Not Feeling Well After Stenting

Current Postings (162)  •  2006 Postings (113)  •  2005 Postings (57)

• I had a LAD stent placed in March and bounced from one complication after another, including many described here by others and myself (bruising, shortness of breath, chest pain, angina, etc. etc. etc post stent placement). I ended up at the hematologist because I had survived both polio and Leukemia as a child and the M.D.s were becoming concerned that perhaps I was experiencing some weird complication related to those childhood illnesses and the new heart surgery that was blood related. Well it is, but one no one ever expected THIS!

I have the INHERITED form of Gardner-Diamond syndrome which is usually kicked of by extreme stress. Given the stress my body has been under since undergoing a routine colonoscopy where they removed a benign HUGE gastric polyp, the hematologist said my body finally caved and kicked off this very rare autoimmune disease. He said the complications of seizures; double pneumonia; UTI; allergic reaction to Darvon which triggered a heart attack and stroke; plus aggravating a long history of migraines; P.A.T. and rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, asthma, seizures, chronic kidney disease and hypothyroidism was simply too much for my autoimmune system to handle all the stress of the stenting and allergic reactions to all 4 of the drugs I was placed on (I am hyperallergic to aspirin).

They cannot completely stop the Plavix. I currently am on 75mg. every other day and yet this morning had a 3 minute nosebleed so now the visiting nurse who does blood draws is on her way to draw blood for platelets and God knows what else. At least I'm not a boring patient! Keeps them thinking and on their toes at the minimum!!!! There's no magic pill or treatment. It is very painful so the treatment plan is to continue the morphine, very gradual increase in my activity level/rest/ and stress reduction. Don't know if this will help anyone as apparently there are only 250,000 people in the U.S. who suffer from the inherited form of this syndrome. Once the bruises/hematomas/and pain are under control, then the other specialists can weigh in. It is very important to control my stress level or else this syndrome will only continue and could escalate into an even more serious condition. I may not be better PHYSICALLY but my MENTAL state is DEFINITELY improved. I had the best weekend in ten months just KNOWING what possibly is wrong and what I need to do to help myself and what the docs must now do to help me recover from this 'frightmare!' I have been very very clear about how important it is for me to be a partner with my docs in my own recovery plan AND in understanding what is happening with my own body.
Catherine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, May 5, 2008

• Bonnie -- your condition is some rare and we're not familiar with treatment, etc. We can only urge you to relate all of this to the interventional cardiologist who did the stenting. Good luck and let us know how things work out.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, May 3, 2008

• hi i was diagnosed with may thurner syndrome about 6 months ago. which basically means the compression of the left iliac vein by the artery crossing over it with the compression being so bad that it caused severe pain in my left leg and foot especially after long periods of standing and also swelling of that leg ankle and foot. After a year of tests they finally placed a stent into my vein. Immediately after they placed the stent i started having severe back and pelvis pain they gave me ibuprofen with the belief not only the pain is coming from my vein being wide open now (i was told that my vein was 80-90 percent narrowed before) therefore causing more pressure on my back. also i was told that my stent may be inflamed. Any advice? or can anybody relate? should i be worried? i haven't had my venous doppler yet as this is only two weeks since they placed it. i am also only 24 yrs old.
Bonnie, Buffalo, New York, USA, May 3, 2008

• Jonathan -- learn as much as you can about why the stents are being used, what the alternatives are, what therapy you will need to comply with after stenting. Hopefully the more one knows the more confident they can be about why something is being done and how it will help them. Also,and this goes for all readers, remember that this Forum tends to be a "complaint dept" where patients can vent, and also connect with others who have had similar problems. The vast vast majority of patients who get stents DO NOT have these type of complications.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, May 1, 2008

• i am 44 and will be fitted with 5 stents in the next few weeks. you guys are scaring me. I have noticed that my legs heat up and become jumpy at night but i believe that this is due to the increased dose of crestor statin i am on. I am also experience night fear along with back and stomach pains which i put down to stress.
Jonathan Chadwick, South Wales Police, Cardiff, South Wales, United Kingdom, April 29, 2008

• Hello From Pune, India Male 53, Stent put 23/April/2008 During last 4 days normal mostly, but occasional sharp "prick" in left chest which my doctor says will go away. Rare occurrence of left shoulder pain and right chest prick too. No breathlessness, slightly increased heart beat (88), blood pressure and sugar levels normal as before. Better follow the good advices of Margaret, Baytown, Texas. Confident of coming back to to my original shape. Get well soon, everybody!
Nilakantan Gangadharan, Pune, India, April 26, 2008

• To Greg - the guy with 12 stents. Over the past two years I have had 25 stents placed. Most are Cypher, about 5 Endeavors, and a coated stent for an aneurysm. Many of the stents were placed in areas where restenosis occurred. Until the Endeavors, I really never had any side effects. However, after the Endeavor placements I have noticed difficulty breathing (mild), weakness in my legs, and fatigue. I had the five Endeavors placed over two operations separated by 1 month. The symptoms from the first operation started to resolve prior to the second and then returned. I am hoping their return will also be short lived and I believe they will. If not, then I will consult with my cardiologist, which is something one should do anytime they have a strange reaction. Incidentally, my cardiologist has one patient with 52 stents who has never had a bad experience. I'm still in shock that at age 41 I have 25! I quit smoking just recently as I am not looking to overtake the 52 stent guy. I think I'll stick with 25 if I can. Best of luck to you. By the way, do any of the editors of this site know what the current record for the number of stents is? Just curious.
Gerald Merits, Austin, Texas, USA, April 23, 2008

• Bob -- it is true that statins (cholesterol lowering drugs) can cause muscle and joint pains. There are several statins on the market; perhaps your doctor can try a different one, or alter the dose if you are not feeling well. The bleeding is from Plavix, as you said. This is a drug that is recommended for at least a year after drug-eluting stents, but if the bleeding complications become too severe, you can be taken off -- the proper duration of Plavix therapy post-stent is not rally known, but in any case, do not go off without discussing it with your interventional cardiologist.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, April 18, 2008

• Jan 1st of 1998 I had chest pains, pains between my shoulder blades and pain down my left arm. I went to the Dr and he told me I had a pinched nerve. I spent 40 days going back and forth to the Dr the chiropractor, acupuncture. I even had a tens unit on my back cranked up to 10 with no effect. I spent 40 days in horrible pain. When finally my chiropractor told me he couldn't help me and sent me to a neurosurgeon who run a 5 minute test and told me to go see a cardiologist as soon as I could. I went to a cardiologist who still didn't think I had a problem but agreed to do a heart cath. During the heart cath they found a greater than 97% blockage but were not equipped to install a stent so the packed me up and sent me 85 miles to another hospital where they placed a stent and I suffered a complications that took 7 days to come out of. Since then I have had another blockage in 2004 where they placed 3 stents in a blockage of 95%. Then in December of 2007 they installed 2 stents in a blockage of better than 90%. I have a lot of muscle pain that has been explained that it is because of the cholesterol medicine, I bleed like a stuck hog due to the blood thinner and I have some serious mood swings but other than that I'm doing fine. I have had some bouts with depression but they always seem to have a pill for this. Right now I'm watching what I eat trying to exercise as much as I can, and trying to enjoy life. I push myself and at times I get chest pains but I just slow down and they go away. I guess when they don't go away I'll take the Nitro and hope for the best. I can tell you this I don't want to feel the pain from another clogged artery. That is a hurt that is not nice.
Bob Schroeder, Ellsworth, Kansas, USA, April 17, 2008

• Just want to thank all of the patients who have written in over the past couple weeks to update everyone on how they have progressed. It is so important to look at some of these situations over time and know that the body DOES take a bit of time to adjust after any procedure. Your updated stories are good medicine for all!! Thanks!
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, April 17, 2008

