Pain after stent

[Bluebear99]

Hi, my husband had a stent 18 months ago following an Angina diagnoses and still gets some sharp pain in the chest every now and then which always happens when he is at rest. The pain is quick and sharp and doesn’t last like the Angina pain he had pre stent so he doesn’t need to use his spray. It still causes us concern though. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Tos92]

Hi Bluebear99

Welcome to the forum.

Has the pain been investigated any further?

Unfortunately, I don’t have any advice to offer on stents however, I do have a type of angina called vasospastic angina that I experience on rest. This is when my myocardial bridge (an artery which tunnels through my heart muscle) goes into spasm and it’s primarily felt on rest. Although symptoms for vasospastic angina can vary on an individual basis, my pain never manifests itself in one single way. Sometimes it feel like pressure, squeezing, a dull ache, stabbing, or even a tight band around my chest. It radiates to my upper back, arms and jaw.

It would be a good idea to touch base with his cardiologist to have him reviewed.

Perhaps during the next episode, he could try using his GTN spray and see if that relieves it?

All the best.

Tos

[Stentrunner]

My experience exactly. I had stents in 2020, and was plagued by pains afterwards (and still am, but much less often). I think many of the anticoagulants we’re prescribed will irritate the stomach (esp aspirin). I learned that angina pain (for me at least) was always dull and persistent, usually linked to exercise, whereas stomach-related pain was sharp and short-lived, often coming while sitting or lying down. And didn’t change if I used the GTN spray.

Unfortunately, after a cardiac event we’re quite paranoid about chest pains. Quite naturally I think. Sharp pains that don’t respond to GTN aren’t going to be angina, I reckon. But do pester your GP - I did, and what I’m relating is what I learned from that. No point in just continuing to worry about it.

[Calnapth]

I have had two stents fitted 2 1/2 years ago, quite usual to get sharp pains for some time afterwards and ongoing. Nothing to worry about you will see many posts on here with similar stories. The sharp pains are quite different to angina and heart attacks. And usually last for just a few seconds.

[lizzieloo2]

My husband had a stent fitted last year following a heart attack caused by high cholesterol blocking his arteries. He kept getting chest pains afterwards and after a trip to A&E as the GTN spray wasn't cutting it, he was told that up to 15% of patients develop angina following a stent. He was given Amlodipine and was asked to double his Bisoprolol. He didn't do this as he explained that 5mg at a time made him dizzy. So he just took the Amlodipine and for the most part, the pains have gone

[Bluebear99]

Thank you everyone