How long for stents to settle?

[KingChanterel]

Hi,

Firstly, sorry for the long post!

I am 49 and earlier this year I was suffering with bad heart burn (have a history of gastric issues), which the GPs tried treating with various prazoles ending up with me on Pantoprazole. After talking to one of the GPs (never got to speak to the same one twice!), I mentioned there was a family history of coronary disease in the family, he went a way and considered this and rang me back later in the day and referred me to a cardiologist.

On meeting with the cardiologist, he stated my symptoms were atypical of coronary issues, but given family history he would send me for a CAT scan. Two days after the CAT scan I was called in to see him where he broke the news there were blockages forming in all 3 arteries. He explained that the CAT scan is good at showing there are issues but not to want extent, so he passed me onto an Invention Cardiologist for an angiogram. On meeting with this Consultant, he was of very a similar opinion everything was atypical and despite the CAT scan he said it was likely to be earlier stages and we could treat with drugs. He changed that opinion once he had me on the angiogram table! (I hasten to add both the cardiologists have been brilliant throughout and really taken time to explain things etc).

It turned out there was a serve blockage in the first diagonal off the LAD and then another in the left circumflex, plus there was a moderate to serve blockage in my LAD. Rather than stent at that point he wanted to discuss with his colleagues. He had the discussion with his colleagues and decided two stents at this point, one in the first diagonal and one in the left circumflex would be the best course of action. Bypassing now would be too earlier and not effective. I was booked in for two weeks later to have the stents, late September, but then my wife and sons went down with COVID, so it was postponed until mid October.

Had both stents fitted successfully, although the left circumflex was really tricky given the positioning of the blockage (I never do things easy).

Since having the stents, I have got back into normal life, changed my diet although it was not bad before and the cardiologist said my condition is genetic versus diet, plus I have started to exercise more. I have recently just finished Cardio Rehab classes at the local hospital, which went well.

However, I am still getting discomfort/ache in my chest mainly on the left side and there is no rhyme or reason when I get it, although I do also get some belching more times than not. I raised it with the cardiologist who did not seem concerned as I am able to exercise without getting it, I also spoke with the cardio nurses when doing rehab, kept a diary went through it with them and they were of a similar opinion, stating they would have expected to see it in the classes given the intensity I was working out at. The GTN spray does not appear to do anything when I take it.

I saw my actual GP two weeks ago and she ran some bloods which have all come back good and I am due to see her again next week when she will refer me to the Gastro team.

As the whole cardio thing was out of the blue, other than knowing there was a family history and I have 'never' knowingly had angina, the chest discomfort is concerning me greatly and I am worrying something is being missed on the cardio side by me. One thing that did come to mind was, could it be the stents settling that is causing the discomfort? How long for others have stents taken to settle and what sort of discomfort/aches/pains/symptoms were you getting whilst they did?

Many Thanks!