• UPDATE MARIE UK I thought an update on my last posting might be of use to any anxious people out there. I had remarked that I was getting pain and felt very anxious and was terrified being by myself. I did not get my request for a stress test but finally an appt with my cardiologist in 3 months time. A couple of weeks ago I made an appt but saw a locum. He took his time with me ,completely checked me over and discussed breathing techniques. He felt that a lot of my problems were triggered by that and that gave me chest pain. Well. I have to report that after nearly a year I have turned the corner. I still have acupuncture every 2 weeks but I feel a different person. As the forum editor has discussed, the way you are treated is so important. I have not had a single pain and now I do not feel bad about being by myself. Hope that this helps.
Marie, United Kingdom, April 17, 2008

• I just wanted to give you an update on my condition, in case it might help others. I was getting discouraged because of chest pain following a stent procedure (LAD) six weeks ago. I saw my cardiologist yesterday, and he prescribed a time release nitroglycerin pill to treat the chest pain. A few hours after taking the pill, my chest pain disappeared, and I had a good night's sleep. He prescribed the lowest dosage (30 mg), but apparently that was enough to relieve the chest pain I have been experiencing. Although there are a few minor side effects (headache, dizziness), they are supposed to pass within a few days as the body gets used to the drug. Hopefully this will help others who are having chest discomfort after a stent procedure.
Robert M., Texas, USA, April 16, 2008

• Hello to all again (see my posting on 3/22/08). I hope this posting will provide hope and encouragement to all fellow coronary stent recipients. My name is Glen, I'm 52 and except for the one clogged artery, in excellent physical shape. I had an angioplasty (1 stent, the other arteries are clear; couldn't seem to overcome heredity though) on 3/19/08. Since then, I too have had allergic reactions to meds, irregular heart beats (PVC's), and an assortment of chest pains varying from a light pinching sensation to sharp, quick pains. However, after a little more than 3 weeks post op, I definitely see the frequency of these events tapering off. I'm convinced that it was my pre op physical condition that is now paying off in a speedy recovery. That being said, I cannot minimize the anxiety and stress of always being acutely aware of every heart beat; every little chest pain and every little 'bump' I've experienced these past three weeks. I have great compassion and understanding for what you all are experiencing. The only advice I would offer is to stay positive, try-try-try to get whatever exercise you're capable of; STAY HYDRATED!! (trust me, it's important...the meds will dehydrate you before you know it). Good luck and a speedy recovery to all!
Glen, Pleasanton, California, USA, April 11, 2008

• Robert M Update: Well, it's been almost 6 weeks since my stent procedure. I'm happy to report that some days I feel great! But, other days I still have some discomfort in my chest and back. During the first month, I also had a sharp pain in my chest whenever I coughed or bent down, but that seems to have gone away. I'm thankful that I had the procedure, but I'm wondering why I still have good days and bad days? There doesn't seem to be a pattern. Is this really a matter of "healing"? If so, is there any data regarding the average time it takes to heal or fully recover from this procedure? Thanks.
Robert M., Texas, USA, April 10, 2008

• Follow up to March 30 post -- After many multiple blood tests by my family practice doc who is very alarmed (he's on the World Health Organization so isn't easily alarmed), all we know is that my potassium level is low which explains some symptoms but leaves far too many unexplained. Have decided to definitely get a second cardiology opinion which the family practice doc supports. Just trying to decide which cardiologist to go with at the other hospital system here in our city. I'm losing ground everyday and my mental state is now taking too much of a hit after nearly 10 months of one catastrophe after another. Nothing in my life has returned to anything which one would call 'normal' even for me and I don't feel it is appropriate or wise to continue down this same path. So tomorrow I have to make a decision about one the cardiologist and make the appointment and suck it up once again to face another round of tests. Will let you know what happens.
Catherine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, April 7, 2008

• David A. -- deciding if there is ischemia can be tricky. A nuclear stress test is one, although it is less accurate in certain anatomies. A direct way to measure ischemia is by using the FFR (Fractional Flow Reserve) -- this is something done during a cath, however, so it is an invasive test. But it is very accurate. Another invasive measurement is IVUS (intravascular ultrasound) which pictures the artery and stent from inside, so correct sizing, placement and expansion of the stent can be verified. Both are be done during a catheterization, although the majority of cath labs in the U.S. do not have this capability (in Japan, all hospitals use these, and the results from the most recent DES trials show the Japanese groups as having significantly better outcomes). You can find out more about these technologies in our IVUS Center. Alkso, the imaging experts at Johns Hopkins and Brigham & Womens' are conducting studies with "Dynamic Volume CT", using a new CT unit from Toshiba, which can show coronary flow, using a non-invasive CT scan. We're going to be featuring an article on this in the next few weeks.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, April 7, 2008

• David A with an UPDATE. I'm the guy who had the MI on the BA flight from Heathrow to NY and forced it to land in Iceland, where I a stent was put into my RCA. I'm in a cardiac rehab program now, and have been tossed off the machines by the nurses when my EKG showed unusual activity -- PVCs. I'm on an event monitor and in the process of a few procedures to determine what's going on. First, the good news is the chest tightness I felt in the first weeks post stenting is gone. Second, the current manifestation is these PVCs which feel like a fluttering heart and may be getting more intense. The various cardiologists suggest there's probably nothing to worry about and think that some scarring has 'shorted' the circuitry and causes the PVCs. Ablation is a possible solution. Let me say this is scary, terribly so, and the cardiologists have suggested everything from nothing to an immediate angiogram to everything in between. I'm taking the in between route, but am terribly anxious and wonder if an angiogram will alleviate concerns I have about restenosis or the stent moving? One of the cardiologists in the practice suggested this and said there was some ischemia on a recent stress test, another said it was my choice, a third wasn't sure there was ischemia. Disconcerting, no? Anyway, that's my experience so far. I turn 50, egads, next week and will let you know what happens.
David A., Westport, Connecticut, USA, April 7, 2008

• I just had two stents put in a week ago. I was told to do what my body would let me do. I feel a slight pressure on my chest at most times. I believe this is normal. Last night while sleeping I woke up to very abrupt sharp needle stinging type pain that went away just as quick. I have a slight headache from time to time as well. I have more gurgley gas floating around in my chest area then before the procedure.
Joel W., Florida, USA, April 3, 2008

• I had a heart attack in January 2008, a balloon catheter was done with a stent placed in another artery. I was told to have a bypass done for the other blockages. I went for a 2nd opinion, and they said I didn't need bypass surgery at this time, but may need it down the road. Ever since I had the stent and catheterization done, I have not felt the same. I am fatigued, have constant neck, shoulder and back pain. I have gone to another MD, and they took x-rays of the back, shoulder, and neck area, and only found some arthritis and degenerative disc disease. I have had these problems for many years, but the pain is different and more severe. Arthritis medicine and muscle relaxers do not help the problem. I wonder what could have gone wrong in the procedure to case me these problems. I had neck pain right after the procedure and still have it. Could there be any vessel tearing? I would like to feel normal again.
Bobbie, Michigan, USA, March 30, 2008

• I had a LAD stent placed 3 weeks ago and don't feel much better than when I underwent this procedure. Allergic reactions to post op meds haven't made it any easier. Have many multiple health problems. Am getting a second opinion from a cardiologist outside the U-M hospital system. Call me silly but I shouldn't feel worse than when I got a stent for a blockage the doc didn't expect to find in the first place. My cardiac enzymes, x-rays, chemical stress tests etc. didn't ever through all of this come back weird. Not until an angiogram showed dead heart tissue and a 70% blockage in the LAD did the docs take me seriously. This is the last (hopefully) complication following a routine colonoscopy/endoscopy procedure in early July and I still have chest pain, fatigue, and list of symptoms everyone says will subside. I am tired, angry, in continuing pain, and at my wit's end, Any suggestion? cause I'm ready to pitch all these pills for the heart and for the other serious problems which pre-existed prior to the hospital medication error which triggered a heart attack and stroke in July. If I could walk away from my body I would. I'm already seeing a therapist and had been prior to this mess and along with my friends and family are feeling stressed as well. They've seen me go continually downhill only fight to come back from one life threatening complication after another but this time it has us all confounded and I simply don't have much more fight in me and I keep losing ground for no sensible reason.
Catherine, Michigan, USA, March 30, 2008

