New to this - so much information it is unnerving

[TCX57]

Had three stents fitted on 24th Jan. Not had a heart attack. On the 26th Jan went for a walk for 60 mins felt fine, went again today for an hour felt fine. Now reading articles about stents collapsing etc, and am nervous about leaving the house. Ran regularly before the procedure. Never had chest pains or tightening in chest. Any advice gratefully received?

[Hidden]

Hello

Sounds like you are doing really well after recently having stents fitted your recovery seems fantastic

If we start reading up on things we will find horror stories about everything that is why Google is our worst enemy

Anything we have done there is a slight percentage we could get a complication but slight this is with any op of any kind

So do not read anything other than the success stories which there are lot's of and get out and keep doing what you are doing your heart and stents will love these walks and your body will tell you when you need a rest which we have to listen to as well x

[TCX57 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks BeKind, I will resume tomorrow. Before I did my “research” I was totally relaxed and concentrating on how I actually felt.

The support I have had on here has really helped thank you 🙏 x

[Hidden in reply to TCX57]

You will get some great support on here and glad you are going to resume your daily life Again you are doing really well x

[Nettekin]

Stents r us? 😋 x

[TCX57 in reply to Nettekin]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[Nettekin in reply to TCX57]

Sorry tcx57! Post went a bit off piste there! I have always been guilty of reading too much. Have always liked to know things from an early age, but maybe books were a lot less worrying than the jolly old internet.Often we are are almost forced to search for answers online as we leave hospital or the consultants office with way too little information.I guess we need to look at stents as the start of a new life, not the end. Maybe life will be different, but not necessarily worse.

Take care of yourself, be mindful but try not to live life in fear.

With all best wishes for the road still to be travelled. X

[TCX57]

Thanks that is a great response. Really appreciate the time you have taken to reply.

[TCX57]

Yes I think I read too much today. You always seem to be 2 clicks away from death or disaster. Thanks for your wisdom

[TCX57]

Good luck with the Anglesey 10k. Thanks

[TCX57]

Will do. They do one local to me. 😀

[GloucesterRam]

Had five stents 5 years ago at age 51 (no Heart Event just a Cardio CAT scan that showed significant plaque build-up and led to my two angiograms three years apart). Lots of meds but still do everything I used to - run (badly), walk 20+ miles (inc. big hills), press-ups/plank, get stressed watching DCFC, and ski (pre-Covid and hopefully again soon). See my Cardiologist every couple of years and otherwise keep all my fingers crossed.

[firstlight40]

Hello I'm the same age as you and had an HA nearly a year ago with 6 stents in 2 procedures, It's great to hear you are doing well after yours and they caught the problem before you had a heart attack.

Some people here report it takes a little while after stents to feel better, but the rate of restenosis (stents blocking) is very low. As others have said Dr. Google is not your friend.

I would take it a bit easy on exercise as you are doing for a while if just to ensure that you recover from the stenting procedure and take precautions like having mobile phone, exercising with others and keep a gtn spray with you while you regain confidence. The general advice is to initially keep the exercise level below the point where you can't hold a conversation as you are out of breath.

As you i expect you know you can't drive for a week after having had stents.

I would also keep your cardiologist /cardiac team aware of what you are doing as they will know your precise heart condition better than anyone here. Good luck.

[TCX57 in reply to firstlight40]

Thanks for the response. I have been monitoring how I feel when walking and have felt okay whilst out. I take my mobile and have talked easily to people whilst walking so I don’t think I’m overtaxing myself.

I asked the cardiologist about running and she said leave for a week then see how I feel. I think I will have to listen to my body not Dr.Google. There is no set manual for this.

I feel lucky they spotted the problem early as you say. I am also not driving. Hope you’re keeping well and thanks for the advice 👍🏻

[pjw17]

Hello, TCX57,Are you going to cardio rehab? They will take you through the exercise regime.

Good Luck.

[TCX57]

I will be and am hoping that this will be next week. I have only heard good about this service.

[Greenthorn]

Hi TCX57 - I neither run nor have stents but reading your post and ALL the wonderful replies has inspired me to activate an exercise plan. Very best wishes for your continued recovery. New horizons await you.

[TCX57 in reply to Greenthorn]

All the best Greenthorn. I agree with your sentiments about all the comments. They have inspired and supported me. I am more worried about a new diet plan now 😂

[Raylpa]

Your feeling are entirely normal and I had the same concerns when I had a stent in 2014, age 56. I have led a normal life since cycling hill walks flying cruises gym. I do now always warm up and confess on occasion have what if moments. Don’t become a victim, do all you can on the diet front, 95% plant based whole food is my choice now, keep the right BMI and get or keep fit.Kindest regards

Ray

Chester

[TCX57 in reply to Raylpa]

Thanks Ray. Starting to look at the diet. Think that will be my biggest challenge. I am determined not to imprison myself by what has happened.

