I have just had my Follow up appointment with my cardiologist. (Stent fitted 4 months ago).
I explained that I get out of breath and have dull ach in my chest if I overexert myself.
I explained that if I am anxious or stressed I get a dull ach/ pain in my chest.
I was advised that of course I should keep up my Cardiac rehab and keep exercising. Keep a healthy diet. If I do have any “severe pain” I should slow down!
I was told my “out of breath” and “ stress pain” has nothing to do with my “arteries/heart”.
As my stenting was successful and my arteries are now clear.
So my breathlessness & chest pain was a shrug, it must be other health issues that I have!!!
Left feeling something is not right here!!!
I am tempted to get a second opinion, but do not want my cardiologist to know this, feeling a little vulnerable. Any idea what I’m supposed to do with this!!🙄
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Suziexxx
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hi Milkfairy, thank you for your response. I will have to do some research on these conditions. There’s so much to think about. Then I will try to make a decision on what I’m going to do next. Again, thank you Milkfairy 😬 x
Susie, I am 65 and had 2 stents for NSTEMI in 2019. My ejection fraction on echo the day following was 46% due to ventricular stunning caused by ischemia. I found it hard to walk without chest and back tightness the first few weeks, It took 12-18 months to gradually build up strength and walking distance during which time I had frequent weird fleeting pains in my arms, chest back, and jaw. I used my NTG spray when needed, sometimes before I started walking. I am now 3 years out. I do a strength circuit training class 3 x week, an over 50's 45minute aerobic class, weekly, and a 6-8 mile walk with my local walking club monthly. A recent " private" echocardiogram my ejection fraction at 69% and my EKG was normal. Things do improve.
Hi Hatchjd, thank you for your response. You have certainly gone through a lot . And wow you are amazing. The first month was tough and I do feel much better now. I have taken onboard the advise that’s been kindly given. I will carry on with my Cardio Rehab and some 🧘🏻♀️🏊♀️🏋🏻. Much research needs to be done so I better get reading 🙄. Thank you again Hatchjd 😬
Hi Suziexxx, four months is still early days. I was a terrible stress head after my stent. I panicked over every twinge and pain, convincing myself that I was going to die. Sent my bp sky high. Three years on I am calmer, healthier and happier and probably fitter than I have ever been. I completed C25K last year and run 2/3 times a week. Im not a fast runner but I dont do it for speed. I found exercise routines on you tube I enjoy. I'm in a good place and am enjoying my second chance at life. I hope you find your good place soon. X
Hi fedupoffeelingtired, Love the “name”, how I’m feeling most days 🥱 . Thank you fir your response. Like you I was very anxious and think I still feel vulnerable. I did not think I would still feel discomfort in my chest or that breathless after exertion. My blood pressure is always slightly high. But no one in the profession seems to be concerned about this! So I assume everything is o.k!!! Good to hear you are doing so well. I will have to persevere with my classes and try to have a healthier diet🤪. Keep the good work up “fedupoffeelingtired“I think you might have to change your Name 🤣 x
I’ve have exactly the same- with the cardiac team, s as great a they are, telling me it not cardiac. you post has given me some reassurance I’m not alone!
I did have a wonder if the actual stenting could have caused a mini wound on the vessel it goes through and that now causes my ache when stressed/sudden exercise (it doesn’t seem to ache if I’ve warmed up/down). Idea it could be an alternative I’ll follow to.
Like your ou am now on second bout of cardiac exercise rehab and that’ll help. I’ve found getting exercise fitted in v difficult with six year old, single parent and work - the physio doesn’t quite see having a six year old is exercise itself!!
I know what you mean. So thankful for the Cardiologist…….but when they say they have opened the arteries & given your meds!! It seems to feel like they have done there job & any other “issues “ have nothing to do with them!! ( not in so many words, but you know what I mean🙄). It just makes me feel vulnerable. But I guess with have to be more confident in ourselves and soilder on with our rehab 🏋🏻🧘🏻♀️. Looking after your 6 year old is more than exercise 🤣. I work part time and feel shattered all the time. But I do feel better after rehab and it is important that we keep it up 😬 x
hi Susie- it is reassuring that many folks who had their sents a longer time ago are now mainly pain free and less tired once meds sorted.
It be nice if they told you at the time of the stent it’s take much longer to recouperate- I’m 9 months since and no longer feeling tired (apart from normal waking too early/being disturbed by animals/children!) as mentioned do have aches still… but of course all that fiddling about insides us is likely to cause bruising and with the anti-coagulants we take they take so long to heal.. I’ve bruises since August! So what the inside must be like… perhaps that also contributes to aching…and worse for if if they had such a trouble.
Big hugs, take it easy as well as doing the gentle exercises, and eat all the good things you feel your body needs (um, that’s not biscuits but greens and eggs and fish in my book, with helping of cake and custard sometimes!!)
🤣 MangoJamonToast 👌 Yes your right about not being informed about the long term affects. But like most if not all I’m learning as on go on. I think this forum is great for advice, motivation & some positive thinking. As for diet, biscuits, snacks, chocooooLate….. 🍫 my favourite things. My poor arteries what have I done to you 🙄 🤗 x
Some meds cause the breathlessness and the weather will have a big effect. Low cloud, high humidity and low or high temperatures all cause stress.
Exercise is important even if that is only walking in which case walking at a good pace and uphill are helpful. I won't presume to ask if you are overweight, but a heart condition will punish those carrying a few pounds too many. Whilst BMI is useful, a better indicator is waist size measured properly. Often a shock!