• Hello from Northern Cal....I had an angioplasty 3 days ago (3/19/08). I'm male, 52, in excellent condition; cross trained daily for years. Since my procedure, I'm experiencing mild chest pain and occasional difficulty in breathing. My doctors tell me that the stent procedure was successful, I have no other arteries clogged, lungs are clear, etc., etc. However, I'm concerned that these symptoms are the result of anxiety.....especially the shortness of breath. I think it would be comforting and possibly therapeutic to hear from other people that have had a coronary stent put in that are also experiencing similar symptoms. Thanks and good health to you all.
Glen, California, USA, March 22, 2008

• Hi Marie and all -- 2 stents fitted 12 and 24 months Failed stress test (private at 350euros, £260), Cardio says to keep on medication (Nitro patches / Ramipril / Crestor / Warfarin (for AF) and Plavix and Aspirin 75) I guess i am an anxious sort of person, and am always amazed that virtually every and any pain I get comes from the chest area. Of course if I had no heart problems I would put it down to indigestion, or carry on, but like all of us, knowing you have a problem with the heart will, I suspect, always draw one to think its the ticker. I imagine the same would so if you had a hip replacement, or other ops. I guess it just goes with the territory, we are human after all. Just to note I had my stress test done in Algarve, Portugal, private hospital, very, very, good service.All English speakers inc cardiologist. Why not take a holiday in a great country and take a day out to do the stress test!!!!!!!!!!!! Then relax on the beach.
Tel, United Kingdom, March 20, 2008

• Sandy, I know how you feel. I am very anxious all the time and requested a stress test to give me piece of mind that my DES stents had not blocked. I had my stents in LAD ten months ago. My Cardiologist has refused this test. I have now started acupuncture as my doctor tried to give me anti-depressants which I did not want to take and have found this to be beneficial. Incidentally, I feel discomfort at night when I lie on my side, is this normal?
Marie, United Kingdom, March 19, 2008

• Sandy -- your reactions are not abnormal. Not just the medical intervention, but the knowledge that you have this disease can be frightening. Read our March 5 reply to Robert -- many patients literally feel chest pain afterwards. This tends to go away. But you're mainly feeling emotional distress. Try stress reduction techniques (Dean Ornish uses stress reduction as an integral part of his therapy for heart patients) to help you cope with this change in things. Perhaps your doctor's office can make some referrals for you. Rehab (and emotional/mental health is part of rehab) is very important but very often not prescribed or taken advantage of. I alway tell patients to view our video of "The First Angioplasty" (bottom left of our home page). Mr. Bachmann, the first patient is now 68, still very active in Switzerland and very happy 30 years later. He, too, by the way was very stressed out when he discovered that he had a coronary blockage in 1977. Good luck and please write us back to let us know how and what you're doing. Your experiences will definitely help others.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, March 18, 2008

• I had a stent inserted a week ago. I am having difficulty going to sleep at night because I fear I won't wake up. I know that sounds really silly, but it's too real to me. Every little pain or ache is getting blown way out of proportion My logical side says there is no way it can be my heart because I've been examined thoroughly. However, my emotional side is scared to death. Is this normal or is it just my overreaction to the situation?
Sandy S., Texas, USA, March 18, 2008

• Thank you for your response. Hearing that "benign stent sensation" is common was reassuring. Just wanted to report that I am feeling much better. I've been walking, and I'm trying to avoid sitting in front of the computer for long periods, which seems to aggravate my condition. I've had no chest pain in the last two days, so I think I'm on the road to recovery. Thanks very much for your help.
Robert M., Texas, USA, March 7, 2008

• Robert -- A restrospective overview study was published a couple years ago in the International Journal of Clinical Practice. Titled "A Review of the Management of Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention", it stated that:

"Chest pain post-PCI is a common challenge faced by medical practitioners. Up to 50% of post-PCI patients have some chest pain. The causes range from the benign stent sensation to the highly dangerous acute stent thrombosis."

Stent thrombosis is not common and it basically presents with the symptoms of a heart attack -- not what you're experiencing at all. You're most likely experiencing a "benign stent sensation", as your cardiologist stated. And some posters here have seconded the temporary nature of this initial discomfort. But you absolutely did the right thing by contacting your cardiologist and, unlike some, he/she actually answered your concerns with reassurance! By all means let us know how things progress.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, March 5, 2008

• Last Friday (2/29/08) I had a cath / stent procedure. My LAD artery had been 80% blocked for 9 years, yet annual nuclear stress tests showed that I had normal blood flow until recently. The procedure went well and I felt better than I have in years when I got home, but a few days later I began to experience some chest and back discomfort. Not angina pain as I would define it, but moderate discomfort in my chest and back. The cardiologist told me that it takes about three days for the body to get used to the stent and about three weeks for the body to become accustomed to the increased blood flow. So, is what I am experiencing normal?
Robert M., Texas, USA, March 5, 2008

• Hi David I am also 49, had pain in my lower forearms & ended up in ER with a 90% blockage in my LAD. I don't have high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, non-smoker who exercises almost everyday. I do have a family history of heart problems but most of those family members were smokers. I had the stent put in October 07 and just started experiencing some of the same symptoms you have described. In fact, it started when I was sick with the flu. I started getting this feeling of a cold in my chest; no pain just like an ache and a few times tightness. I do have a lot of stress in my life from work and a major home renovation going on. I am trying to find ways to de-stress doing breathing and meditation to see if that may help. I go to the cardiologist on Tuesday to see what he says.
Sue, Pennsylvania, USA, March 1, 2008

• Hi Frank Hal, Everything you said rings true for me as well. I had two stents inserted April last year. I have lost weight, improved my fitness and I am running about the same amount as you are. I also checked in to hospital a few weeks after the procedure to check on the chest pains and was given the all clear. I have come to the same conclusions as you and support your theory about reflux. I feel a large portion of my problems were also caused by subtle reflux as yours were, but mainly at night when I was asleep. I believe the reflux caused the burning overnight, which I would feel as the pain throughout the next day or days. Nothing would then help as the damage had already been done. I suspect that the esophagus would also take quite some time to heal. Medications that suppress acid production helped somewhat but I didn't want to take them on a long term basis so I have stopped using them. I think I have got on top of it however by reducing the occurrence of reflux at night by taking these steps: I don t eat large meals in the evening. I don t eat very late or close to bed time I don t drink acidic drinks such as orange juice in the evenings. I always take a couple of antacids (QuickEze, before settling in. The Calcium Carbonate is far more benign than other drugs on offer. After 10 months now the pains are much less intense and less frequent. Every week life is getting better. I know this may not be everyone s problem but for many, it may just help if you address this issue. So best wishes Frank and also to all you others out there. Cheers, Keijo
Keijo Musto, Jamberoo, NSW, Australia, February 28, 2008

• Rochelle -- you've raised multiple questions. The perforated artery situtation is one that is more of a risk when attempting to open up a total occlusion with a balloon or stent. The cardiologist can only see the arterial pathway by injecting contrast dye and watching the image on the x-ray screen. But if an artery is totally blocked, he/she can only see up to the blockage, but not beyond, since no blood flows through the totally closed area. As you can imagine, it's a difficult situation. There are new techniques being developed to help make this more successful -- combining CT and standard x-ray, using magnetic fields or ultrasound to guide the wire, etc. Unclear from your post as to whether the 100% blockage was successfully opened. Sounds like your husband has a complex situation. Does he have other problems like high blood pressure, etc. Has bypass surgery been discussed?

