Recovery and Medication After Angioplasty

Current Postings on This Page (15):

• l underwent Angioplasty on 5th Feb 08 and went home the next day. Important things to note:

1. take a good 2-3 days rest;
2. do not drive for at least 5 days (I drove 2 days later and the the groin was badly swollen and bruised;
3. Do NOT lift anything more than 2.5 kgs for at least 2 weeks.

Take care folks
Raja, Singapore, March 2, 2008

• Hi, my name is Marcela and my dad has undergone an angioplasty + stent procedure 6 days ago. My doubt is that after 3-4 days passing uneventfully, now he has this feeling of drowsiness which I cannot find cause of. Maybe some of you could give some feed-back, please. Thank you very much
Marcela Allheimen, August 18, 2005

• i have an employee who is having angioplasty and a stent put in. he has 80% blockage in one artery and 30% in another. How soon after can he return to driving cab for us.
debra stewart, quesnel, bc canada, July 22, 2004

• my mother is having angioplasty this Thursday 18/11/04 and we hope to fly out to Sydney next Friday- anyone think this is possible as Idon't want to push her. Janine, Auckland, New Zealand. 15/11/04
janine Brearley, Auckland New Zealand, November 15, 2004

• My father has had a similar reaction to his recent angioplasty as Connnie's husband had. After first five days passing uneventfully, he has been acting very erratically, irritable, reports feeling dizzy and generally "out of it." Left hospital with no plan for cardiac rehab and a one week follow-up appointment with cardiologist. Cardiologist simply stated that internist should deal with symptoms my father has been experiencing. Any others out there with similar stories?
Sheila, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 25 Jul 2002

• I had my angioplasty (for 3 blocks) three weeks back. I have not resumed my normal activity yet. Please let me know the rest period and the rate of activity level to begin with.
Samuel George, Madura Coats, Tirunelvali, Tamilnadu, India, 22 Mar 2002

• My husband had a quintuple bypass 12 weeks ago. Last week he had to go back in and have a stent put into one of the bypassed arteries. Since we have been home, his behavior has been somewhat erratic. He is taking heart medicine and was taking vicodin (back pain). He falls asleep during conversations, moves as if in slow motion, talks quite slowly at times. What is normal for a patient recovering from this procedure?
Connie, Glendale, Oregon, USA, 27 Dec 2001

• I am going in for an angioplasty. Are there statistics on recovery period after the operation? How long will it take me to feel better? How long before I start normal activities?
Mona Ramani, , KlL, Malaysia, 22 Oct 2001
 
• Had a 99% blockage in the right posterior artery and underwent the procedure March 7. The rest of my arteries are clean and the procedure took about 45 min., with the entry point in my right radial (wrist). After having my wrist clamped with what appeared to be a nylon ratcheting strap for about 8 hours, (allowing me to move around the ward) I was kept overnight and released the next morning. Pretty painless aside from a bit of swelling at the site, but I have decided to take a few days off just to gain back some energy. I will be taking Plavix for a month to prevent my platlets from "attacking" the stent and plugging up the site again, plus 6 weeks of Ramipril to dialate my vessels, although my blood pressure has always been normal. I also will continue with Lipitor for my cholesterol, which has been brought down to normal after 3 months of use. Too little, too late though. It's an easy procedure to endure and I found it quite fascinating. Good luck to you.
Pete, British Columbia, Canada, 9 Mar 2001

• This is my 2nd angioplasty and one stent and bypass surgery within the last 5 1/2 years. I came out of the hospital on Tuesday and was back at work on Thursday. I am on a blood thinner to prevent the restosis from re occuring since this was at the stent. I should be able to go to the gym next week.
Dot Lynch, Mobile, Alabama, USA, 8 Mar 2001

• My mom was out to lunch in 2 days following her angioplasty....from being rushed by ambulance on noon Tuesday, surgery same day at 2 pm, out by 5 pm...by Thursday at 10 am she had her Dr. appt follow up and then wanted to go out to lunch. She is taking it easy - but doing desk work at home, light housework, etc....but resting as needed. I came to this sight for insight thinking that her recovery period was too quick and that she was pushing herself. I am surprised and glad that others have also had a quick recovery. Good health to you all!
Tina Rodgers, 5 Aug 2000

• William: I was back to my desk job two days after my procedure. I have continued to take my blood pressure medication and a plaque inhibitor added. I took my blood pressure at the drug store and it was the lowest, both up and down, it has been in years. I am taking also Zantac for some indigestion which may or may not be related to the additional medicine.
Paul Carruth, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, February 29, 2000

• Dear William: By this time you probably have already been under the procedure and I hope are feeling better, as I am. I had the procedure about two weeks ago. In one week I was back to work (not full load) and have been taking different drugs. I am under my doctor's control and have had blood exams weekly. This will take a full month and followed by six months of lighter control. Had to cut salt and fat (animal or vegetable) and have lost about 5 kgs in the last two weeks. Not bad, since I needed to lose some. I still feel a very light pain (more like a scratch) on the left side of my thorax and some times a little pain on my lower left back. In general I am OK and the procedure was simple and clean. No pain, but naturally a lot of stress during the time the doctor was doing it. I am 54 male, live in Brasilia, Brazil and I am happy to share this experience with you. Good luck.
Yamil e Sousa Dutra, Brazilian Bar Association, Brasilia, BRAZIL, May 1, 1999

• As always, the interventional cardiologist who is performing the procedure is most familiar with your case, and can most accurately tell you what to expect (medications and recovery time vary from patient to patient). For some general information about angioplasty, browse through our "Links" section; the patient guide published by Guidant (a device manufacturer) is pretty good. Finally a good source of contact with other patients, as well as doctors, is on two newsgroups, sci.med.cardiology and alt.support.angioplasty. Good luck!
Burt Cohen, PTCA.ORG, March 21, 1998

• I will soon undergo angioplasty. Can anyone tell me anything about the recovery period and medication following this procedure?
William F. Markle, retired, Connecticut, USA, March 21, 1998

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