Hi everyone. Not been in here for a long time. But back and need some support! Had my second stent in my LAD on Wednesday just gone. Feeling very low, emotional and worrying about the future right now! Worried the niggles I'm getting since the procedure. Hoping there just the stent bedding in.. I actually feel worse than when I took myself in and had the procedure.
I'm taking my first step back to work today as I get NO sick pay and it's going to be tough! Every twinge across my chest or shoulder scares me. New medicine 💊 I need to take has left me overwhelmed and I love alone. Have two beautiful daughters and worry I will be around long enough now to see them grow up
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Rob6868
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You are going to be fine. Since my stents in 2018, I have had 2 heart incidents. 2019, 2024. Following stays in hospital and angiograms. Nothing was found. I know that feeling, every twinge makes you think is this it, what should I do. Try to take it a day at a time and don’t beat yourself up. New meds can always mess things up. Try to stay positive. Neil
I'm more concerned about the fact it's another Stent in the LAD just 6years from the first one.. also I've noted something on the notes. "Possible Malapposition". That worries me.
Photo included.. perhaps you understand it more? I've been given an Echo appointment in Jan.. obviously to see how it's all going.
"Stent malapposition" is when the stent doesn't expand all the way out to the artery walls. But your cardiologist then expanded it again ("Post-dilated along length...") and got a "Nice result".
Hi thank you for your Reply. Sorry where was that written? It's concerned me. So is it a good result or something I need to ask questions about.. thank you for taking the time to reply
It says. "Then OCT run shows nice stent apposition.But one area of of possible Apposition.. what my point was is that it's stated after not before... So my reading if that is that there is possible Apposition after the stent was given. Or am I missing something here? Sorry for being fickle but wouldn't you lead the notes with possible Apposition then say good result???
Yes, possible malapposition after the stent was initially inserted. (The stent is inserted collapsed. Once the collapsed stent reaches the place your cardiologist wants it, the stent is expanded. The OCT run showed that this initial expansion might not have been enough along its entire length.)
Then, your cardiologist did another pass with a 4x20mm NC balloon to further expand the stent (the "Post-dialated..." part). It's a bit confusing because "dilated" can be either an adjective or a verb, but in this case I believe it's a verb.
Still have aches down left arm in and off..dull aches and in chest.. I had similar when I had my first stent. But this does bother me. If she's put yet another stent in the same artery surely I should not be getting any niggles now. Now ache in chest on off or down forearm all during the day on and off and into my hand at times .
It may help you to know that my husband has lived with a 100% blocked LAD since 1997 after a massive heart attack & cardiac arrest at age 42, neither stents or a bypass were an option for him, he's been treated with medication since then.
There's no reason to think you won't be around long enough to see your daughter's grow up, you'd be very surprised at how effective medication, a healthy lifestyle, diet, exercise, etc can be & what you can achieve with the right mindset.
I was so interested to read your inspiring post. One of my stents says it has 80% residual stenosis. The other four have 0% residual stenosis. I was so worried that my artery was still so blocked, even with the stent in. You are right about having the right mindset, but that's so difficult when we have been through such a traumatic experience, and get very little help or support for our mental health. Since my heart attack my anxiety is through the roof and I'd never been troubled with it in my life before then. Good luck to you and your husband. Best wishes.
When my husband had his heart attack and cardiac arrest nearly 30 years ago his MH was very badly affected, he was just 42yo & was basically just waiting for the next 'big' one! He was uncommunicative & couldn't see a future for himself, etc. The only support available then was cardiac rehab, but this helped him massively to accept what had happened, how to change his diet, exercise, how to go forward in life etc and more than anything, it gave him the opportunity to talk to others who'd had heart attacks. Since then my husband has the most amazing positive attitude to not just live but to enjoy living. His heart has been failing for the last few years, due to cancer treatment, but still he's determined to just not give up or give in. I'm not saying everything is hunky dory, it's not! Twice in the last 2 years he's had hospice support to help him with cope with his symptoms which in turn helps his MH.
These days MH is acknowledged more openly and there is more help available. Maybe it would be worthwhile speaking to your GP about counselling, I believe you can actually refer yourself for counselling. Take advantage of any & every help available & try to enjoy life, don't let the worry of tomorrow spoil today for you.
do you feel different from when you had the first stent ? Did you get twinges then ? I would give your cardiac nurse a call to put your mind at rest . Worrying times for you . I wish you all the best
Hi I know that feeling it's hard to stop worrying and it's the unknown, I had my heart attack age 49 in 2022, I had to have 2 stents and I got a fair sized blood clot in the apical and damage the muscle in two places which I've been told after a few echos its not repairable, what a crazy frightening time and it's great being a person that can get on with life without it being such a worry but if your a worrier its in your thoughts all the time, every pain sends you into panic mode. I've got three kids they got a shock aswell I'm hoping things will get better for you over time, I'm getting help I'm waiting on my 2nd call from mental health to help, I got refered by my doctor,hope your OK and life gets better
Hello. You are having a bad time, and naturally you are worried. Overall the statistics are very much in your favour, and the most likely outcome is that you Wii soon be better to enjoy the next many years. I hope so, and best wishes
You will be fine, now that you have another stent. I was saved by 2 Doctor's out of the blue, they happened to be walking near me when it happened not knowing each other. I had an emergency stent in my LAD in 2015 waking up from an induced coma. I haven't felt any pain since but funny twitching every few months, probably physiological more than anything. Just try to relax and eat as healthy as possible, only real food and do any sort of exercise, that's what I do and that's what the cardiologist tells me. And we can hope everything will be alright. Imagine if you didn't have the 2nd stent. You are in a good position now. Take care.
Stent technology and heart medication have come a long way. You’ll be fine. I had a CABG x 4 in 2017 and following the failures of the grafts in 2023 I had 6 stents. The world record for stents is, I think, 36. I decided I don’t have time to think about the negatives because I can always go back and get 31 more and become the record holder. I am, however, v careful with my diet and do plenty of exercise.
Rob you’ve done the right thing and shared your worries, it will get easier and inevitably your worried right now it’s to be expected. But going forward make the most of every dad and your daughters. In the 3 words of Michael Fox “ No bad days”!👍
OK mate, I think that you are tackling this in a completely wrong way! Please take heed, you simply cannot rush this. It took me 2 months of cardiac rehab before I started back to work!
Granted you have financial restraints, but better safe than sorry-yes? You gotta give your body a chance to adapt and adjust, this takes time. If you rush it you will crash!!!
Hi Rob, sorry to hear you had to go through another procedure and you are feeling low about it I completely understand. I had a stent in my LAD 4 years ago and always worry how long they last! Did they say why this could have happened? Wishing you well
President Biden has had a stent since 1998. A Stent is attached, it cannot reattach or fall out. It's only cholesterol that can impede. There is a 2% chance of this particular part of the LAD where you had the stent to narrow again. It will last a lifetime for sure. Eat healthy and exercise, rest as best as you can. And you will outlive most people! 🙂
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