One other problem you've discussed is the feeling patients have that they are not being listened to. This is also a complex one, caused by, among many things, the very short time that physicians are able to spend with each patient, and the overall fragmentation of our healthcare system (lack of communication between various specialists, etc.). One thing that we try to emphasize is that atherosclerosis is a systemic disease. It can show up as coronary artery disease, but it also shows up as carotid disease, renal (kidney) disease, leg pain -- all caused by blockages in various arteries -- and many interventional cardiologists or radiologists work in all these arteries, as well. We've been proponents of the Vascular Institute concept, where the whole vascular system is looked at, not just the heart. We know of a patient, for example, who suffered from congestive heart failure (CHF) and was constantly being taken to the ER with breathing problems, so severe he was given only weeks to live. But his curious cardiologist did an MRA of his kidneys and found a severly blocked renal artery which might explain the extreme fluid retention causing his breathing problem. So the cardio opened the kidney artery with a balloon and stent in a quick 30 minute procedure. The patient recovered, his severe breathing problems ended and he has not been back to the ER. That was almost 4 years ago.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, February 28, 2008

• my husband on 11-19-07 had a heart attack. while putting a stent into a artery that was 100% blocked -- it perforated the artery, so they put a "band aid stent" over the other. After having a Nuclear Stress Test the Cardiologist had him return to the hospital and they put in another stent on the right side of his heart. My husband says everyday that he does not feel right. He continues to have chest pain, shortness of breath, skin color turns grayish in his face, left arm and shoulder hurts. He says when he breathes it feels like someone has put a rag over his nose and mouth. He has been to the er many times and admitted. As of today 02-27-08 he was admitted one more time. Every time they say there is nothing wrong with his heart other than there is a small artery that is 70% blocked, but they cannot get in there to put a stent in so they are going to leave it alone. My husband is 50 and has family history of heart problems. His father passed away from a heart attack at the age of 52 and his mother the same at 62. We are getting very frustrated. Mike does not want me to take him to the hospital anymore, because he feels they don't believe him when he says something is wrong. Anyone else have this problem or suggestions.
Rochelle, Michigan, USA, February 28, 2008

• I have had 6 stents in August, 2007. My chest is hurting. I have told my doctor and he said it isn't my heart. Can you help me?
B.T., Connecticut, USA, February 24, 2008

• I thought that I share my experience maybe it can help those who are having these puzzling symptoms. I am 48 and in Mar 2007, I felt textbook symptoms of artery narrowing especially when I start to exercise. I took an appointment with my doctor but did not wait for it as I decided to admit myself to a nearby hospital after feeling uncomfortable heaviness on my chest when I was driving south in a long weekend. After 48hours I was discharged with a Taxus stent in my LAD (95% blockage)! Days that followed were very uncomfortable. Chest pains and feeling of pressure and heaviness. I had to go to the emergency again after 3 weeks with another angiogram with a different cardiologist and with nothing found. I did a gastroscopy to see if my tummy had any relevance with nothing found either. However, during that time I started to cut down my weight and increased slowly my exercise regime. About 8 weeks onwards, these symptoms gradually decreased and I now, probably, feel better than I was 10years ago. I am now touching the BMI norm for my height and run 5km every other day. I am taking the usual doses of medicine Crestor, Noten (beta blocker) and Plavix. The symptoms do sometimes occur with heaviness and some chest pains but much less. I started to take Pariet to treat stomach reflux which seemed to help me. I am still puzzled and not sure why I get these pains. One theory I have that it could be anxiety and the strict diet at the time could have affected this and I may also have this subtle reflux. One Advice from my experience to all who can try, to cut down weight, step your exercise slowly, look at possible stomach issues and try to be patient although it is hard.
Frank Hal, Sydney, Australia, February 24, 2008

• Liz -- hard to separate possible side-effects from drugs and other problems, but none of the symptoms you list would seem related to the angioplasty. Did you get a stent? Continued angina may go away -- but sometimes angina is not completely relieved by medical therapy OR angioplasty. In the COURAGE Trial, 25% of the participants still had some angina.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, February 23, 2008

• i had an angioplasty in January and was started on Lipitor, aspirin, and plavix. I also take omeprazole, amias and bendrofluazide. Since having the angioplasty i have still been having some angina pains although not as severe as they were before, i have a creepy, crawling feeling in my head and slight headaches as well as a tingling on my left cheek, i sometimes have difficulty getting my words out properly when trying to speak to someone too. Has this happened to anyone else? Is it related to the medicine or is it related to the angioplasty? any advice will be appreciated, thank you.
Liz, England, February 23, 2008

• David A. -- well that's one of the more dramatic stories posted here in these Forums! We're assuming that you did in fact have an infarct on the plane -- and are we to assume you got another stent? Others have posted in this topic complaining of tightness -- but we would recommend discussing this with your cardio. There are anti-anginal drugs that can be helpful, like ranolazine, or therapies like EECP. Meanwhile, perhaps some readers can share their experiences with this tightness, and how they fared?
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, February 23, 2008

• I'm 49 and was flying from Heathrow to JFK when I had sharp chest tightness and diverted the flight to Iceland (sorry to other passengers) where I was diagnosed with elevated enzymes and in the cath lab learned of 100% blockage in the right coronary artery. I had had a stent in this artery, 2002, but this blockage was just above the old one. Anyway, it's been about 5 weeks and I'm back to exercising a lot -- 5 times per week, 30 odd minutes of aerobic work -- and like my lifestyle beforehand my diet is fine, cholesterol low, and I'm thin, non smoker and basically drew a bad hand with the heart attack. But even with the 5 weeks post stent I feel pressure in my chest, a bit of tightness. Post stenting stress test was fine, echo cardio -- all were okay. I'm fine when exercising, too. But the tightness -- and it is mild, nothing like angina -- scares me to no end. Does anyone have experience with mild chest tightness (feels like a chest cold) post stenting? Any advice?
David A, Westport, Connecticut, USA, February 19, 2008

• Hi I am from Canada, I had a 90% blockage to my right artery, in October 2007, I had a bare metal stent in planted, they used the artery in my wrist, I lost feeling in top part of my thumb, but I figured if that was all then I was lucky. In January I had a massive heart attack, a few days later I was transported to the city for another stent, a drug eluting this time, they found that scar tissue had healed over the bare metal stent, it would take longer for this to heal but it should do so with no scar tissue. I have severe chest pain, and I have heartburn all the time, I am blaming the stent, its the only thing that had been added to my body.
Patsy Wellwood, Nova Scotia, Canada, February 4, 2008

• Faye in Florida, Hear, hear!! Your recommendation to all posters is most important. Modern medications are great and have vastly improved the treatment of heart disease, but each one has specific side-effects that may or may not be experienced by the user. Often the initial diagnosis of significant coronary artery disease is followed by the implantation of a stent and a prescription for a number of medications. Sorting out any reactions to these meds is not easy -- but definitely do your research and talk to your cardiologist. It may have nothing to do with the stent and everything to do with a specific medication. Remember, what you feel is what you feel and patient observation is very important information for medical professionals to take into account when diagnosing problems. Thanks for the post, Faye. Your mother is lucky to have a good researcher in the family!
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, February 3, 2008

