Exercise after stent

[East_Runner]

How should you wait after having 2 stent put in. After 3 weeks I still can’t take a brisk walk, as when I do I feel pressing pain in my heart.

[firstlight40]

Hi there, I'd suggest talking to your cardiac nurse or gp about any pain while exercising as they will know your precise condition. It takes time to recover from a HA and from having stents put in. For me I get breathless quite quickly (5 days since my last stents). Some of the drugs you are on may also slow you down a bit.

I suggest you try walking at a pace that doesn't give you pain for a while rather than trying to go too fast and build up speed gradually.

[fedupoffeelingtired]

I think after three weeks you are expecting too much of yourself. Your heart and body are still recovering. Have you been put in touch with a cardiac nurse and a rehab programme? We were advised slowly does it and take time to build up to longer walks and quicker speeds.

[Highnoon]

Hi easy runner I had 3 stents in a yr ago my advice is just takes things easy till start with just build yourself up easy walk a little bit further each day I started walking up the stairs slowly built my walking up each day now doing 3 miles just takes time but u will get there

[Highnoon]

I didn't get any rehab because of covid so just took things slowly you will get there

[Joseant in reply to Highnoon]

Same as me

[Pitt12345]

Check with cardio team. You will definitely not be thought a nuisance. My husband had two ha’s out of the blue since Jan 2019, his last one end September 2020 when he had his 5th stent in, he recovered really quickly. But then started getting breathless in February this year and we decided to privately get him seen ten days ago, he needed another stent (in same artery) he is back to walking 25 minutes a day (built up over a week from 5 mins). Its always worthwhile checking and if necessary can be sorted quickly.

[OneCrow]

I was previously a keen cyclist but things have had to change, the meds effect things though and I'd echo previous comments saying so. It takes time for your heart rate to rise once you're on meds to slow it so you'll end up warming up more now than you used to.

It also takes time for your body to adjust to the meds, I was the same for a good while but can jog or cycle now but only for a much shorter duration before I exceed the newly recommended max bpm.

I'd definitely say to speak to your rehab team about the pain, if it's linked to exercise that needs flagging up. Worth adding though that for me my own anxiety can ape heart pain and it takes time mentally as well as physically to recover. I'm nearing 18 months since my cardio event and I'd still say I'm learning and recovering.

[pjw17]

Hello East Runner,Re. Exercise, contact your local cardio rehab team you should have been given details before you left hospital.

Did you have HA? In my case I had HA and one stent in May 20, started exercising about 6 or 7 weeks later with walking. I'm now cycling, walking and doing weight circuits with very light weights,all guided by the cardio rehab team, I would mention the heart pains to gp/cardiologist, I was getting twinges now and then, still get occasional twinges my GP said its just settling in, heart nurse said same, but please get it checked.

Good luck.

[HenryTudor]

I agree with all the above. I had four stents fitted in February 2020. Easy does it. A “brisk” walk will tire you out. Just walk gently and build up over a number of weeks. Don’t be in a rush.

[tizz1 in reply to HenryTudor]

Hiya I had 2 stents in 2011 and went back to work a week later then l had 3 stents in 2019 just before xmas and it really took it out of me at hat time i wasnt working but it took me about 3 months to start feeling better the pains gradually eased over time the surgeon told me it was because the veins are stretching anyway after about 8 month was feeling a lot better walking up banks no problem never felt better now hope your feeling better soon.

[COYW]

Have a look at the Facebook page: Cardiac Athletes. Good examples there of what you can expect to regain. But take it easy. I’m back to fell running two years after two stents.

[Misstibbs]

Hi East runner You will know when you can do more, try to know you limitations, I had a stent a year ago and after steady progress am now running 5ks at a steady pace. Good luck

[Hidden]

I notice you didn't reply to pjw17's question, so did you actually have a heart attack or just the stent? You seem to have been put on the standard "blanket" medication, including the beta blocker (bisoprolol). If you did not have a heart attack you might not actually need to be on the beta Blocker, I would bring this up with your GP/Cardiologist, they are great for people who actually need them but if you are wanting to get into exercise in any real way they are a massive handicap in my experience.

[DCIHarry]

All of the advice here’s is spot on.

Take advice from your local cardiac rehab team. For me they were far better than my consultant and my GP. They are specialists in dealing with after effects of a HA so connect with them ASAP.

Go “slow and steady” in the early days - and it is very early days for you. After my own HA I was advised to start with a 5 minute light walk, then build up in increments of 5 minutes when if felt able to. 12 months later and I’m doing an hour of CV every day taking my resting heart rate of 49 (because of my meds) to a high of 135 (which is high enough for me).

Listen to your body. Trust me if you do too much, your body will tell you.

Do all of this and you will be gone.

[Cycling16]

You have to read the advice carefully as stenting with no HA typically has much faster recovery than stenting with a HA. Some people mix up the two and get confused by how fast they should recover. Which are you?

