Another Question - Healthy individual - hiking, biking, 60 years old, 4 stents in first week of Jan 23 and Feel little tingle in chest, arm

[michellefisherm]

Hi,

This forum has been God sent.

I am 60 year old and have been hiking, biking, walked the Camino last year. I was asymptomatic.... Had stress test done in November 2022 which led to Angio and then 4 stents to clear the 3 major arteries in first week of this month - Jan 2023. I need help with following

1. This is my second week after stenting and feel little tingle in chest, arm occasionally. Is this normal? How long will it take to disappear if it is normal?

2. How quickly can I fly in a plane?

3. Taking Metoprolol (50 mg twice a day), Losartan (12.5 mg twice a day), my heart rate is averaging around 52BPM and has ranged from 44-92BPM. It drops down at night below 50. Is that ok?

4. Once i become active again, what should be my active heart rate range? Is there anything else I should monitor while exercising?

Thank you.. Thank you.

[Mentdent]

I was going to say that that is the kind of thing your cardiac rehab team would tell you but then I realised you are from the US. All I can say is that I was told to allow three weeks for things to settle after the angioplasty and stent, the blood vessels get injured by the procedure and the associated inflammation takes time to settle. They use 17 bars of pressure to expand the vessel. That’s a lot of pressure. It’s after that three weeks that I started my rehab which is normally tailored for the individual.

[michellefisherm in reply to Mentdent]

Rehab has started but I am not too impressed with the nurse coordinating/leading it. Sigh. I am finding more help here.

[wischo]

Took me a few weeks for the mild pains to stop but took a year before I accepted that every little pain is not heart related. Your heart rate seems fine and is very similar to my own rate. I was back active a week after my stent as I wasent told otherwise. Ask your GP when it is safe for you to fly. Good luck.

[michellefisherm in reply to wischo]

Thanks for your comments on HR. I am back at work after a week too but my work is on a desk and over phone. The release cardiologist said I should be back to my normal biking in 3 weeks.

[pasigal]

I had (for my first round of heart issues) a similar pathology and treatment as you. It will likely take months for you to feel "normal" assuming no complications. Hopefully you will be prescribed a full course of rehab shortly. But for now, just take it really easy.

[michellefisherm in reply to pasigal]

thanks.. i will have to keep that in mind that it will take some time to heal... My angio was through the wrist...

[michellefisherm]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences.. I was told by the release Cardiologist that I should be back to normal in 3 weeks and should be huffing/puffing again on my bike.