• Definitely read up on the side effects of the medications you are taking after a catheterization or stent implant. I posted a few weeks back regarding my mother's health after having a catheterization and stent put in. After much prayer concerning these current health issues, God has really opened our eyes to many things and directed us to the right physicians. Since the cath and stent implant, my mom has experienced a variety of health issues. Zocor and Atenolol had given my mother pain in her legs and she was taken off of these medications. Very recently, my mother has been having a tough time breathing at night and has not been able to sleep, so she went to the doctor and she learned that this is a side effect of her blood pressure medication-Lisinopril- which the doctor said can cause symptoms of bronchitis, cough, upper respiratory infection, dizziness,and confusion. (Read up on celery seed extract which has helped my mom to lower her blood pressure naturally.) It is definitely worth seeking the Lord for guidance and checking out the side effects of the medications you are taking so that you can learn the reason you may be suffering in certain ways after a catheterization and/or stent implant. Some medications tell you contact your doctor if you experience certain side effects, so keep your doctor informed.
Faye., Florida, USA, February 3, 2008

• I had 12 stents put in 3 arteries last Spring 2007. I still feel some discomfort over my heart off and on although I have good test numbers and passed a stress test okay. I probably should have gotten a bypass. Have others had so many stents and feelings of discomfort like a little hard to breathe like myself. I think 8" of stents my body still senses these foreign objects and reacts to that. Also I had severe back pain which has subsided 90%. Anyone else have similar situation? Also anyone have recommended ways to remove plaque?
Greg, New York, USA, January 29, 2008

• I have just had angioplasty done 5 days ago and a stent was put in. I have been given blood thinners and do baby aspirin as usual plus a beta blocker, but am still feeling the same kind of pain/sensation as I did before I had it done. I only had one artery blocked. Don't know if this pain or sensation is just post operative or what?
Galil, Egypt, January 26, 2008

• Cindy -- complicated situation and we cannot begin to give medical advice. But we can point out that angina sometimes is not relieved by angioplasty OR bypass surgery. We're going to be posting a roundtable discussion of this problem in the near future, but there are treatments for continuing angina that range from EECP to medications, such as ranolazine, to other types of therapy. The COURAGE trial, which made headlines last year showing no difference between stents and medical therapy, also showed that 1 in 4 patients still had angina after 5 years, no matter which therapy they received.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, January 26, 2008

• My husband has had 5 stents, (9 angiograms), all in LAD except 1 in right. Has not been right for 4 yrs. Last angiogram caused emergency by-pass. Even after surgery has angina which is only relieved by nitro patch at night and nitro under tongue during the day. Thallium stress was negative and he is being told it is not his heart. So frustrated. We live in South Florida and have been to so many Dr's even went to Dr's in NYC 3x in a month prior to surgery. Every symptom is his heart. Any suggestions? He is 54 yrs old. Had a MI at 44 then angioplasty and was great for 61/2 years. This started 4 years ago.. HELP PLEASE....
Cindy, Florida, USA, January 22, 2008

• In September of 2007, my mom began having pains in her back and throat. A nurse friend of ours told us that my mother needed to go to the emergency room right away. After a few days, e.k.g.'s, and a stress test, they told her to have a catheterization done. The catheterization showed that she had 90% blockage in one of her arteries, so they put a stent. Ever since that time, she has experienced a vast array of pains: a burning sensation in her leg; chest pain while breathing, crying, or laughing; pain in her throat; and tightness in her back. Could she be allergic to the stent? Has anyone else had these symptoms? We are trusting God to give the doctors and us wisdom concerning these problems, and are praying for my mom's speedy recovery. We are also praying for others experiencing the same suffering.
Faye, Florida, USA, January 16, 2008

• I am a 56 year old male. In November of 2007 I had angioplasty. My procedure was not as simple as I was told it would be. They went in and placed two Taxus stents in my LAD. I was told they did not like the result in the middle of the LAD and so they went back in a again and placed 4 more stents in between the first two stents. Unfortunately , the surgeon nicked my femoral artery on the procedure. I was not recovering well so they brought me back to the cath lab and went in again to check the stents. They found them to be working and they figured out I was internally bleeding. The wound healed by itself and I was transfused with 2 pints on one day and 1 pint the next day. It took a long time to feel normal. Since the procedure I have weird pains in my chest and intermittent palpitations. The pains feel like burning or muscle aches. The palpitations are not always related to exercise. Since the procedure I had a thallium stress test and a 64 CT scan of my heart. The stress test was normal (however, I had a normal thallium stress test 4 months before the angioplasty - not much faith in that test). I also reported to the nurses who administered the tests that I felt burning in my chest. They asked me to tell them if it got worse and when it stopped. It did not get worse, I finished the test and it stopped a minute after the stress test. The CT scan showed no blockages anywhere else but they could not see the stents due to calcification on the artery. The MD said go live a normal life! I am curious about stents. If they place a stent in a blocked artery with calcification isn't the artery stretched beyond it's normal range? Would that cause some irritations or encroachment on other tissues? Is it possible to cause pains? When they place a stent how much do they really open the artery- I can't believe it is 100% Does anyone else seem to have a burning pain in their chest?
Howard, Bellmore, New York, USA, January 12, 2008

• Melissa -- you present a complex case. You might want to read over another Forum Topic on "Complications From Angiograms" in which many patients describe problems with nerve damage, etc. after interventions from the femoral (groin) approach. Perhaps a neurologist might be able to help.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, January 11, 2008

• My husband had shoulder reconstruction about 4 months ago. A week after the surgery he started getting worse and we went to the ER. We found out that the anesthesiologists left the j-wire in him and complete DVTs developed around the wire. They had to cut clots out just to be able to remove the wire. he was in ICU for almost 2 weeks and underwent a risky 3 day clot busting procedure because the DVT were complete from his abdomen to his calf on the right side. They had to place IVC filter and 2 stents in his upper leg because the DVTs caused the diameter of vein to be reduced by 40%. About 3 weeks ago, he started having severe pain where the stents are and describes as it felling like a brillo pad inside his leg. He is much more severe pain now and can barely walk. We went back to the ER and he was cleared of clots and sent home. Nobody wants to investigate this any further. He is in severe pain and depressed. What could be causing this or are than any suggestions on what our next step should be?
Melissa, Humble, Texas, USA, January 7, 2008

• I had a stent put in while on vacation last month. Since then I have had chronic chest pain but not of the caliber of the heart attack I had. I have taken nitro as it does nothing. I have been in the hospital every week for the past 3 weeks, the first for the MI and stent, the second and third for unexplained chest pain. I had every test imaginable after the third hospitalization, including a re-catheterization, which showed the stent and heart were functioning properly. The question is, are all those who are experiencing some sort of chest pain post stent taking nitro every time they feel chest pain? If not, how are they dealing with it. If so, it the nitro working?
Cheryl, Pennsylvania, USA, December 5, 2007

• I started with two stents in August on the 9th because I was rushed to the emergency with two blockages. Three days passed and I was put into the operating room for one more. Both were bare stents not with drug coats. I fired my cardiologist because I found he was not very non-proactive. My new cardiologist, had tests done after I began to experience shortness of breath and very big low stamina. He found problems. With angioplasty he found several bad arteries. He scheduled me for Tuesday, but I was in the ER by Saturday night. On that November 24, I had another incident with pain and discomfort in my chest and leg. I went into hospital and had one operation for two stents and later on another day, I had another put in. One is drug coated. In less than twenty-four hours, I am experiencing a strange sensation in my chest and think it can be gas. I think I am kidding myself. I might have something worse that and the doctor did not find it yet, like more blockages. My depression has almost killed me several times with panic attacks and deep hopelessness weigh on me because I want to recover and that does not seem to be happening. I am so tired of this. I almost gave up the other night. Is there any hope for any of us?
Rico, Los Angeles, California, USA, November 28, 2007

• U.R. from Chicago -- do you have any sort of rash or itching accompanying the "needle pains" -- wondering if this might be some sort of hypersensitivity reaction to Plavix or some other drug. If this continues, and certainly if this is a cause for anxiety, discuss this issue with your interventional cardiologist. And do not stop taking or alter any medication (especially Plavix) without his/her knowledge.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, Novemver 23, 2007

