Angina after Stents

[albertcamus]

Is it normal to still experience angina one year after having stents fitted ?

This is a completely different type of pain that I'm getting now. Whereas before , and a good while after, my angioplasty I would experience sharp pain when exercising , that pain has now been replaced by an intermittent , but persistent , pain which I would most closely describe as a 'stitch'. I've also noticed that it appears to be linked to episodes of stress.

Perhaps I should also mention that I was recently , and quite fortuitously , diagnosed with an arrhythmia , but until I see my cardiologist in about three weeks' time I have no idea what type or the seriousness of it.

Any insights would be most appreciated.

[Whiteghost]

I still get Angina after stents 4 years on. I know if I over do it, get stressed, carry heavy thing's this will cause me Angina symptoms. I was prescribed by my consultant Isosorbide which definitely helps.

[albertcamus in reply to Whiteghost]

I was unaware that there was such a drug. Maybe I'll be prescribed it too.

Many thanks for your reply.

[albertcamus in reply to albertcamus]

P.S. Do you take that drug all the time or just when needed ?

[Whiteghost in reply to albertcamus]

I take it everyday twice a day.

[Happyrosie]

make sure you discuss with the cardio - and, if possible, take someone with you who can take notes of what the consultant says. Sometimes they are rushed, sometimes they says something and you forget what it was.

[Mlinde]

Isn't angina blockage in the small arteries/veins in the chest and not directly connected to the heart itself, thus having a stent inserted would make no difference?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Mlinde]

Angina is the symptom of the lack of blood supply to the heart.

Angina can be caused by the build up of cholesterol plaques in coronary arteries or due to the blood vessels not working properly, microvascular dysfunction or coronary vasospasms.

[Bring-on-the-bird]

I too get stitch like discomfort which originally started after my first ablation (cryo) for AF, first assumed it was heart getting over that procedure, finally went to GP after second successful (RF) ablation and was diagnosed with angina, had a stent fitted last year but still get similar discomfort which I can ease by adjusting posture when walking, Cardiologist said not angina as it will not go away by simply changing posture, said either heart inflammation or muscular skeletal problem. Having echocardiogram tomorrow to check heart condition.

[albertcamus in reply to Bring-on-the-bird]

Thanks for that. Will you let me know how you get on ?

[Bring-on-the-bird in reply to albertcamus]

Will do, might be a few weeks before I see Cardiologist

[Bring-on-the-bird in reply to albertcamus]

Results of echocardiogram shows heart is healthy, cardiologist not proceeding any further so not sure what is happening now

[albertcamus in reply to Bring-on-the-bird]

Great news !

I saw my cardio yesterday and he seemed totally unconcerned about the pains. (I'm in France so I'm reading inbetween the lines a bit when I see him.)

Anyway , he's more concerned with getting my cholesterol below 55 (68 now) so I'm on a new statin. He's stopped my anti-coagulant (just aspirin now) and he's stopped the cordarone I was given to treat the arrhythmia , which he says there's no sign of now and put me on solatol which is both a beta-blocker and a treatment for AF.

I don't have to see him for a year now.

[Bring-on-the-bird in reply to albertcamus]

👍

[Miocardial_1]

I am almost 2yrs post HA and 2 stents. I was recently diagnosed with microvascular angina as I have struggled intermittently since the HA. This is when the smaller arteries are blocked or obstructed but cannot be seen with all the tests they do.

I take Ranolazine 500mg x2 daily and Isosorbide Mononitrate 60mg daily to help with the pain. These meds were prescribed by my cardiologist.

Ironically I was weaned off these meds a few months ago as a different cardiologist told me I didn’t need them and all was well. A week after stopping them became quite uncomfortable.

I hope they find you a solution!

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Miocardial_1]

Microvascular angina is a type of angina/ ischaemia non obstructive coronary arteries ANOCA/INOCA.

The small vessels don't work properly, either fail to dilate or stay dilated in response to extra demands on the heart, like exercise. The blood vessels are not blocked or obstructed.

The BHF has this information about

Microvascular angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[albertcamus in reply to Milkfairy]

Yeah , I'd seen that link you posted in a reply somewhere else. I'm not so sure they'd be ready to investigate that possibility yet , at least not until they've determined what my arrhythmia is all about. Would you have any information / opinion on any connection between that and the angina ?

Thanks.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to albertcamus]

Hello,

My understanding is that arrthymias can lead to the heart not being able to pump enough blood to heart muscle.

It may help to keep a log of your symptoms, including any possible triggers of your chest pain. Then discuss your log with the Cardiologist at your upcoming appointment.

Perhaps write down all your questions too.

My husband has 2 stents and had his atrial fibrillation successfully treated with an ablation 2 years ago.

I hope your consultation goes well.

[albertcamus in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks for the info , and for the tips. It actually sounds that your husband and myself might have travelled down the same road.

Best wishes.

[Jedi14]

I don't know if this is a normal sequence of events, but it did happen to me-angina. I started getting chest/stomach pains which could not be resolved with gaviscon but with GTN spray. After several weeks of daily pains, my GP refered me to the hospital. Several tests later the Cardiologist started me on Bisoprolol, a year later (almost pain free), I have a cardiology review next week.