hi everyone.
It’s 5months since I’ve had a stent fitted.
It’s been a 2 step forward and 1 step back recovery.
Recently, 3 times in the last week. I’ve been waking early hours of the morning and not getting back to sleep. During that time I go from trying to control my breathing to a full panic attack and tightening of the chest. Last night’s episode has carried on into today.
Has anyone else been suffering with this?
It’s really getting me down.
Hello 
I had a triple Bypass I suffered and still do with anxiety but since the Bypasses my anxiety is if the scale now and for me it has been 2 years !
I am not saying yours will last this long as I said I had anxiety before it all happened but with stents Bypasses and so on it does have a Mental affects on so many of us one that usually settles down our brains can take longer to get over it than our bodies !
If you keep suffering though you can refer yourself to Talking Mental Health in your area that could help or speak with your Doctor but you are certainly not alone and these steps you feel going back don't count them just count the ones where you are moving forward try and stay focused on them x
Hi there, sorry to read about your sleepless nights & panic attacks. I can sympathise as I also had / have a lot of sleepless nights, waking in the early hours and not being able to get back to sleep. I also suffer from anxiety and was on amitryptaline before my HA so am having to cope without that.
Have you been offered counselling as part of your rehab programme? It is worth thinking about if it is available in your area and might give you some ways to cope with things.
I also wonder whether any medication you are on might be causing disturbed sleep? I think my nights are a bit better now I have changed my PPI, which was giving me really bad sickness & diarrhoea.
Wishing you the best of luck, and remember you are not alone. I for one am really glad to have found this community.
Thankyou
I am on a waiting list for talking therapy. But I have no date.
Hi
I have been lucky to receive 6 counselling sessions at my village GP practice which has really helped me pre my recent diagnosis of severe stenosis, now I've had this shock diagnosis I will be back asking for more sessions 😀 My son in London had a 4 month wait for Talking therapy by video calls but its really helping him
So I wish you all the best and finding this community is a huge support
take care
Hi there, it is very logical, natural & common reaction to heart issues. I had very similar experience after 2 stents 3 years back.
Take one day at a time keep yourself busy and mentally occupied. Try talking to your family & friends watch movies ennjoy out door walks etc.
Please stay away from any type of anti depressive meds ( ssri/ nsri) you can safely take lexotanil/ diazepam for good sleep. It is really necessary to reduce your anxiety and take off the edge so in my experience benzodiazepines are safeabd good.
This phase will pass and in a couple of weeks you will not even remember this.
Good luck !
I had an aortic valve replacement 10 weeks ago and have suffered with the physical symptoms of anxiety for the past 4 weeks. I feel for you as it is so debilitating. I was referred to Talking Therapies and due to start the first week in October. I am at cardio rehab currently and it helps to talk to others. It seems a common problem following heart surgery and it is meant to get better as the body heals. This forum is a great help as you don’t feel on your own.
Hi WhatjusthapenedI had 3 stents last September. I had the same issues you are describing. The Rehab classes helped a great deal for my confidence. If you showing no symptoms on exercise or exertion then it is mostly down to anxiety and the medication. Try to do something that will take your mind off your symptoms and that helps you relax. Overtime it will be much better
Thankyou
What you are saying is so logical. Trying to get my head to think that at 2 Am is the hardest thing.
Hi!
After a failed triple bypass, a massive pulmonary embolism, a paralysed diaphragm and 4 large stents in 3 arteries I continued to get all sorts of pains and feelings of anxiety. I wake at all times of the night and struggle to sleep sometimes. Anyway, my GP gave me Diazapan, a small dose, everyday for just 2 weeks. He wanted to know if the anxiety and pains were real or a result of trauma. Whilst taking them most of the symptons went. Your mind can cause many very real symptons. Talk to your GP to get some meds, just for the short term, until you're reassured everything is well.
All the best
Susie x
To What just happened. Not only have I had exactly the same experience as you but when 'that feeling' went on into the next day, my husband rang 111 for advice. They sent an ambulance and the medics took me to A&E. I was assured everything was OK with my heart and it could be that because I was on medication that was acidic, the 1 tablet of Lansoprezole that I take in the morning to protect my stomach is not sufficient to last all through the night (I take 2 further tablets in the evening) I was therefore advised to take a 2nd Lansoprezole with food at 6pm. It did seem to work for a few days at a time but, like you, it returns now and again. I too, practice deep breathing and I sometimes go back to sleep, but not every time. Now I know all is well with the stent , I just get up every morning, make myself busy and put up with it as best I can. Saying that, you do have my sympathy. It's very disruptive.
If you didn't have those feelings you wouldn't be normal...I know that I went through the "what if it happens again" feeling particularly at night time.
When I thought about it I focused on the positives, my heart had just been given a brilliant service and MOT and was in better shape than it has been for years.....I was also on a cocktail of drugs that were reducing the pressure on my heart and were stabilising and strengthening the plaque in my arteries there by stopping lumps breaking off and creating blockages.
In myself I also felt fitter and didn't get as short of breath when doing vigorous things.
I'm 70 and living a full life and thinking about being around for a lot longer.
Just to add if you are offered rehab jump at it, it will really help you and restore your confidence that your heart is now in fine shape.
Thankyou for you reply.
I have been through rehab and you are correct they do a great job of reassuring you.
I will try to concentrate on the positives .
Panic attacks
Panic attack 
Told it was a panic attack when I was in fact having a heart attack 
Panic attacks and high anxiety 2 years after heart attack and quad heart bypass
