qualified advice and listening to your own body, you will learn what's important.

Best of luck

Henry

[BigGary in reply to Henry20]

Thanks Henry

[Denva]

I confess I am really struggling with having stents but still have angina whenever I exert myself. It worries me that this is it and that I will just have to use the spray to get through it. It means my living Is hugely compromised. But I feel a little guilty complaining because there are others so much worse than me. I do have cardiac spasms so wonder if that contributes.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Denva]

Hi Denva

Are you having any treatment for your coronary vasospasms ?

Vasospastic angina tends to cause chest pain at rest rather than at exertion.

Another condition microvascular dysfunction this is when the small blood vessels fail to dilate properly and you can get chest on exertion -

Microvascular angina.

The BHF has this information about Microvascular and vasospastic angina

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Denva in reply to Milkfairy]

Diltiazem - this is what the cardiologist has prescribed.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Denva]

Diltiaziem is a calcium channel blocker and helps relax the blood vessels and prevent spasms in the coronary arteries.

I am on slow release Diltiaziem amongst other medications to help manage my Vasospastic angina.

If you are still having chest pain I suggest you ask for a review of your medication.

There are other medications that your Cardiologist could consider.

[Denva in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you so much for your reply. I have just been to the cardiologist and he is replacing one of my meds for the new one. But I haven’t been able to start it because my medication is in a blister pack and I don’t know which is the one that I need to stop taking. I have to go to the pharmacist so he can tell me. . Really funny.

Thank you so much and take care.