Just looking for a bit of reassurance?

[Plumbstu]

Hi all, I had my ha back in November 20 and had one stent fitted. On the whole I’m doing good, I’m back at work and continue to get 10k walk in nearly every day, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster but I am getting there.

I’ve had niggling chesty type pains since my HA, never on exertion and really difficult to describe, initially we were putting them down to bedding in but as time is marching on the likelihood of that being the cause is lessening so I’ve been back to the docs and up to the hospital, at the hospital ecg and bloods were fine but the young doctor suggested I get referred for stress test, or nuclear stress test given the COVID impact on the actual stress test.

I had the nuclear stress CT scan today and they have advised that the pictures were good but I’ll need to come back for the at rest version, which I’m fine with. I’m just wondering what I should take, if anything, from the fact that the stress test one alone has not been conclusive?

Any advice or info would be very much appreciated.

Cheers,

Stu.

[Walking_Cycling]

Hi Stu

I had HA in Dec 20 and had two stents fitted.

Taking all the required meds but I also have strange pains in my chest which the doctors can't explain. The pains have become less since Dec20 but still happen occasionally.

One doctor said it might be muscle aching?

Would be interested to know if you have a diagnosis

[Plumbstu in reply to Walking_Cycling]

Hiya, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. It’s coming across from the replies that aches, pains and twinges are common, which is reassuring. I’m hoping I’ll find out more following the next scan which is the ct perfusion at rest. From that I’ll hopefully get some clarity. All the best.

[reidmar]

Hi StuMy brother in law had 4 stents fitted 4 years ago and he says that he still gets twinges but with the first time it happened he did panic and set off an anxiety attack which wasn't great and its something he has had to learn to live with, hope things improve for you.

[Plumbstu in reply to reidmar]

Hi there, many thanks for your reply! From the replies I’ve had it does sound that pains are commonplace, hopefully this next scan will provide some further clarity . All the best to yourself and your brother in law!

[Hatchjd]

I had 2 stents June 2019 and have had various weird chest, arm shoulder and jaw pains over the time becoming less frequent. I did have various tests in the first 2 months post stent that were negative and used the NTG spray at times but couldn’t tell if it made any difference.The pains were always when sitting around, not when walking or doing activities. At almost 2 years out I still get the odd twinge but find a good walk helps.

[Plumbstu in reply to Hatchjd]

Hi there, many thanks for your reply. It certainly seems quite commonplace to have pains and jiggles following HA and stent insertion. Like yourself, im finding as time marches on they become less mentally intrusive. I just hope this next scan provides some further clarity. All the best with your continued recovery.

[Marcathon]

I'm with you here, I had heart attack aged 45 in December, wholly unexpected as very fit and running 30-40 miles a week... had a stent fitted and here we are in April. Occasional twinges in the heart area, first time really panicked me, I tend to rest when I feel it and have learned to live with it, but it's scary too as at times it makes you worry you're going to have another HA, other times I feel chilled about it. I guess it's getting to listen and learn from your body over time? I have my first cardiologist specialist appointment in May so I will be asking him lots of questions including this one

[Squash1961]

Hi Plumbstu

Chest aches, tightness and sharp pains at very common following a HA and you will find many people on this forum with similar issues. I had my HA March 2020, and have continued to have chest aches and tightness as well as musculoskeletal aches. (But never on when exercising, in fact this helps since the body produces its own version of a GTN spray during exercise!)

Again, I was super fit, slim, vegan, but have been dealt poor genes!

Like you I had follow up tests and once further heart issues are ruled out it really comes down to the side effects of the swag of drugs we are all on. I’m now off Clopidigrel and the PPI and just on Aspirin, 10mg Statin and Ramipril. Aches still present but less so. The next step is to stop Ramipril to see whether this is a culprit. It really is a process of elimination. Has your GP or cardiologist suggested that it could be drug related?

Good luck

Squash