long lasting chest pain

[a35austin]

Hi again,

Has anyone any information on how long you should experience chest pains after having stents fitted, I had three stents fitted in November but still experience chest pains daily lasting most of the day, I've had a telephone consultation with my cardiologist and told him that I still have chest pains his answer was you've had three stents fitted so I don't know why you are getting chest pains, it might not be related to your heart, I also had a telephone consultation with my doctor who suggested that it might be a result of my medication, no information or suggestions as to what to do next so any help or suggestions would be welcomed, thanks.

[QuadroVEINia]

Can you more accurately describe your chest pain?

[a35austin in reply to QuadroVEINia]

Hi F4RUC, Thanks for your reply, the pain is mostly left of the centre of my breastbone and lasts most of the day, thanks and keep safe.

[QuadroVEINia in reply to a35austin]

How would you describe the pain itself? Is it sharp, dull, heaviness, pinching, chest tightness or just twinges?

Does the pain get worse, less or stay the same in different body positions?

[a35austin in reply to QuadroVEINia]

Hi F4RUC, I would describe the pain as heaviness it's mostly left of the breast bone but sometimes it's in the centre of my chest, getting any advice from my doctor is hard at the moment, I`m assuming that as I'm still alive its not a heart attack, but I would feel a lot more confident if I knew what was the cause, thanks for your help, stay safe and healthy.

[QuadroVEINia in reply to a35austin]

I can identify with what you describe, sounds very similar to my own experience.

I had 3 stents fitted in 2012 and then another 5 at different times since. I also experienced heaviness in my chest after the first stents were fitted and this has pretty much stayed with me since, I just learned to accept/live with it. In fact I felt worse after the stents were fitted than I had previously which was ironic.

I run an exercise group for people with chronic health conditions and what I have realised talking to people is that not everybody will have the exact same experience, some will feel better, some worse like me and you! Hopefully you will have a better experience than me and your heaviness goes away, it’s early days and your body is still adjusting.

This is a new/recent experience for you so you will naturally be anxious, try to use relaxation techniques to ‘calm’ your body. If you need reassurance you should absolutely continue to pursue answers from your cardiologist, GP or cardiac rehab team.

Hope my experience helps to provide you some assurance. Happy to answer any other questions you might have.

Good luck.

[a35austin in reply to QuadroVEINia]

Hi again F4RUC, I`m the same I feel a lot worse after my stents than I did before, thanks for taking the time to reply, good luck to you and your exercise group.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Have you got any GTN spray? If not you can buy it from your pharmacist who can also advise on use.

Basically if your chest pain disappears this suggests you probably have sufficient narrowing in one or more of the main coronary arteries to cause angina. Whilst awaiting my bypass I was on anti-anginals rather than frequent GTN doses. Common ones are Isosorbide Mononitrate (another nitrate) and Diltazem (a CCI - calcium channel inhibitor). They take about 7 - 10 days to get used to.