What next after 5 stents fitted? - British Heart Fou...

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What next after 5 stents fitted?

5stent profile image
15 Replies

Hi, I had a heart attack on Monday and 5 stents fitted on Tuesday, all hopefully good now, just a little confused- I feel good, just not sure how much I should be doing, how long before I could be going back to work (heavy maintenance), that type of thing,

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5stent
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15 Replies

I'm in the 5 stents club too, so welcome! 😊

A word or two of caution... Firstly, you might find you get ptsd. You've nearly died and have been through a massive ordeal, so be kind to yourself. Expect your mind to react to what's happened and don't be surprised when it does. Second, you've had stents, they take time to bed in. Expect angina, and stents bedding pains. That will take quite a bit of getting used to. Don't be afraid to use the gtn spray but expect it to wipe you out. Third, you'll be on some high strength meds. These change you and have side effects ranging from constipation to an ability to seemingly lose all sense of tact when talkiing to others.

Work should be at the bottom of the list right now. Get to know the new you. Take 6 months or longer. Life us not going to be the same.

And please ask if you need any help. Been there, got the t shirt and still getting used to it. 😊

5stent profile image
5stent in reply to

Definitely need to slow, hopefully I'll hear from my GP soon about Cardio rehab, if not I'll be phoning,- lots to think about👍

in reply to 5stent

Take it easy. I gave my local cardio rehab a call. They had me in almost straight away and it was really useful. I wouldn't recommend going to a gym without seeing them first.

Angina takes many forms and you'll probably get it to start with and be putting it down to something else. I'd had a neck op years ago and thought it was that, but the neck and back pain was angina.

Once you've gone through rehab, you'll know what you can and can't do.

Mostly though, go easy on yourself and give yourself time to heal., physically and mentally.

Andy_c profile image
Andy_c in reply to

Hi SnoweybmYour answer is fantastic an xactly how my HA and stents effected me, much better now but i still get bad days ad nights.

in reply to Andy_c

This is the nice bit about being able to share experience here 👍

5stent profile image
5stent

Thanks, think I need to slow down and chase up on the GP front

QuadroVEINia profile image
QuadroVEINia in reply to 5stent

Get the GP to sort out support from the cardiac rehab if you have not heard anything from them direct. That is standard practice post procedure. I’ve had eight angioplasty’s and each time had to go thru rehab afterwards. Good luck.

Cleo1984 profile image
Cleo1984

Hi just wanted to let you know I see my cardiac rehab nurse face to face in my home, great comfort weekly.

Plumbstu profile image
Plumbstu

Hi 5stent. Sorry to hear you had such an ordeal last Monday but delighted that your here to tell the tail. Reading your question thinking to myself.. “those could easily have been my words five weeks ago” although I didn’t get 5 stents, just the one. I suffered a heart attack completely out of the blue, very insidious in nature and at worst felt like trapped wind, it didn’t go away after many burps and six hours so I drove myself to the local hospital and the next thing I knew I had been admitted to resus, then the coronary care unit and was told I was having a heart attack, whipped down to the cath lab the following day and a stent inserted. Was then discharged the following day on all my new meds.

I felt almost euphoric, not really acknowledging the truth or extent to what I’d been through. I’ve been quite lucky in that, so far there doesn’t seem to be any major or lasting damage to my heart, although I have been told that the rear left artery is 50% blocked but that should cause me no bother.

I’m a plumber and run my own business, despite being told to stay off for at least 6 weeks I went back after 2 weeks to do..”light duties” I have to say it was a huge mistake. Thankfully it didn’t cause me any physical damage, but it was a struggle mentally. By then the euphoria had changed to a realisation that I had suffered a heart attack, I could have died and my body and mind had been through a very traumatic experience. The constant fixation on every physical twinge and pain I experienced was getting out of hand and I was feeling a huge amount of guilt about what my condition, treatment, prognosis and potential outcomes meant to others, in particular my mum. I kept trying to convince myself that working was actually a good distraction, but if I’m being honest it wasn’t. It was not helping at all and I’ve never been so glad to come off on holiday as I was when we broke off last Tuesday.

The point I’m making is, in keeping with the other replies, give yourself time. You’ve been through a huge thing and it will take time to adjust. My cardiac rehab has been over the telephone, but it’s been brilliant. My nurse has helped reassure me that my pains are almost certainly down to the trauma and bedding in process, but we’re keeping an eye on things.

This site is amazing, this is my first post so I’m kinda saying some of the things I’ve wanted to say before but as a response. I have regularly read posts and replies from others and one thing that certainly stands out is the sense of community and helpfulness of others, a shared experience can often become so much easier to accept and adjust to.

I also found opening up to my mum, on Christmas Day and us both openly talking about our fears and anxieties has been a huge benefi, so try not to bottle things up.

I delighted to report that at five and a bit weeks I’m starting to feel much calmer about things and not quite so preoccupied by the event.

Take your time with things mate, don’t rush back to work and remember that this community is here and amazing.

Hope you have a lovely new year!

Please keep us posted on how your doing.

Stuart

Telboi profile image
Telboi in reply to Plumbstu

Great story Stu, sounds like you are doing grand and able to offer encouragement to others, brilliant!

Plumbstu profile image
Plumbstu in reply to Telboi

Thank you very much!!

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop

Take it slow. You may feel great after the stents but they do need to bed in. NO LIFTING and that's anything more than half a kettle. Very gentle walking; just around he house for a week or two then outside for just 5 minutes building up very slowly. Change diet, smoking, weight and an other risk factors. Don't even think about work for 6 months and even then it will depend on just how badly the HA damaged your heart. You will find that out from your rehab nurse or consultant. That's especially because you have a physically demanding job; you may need to think about a change of job. I was told not to drive for a month after mine. I think it's shocking that hospitals send you home after a heart attack with so little information. I felt lucky that I had specifically asked. Don't be surprised when the reality of what happened kicks in; you could get depressed. YOu may also get side effects from the tablets so work onthat one at a time. There are alternatives. If you are on ticagrelor or clopidogrel you will bruise very badly at the slightest touch.Your GP should be in touch in about a month to do a blood test to check whether the statins are affecting yoru liver. If you don't get one, ring them. As you've been given no information it may be wise to make a list of questions and talk to your GP.

5stent profile image
5stent in reply to Qualipop

Thanks for the advice, glad I joined.Too be fair i think the hospital told me more, but I just wanted out so probably didn't take it in much. Couldn't fault the hospital while I was in there

Tessie28 profile image
Tessie28

Hi you should be taking it easy. FFS what a hospital to let you go without proper instructions. When BHF line is on ring the nurse and have a chat with them. Normally do rehab following an event like that.

5stent profile image
5stent in reply to Tessie28

Thanks, I think the hospital probably explained better, but I just wanted home, so maybe didn't listen too well

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