I had a stent fitted for a stenosis of my LAD artery 26/10/21.
I continued to get chest pain which got much worse in May 2022 where I've since had to use my GTN spray whenever I'm active.
I was reassured can't be cardio so must be gastro. I do have gastro issues and had an oesophageal inlet patch ablated in September following developing ulcers around it.
My chest pains didn't get any better after this op so I went back to my cardiologist and today I've had another angiogram. I have another severe stenosis immediately proximal to the stented midcourse segment.
My cardiologist said it's a very rare complication where the balloon they use damages the artery causing it to narrow/scar.
Only me! Is this rare or has anyone else had it too? As my procedure was only an angiogram today he couldn't fix it and I have to go back for the stent.
I have had a run of medical issues since my last stent in 10/21, not related to my heart and I want a break! I'm only 47 🙁
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LucyBoo21
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You expect to feel and be better after a procedure has been carried out not worse.
I think there is often some confusion whether something is gastric or heart related (it has happened to me on both occasions) the added difficulty for you is that you have had gastric problems.
It is not something I have had to deal with, but I hope you don't have to wait too long to have the angioplasty and this time everything will work!
Thank you. I hopefully won't be waiting long, I'm very lucky to have private medical insurance through my work so I'm private. My cardiologist didn't expect to see anything so was surprised. Even he said of course it would happen to you! All my cardiac tests come out normal so it never shows untiI I have something invasive!
Indeed you are very lucky. I cannot complain too much about the treatment I have had with the NHS but there is no doubt something to be said for the speed of private treatment.
I agree but have to say my last stent was at our local NHS hospital but as a private patient. I was done last, after all the NHS patients at about 4pm so was a long old day waiting! I didn't mind though as some were urgent.
I had a Heart attack in May 2021, stent fitted. Due to Restenosis ( caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue) I had another heart attack in Oct 2021 another stent was fitted. Than I went private as the chest pain came back... Again had Restenosis. Jan 2022 I had a complex pci as the only other option was bypass. Everything was going well until June 2022 when chest pain came back and had my 6 angiogram done very mild sign of restenosis but was managed with medication. Sept 2022 had another Heart attack and needed urgent bypass surgery. I'm on the road to recovery. I was also told I'm one of the rare ones. I'm 42 in Dec its been a roller-coaster and the worse part my reports where not always matching my chest pain or when my heart was in distress I wasn't always feeling the pain. My consultant cardioloist and the cardiac surgeon have been brilliant in answering all my questions as best as they have been able to. If you every want some one to talk to my door is ways open. 🤗. X
Thank you, I'm so sorry you have had a hard time, much worse than me as I've not had a heart attack.
My is down to family history but I'm the youngest it's ever happened to. Since my first stent I've been so good and been even more healthy than before and I now don't drink alcohol at all. But I do wonder whats the point when this still happens.
My ECGs and treadmill tests are always normal, it's only the angiogram/CT angiogram which shows my issues.
We are both in the rare and special club! Thank you for your support xx
which is common as we get older, you may think it your heart. Being close to it. But can be painful
We adjust what you eat
low carbs no suger or bread biscuits as it will make it worse.. low fat in everything but you are more then likely have them removed ask your gp to refer you to the right consultant. am talking with experience.
Thank you for your message. This stenosis confirms my pain is related to heart. I only get when I am walking quickly or doing something strenous and my GTN spray always stops it if I take it before I walk.
Having seen my friend with gallstones earlier in the year, I don't think I have them,it's very much a different type of pain.
Same thing happened to me . blockage occurred in the lad beyond the first stent. they blamed me and tried to put a new stent in but could not. it was scar tissue and calcium cholestrol. never heard that it could be balloon they used damaged the artery causing it to narrow/scar. had off pump lima by pass 10-10-2022 and I am better. but no one ever mentioned that. Is your first stent still working?
Gosh sorry you've gone through that! He said it's right next to my first stent so I hope another stent can go in, he said that's what they will do and didn't say it needed anything different.
Yes my first stent is fine he said.
Will have to wait and see when he does it. I'm so anxious waiting for them to contact me!
Hi Lucy, with private healthcare it should be possible to have it done in a private hospital fairly quickly. If your cardiologist says another stent will fix it then I am sure thats all it will take. I am sorry to hear that they doubted you and thought it was gastro related but at least now they will sort it once and for all.
To be honest I really wanted it to be gastro as it would have been the less serious of conditions! I held off seeing the cardiologist for as long as I could as I wanted to see if the pains went after my oesophageal ablation.
But the pains got worse so my GP then said I had to see him so I did and here we are.
Almost the same as you I had a stent fitted in my LAD artery 28 /10/21. The cadiologist told me all othe arteries were ' prisine'.Echocardiogram showed no significant problems.I was discharged 3 months later by phone call with the cardiologist telling me the procedure was very successful.Since then I have experienced breathing problems which seem too be getting slightly worse.I have contacted the doctor twice and 5 months ago referred for an echocardiogram.Still haven't heard anything! It really doesn't seem right that I feel worse the pre stent.I too consider if there was some freak damage to the artery on insertion of the stent especially as it was the first time the doctor had fitted a stent , albeit under supervision!.My GP does not seem concerned so I don't know what to think.
Good news that I took my last ticagelor today.No more bruising
Thank you for your reply, 2 days different in our stent insertion!
I'm sorry you're feeling worse, I did too and I've hated using my GTN spray daily. If I forgot and started walking I'd then get pain and have to slow down which frustrated me. My pain is very central and burning that at it's worst spread to my arms. I was put on amlopodine two weeks ago and that has helped alot, the pain does still come but not as bad.
Please push to be seen, I really didn't expect another narrowing or complication nor did my cardiologist but it clearly does happen!
I'm just about to start clopidogrel again, I'm really not looking forward to the bruising or the effect it had on my eriods
Sorry for the delay in responding. How are you now? Have you heard anything yet? I so much empathise with you. Everyone says you must be fine after stenting ' what can go wrong? You are fixed now' but you still feel this can't be right. Others tell you they were absolutely fine after the stent, no breathlessness, no pain. It is very anxiety producing.
I finally managed to speak to someone in the echocardiogram appointments who told me they had no referral from the GP! I have waited 5 months for nothing. I am still waiting for the GP to get back to me.
Today I do have slight pain/discomfort and am so worried. Do I go to A and E and wait for hours and am not sure that tests there will show anything, or do I see the cardiologist privately? I do wonder how many people like yourself are not ok after the stent and why do blockages occur so soon. Balloon damage is very worrying especially as it isn't picked up at the time. I always suspected this was possible but never heard it mentioned.
You are so young to have to deal with all this, a year of stress and worry. Please let me know how you are, and I will report back.
Thank you so much for your message. I'm so sorry hear your troubles. If I was you I'd get onto the GP and make them fully aware of your symptoms and that you've waited for so long and still no appointment. Hopefully they maybe to fast track you then
If you have the money going private will give you access to the tests quickly. It shouldn't be that way though should it.
I'd never heard of the balloon damaging the artery and I've googled it and not alot comes up. Although it does say vessell damage it a complication of an angioplasty so guess it comes under that.
My next angioplasty/PCI is on Monday 14 November. I'm so anxious, I've been told to expect an overnight stay whereas last years was a daycase so I'm worried they think it may be not a routine stent insertion.
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