• Hello from Chicago, Illinois. On November 1, 2007, I had an angiogram, immediately followed by an angioplasty with coated stent for 80 percent blockage of my coronary artery. I did not have an heart attack. Thanksgiving day I started feeling needle pains in far upper part of my right chest area. This is causing me much anxiety. Cardio has me on 75mg of Plavix for 1 year and I'm taking 81mg Ecottrin together with Toprol XL. I feel worse now than before the procedure.
U.R., Chicago, Illinois, USA, November 23, 2007

• As a note to my previous post in October 07, I have been for a repeat angiogram today. I do have a stenosis and a coated stent is to be placed inside the bare metal one on Jan 9th 08. The odd thing is, my dosage of Ramipril was reduced back down to 2.5 mg from 7.5 and the chest pain has completely gone. I still suffer slightly from angina pains which occur in my jaw and throat area which are immediately relieved by GTN spray. Evidently my BP was falling too low to get past this blockage. Fingers crossed for the 9th, and hope this is the last time i have anything to do with this!!!
Kim Mitchell, Northampton UK, November 22, 2007

• Dear Forum Editor, Thank you for your response. I was mistaken. The stents that leaked were in the main LAD and he put additional larger stents to cover them and hence cover a larger area as well. He was very emphatic that none of the stents had restenosed. I am better although I think I have developed some sort of acid reflux.
O.D., Texas, USA, November 18, 2007

• I Had a spontaneous dissection of LAD in July 2007 which was treated by emergency treatment of 2 bare metal stents after further pain another angiogram 2 weeks later showed the stents were clear but after further pain 2 months later a treadmill test indicated a blockage which a further angiogram confirmed this was treated in Oct 2007 by 2 Taxus DES. But I still get chest pain across the left side of my chest behind my left nipple. I have become quite paranoid and have returned to hospital in a panic several times but ECG s have all been normal and I get no answers as to what is causing these pains can anyone help.
Angie, Banwell, North Somerset, UK, November 17, 2007

• On December 25, 2006, I had five stents placed. During the first six months there was little pain but I always felt tired. I also have a number of problems with joints, tendons and muscles which stops me from doing a great deal of walking or exercise of any kind. In July '07, I started to feel much better but the pain was more frequent. If I were to guess, I would say I had another heart attack. I took three nitros about 15 minutes apart and finally got some relief.
Ken Donald, Liberty, South Carolina, USA, October 24, 2007

• O.D. -- did your cardiologist mean the smaller stents were restenosing? By the way, one can't "replace" a stent, per se -- stents are permanent, once placed. Instead, another stent is placed inside of the one that is getting re-blocked, or possibly next to it to cover a longer area.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, October 23, 2007

• I had stents put in LAD recently. While placing the stents the cardiologist told me that the location of the stents blocked the branch arteries and he had to place 2 smaller stents in the branches. 4 weeks alter I seemed to be recovering well when things suddenly got worse. I passed a stress test but on the angio the Cardiologist said that the two smaller stents leaked plaque through the mesh and he replaced them with larger stents. Its only been 3 days and the severe pain has gone but has anybody heard of stents leaking plaque through them?
O.D., Texas, USA, October 16, 2007

• R.L. -- has your cardiologist mentioned a CT angiogram? Correctly-done with the newest equipment (64-slice) a non-invasive CT is highly accurate in ruling out the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). See our Imaging and Diagnosis Center for more info. Of course, as with any test or medication, you should discuss this with your cardiologist who may have very good reasons to suspect that this is not CAD.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, October 16, 2007

• Early July I posted that my DH was having chest pressure/left hand tingling after heart attack June 26. He recently had a follow up stress and everything was perfect, so they say. My problem is this. He still does not feel 100%. He had the heart attack, then angioplasty (no stents) now taking baby aspirin, plavix, simvastatin and metoprolol. He has chest pressure daily. He is very depressed that he doesn't feel normal. What to do? Is is possible that he still has blockage (pressure) or could this be mental? The cardiologist thinks its a muscle problem, but he never had chest pressure until the heart attack. Is there any other diagnostic test that we can ask for besides the stress test. All I know is, he is miserable. We have two young children and he rarely does things with them anymore. He's afraid to be alone in case he dies he says. Truth be told, I would have chest pressure daily too if that was my way of thinking. Any suggestions?
R.L., Pennsylvania, USA, October 15, 2007

• I am a 48 year old insulin dependant diabetic female. I experienced a silent MI in July 07. Previous to this I had been a smoker, but had given up some 6 weeks before this. I had no symptoms of any description prior to the MI. In the process of this MI i also fell and broke my right leg.. On 1 August i had a bare metal stent inserted in my left coronary artery. This was used in preference to a drug eluting stent as I may have needed surgery to my leg. Came out on 75mg aspirin, Plavix (which has now been stopped after 6 weeks),2.5mg Bisoprolol, and 2.5 mg Ramipril. Had no problems at all until 9 weeks after the stenting. I have suddenly started having chest pain on exertion (which isn't very often as i have a full leg cast and i am on crutches). I had been given GTN spray and have started using it. Have spent a day in ED of local hospital, and am awaiting consultant appointment next week. I am so upset by all of this. I did not have any symptoms prior to the MI and now i cannot move without using the spray. I have had the Bisoprolol increased to 5mg a day and have been given nitrate tablets to take as well as using the spray. I am assuming that the stent is failing, and that i will have to have it done again. I am scared about this. I am worried that it will happen again. Anyone out there had this happen too?
Kim Mitchell, Northamptonshire, UK, October 8, 2007

• June 2007 while sitting watching a DVD with my daughter I began having excruciating pain in my shoulders and upper jaw. My daughter called 911 & I was told I was having a heart attack. I am 57 years old & have never had any heart related issues. I was taken to the ER, then to the Cath Lab where a Cypher Stent was implanted through my groin. It was instant relief at that time! I was put on Plavix, Vytorin, Lopressor and Aspirin. Initially I was feeling good other than some anxiousness when alone of what might happen, but that soon passed. This month while driving my heart started racing wildly, so much so my hands & feet were shaking. I thought my heart would pound right out of my chest. I felt dizzy & short of breath. This passed in about 3 or 4 minutes, but I was left in a great deal of pain across the back of my shoulders. That day I went to the ER and was admitted. They ran a series of tests: CAT Scan, EKG, Stress Test (which I thought would kill me when they injected the medicine: I had every reaction one could have to it) The only thing I have found out thus far is that my Potassium was a bit low and my Cardio gave me an Rx for it. Nothing else could be found. Since that episode it has happened one more time. I did the bearing down trick (as if you are having a BM) to get it under control and it worked. However, it does not take away the pain across the back of my shoulders, and it is excruciating up to 3 or 4 hours. My Cardio did give me an Rx for some Percocet when it happens, but I have to wonder what may be happening. Has anyone else had anything similar? I am seeing my Cardio tomorrow and hope he may have some answers, as this is a very scary condition especially when driving a vehicle. One has to work, so its easy to say do not drive... my Rx meds cost almost 300.00 per month so I have to work and drive. I understand SSD or SSI is nearly impossible for a heart attack unless there has been severe damage. I'm just wondering how others deal with the pain, and if any of you have rapid heart rates after stenting. Thanks in advance for any and all responses and Good Luck to everyone!!
Shelly, Florida, USA, October 7, 2007

• Elizabeth -- this is not a complication of the angioplasty or stent per se, but it is a complication of the femoral artery access site -- this is seen in both diagnostic catheterizations and interventions in about 3-4% of the time. For more information, you can read our Forum Topic on "Complications from Angiogram or Angioplasty".
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, September 30, 2007