Yes your right I do believe meds do have these side affects, in fact I had to be taken off Bisoprolol. I found it very debilitating.
I work part time. I walk my dog most days. Going uphill is a struggle. I get out of breath, I have been told I “might” have mild asthma! This has never been tested because of my procedure! But pre op I was always very tired. That has not changed . I fall asleep where I’m standing 🙈. I will have to try and push myself a little more in regards to exercise. 😬x
Hi Suziexxx - do you think the dull ache and the out of breath are related - that is, is what you're doing to put you out of breath causing the dull ache? If so then I think you maybe need to pursue it but if not it may well down to meds which can lower the pulse and seem to contribute to a sort of breathlessness where you never quite feel you're taking enough air in. I would stress that I'm not at all medically qualified and can only go on my own experiences so apologies if the above is unhelpful.
Thank you for your response. Every reply is great fully received. It helps me to read everyone’s experiences. I can relate to most and the advice is vey appreciated. If I overexert my self, walk up a steep hill, I get out of breath. If I am anxious or stressed about anything I get a dull ache/slight pain in my chest. On both counts I just have to stop what I’m doing or walk away from a situation. Could be angina, perhaps my mild asthma which has not been confirmed! 😬 x
Hi Suzie - yeah, it does sound as though the one thing has an effect on the other. I did feel a positive effect re effort expended after having stents fitted - that is, things did seem a bit easier. I think you've got a lot of stress and anxiety tied up with this - it's almost impossible not to have, I think we all feel edgy when the slightest thing isn't as it should be - but it does seem as though there are other things going on too and maybe you're spot on re asthma. I'm not sure re angina, I really don't think I've experienced it - but does it make any difference if you take the spray when you've felt a bit overexerted? If so then it could well be that. But - as I say - I've only got my own experiences to go on and I've probably been pretty lucky, all in all. Hope you're feeling ok.
Yes you are right I do find it stressful not being able do what I used to. I am fiercely independent and have always been very active. I am finding this all very frustrating. I’ve had Fibromyalgia for 10+ years, as a result I am in discomfort and pain on a daily basis. So the stress of this is always with me, so in the long term this is probably the cause of my blocked arteries.
If I am very stressed about something and get chest ache/pain I use the spray under my tongue the pain does subside.
When I over exert myself, especially going uphill and get out of breath, I use the asthma pump and it does help. I have only recently been given the asthma pump.
I have not had any tests for asthma because of the stent procedure that I have had. I was told I have to wait 6 months for the test.
Thank you James , good to hear you are good. Take care James 😬 x
Hi Suzie - Really sorry to hear that, it's awful when we feel we're not able to do what we could do a short time ago. There seems to be quite a bit of "limbo" about how you're feeling too, with not being sure re the cardiologist and not being able to get an asthma test. I think the "not knowing/not getting an answer that makes perfect sense" is the worst bit about all this - inevitably, your mind fills in the gaps.
I'm not sure what you can actually do - can you ask for a second opinion? I'd probably go to my GP and just explain the concerns but it does seem like that's exactly what you've done and it's a really unsatisfactory response. I don't know what to suggest - I'd maybe try again? But it's really easy for me to say that..
I hope you're feeling ok. I had to look up fibromyalgia and it sounds pretty unpleasant. Hope you're able to have some activity - do you run or go to gym or anything like that and are you still able to go or would that now be a no-no?
Hi Suzie, I had two stents inserted two years ago this month out of the blue . The procedure was reasonably painless and quick,followed with supportive pills. The first two months were tentative with some uncessary anxiousness along with some tension and heavyness in the upper chest/ neck area . Cardiologists checkup gave me the ok saying that what was experencing was common.and would settle.
Thank you for your response. My procedure was painful. They could not go through my writs/arms. They had to go through my groin. As they were pushing up through to the arteries I was in much chest pain. I had to be given oxygen. And then Morphine. My first 2 weeks at home I felt exhausted, I could not do anything. I have much improved, but I always feel very tired. Hopefully in time I will feel much better. Good to hear you are feeling better. 😬c
I had a stent inserted exactly a year ago. It was totally unexpected as the only symptoms were slight breathlessness. For the whole of this year I have been intermittently anxious as my breathlessness was worse and tightness in my chest occurred but not when exercising, how could I feel worse? The GP didn't seem concerned nor did my interventionist cardiologist who signed me off via phone call 3 months after the procedure. I had an ECG a few months ago and last week an echocardiogram after a 5 month wait. Nothing seems untoward. The physiotherapist says the tightness is musculature, a result of me holding my shoulders forward to protect my chest. I have just stopped taking the ticagrelor and it may be my imagination, but I do not experience the same breathlessness going upstairs, in fact I feel really well. I do exercise a great deal and never experience pain on exercise.
In conclusion certainly obtain medical advice and get checked out but post stent discomfort and breathlessness doesn't appear unusual judging by responses on this forum which I have read avidly over the past year looking for support, comfort and answers from fellow post stenters. I am very grateful for that.
Thank you for your response. Yes I think the forum is Fantastic. A great place to talk to fellow stenters. Get some advise and gives to motivation to get answers from the medical profession. Helping feel a little more confident after hearing other stenters experiences.
It sounds like your medication might have been causing your breathing/pain. It’s good to hear your back in track.
I cannot get my head around some of the responses; Breathlessness & chest ache pain !! Some say it takes time. Cardiologist says it’s other medical issue!! Confusing!!! I think I need to make an appointment with my GP!!
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