Stents bedding in

[Dinsdale1]

Hi, I had my STEMI a month ago yesterday, had 3 stents fitted. I am doing a lot of walking, i try and get 10,000 steps in daily. Thats going well though i find there is a deffinite barrier, a demand for "more power" if you like but its like the beta blockers just wont let my heart go, a bit like having a blocked fuel line in a car. thats not a bad thing as i can still feel the stents, they feel like a bit of stuck food would but more to the side. Is that normal at 1 month? how long does the "bedding in process" usually take?

[Chappychap]

I'll leave others to reply on stents, as I had a bypass not stents.

I will however comment on your beta blocker question.

Firstly, a huge "well done" on your commitment to walking! We only have two weapons in our armoury to prevent another heart attack; medication and life style changes. And we've got to exploit both of them to the absolute max...and it sounds like that's precisely what you're doing!

Many people report hitting a "beta blocker wall", and it was discussed at length on the Cardio Rehab course I attended.

The bottom line is that we construct lots of mental barriers to our physical performance, and beta blockers are just another one. The trick is to dig deep and push through (providing of course you're still within your safe heart rate guidelines and there's no specific joint pain or other signals telling you to dial it down). Once you've broken through the beta blocker wall a few times you'll find it becomes a smaller and smaller barrier, it's just the first few times that can be a struggle.

Once again, congratulations on your progress so far and good luck with your future fitness campaign!

[Prada47]

Hello

I don't understand I can feel them ?? Stents are opened up into the artery wall and are then kind of fixed in position they don't move as far as I know. I would be a little careful trying to overcome the Beta Blockers only a month after having an MI.

Ordinary walking shouldn't need to push your Heart what H R reading do you get out of curiosity. I had a new stent fitted on Thursday and I walk s Dog for around a mile or so at a very easy pace without requiring to increase heart rate. I also have a 39% ejection fraction.

Regards

[Dinsdale1 in reply to Prada47]

Like i said i can feel they are there, feels like stuck food would but to the side rather than central. I cant get out of the blue on myzone, so cant get above 70% generally its stuck at about 64%. Ejection fraction was 45%but that was at the last echo the day after my 1st op

[Prada47 in reply to Dinsdale1]

Hi If I was you I would phone either the BHF Nurses Helpline or your GP tomorrow to request information on your Stents. I have never heard of anyone being able to notice they have Stents !!!

Regards

[Qualipop]

You shouldn't be able to feel stents. I didn't feel anything at all either when they were put in or now. I think it's more likely to be your stomach reacting to the meds. You definitely need to see your GP.

[Dinsdale1 in reply to Qualipop]

Thanks both. I did so, well a phonecall anyway. It seems a month is still "early days". Apparently its not unheard of for people to feel like there is something there. Not feeling the stent so much but brusing and things from the operation putting them in, in my case especially the first one. Will be a concern if its the same after 3 months. so will just have to see how it goes. In the mean time its just keep on walking and dont push barriers too soon.

[Qualipop in reply to Dinsdale1]

Definitely; take it steady. Your heart has been damaged and part of the muscle that lacked blood supply will have died so it won't work as well as it did before. IT may only be a small amount of damage and lifestyle changes and medication can help strengthen the rest but you can't just go back to what you were doing before. Remember the tortoise and the hare. Build it up gradually.

[GnomeHA]

Hi Dinsdale,I had an NSTEMI and one stent fitted last September. Not sure of exact dates, but I could still "feel" my heart probably up to around Christmas.

For a long time I was very conscious of my heart, but thankfully that has worn off.

I'm sure some of it is psychological, but I definitely felt "different", and put it down to the stent still bedding in and becoming part of me.

Good luck in your recovery, and keep up that exercise.

[Buster5]

Hi, I had two stents a year ago, I’ve never been able to feel them, or even been aware of them. Perhaps you should mention it to your doctor.

[Buster5]

I get chest pains, I’ve been back to hospital many times but never anything wrong. It’s now been put down as anxiety. Anxiety tablets seem to be helping, I never had anxiety before my heat attack.