• My brother had angioplasty yesterday and a stent was inserted. He seems to feel okay, but his scrotum has swollen to the size of a softball and the doctor indicated that this occurs occasionally. He said it is filled with blood, but that the swelling should decrease in about two weeks without any specific treatment. Could someone enlighten us regarding this complication? Thank you.
Elizabeth, Michigan, September 25, 2007

• I have just had angioplasty done 2 days ago and a stent was put in. I have been given blood thinners and do baby aspirin as usual plus a beta blocker, but am still feeling the same kind of pain/sensation as I did before I had it done. I only had one artery blocked. Don't know if this pain or sensation is just post operative or what?
Steve Suekey, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, September 22, 2007

• After my heart attack 2 years ago, I had a Taxus stent implanted in my LAD. For a year or more afterwards, I experienced intermittent chest pain, shortness of breath and rapid heart beat. After having several follow up tests, including thallium stress, echocardiograms, asthma testing, and MRI nothing was found. I now take .125 mg of Xanax when I start to feel these symptoms and they go away. Perhaps some of the trouble is anxiety, because after all having heart trouble is pretty stressful emotionally! I'm certainly not advocating everyone take this, but anxiety is something to consider.
L.B., Missouri, USA, September 21, 2007

• I had mild heart attack July 2, 2007 -- RCA 100% blocked, and taxus stent was inserted. After 3 weeks i started to feel shaky and tired. I was in rehab and had to have an EKG done right there because of shortness of breath. Had nuclear stress test and all was normal. I feel worse than I ever have in my life. The depression is getting worse and now I am having chest pain and severe headaches. I just feel run down all of the time. My skin looks older and my hair seems to be thinning. I am on Plavix, Lisonopril, and aspirin daily. HELP
Ana, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, September 9, 2007

• Thanks Eileen from Uk for your information saying that you are starting to feel better after 18 months after stenting. I am not having any more pain , but still am short of breath. Hopefully there is light at the end of my tunnel. Perhaps after cardio rehab I will feel better. For some people it does take time for them to get better and I guess I am also one.
Mary, Thunder Bay, Ontario, CANADA, September 7, 2007

• TJ from Texas -- the best thing you can do for yourself is to stop smoking -- and you are trying. It can be difficult, but smoking (even second-hand) is clearly implicated in coronary artery disease (and a host of other health problems). Good luck. If you're having trouble, ask your doctor for a referral to a smoking cessation program. Your listlessness and shakiness may also be medication-related. Fatigue is certainly a side-effect of some heart meds, but DO NOT change your dosage or stop taking anything. See your doctor who might adjust your meds, based on your reported symptoms. This is not medical advice -- this is a suggestion that you make sure to stay in communication with your cardiologist about these issues. Good luck and let the Forum know how things go.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, September 7, 2007

• Hello from Odessa, TX. I am a 45 year old woman, who had continuing chest numbness and both arms feeling like they were going to explode with pain for three weeks prior to visiting my internist. My EKG was abnormal and my blood pressure was over the top, he immediately admitted me to the hospital, and a cardiologist was called in. That was July 23, 2007 and I now have two DES in LAD. I went back in the hospital on Aug 20, 2007 for one DES in RCA. I have been feeling the same way as all of you and I have no energy, i feel very shaky all the time. I have a very stressful job, which most people do, but I can't seem to relax. I take plavix, aspirin, lipitor, Xanax, atenolol and chantix. I'm trying to stop smoking. I'm glad i found you guys, i was beginning to feel a little alone about all of this. Also since the stents, my lab work keeps showing high on calcium, potassium, glucose. What is this all about?
TJ, Odessa, Texas, USA, September 5, 2007

• Please note that opinions expressed on these Forums belong to their authors -- the people who send them in. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or producers of Angioplasty.Org. the one way or the other. We also ask once again that posters keep their comments clear and to the point, as a courtesy to our readers. Thanks!
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, September 5, 2007

• Greg from Nevada: I have posted here before, my story is exactly like yours. But I have severe chest pain all the time, since the morning after my cypher stent was implanted 2.5 years ago. I wish I never did it. Recent IVUS showed nothing the doctors could use to plan a treatment (they ruled out bypass for this reason, though a friend of mine with the same story took the big chance, and bypassed the stent, and he is now fine for some strange reason). Probably for me the pain is the body's continued reaction to the stent, or from the extensive chest/heart fluoroscopy/radiation required during complex stenting, as opposed to having plain old balloon (some articles are now suggesting this as a cause for post-stent pain). Those Cardiologists in Texas are limited to studying stent allergy (I spoke to them many times), and are not too clear of how to see even that problem, though they are aware of it, and are warning the cardiology community, mostly to no avail. No drug or therapy has been helpful for me.. I have tried everything whatsoever, including stem cell heart surgery, all GI and histamine medicines, all heart medicines, all supplements, chelation, various IV therapies, even xanax and related medicines. I have been scanned with MRI's of the chest, multiple stress tests, multiple angiograms, etc. No blockages, just some unexplained diastolic dysfunction. Damage to my heart is said to be actually minimal. The only thing I do is avoid any further cardiovascular disease, by following Caldwell Esselstyn's (a Cleveland Clinic doctor) book/diet/plan on reversing coronary artery disease. Preventing arteriosclerosis (with no stent) is not really difficult. The real problem is to deal with "stent-osis" I call it, potentially far more difficult. Esselstyn's plan won't help the stent situation, but it will make it so nobody is ever told to have a (or another) stent. They are useless dangerous metal, really, with no place in your body. And the fluoroscopy/radiation during the time it takes for stenting is potentially very damaging, as opposed to just angiography and ballooning. Radiologists (in many articles) are now warning cardiologists that much post-stent pain is probably caused by the extended time of fluoroscopy/radiation to the heart/chest required during the increasingly complex stent procedures attempted; better to just consider non-stent "plain old balloon" followed by medicine, strict diet, etc. Google this subject too. Order Esselstyn's book. He has a good website you can read (Google his name) with chapters from his book, pics of before/after vascular disease. Great book, available at Amazon. Esselstyn's is the only good plan for all of us in the meantime, until we learn more. As for the stent/pain, perhaps my body will deal with it all properly in years to come. I can only hope, so far no success eliminating the pain.
Steve, Palm Beach, Florida, USA, August 28, 2007

• To kevin, cornwall, ontario, canada: Kevin, I strongly suggest that you request that your physician order a blood test for you to have your vitamin D levels checked. Vitamin D deficiencies which are especially common in Canada can be frequently misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia since it will often present itself as joint and muscle pain. In Canada, the easiest way to take care of this inexpensively is with vitamin D3 supplements but don't take my word for this, check it out on Google and ask your doctor to read the vitamin D article featured in the July 19th 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Just yesterday, I spoke to the senior nurse of a well known cardiologist in Ohio who is not afraid to think outside the box. I was pleased, but not really surprised, to learn that he has been ordering vitamin D blood tests for every patient in his practice. He has been doing this for quite a while now and has found that about 85% of his heart patients will be vitamin D deficient. Correcting these deficiencies can dramatically improve the management of his patient's heart disease. Be warned, however, that most physicians are still under the impression that 400 IUs of vitamin D is for the prevention of rickets and sometimes osteoporosis in women. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Vitamin D is actually a hormone which is known to be used by over 200 genes and seems to be active in all the organ systems. Recent studies have shown an inverse relationship between many major disease states (cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders etc.) and low levels of vitamin D. Surprisingly, many residents of Florida and even Hawaii are being found to be deficient in vitamin D because using sunscreen lotions blocks the production of vitamin D. Canadian medical authorities are already moving to increase the RDA for vitamin D to 1,000 or 2,000 IUs a day. Read "The UV Advantage" by Michael Holick M.D.
Gerald Oros, Collinsville, Illinois, USA, August 28, 2007

