4 weeks on from heart attack

[Pots11]

Hi there 4 weeks on now from heart attack which I may have had couple of days before hospital visit originally medically treated discharged then re admitted this time aniogram and blocked artery which caused heart attack stented partial blocked may be stented after 4 week review since discharge 30th December. Can feel myself definitely getting stronger started short walks I am in a new learning world of different heart related words and abbreviations and sensations of chest some times when I change sides in bed in middle of the night. Oh dear if I have option of partial blocked artery to be stented I will jump at it. Is there sometimes a reason it is not necessarily needed regards benefit gained ?confused on that one but will say a definite yes please if asked

[Hidden]

Hello

I am so pleased you are doing so well

I am not experienced as far as your question goes but have a feeling it could be that it would cause more harm than good to stent arteries that do not need them and they know if they do or not and could be the reason they have not gone ahead and done them at this stage

There are so many people though that have excellent knowledge on here that when they read your post will give you a better answer than I can x

[Pots11 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bekind28 just like to say lots of warmth and strength to you👍

[Hidden in reply to Pots11]

Thank You very much

That is so kind of you and wishing the same to you to x

[Pots11 in reply to Hidden]

no probs big warmth big strength🙂👍

[Hidden in reply to Pots11]

Thank You x

[Pots11 in reply to Hidden]

🙂👍

[firstlight40]

Hello,

An angiogram is the gold standard for assessing how well your heart arteries are working. The doctors can inject contrast dye which not only shows blockages but also how well the heart muscle is taking up blood. If they are offering to put further stents in then that is likely to be a good idea as they will know exactly what they need to do. For partial blockages they may try medication but since angioplasty is generally generally low risk (with minimal hospital stay compared to open heart surgery / coronary artery bypass grafts) they are likely to stent more severe blockages before they block entirely.

I had 3 stents 8 weeks after my first 3, they do like to leave a bit of time between angioplasties to allow you to recover.

[NLGA in reply to firstlight40]

does a echo not pick up arteries issues ? Only I have had a echo they said was fine but I’m still breathless and have AF non persistent

[firstlight40 in reply to NLGA]

An echo does not pick up artery issues as far as I am aware

[NLGA in reply to firstlight40]

that could be my problem then I’m at a loss to what else it can be that’s mskung me do breathless

[MountainGoat52]

Hi Pots11

I really like your attitude. Remaining positive is a key factor in recovering from a heart attack. I would encourage you to be proactive in respect of your ongoing health care. I certainly found the cardiac team very open to discussing the details of my case, though I do have to admit that at the time I did not fully realise how well I was being served.

In my case I was referred for bypass surgery rather than having further stents as it was thought that this would serve me better in the long term. The assessment of my situation was carried out within days of my HA, while I was still in hospital and I saw the surgeon just one month later. All this was before the current pressures on the NHS of course. I had the bypass operation and all I can say is that while the stent certainly improved my health, for me the bypass was a game changer.

What I would say is that I was offered treatment relative to my general health which was very good before my HA. Speaking to others that have had a HA, I have learnt that any further treatment offered probably will most likely be tailored to one's overall health.

My very best wishes for the future. Keep positive!

Gerald

[Chappychap]

An angiogram/stent procedure is low risk, but it's not zero risk.

Consequently cardiologists won't recommend one unless there's a compensating benefit. Stents make great sense in two circumstances, a patient who is in the process of suffering a heart attack (where the site of the total blockage can be identified by the angiogram and be relieved by the stent), or with angina (where the site of the partial blockage can be identified by the angiogram and relieved by the stent).

But in other circumstances stents don't add to life expectancy, don't materially reduce the risk of heart attacks, and don't help the underlying heart disease/atherosclerosis. So the first option is increasingly likely to be medication and life style changes.

Good luck!

[Paula233]

Hi there. I'm new here too. 6 weeks on from HA. I was wondering if you could explain more about the sensations you get in your chest some times when you change sides in bed in middle of the nigh? When I turn over in bed its like a little squeeze of the heart and takes a few seconds to re-adjust to the new position. Does anyone else get this and know what causes it?

[Pots11 in reply to Paula233]

Hi Paula233 I am definitely more comfortable on my right side and if I turn on my left side I can get flutters and twinges in my chest I must add sometimes doesn't seem to be much of a problem at all occasionally it is taking time to settle when turning as well being new to my situation obviously causing confusion maybe just trapped wind don't know sometimes at night no problems The plus side can feel my strength building and breathing with little walks around my local town nice and easy

[Paula233 in reply to Pots11]

I think we might just have to get used to these new weird feelings. Glad to hear you're getting out for walks and getting stronger.

[Pots11 in reply to Paula233]

I find its like finding a key to fit a door as of now and looking for them little openings🙂👍

[rizal in reply to Pots11]

I definitely found it easier to sleep laying on my left side (which makes very little sense to me, I would have thought laying on the right would be better) to the extent that now, I just automatically lay on that side as soon as I go to bed

[Pots11]

Early days but may well have to🙂👍

[Heartinthehills]

Hi Potts11. Sounds like you are under good care and will be given the best advice on stenting. After my emergency angiogram and stenting I was told that I had previous damage to the heart that I had been unaware of and had probably misunderstood previous symptoms. I found daily walks the best way to recover from the heart attack and haven't stopped exercising since. Like you I initially found sleeping on my left side or my back impossible due to breathlessness and have slept on my right side since. Must be something to do with elevating the heart. Good luck with future diagnosis and be sure it will be worth following their recommendations.

[Pots11 in reply to Heartinthehills]

Hi Heartinthehills I too have some heart damage down to what they called late presentation not realising I had heart attack despite going doctors couple of days before with vague symptoms and not picked up before hospital visit but onwards and upwards looking to the the positives👍