Slow recovery and set backs after angiogram and stent

[Grassmower]

I had an angiogram and stent inserted in late July after three weeks of angina. It was diagnosed as uncontrolled angina, it came on rapidly over three weeks and got worse very quickly. I suspected that is what it was and was happy with what was done and how quickly they did it, arrived 10am, stent inserted 3pm. I was kept in overnight and went home after being told to take a week off work.

For the first week making a cup of tea left me needing to sit down for three hours. I went back to work after two weeks part time.

After three to four weeks I started doing full time work and got chest pains but not like when I had angina, they were quite fleeting. On the Wednesday after a morning work and then cycling to an appointment to have my ears de waxed I felt really faint so I went to A&E who did the usual tests and could find nothing wrong so I went home. I took the next morning off and cycled to look at a new job. Friday I went to work again, cycled into town at lunch time for an appointment, cycled back, started the mower and felt faint so I packed up but felt so bad I called an ambulance. The paramedics said I had maybe used too much GTN spray which the cardiac nurse said to try to see if it helped with the chest pains and was maybe dehydrated. I walked my bicycle home but later felt faint again and called 999 who got a paramedic to phone me. He was great and we talked for 40 minutes. He said I might have done too much and to talk to the cardiac nurses. It happened again on Sunday. I called another ambulance. The paramedic could find nothing wrong and said it sounded like any mental or physical stress was making my heart do things that made me feel faint and that maybe other health things needed checking out and I had done too much too soon – I had very little guidance on when to resume activities. So that is five days of repeated panic, feeling faint, phoning 99, going to A&E, out of hours GP and no tests finding anything serious but a few blood markers a bit low.

I was living on my own in a flat where drug dealers hang around not far away and where the police call quite often due to various fracas and living like that when I kept thinking I was going to pass out was very unpleasent. Luckily friend kindly put me up in his Airbnb that I help run for a couple of weeks to have company and get away from the stress at home. I have lost some clients already and could lose more. I have too much savings to get benefits but they will not last forever, a couple of years at most.

I am now ok if I stay in and do nothing. A walk to the shops sends my heart rate up and leaves me feeling faint, though that is not as bad as it was when all this started a week and a half ago and calms down quite quicikly, though I will try to get friends to do my shopping or order it online.

The GP has been useless but cardiac support nurses, once I got hold of them, have been brilliant on the phone and have ordered blood tests, a change in medications and a portable ecg to be worn for a day which I am getting fitted on Monday and the blood tests will be done next week.

Has anyone else had a protracted recovery and set backs after having a stent inserted because this drastic decline in my health is not what I was expecting.

[r1chBr]

Hi Grassmower,

Maybe I’m not the first person that you want to hear from, but, I had stents and Heart Bypass 7 years ago (at 48yo) but unfortunately have not been as fit and able as I was prior, with arm aches, dizziness (on occasion) and chest pains (to such regularity that I decide whether they are “like I always get” or whether to call an ambulance - always decided to put up with it so far!)

Anyway, even though a cardiologist has told me before that “I have nothing wrong with me”, the main one (that I trust!) has said that I’m the one who knows my body best and to make the decisions that are “right for me”!

So, over time, you’ll get to know yourself and what works (what not to do!) but it takes time. Good luck with what’s happening and where you’re at and I hope you have a better set of experiences! This forum is really useful though for giving other people’s’ experiences, and hopefully they’ll give you a much better insight into alternative experiences than me.

[Grassmower in reply to r1chBr]

I am 64. Was slowly recovering, then it all went drastically downhill at week 4 post stent.

[FernCottage]

Hi Grassmower.

I have had stents twice (last time 2 weeks ago)and it has taken me longer than 4 weeks to recover. Some people bounce back quickly but I have found that I have needed to build up exercise slowly and going back to work full time and cycling may be too much too soon. I have found that short walks initially and then building up has worked well for me.

The cardiac rehab nurses will be able to give you good advice and cardiac rehab can be great to build up exercise tolerance and confidence.

I hope you feel better soon and wish you a speedy recovery.

[Grassmower in reply to FernCottage]

I hope you are right but that support for me kicked in too late imho.

I am used to pacing after operations or serious illness but this was different, I was slowly getting back into things and then got new weird symptoms of feeling like I was going to pass out.

I have spoken to cardiac rehab on the phone and will see them at the end of September for an assessment.

The notes given to me when I went home said take a week off work, they said nothing else.

I tried phoning cardiac support nurses but they said to leave a phone message on the answerphone and they would get back to me in up to three days. Eventually I got hold of them and they were helpful when I did.

If they had told me to do very little for the first month and then slowly build up work an hour or so a day on a trial and error basis if things were going well I would have done that and told all my clients that is what I was doing.

It feels like a fragmented system with inadaquate innitial support.

[FernCottage in reply to Grassmower]

That's very true.

The information says you can go back after a week, but I am not sure who writes the leaflets that says that it is fine to go back to work after a week. I am sure, however, that they have never had the procedure. I think it depends on how physical your job is. My consultant said that it takes about a month for a stent to bed in.

Maybe wait until you see the nurses for the assessment before thinking about going back to work - that's if that is possible for you.

[Grassmower in reply to FernCottage]

its possible but I have lost two clients already and could loose more. I think you are right and I need to plan for another month off work, at least till the end of September and then review. I can rebuild the business is need be and try to find a replacement gardener while I am off.

[SNA4724]

Hi there,

I had my stent fitted after a HA 6 weeks ago and recovery going well ut I have followed the Hospital and Rehabilitation Team guideance and I am still not back to work and no plans to until October.

I walk 20-30mins daily now or some exercise but getting at least 4-6k steps a day. I eat in moderation & balance and ensure I also get enough rest. I am also getting CBT support for the metal health side of this too.

Everyone is different and for different reasons but I would refer back to your Cardiac support anf GP.

Xx

[Grassmower in reply to SNA4724]

I went to the GP and they were useless. The cardiac nurses are great but I had no appointment for 6 weeks post stent.

[Grassmower in reply to SNA4724]

I looked at a letter from the cardiac nurses again and it said I had been diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophy. I looked it up and the symptoms are all the ones I had. They are easier now but still tire easily. Treatment seems to be get bp under control, take things easy and increase exercise slowly as possible. Seeing cardiac rehab for assesment tomorrow.

I feel better after reading the letter and exploring the diagnosis online as I can understand what is happening more.

[SNA4724]

Where in the UK are u based?

[Grassmower]

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