Stent newbie

[PaddyRedVan]

im 58 and very fit but recently had heart trouble out of tge blue. Ive had 3 stents fitted and am on 5 meds the procedure was 12 days ago and i started back to work today. I came home completely fatigued and unable to do anything. Is this normal?

[Heather1957]

Oh yes!

In 2017 I had a bypass and obviously that was a tough process but in October last year I had 2 stents fitted but they had to drill the arteries to fit the stents and I can tell you it was grueling.

It surprised me it took weeks to feel fully fit and even now, nearly a year later I get pain.

Remember it is a marathon not a sprint.

[22alfie]

omg! Is your work run by Hitler?? Or are you self employed? You'll be at least and I mean at least 4/6 months your body has had a shock your pills are new and need 6 months to settle in. Yes it's corrective surgery but there is a recovery time. Your not invincible!! And it's telling you to slow down. Give yourself a shake and a break!!

[Yogi1950s]

I presume "back to work" allows forr reasonable adjustments in which both your employer and you have been consulted.

No matter, in simple terms, doing too much, such as a day's work will wipe you out. It makes sense when you think of the lifestyle changes that you are making now you have an understanding of you heart issues.

I didn't return to work until i had started cardio rehabilitation which meant having 4 months off work and even then a full on day wore me out.

Take things slowly and the long-term impact will be much greater

[VelvetSky]

Hi, you are trying to run before you can walk,take it easy, it will take some months to get back to anyway near your normal. Push too much and you’ll find yourself back in hospital as I did, take care🙂

[Clerkenweller]

it takes time for your body to recover. The meds take time for your body to acclimatise. It also the case that your meds might need changing. Be patient and go to cardio rehab. Alpha males are very bad at taking advice and admitting frailty.

[BridBoy]

Morning PaddyRedVan, its quite normal, or it was in my case to feel totally buggered for about four weeks and then for things to slowly improve, with just the occasional wobbler over the next couple of months.

Youre on some pretty powerful medication that is stopping your heart from over exerting itself.

Within four months of my angioplasty I was fitter than id been in years, even though id felt pretty good before the heart attack.

Take it easy mate.

[Chrissca71]

Hi i am the same as you had to have 3 stents fitted but had not had a heart attack that was 12 weeks ago i was very tired to start with that lasted for about 4 weeks i am 71 and started going for more walks building up what i did now for last month been going to the gym and i no longer feel so tired take it easy and dont rush your recovery

[Kwakkers]

Yep. Had mine after the cardiac arrest and it took AGES to get back to ...normal? Whatever that is.

Stents are there to make the arteries narrow again, so that means blood has been flowing more quickly around you than normal. Now the `tubes` are narrower you`ll feel the difference. Relax and be EEZIE. Follow the advice at `Follow-ups`. If you`ve got a Hotline to the hospital use it; the staff at my place are exceptional; yea, it`s NHS..... at its best.

Kwakkers.

[Kwakkers]

....and do the opposite, which is why is took me a year to learn to walk again. Bloody agony at times. I had a bit of help; my daughter`s a doctor , and YES I have tried to persuade her to go for cardiology, but will she listen to her `ol man`?

[Kwakkers]

At Wythenshawe (Manchester) there was a direct line to the Support Group; call them?

I`m now in Newcastle having specialist attention (WPW syndrome) so I`ve forgotten most details.

[Kwakkers]

Yep, as you were probably told. 12 days ago?? Your body`s still in shock. Had mine 11 years ago; told (ordered?) to go swimming. My judo mates didn`t want to know me, haha...so swimming it was.

Terrific these days and my hospital loves me; my home monitor keeps a 24/7 `eye` on me and calls me if there`s an `OOps`.

Listen to what you`re told....diet, exercise, drink and Do it. My daughter`s a doctor and is always fascinated with what I`m doing and the Clinics I attend......and NO, she won`t specialise in cardiology. Where did I go wrong, haha?