Hi, l’m 56 and had two stents inserted three weeks ago. It was a bolt from the blue as I had zero symptoms, it was during a routine lung scan (I’m asthmatic) that I learnt my arteries were seriously narrowed.
Recovery is going well, no secondary effects from the meds, but I just wanted to know if anyone else was feeling the same as me … I have kept away from the gym but I do walk a lot. Any time my heart rate accelerates over 95, I feel a strange sensation in the chest area, definitely not pain but like a heaviness, and also a strange almost burning like sensation in my armpits … it doesn’t last long but feels weird. Should I be worried or is this all just part of recovery? Thanks so much for any inputs and I hope you are all doing well.
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AscotMoon
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I had one stent after STEMI, but no warnings of any problems before that. You are in early days of recovery, so listen to your body and take it easy if if doesn’t feel right. I was only walking about 20min a day 3 weeks after my heart attack and stent, but never had weird armpits or heavy chest. But then I only had minor chest discomfort during the STEMI…everyone is different.
I am guessing you may be taking some post stent medication?
I experienced similar discomfort following stenting due to protective Beta Blockers meds. Symptoms disappeared once off this one. Check with your Doc . Good luck
This person’s experience sounds quite typical for early recovery after stent placement, but they should still report these sensations to their doctor. Here’s why:
1. Healing Process – The heart and arteries take time to adjust after a stent procedure. Sensations like heaviness or mild discomfort can be due to improved but still-adjusting blood flow. The body is also healing from the catheterization.
2. Medication Side Effects – They didn’t mention which meds they’re on, but common post-stent prescriptions like blood thinners (e.g., ticagrelor, clopidogrel) and statins can sometimes cause unusual sensations, including muscle-related discomfort. Some people report tingling, burning, or heaviness due to these medications.
3. Nerve Irritation or Inflammation – The procedure itself can sometimes irritate nerves around the heart or chest wall. This might explain the burning sensation in the armpits.
4. Exercise Response – Since they’re avoiding the gym but walking a lot, their cardiovascular system is still reconditioning. A heart rate increase from walking should normally be well tolerated, but if discomfort persists, it’s worth checking in with a doctor.
When to Worry:
• If the heaviness worsens or turns into chest pain.
• If the burning sensation spreads or is accompanied by dizziness, shortness of breath, or nausea.
• If symptoms are consistently triggered at low exertion levels.
My Suggestion: (AI not mine)
They should track when the sensations happen (time of day, exertion level, how long they last) and mention it at their next cardiology check-up. If they feel uncertain or symptoms worsen, a stress test or ECG might be needed to rule out any underlying issues.
It’s great that they’re walking and staying active, but they should listen to their body and not push too hard too soon. Given that they had no prior symptoms before the stents, it’s understandable that any new sensation would feel concerning. A follow-up with their cardiologist would be a good step for peace of mind.
From my experience, 4 stents 2 years ago, no symptoms, like you from the results of scans for something else, any heart related condition you have has you concentrating on the heart alone, the meds have numerous side effects, including muscle ache, chest ache etc, if you’ve got a few hours, read the med packet insert with a long list of side effects that may or may not affect you, for me the muscle aches, skin irritation, slight heaviness in breathing, dizziness and slight memory problems, which I proved to myself were due to Atorvastatin, all symptoms were from the meds I was on, now changed the statin, not taking BP meds at the moment as I can’t find one I can tolerate without an alergic reaction and my BP is lowering anyway now I’ve stopped the BP meds, all of previous symptoms are slowly disappearing, you can still get flu, covid etc even if you’ve had the jabs.
Hi PeteI had 3 stents in 2022. Your point about the meds is interesting. I have a lot issues with arm pains. I have been told it's not heart related but when I ask the medicine side effects they say its not them. I take Ramipril Bisoprolol Asprin was in Atorvastatin but came off them because they were making my pains unbearable. Do you have any pains with these?
No pains that I can link to any of the other meds, just atorvastatin, but Ramipril, which I was on originally was OK for 12 months then all of a sudden a severe allergic skin reaction, so switched to Losartan, again OK for 12 months then severe skin reaction again, at the same time Atorvastatin gave me a severe skin reaction along with some of the other listed side effects, I was also originally prescribed Bisoprolol, which made my heart pound but no muscle ache so I stopped that one as well, muscle aches are documented as a known side effect with Atorvastatin, there’s more information about that on US teaching hospital websites rather than the NHS here, the NHS seem to be limited on what they’ll tell you about side effects of meds for some unknown reason, it’s no good asking a GP because they’ve probably never had the condition that requires these meds, they’ve only got what the NHS tells them. I find sites like this one useful because you get real people’s experience on the various meds. You could try this web site as well and look up the med you’re on patient.info/forums/categor.... Another thing I've noticed now having stopped all BP meds and just taking lo dose aspirin and Ezetimibe statin, I feel a lot better, not so wiped out as with the other meds, memory improved as well, which is another noted side effect of atorvastatin. People are different in their toleration of certain meds, unfortunately they seem to affect me particularly badly.
Yes I have been getting skin related pains like pins and needles on both arms and back. I came off Atorvastatin but still on low dose Ramipril and Bisoprolol.
I was also getting pins & needles like that, I was worried that the skin irritation would turn into full on anaphylaxis, blue light ambulance to hospital etc. that's another reason why I stopped taking the meds, keep on at your GP and try different meds seems to be the go, even if you have to break the tablet in half or a quarter to limit the dose for a few days until you find some that you can live with, anyway that's what I did.
If the pain goes away at rest i think you should see your cardiologist or see your rehab nurse. Your cardio rehab nurse should be able to tell you your target heart rate as well.I used to feel indigestion on my chest when i used to walk up a slope and that used to go away when at rest. It turned out to be my heart.
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