Exercise after stents

[MS73]

Hi there just after some other thoughts / experiences but am 6 months after two stents including 1 in LAD and 1 in branch , was scheduled and not an emergency although was a little tricky. i was active leading up to procedure (weights, tennis and running) and mostly asymptomatic just more an occasional ache in top of chest and throat (also have acid reflux)

anyway as per covid no rehab but i recently started back in gym in early August gradually building up and feeling good, September went back to some tennis again not to bad when playing doubles but just recently feeling a little sore and tight in chest and throat for a few days afterwards (I will state I have started to push myself harder)

of course this leads to the mind over thinking, especially as cardiologist signed me back to gp but am wondering if perhaps this rather too much to soon, will be speaking to GP but just interested in wider thoughts

Thanks

[STUBAX]

You should build up the exercise gradually over time to let your body adapt, that's one of the main messages you get from cardiac rehab. Five years on and my body lets me know when I've done too much and should rest.

[MS73 in reply to STUBAX]

Thanks your right, I did initially but seems like I have now jumped a little to quickly in trying to move on..

[Henry20]

I had the same type of issues; no HA, 2 stents (2 separate ops) about 2 years ago. I'm retired.

I've never been someone who took regular exercise through my working life, but I was active, at least till heart disease showed its ugly face. I've never been over-weight, no smoking, but I did drink regularly (totally stopped now) - its a risk factor I can do something about. My genetic risk is sky high; on one side of the family heart diseases are everywhere on their death certificates going way back.

Now I do do cardiac exercises 2-3 times a week. (on Zoom). Instructor emphasises every time that we must not over do things by getting up to our limit - aim for about 60%.

Over the 2 years, my possible maximum level of exercise has increased, a lot. But for me, the purpose of exercise is now different. It's not based on time or targets. Bluntly, its staying alive.

I had chest pains, breathlessness etc in the run up to the stent insertions. I know what they feel like and I don't want to feel like that again. When I do, and it does happen, I take it to mean that I have exceeded something somewhere, basically, I've done too much; the pain is my body telling me something.

Knowing what, is the key, and then stopping doing it. I can still increase my fitness, but I do it at a rate dictated by my body instead of my personal wish to hit a target. This way of doing things may not be for everyone; but it's my way.

Good luck for the future

Henry

[MS73 in reply to Henry20]

Thanks for the response does make sense. I am guilty of trying to carry on a little to quickly.. Will learn hope all well with you

[Gordon_N]

MS73,

Perhaps following might offer some consolation. I had two stents and an ICD fitted after cardiac arrest in May. As soon as I got out of hospital I started walking - 10 mins first day then two 10 min walks on day 2. By the end of the week I managed half an hour. I kept going out everyday, slowly building up to first 15 miles of west highland way after about two months (5 hrs). I also got back on my bike, after I bought a heart monitor (great investment) - just completed more than 300 miles on bike in 30 days as part of BHF MyCycle. The point is start small and build up gradually, but keep on the move and watch you heart rate (heart monitor will work with most modern phones).

[MS73 in reply to Gordon_N]

Thanks. I seemed to have gone from gradual to trying to much. I use my watch to track heart rate and have tried to remain active but need to find balance.

Great work on bike keep it going 👍

[Phil_London]

Hi, I am a single stent to the LAD after a mild heart attack, caught befpre it really kicked in and did any damage. I am now a 5K runner every week and I do know what you mean about those symptoms and about thinking you may have over done it, I started to run about 3 months after the stent and it felt fine but was on lots of meds, to keep HR low and BP low etc. now I am 16 months past the stent being fitted, I to get little throat sensations some times after running and do have reflux but not after running only some morning and always wonder if its to do with the heart. I have like you got a heart monitor and was training for a while keeping my HR always in the green zone and at one level around 128/130 BPM and keeping speed so it never passes that, but often anxiety makes you wonder if your feeling a stitch, throat, discomfort or is it an angina, truth is I never know, Cardiologist signed me off after a stress test ECG and echocardio and he said all looks good no issues, so these are things sometimes we almost uave to learn to live with that really might just be anxiety and not a real issue, Cardiologist has said one thing:- you will know if its a real problem!! so I just keep pushing more at the moment.

[MS73 in reply to Phil_London]

Thanks reassuring to read this and some good advice,

[Hidden]

I had a stent 5 months ago this week following a heart attack. For the last 3 months I've been targeting 150-200 minutes cardio a month. This is primarily achieved through quick walks, I try to do something every day. I used to be very sedentary.

I'm on aspirin and clopidogrel and a fairly restrictive diet that seems to be working. I get chest pains everyday and it doesn't appear to be a response to exertion. The GTN spray doesn't touch it. I've been checked out a few times with ECGs, xrays and blood tests and everything looks fine. I can confirm the pain is noticeably different from the heart attack.

My best guess is that it is the clopidogrel, it is listed as a potential side effect. I've also gone keto the last month and for a week I was getting palpitations that radiated into the left side of my throat and ear, but it has settled down. I'm going to ween myself off the clopidogrel over the next month and see what happens (I'm well aware that my cardiologist would advise against doing this).

So my guess would be that your pains are the drugs, but I would get yourself checked out.

As a slight aside, my dietary changes have yielded some incredible and measurable results. I genuinely believe my health is the best it has been in at least a decade.

[MS73]

Interesting thank you for response, I too am trying Keto with a Mediterranean twist about a week in.

I have also found gtn to not really add any value although I admit limited use and only one spray.

I agree diet does seem to be key was my main downfall as never smoked and drinking was only moderate but food oh dear

[Misstibbs]

Hi - I had one stent fitted on Boxing Day after decades of physical exercise including several marathons, on the the day of the HA it was my back that was really painful never had chest pains, anyway I always intended to get back to fitness and now run and cycle BUT know your limitations and build up gently, I think your body will let you know if you are over doing it and don’t put too much pressure on yourself i.e you must hit the time for the run. I do sometimes get a mild cough after a run but nothing serious. Take care

[MS73 in reply to Misstibbs]

Thanks sensible advice think I am trying to prove to myself I can get back and really need to understand limitation and take time needed

Good luck with your recovery

[Outforawalk]

I had 4 localised stents with a bit of faffing about after a sudden HA at the start of March (procedure took 2.5 hours and the disruption caused pericarditis, which has now subsided).

I built up walking, then did the BHF Cardio Rehab Levels 1 - 5, then back to online kettlebell classes and spin bike, to now being back at the gym.

I get what I now call stent pain if I get a bit over excited during a workout, and I am now dialling back a bit to exercise within my current limits.

Although no Adonis, I was a regular gym user pre HA and a relatively fit 42 year old male.

The bisoprolol keeps my HR well down from previous max, but I can peak at 150 - 155 and average 125 - 135. If I’ve hit the higher rate I generally get niggly pains, sharp, not severe and not long lasting but perhaps a very slight dull ache for a date or two high in my upper left quadrant. Hard to work out if the ache is psychosomatic or not, but definitely caused by pushing the heart rate and exercise regime.

So confusing at times!!!

[MS73 in reply to Outforawalk]

Thanks this sounds so familiar am likely to be on same cocktail of drugs and noticing the same with HR and exercise variation ... plus I then over think things which probably adds to the issue...

Good luck on your journey

[Highnoon]

I had 3 stents fitted after heart attack started walking but over done the walking first wk or 2 nearly passed out one day so just started building my walking up slowly yr on feel good walking 3 miles just takes things easy at the start think that's the way till go