[AnginaYorkie]

Hi I'm similar had 3 stents a year ago in my LAD no HA just shortness of breath whilst running or cycling. I think its natural to worry that everything is ok and I've done my fair share but I also look at it as my problem has been fixed. I'm a veteran runner of circa 20 years and I got back to running as part of the rehab. I used to go very early mornings but now only run in the gym early just in case. Saying that I've never had anything untoward happen. I'm slower than I was and don't push as much as I did partly due the medication I'm on. I also was given a GCN spray prior to the stents and I still take it with me but never yet had to use it. A really good resource if you are a runner is to look up Cardiac Athletes, They're on Facebook and there's a couple of books to read with some inspiring stories its a really good group. Hope all goes well.

[TCX57 in reply to AnginaYorkie]

Thanks will look at the group and the books. Really appreciate the response 👍🏻

[TCX57 in reply to AnginaYorkie]

I also think that’s what puzzled me initially I’ve had no tightness in chest or shortness of breath. Just glad they spotted it when they did. Thanks for your reply

[ChoochSiesta in reply to AnginaYorkie]

Is the reason that you are slower down to Beta blockers restricting your heart rate?

[AnginaYorkie in reply to ChoochSiesta]

Yes once I get to a reasonable pace and HR gets above 140 I struggle to maintain it my legs feel like I’m running in mud

[ChoochSiesta in reply to AnginaYorkie]

This happened to me on beta blockers too, but at about 130. They also made me dizzy at times so I stopped taking them, my doctor agreed this.

[richard_jw]

Hi You seem to be doing very well.

Bear in mind on this board there are people who have problems, some of them serious, and they are frightened or concerned and want help.

Yours seems to be a straightforward angioplasty. I believe that the vast majority of them are.

You did not have a heart attack, so hopefully there is no damage to the heart muscle. So you should be OK

[TCX57 in reply to richard_jw]

Thanks Richard

[Jetcat]

Don’t DR Google TCX. I spent some time doing that over the years and I was sick of getting my funeral plan out and updating what music I wanted playing at my funeral.!!!!Not that it mattered because if I’m lucky they would only be 2 folk at my service anyway, and one of those would be the minister, the other would be me.!

It sounds like you’re doing good. Keep up the good work and I’m sure you will be posting for many many years to come.👍 best wishes. Ron.

[TCX57 in reply to Jetcat]

😂😂😂I’ve done similar re funeral plans! Feeling far more positive now. Thanks for the response

[oshodeosho]

I would also suggest to work with your cardiologist constantly to baseline your medication over next one year. Really balanced diet and exercise is also equally important. You will be just fine. Give-up googling...

[TCX57 in reply to oshodeosho]

Yes 👍🏻 will do. I am not looking at Dr.Google now. Still out walking daily and feeling positive. Looking at diet. I will find that hard and will take your advice re liaison with cardiologist.

[3MSF]

Hi - as a 57 year old man myself, I suffered a heart attack (narrowed artery) last November, completely out of the blue. Never had a day off work through illness. Thought I had a chest infection on the Wednesday morning, went for a meal with friends on the Sunday but just didn't feel hungry. Friends advised walk-in centre. They advised A&E for tests, but two hours after the test whilst awaiting the results in the A&E waiting room, I had a heart attack (couldn't have picked a better place - VERY lucky indeed!)

I had a couple of stents joined together, fitted as one. Like you, I became quite analytical - it's natural to be that way, but the worst thing you can do (as I've since been advised...) is trawl the internet for answers; the BHF website was advised as the only site written in a way that we need to hear things, and I believe that to be true. You'll find general horror stories elsewhere!

So finally to your question, stents collapsing is apparently a rare event, and usually happens during it's relatively early life. A friend I have used to manufacture them, and the manufacturing tolerances are incredibly tight and product integrity is confirmed throughout the whole manufacturing process, so that's good news (that you would probably expect anyway with such an important product as ours.)

For what it's worth, since my MI/HA, I've learned of so many people around me that have stents that I was unaware of, and they are far more active that most people, so it's okay to think a little about yourself for a change, and let the development guys, scientists and engineers look after our stents for us. You can't influence any outcome, so it's pointless worrying about it, especially when it's not likely to happen! 🙂👍🙏

Don't waste your energy on worrying about stuff you can't influence, instead, think about yourself for a change, treat yourself, have a little 'me time' and enjoy life looking forward to a long and healthy future with those you love around you my friend. 😉

[TCX57]

Thanks 3MSF, I really appreciate the post, as I have done with very other reply I have had. I think I had a Dr.Google wobble post procedure but thanks to all the replies on here have carried on just listening to my body, and walking every day. I now have my appointment booked with the physios this Thursday and they have been very reassuring saying I have done all the right things to date, and that I can start running again as soon as I want.

I have made changes to my diet and am feeling really positive at the moment. Really interested in what you have said re:stent manufacture, which my more rational self sees is totally logical.

It's great to hear from other people who have undergone similar issues, and hearing different stories really helps with the pshchological side to this.

I wish you all the best with your recovery as well, and hope you have a long and healthy life as well.

👍👍👍