Stent after effects

[Johnmcg75]

Im 46yrs old and took a heart attack 6wks ago, followed by 1 stent. Was let outta hospital with a bag of medication and a letter for my doctor. Have not heard from anyone since. Anxiety is through the roof, terrible, I have had many a panic attack since which are awfull. Out for short walks and getting tweeks and aches in my check, not the same pain as before, pins and needles in my left arm and sometimes my face.

Just wondering if this is normal and how to people before me overcome the panic attacks?

[Merch03]

Hi

I can echo your situation perfectly. HA 1 stent 3 weeks ago and very little contact since.

I have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for last 30 plus years - but since the HA this has been on a scale I could not have imagined previously.

The following day after discharge from hospital I was back via 999 as I believed I was having another HA. 6 hours later I was back home after being told it was panic related.

I have had lots of general discomfort and muscle and joint aches due to the medication. I also had an extremely nasty acid reflux issue - which effected my breathing/ lungs. I managed to change to a different medication which has eased these symptoms.

I do not have much of a support network in place so I have relied heavily for information on these pages.

I have trained myself to listen more to my body and to establish through others that aches and pains are to be expected whilst in recovery.

I have been meditating and using mindfulness techniques to stay in the moment and not to visit the future or the past.

Please keep reminding yourself that you are doing well - which you are We are all in it together. All the best.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

It’s a very tough time, and especially with Hospitals under such Covid pressure. A relative told me that all the ICU beds in her large General Hospital were occupied by Covid patients,…so the pressure (on Cardiologists amongst others) is very real I’m afraid.That said, I wouldn’t ignore pins and needles in your left arm and face. I would call 111 to get their take.

I found that I got rather different symptoms after stents, so you may have to get used to reading the new ‘you’ and whether these new symptoms need action.

Have you made an Appt with your GP? They are often very used to helping heart patients after a HA or emergencies, unfortunately we are rather common!

[Qualipop]

Congratulations on your new life.

It's shocking how they just send you home and leave you to it. It's like, "we fixed your plumbing, now go away and get on with it" I had the same. Your care is now continued by your GP. You should get an appointment fairly soon for a blood test to check what all those tablets are doing to you. Meantime you really need to talk to your GP. My biggest problem was my discharge letter. I'd have needed a medical degree to understand it so I asked my GP to explain it. It was a great help and I could ask everything I['d been worrying about. I also had LOTS or problems with my medication and most of it had to be changed. After about 6 weeks I was contacted by the cardiac rehab nurses; met one of them ( Pre covid), was given a book on how to live and I'm afraid that was it . Because I'm in a wheelchair they wouldn't even contemplate me trying rehab classes. I was told to ring the nurse with any worries but mine was awful and I used my GP instead. If you have a decent GP, give them a call and ask them to explain things and if necessary get you some help with counselling. Cardiac counselling is available but no one tells you. Nor do they tell you that you will be contacted by cardiac rehab. Change your diet if needs be, stop smoking if you do, and get gentle exercise. Change your mindset. You had a problem. Now you don't. You've been given a second chance. And remember tablets have side effects. If they are unbearable, talk to your GP. There are plenty of alternatives. Everyone on here understands that panic. It's a massive shock and very normal to react like that. Get some explanations. It WILL help.

[Lee180]

Hi.

I was exactly the same as you with the worry, pains etc... It will get easier 👍🏻 Rehab was the best thing I did, Hopefully your dr can put you in touch with them.

Good luck with this new life 👍🏻

[Hidden]

Hi there, I had a HA 6 weeks ago and I had a couple of stents fitted five weeks ago.Following discharge I've had three follow up phone calls from a cardio nurse and I'm enrolled on a rehabilitation course... apparently I'll be hearing more about that in a couple of weeks.

I've also had a blood check at my GP's to monitor my renal function due to the medication I'm now on.

We are based in East Yorkshire.

My heart ached for the first three weeks after the procedure and now does do on and off.

I've also suffered from "indigestion" at varying levels....quite disturbing as the pain is similar to angina.

I've been walking a few miles every day for the past couple of weeks and participating in light exercise.

I was admitted to hospital again on Friday as the "indigestion" pains got quite bad....I had ECG's, echocardiograms, chest XRays, blood tests galore and I'm pleased to say that when I was discharged yesterday my heart was given a clean bill of health. They have not altered my heart meds as they think I'm on "the perfect cocktail".

They have taken me off Omeprazole and put me on a higher dose of Lansoprazole, fingers crossed it does the trick.

This weekend I was once again amazed at how the NHS can help you when you need them.