Any help with a breathing diagnosis really appreciated.

[Aljobrad]

Hello all, love this forum, it’s been so incredibly helpful to me! ❤️

I am a 48 year old man. I am fit and healthy (well I thought I was!) 5 months ago, (March 2024) after some chest pain whilst running, I got diagnosed with coronary artery disease in my LAD and I was booked in for a stent fitting. I was immediately put on daily aspirin and atorovastatin.

A little while after this, I developed a sporadic breathing issue whereby I would need to take a deep breath in to get an ‘up and over breath’ (I hope that makes sense) followed by a satisfying out breath. I was not struggling to breathe at all when this happened nor was I panicked by it. I also developed some light-headedness which was troubling me. At the time, the Dr said this was most likely due to anxiety. I am not (and never have been) an anxious person but I did experience some anxiety for a few months whilst waiting for my stent fitting.

[For completeness, I was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis in September 2023 and have been taking 15mg Lansoprazole daily since.]

Fast forward to June 2024 and I had the stent fitted in my LAD artery. The procedure went well. I was immediately put on Clopidogrel for 1 year.

Since the stent fitting, I am still experiencing the sporadic need to take a deep ‘up and over breath’ and light headedness. I also feel a sensation now and again between my shoulder blades. Although not alarming, it does trouble me somewhat and I wonder if something is going on that shouldn’t be. The Dr. has tested my bloods and done an ECG and all is well there. I don’t feel anxious anymore and I sleep well.

Has anyone experienced this kind of sporadic breathing? Has anyone had a diagnosis for something similar that they would be willing to share with me? I’d love to know what is causing this kind of breathing and lightheadedness so I can tackle it and hopefully begin to feel normal again. Maybe someone has an insight in the best way to move forward with it?

Really grateful for any thoughts/advice/suggestions. I wish everyone on here good health!

[LuciaHJ]

I found Aspirin didn’t agree with me, had breathing difficulties, now only have clopidogrel, much better, speak with gp, try omitting aspirin ? See if improves. Discuss with consultant,

[Aljobrad in reply to LuciaHJ]

Thank you, I will definitely speak with my GP about aspirin.

[pete109]

Everyone has a different experience with the various prescribed meds, I’ve had 4 stents from the results of tests for sudden unexplained BP rise, didn’t solve that problem but probably stopped me having a heart attack / stroke etc, Atorvastatin has a known side effect of breathlessness, I can run up and down stairs and not get breathless, but sitting down relaxing I notice it’s sometimes slightly harder to breathe in, I stopped taking the statin for a while and that effect disappeared, it takes 3 days for Atorvastatin to leave your system, anyway that’s just me, but most of the meds for BP, and other heart problems have a mile long leaflet insert with numerous side effects listed that scare the wotsits off you anyway.

[Aljobrad in reply to pete109]

Thank you, I might come off the statin for a bit to see if it makes a difference to my breathing.

[Darcey10]

Hi, I had a stent fitted 2.5 weeks ago, breathing is fine but I to sometimes get the stabbing not pain just uncomfortable between my shoulder blades. Has a post op check this Wednesday so if I find anything out I will let you know

[Aljobrad in reply to Darcey10]

Hi, I’d really appreciate that, thank you!

[Darcey10 in reply to Aljobrad]

Apologies for late reply I had appointment today for cardiac rehab and mention that I get like some pain in my back between shoulder blades. They have said it’s my body getting used to the stent and can take up to 6 months to settle. That gave me some relief, just wish the consultant had said that. Hope that helps you

[Aljobrad in reply to Darcey10]

Thanks for coming back to me, I appreciate it! Yes I’d say my stent took about 6 months to settle. Like you, I kind of wish they’d said that to me at the time as everyone was talking to me like I’d be right as rain in two weeks!!!

My breathing issue persists! In 3 months I can come off either the aspirin or clopidogrel so I am hoping that will help!

[RF260]

Hi, sorry I'm late to this one too..had HA in April, caused by plaque rupture, no need for stent though my discharge letter says "LAD moderate eccentric hazy proximal lesion IFR 0.92 and FFR 0.82 so not flow limiting" not sure if that means might need stenting one day..Anyway to your point about breathing I get the same issue , cardio nurse suggested switch blood thinner from Ticagrelor to Clopidogrel, did that and no real change, changed statin from Atorvastatin 80mg to Rosuvastatin 5mg for leg pain and that's helped leg pain but no change to breathing, might have to up the dose if cholesterol doesn't come down a bit... Just reduced bisoprolol (beta blocker) from 2.5mg to 1.25 due to pulse and BP going a bit low but no change to breathing. So from discharge the only thing I haven't changed is aspirin. Like you I can bin the Clopidogrel once been on it for 12 months so I'm hoping that may help breathing. The other thing I dislike is when walking up steep hills and getting out of breath I can hear my breathing inside my head, I think that may be the beta blocker holding us back. So in summary I get these random breathing episodes and trying all sorts of trial and error to sort it, wear a fit but and gave a home bp monitor too, good luck.

[Aljobrad in reply to RF260]

Hey, thanks for your reply, I appreciate it. Breathing inside your head sounds disturbing, I hope you’re coping okay. I still have my breathing issue - I stopped my statin completely for a few months - no difference to my breathing. I can drop clopidogrel in three months so really hoping that helps! Stay well!