Overthinking?

[Echo24uk]

Briefly, 40 year old male, non smoker, rarely drink, diet could be better and only slightly overweight. Active all my life.

Woken suddenly in the night in February with crushing pains, brushed off until the next day happened again. Hospital said no HA and sent on way. Similar before Easter and then again just after. Had a CT with contrast between. On attending the third time they said severe blockages in 2 arteries kept in hospital and had 1 stent (0.9) blockage and another area was 11 with extensive furring. Still not sure how severe this means!

final consultant said no HA but unstable angina which has been treated ( spoke to GP) yesterday who said - oh you’ve had a stent, that means you’ve had a heart attack !

Following stent (Monday just gone) 5 days later I am a wreck, emotional, pains all over, tired all time and breathless. Stomach is in pieces and feel sick all the time. Very burpy. Do feel better for a short time and then feel rubbish again. Every little pain I panic it’s heart related and have quite a bit of soreness left side of chest and bruising ( I’m putting this down to the echo)

Woke in night both arms dead and pins and needles and now scared to be alone/go to sleep.

Cocktail of drugs which I have never had before twice a day!

Does this get better? I have a young family and I want to be able to focus on them a and not myself !

Anyone feeling similar and or when did you get better

[Hidden]

Quick reply concerning pins and needles and numbness in your arms. There is a possibility that this is carpal tunnel syndrome, especially if it has got progressively worse over time, and is worse at night. I suggest you discuss this with your GP. I had this in both arms and ended up with release surgery which worked.

[Echo24uk in reply to Hidden]

it has only been since coming out of hospital

[Captain_Birdseye]

The emotional side of things is normal... there's not a person on here that will deny that - the anxiety can feel as bad as the cardiac!!

My thoughts would be that you need to give yourself time - you've undergone a trauma and you need time to recover both physically and emotionally. Make a list of questions and concerns and go speak to your GP, or call the BHF helpline to speak to a cardiac nurse.

You can't just switch this off unfortunately, you will need to focus on yourself for a few weeks to get better. I appreciate you will need to be a father as well, but where you can try to take time for recovery.

[Echo24uk in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

thanks for your reply! Started on that list … my GP might not thank you for advising that though haha !

[Goonerboy6661]

I think your GP should go back to school to be honest as you can have a stent fitted without having a heart attack, anyway this is what my AI program recommends, always double check with a doctor though as it’s just one of many resource tools.

This guy is going through a really rough time, both physically and emotionally, and his GP’s comment was completely unhelpful. Let’s break this down:

1. Did He Have a Heart Attack?

• His hospital consultant said no heart attack, but unstable angina with severe blockages (one artery almost completely blocked and another with extensive disease).

• His GP incorrectly said, “if you had a stent, you had a heart attack.” That’s not necessarily true.

• Reality: Having a stent doesn’t automatically mean a heart attack. Many people get stents before a heart attack occurs to prevent one (like in his case with unstable angina).

• However, if he had troponin elevation, then it might have been a small heart attack (NSTEMI), which sometimes gets miscommunicated.

2. Why Does He Feel So Awful?

• Physical Recovery: After a stent, it’s common to feel bruised, sore, and weak, especially if the procedure was through the wrist or groin.

• Breathlessness & Fatigue: Likely due to the body adjusting to blood flow changes and medications (like beta-blockers and blood thinners).

• Stomach Issues & Burping:

• Could be due to aspirin, clopidogrel/ticagrelor, or statins, which can irritate the stomach.

• PPIs (like omeprazole) are often given to prevent this, so if he’s not on one, he should ask.

• Emotional Rollercoaster:

• Many heart patients experience anxiety and depression after an event.

• Fear of sleeping is common—a lot of people develop health anxiety and panic attacks.

• The feeling of being “a wreck” is not unusual—it’s a huge life event, both mentally and physically.

3. What Should He Do?

• Give it time—most people feel significantly better in 4-6 weeks as their body and mind adjust.

• Get reassurance from a cardiologist, not just a GP. If he’s still breathless, having night symptoms (dead arms, pins and needles), or struggling mentally, a follow-up is needed.

• Ask about medication adjustments. Some of his side effects might be managed better.

• Try light exercise (if allowed)—short walks help circulation and mood.

• Seek emotional support. He should talk to other heart patients (like in the forum) or even consider cardiac rehab or counseling.

4. Will He Get Better?

Yes! But he needs to be kind to himself and not expect to bounce back instantly. The fear and anxiety will improve with time, and most people feel much stronger within a couple of months.

His biggest challenge right now is mental, not just physical—he needs support, proper medical follow-up, and reassurance that he’s not alone in feeling this way.

[DWizza in reply to Goonerboy6661]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 fab reply 👍🏻