I am less than three weeks in after a HA and single stent and am surprised at how tired I still am and the various pains and discomforts I am getting. This forum has been great at explaining what has happened and what to expect.

I think that many of us are in too much of a hurry. I am mid 50s and was previously doing a 40-50 mile bike ride once a week and taking a couple of long walks, never smoked, eat well (little red meat, no fizzy drinks, lots of veg) BMI in the green and not silly on alcohol. However, it was silently working away inside me and I am where I am. I want to get back to my cycling but will leave it alone for three months or so and accept I will have to start slowly. Whether I get back to where I was I do not know.

Walking wise I am doing a 25 minute walk once a day but my legs are very tired.

[pjw17 in reply to Cycling16]

Hello Cycling 16I replied to original post but have just read yours, I was a racing cyclist and stopped racing at 50.

I still carried on riding but not at same levels.

Had HA and stent last May aged 58.

After cardio rehab I'm now back on bike but I'm doing about 40 mins or so local, I pick my routes to avoid hilly areas and am generally my heart rate is around late 80s to about 120 but higher end for short spells only.

I had test with cardio rehab team to determine these levels so I would advise you to do the same.

On my turbo sometimes I'm averaging about 100 bpm for 30 mins.

You will be able to get back out but please see cardio rehab team.

All the best.

[Cycling16 in reply to pjw17]

Appreciate that. Last autumn I was still doing 70+ mile rides but it slowed over the winter as it always does and moving onto my MTB reduced the distance a lot but with double the climbing over the hills. That’s where I was when symptoms started! I will get tested by the cardiac team as you suggest but it sounds like I will not get back to where I was. Stenting is great (I’m still here) but lots of people have it without a HA first and I suspect they have much better recovery.

[ShortSea]

I had a very mild attack and one stent, with a generally good prognosis. However, even with that mild situation at 3 weeks it was still not possible to do brisk walking.

I am now 3 months in and can do brisk walking, mostly without concern. Occasionally I feel the need to not push myself too hard, but on the whole I am not feeling very restricted.

However, I still haven't taken the step of trying to run yet! But I do live in hope that it will be possible in the not distant future.

[Joseant]

Well, I’m 49 and I had a heart attack last august, while I was riding mtb. I was in a good shape, but inside of my arteries th story was different. With two stents the doctors saved my life. No cardiac rehab because Covid, so I did it myself. At first days I felt really tired, but I went for a walk every day. Little by little, every day I was getting better. In one month, I got two hours moderate walking during 2 months. Then, began to run, not too much fast. Now, I go jogging every two days, and go for a walk the days I don’t run. I will begin to ride with mtb when I leave meds, if doctors decide to remove them... No alcohol, not too much salt, eat without fat, vegetables, fruit, .... and yes, listen to your body. Mind plays the first rol. At work, your attitude is very important. The rest of the people follow the “normal” rhythm as always, but I feel different now. Anxiety and stress control...it’s difficult but this is an oportunity to change our lifes. A second oportunity.

[MHen]

Hi I had 2 stents in 7 weeks ago and have to say that it is only in the last few days that I am starting to feel a bit more energy. I was breathless, tired and pains in joints. Cardiologist took me off my statins but will be putting me on a different one next week. I think this all just takes so much longer than we thought. Please God you will get there.

[Fish4Info]

Hey! You've actually had quite a major thing happen - so my advice is take a break and gradually build yourself up. 15 years ago I was 47 and had a CABGx4 (quadruple bypass) with no previous history of heart disease. I was pretty knackered for 4-8 weeks and started a phased return to work after 8 weeks. Wish I'd taken longer ;-). In the early days I could manage only 1 mile an hour for 30-40 min (= not far). But I built it up gradually day by day ... and from 4-6 weeks I started to walk my dog, Sooty, again. 6 months (to the day) after my op I climbed Snowdon - taking care to rest when the body told me. I went up by the Atkin Way (southern route) - not the railway track - with two of my sons. The third couldn't go because of a chemistry GCSE exam. We made £3.5k for the BHF and my local rehab group. So my advice is go gently and you will succeed. 15 years later - I'm still here ... and wish I was as fit as I was then.

On a cautionary note, a friend of mine had a sudden cardiac arrest and was lucky to be jogging with a friend who happened to be a cardiologist. The friend saved my friend's life. A few years my friend was pushing himself to jog faster than he had been. This time, the cardiologist wasn't with him, and my friend passed away.

Of course, I am not saying the same will happen with everyone. Electrical issues with the heart usually cause sudden cardiac arrest, rather than angina or heart attacks due to blocked arteries. But it is important to look after yourself.

Cardiac rehab is good as you will learn about perceived exertion, which tells you when to rest.

Good luck with your new normal! Take care a stay safe!