• To all posters who are not feeling well, whether it's shortness of breath, coughing, fast beating heart, etc. -- discuss these reactions with your interventional cardiologist or clinical cardiologist. Coughing is a side effect of certain ACE inhibitors, fatigue is the side effect of several medications, but all of these situations should be discussed with your doctor. After all, the reason you received a stent was to feel better and enjoy a better quality of life than you would without the stent. It may be that an adjustment is needed in your medical regimen, diet, etc. -- or that the stent may be reclosing (restenosis), which is something that can be dealt with. We'd also ask Forum members to post updates from time-to-time, especially if they've gotten answers that solved the problems.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, August 26, 2007

• I am 52 years old. Three weeks ago I received three medicated stents. Immediately following the surgery I felt wonderful for a couple of weeks. A few days ago I began to tire very easily and get out of breath. I feel as though I've been running, like my heart is racing. I don't know if I'm taking in too much caffeine, too little water or if I'm getting more blockages. My follow up with the surgeon went well but I'm feel anxious. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Bill Parsons, Maryland, USA, August 25, 2007

• I had non-coated stents put in 5 months ago and I'm more sore now then before I had them put in. My chest arms legs hips are always sore with pain for a week at a time. I wonder if now I could have fibromyalgia from having this done. Haven't had test for it but wonder if they should.
kevin, cornwall, ontario, canada, August 19, 2007

• Nancy -- the article you linked to below is two years old. Much has happened in the drug-eluting stent world since then, but pretty much every cardiologist feels that there is not a large difference in the outcomes between the Cypher and Taxus stent, and that both have similar plusses and minuses. Read our coverage of these studies in Angioplasty.Org's Drug Eluting Stent Center 2005 Archive (August 16, 2005) and you'll see our quote from Dr. Ron Waksman of the Washington Hospital Center:

"I think a large part of this is propaganda. Cordis is trying to show that its stent is superior to Boston Scientific's, and Boston Scientific is trying to show that there is no difference. So each company will pick up the pieces from the studies that fit their statements. When we look at our own Washington Hospital Center data, which now cover 2,500 patients, they do not show any difference between the two stents."

Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, August 19, 2007

• You may want to read this: health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/1514/63-40k
Nancy, Orlando, Florida, USA, August 19, 2007

• TM UK..sorry not to have replied. Am actually much better now. Stent was inserted in Exeter and the Cardiologist was marvellous...had follow ups and further tests earlier this year..they were normal. My ISMN reduced to 10mg bd. I still get a 'heavy' feeling if I lie on my back (which I rarely do) and odd pains in my left shoulder but on the whole I feel really good, it is now about 18 months down the line. I do hope you are feeling better and that time has helped.
Eileen, United Kingdom, August 17, 2007

• My 42 yr old husband had a DES put in RCA in Feb 2006. He was a smoker and has just recently developed a cough with congestion. When he was admitted to the hospital in Feb they took an X-ray and one lung appeared on film almost completely white. They thought it was pneumonia but never mentioned it again. I'm worried. Could this cough and congestion be heart problems starting up again or side effects from Plavix? The only medications my husband is currently taking are Plavix and Aspirin once daily. Thank you
Pbenge, Florida, USA, August 8, 2007

• It is now 18 months since I had a stent inserted following M.I. It has been a long 18 months! but am now beginning to feel 'normal' again. I empathize with Mary from Ontario since I felt worse after the stent was inserted than before? Have found that I cannot eat large meals and tend to 'graze' so that has helped but I really think that I must have had a) a reaction to drugs/dye or b) just plain inflammation of the outer heart muscle (pericarditis) which my consultant also considered. Hope this helps somebody out there because, I personally, felt that I would never be the same again and now I can see 'light at the end of the tunnel' PTL.
Eileen, UK, August 3, 2007

• On June 13th I had one stent put in 95% blocked LAD, my recovery went along well until this last week of July, I started getting very shaky and weak and it seems like my system is not regulating heat very well. My stomach has started getting upset as well. Has anyone else had this type of symptom, could this be a reaction to the Plavix, Lipitor, Lisinopril-HCTZ, or 325 mg Aspirin?
John B., Ohio, USA, July 29, 2007

• Jess in Japan (July 20, 2007) -- You are taking Panaldine, which is ticlopidine, known in the U.S. as Ticlid. Most cardiologists in the U.S. started using Plavix (clopidogrel) for antiplatelet therapy because ticlopidine seemed to have more side-effects, although for some patients the reverse is true. In Japan, ticlopidine is the antiplatelet drug of choice. Side-effects of drugs can vary with the individual, but shortness of breath and tiredness are symptoms that you should inform your cardiologist about. He/she may change your drug regimen or want to test that your stent is still fully patent (i.e. "open"). Do you know what kind of stent you got? Bare metal or drug-eluting? But don't change any prescribed medication without consulting your cardiologist. Let us know how you make out. Mary in Canada -- similar comments to you. We can't second-guess your cardiologist vis-a-vis your suitability for bypass. Was the pain you felt when the stent was inserted something which went away right after the procedure? This might be due to the short period when the balloon/stent is inflated and the blood flow is blocked, and it's normal. But any feelings where you are worse than you were before should be discussed with your cardiologist, as we noted above
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, July 21, 2007

• I had a mild heart attack on May 26 2007. In the hospital they tried to treat with medications. On May 26 after an angiogram showed that I had four blockages. 85% in the right artery and 100 percent blockage at the end of the artery. in the left branch 85 percent and 100 percent in one of the tips June 13 had a stent put in the right artery and felt lots of pain worse that I had when I went into the hospital. on June 18 again with an angiogram showing that the artery had narrowed below the stent. June 20 more stents. Having short of breath symptoms that I did not have previously to the stents being put in. I don't know if this is caused from the medications that I am on (rampril , labeltol plavix aspirin lipitor) I have been walking about 30 minutes every day. Don't know if I will ever feel the same. I am also diabetic, insulin dependent. Cardiologist did not seem to think that I would be a good candidate for bypass as my arteries are too small????
Mary, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, July 19, 2007

• experienced chest pain walking my dog in March. Within 5 day's was on cath table and had a bare metal stent inserted due to a 95% blockage on my RCA. Felt immediate relief, and resumed working in 2 weeks. Except for a general fatigue at the end of the day, everything is going well 4 months after. On the usual regime of Plavix, Metropolal x2, Crestor, Coversyl and Aspirin. I empathize with others on this forum with severe symptoms, but the procedure can also be positive. Good luck to all of us !
Rick G, Brampton, Ontario, CANADA, July 18, 2007

• Hi, I am 64 years old, male living in Japan and underwent angioplasty with one stent last June 22, 2007. I don't feel the same after my angioplasty. Now I have tingling sensation on my fingers, shortness of breath, and I easily get tired even walking short meters. I am taking now Aspirin 81mg (O.D) and Panaldine 100mg (B.I.D) as prescribe. Please advise and more power to you.
Jess J., Fukushima ken, Japan, July 20, 2007

• Rick -- you're correct. Forums like this tend to be a magnet for complaints -- these are important and have surfaced important and under-reported complications (which we regularly cite) -- but there is the question of balance, and something that's also lost in the news reports, etc. is just how many people like yourself have been helped to feel better and be more active in their daily lives by these procedures and devices. Thanks for the post.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, July 18, 2007

• As a patient who has undergone stenting (4 blockages opened with 3 DES in LAD) I too have experienced the various symptoms expressed on by others on this site. However my conclusion is that we are all very fortunate to have had the stent placement since they overall have helped more than hurt most individuals and furthermore those that have had a good experience are not on web sites telling the world how great they feel they are out living their lives.
Rick, New York, USA, July 18, 2007

• To all -- if you read through the many posts in this topic, you'll see that sometimes these symptoms resolve after a while as the body adjusts. Some of the "side effects" can be attributed to medications that have just been prescribed for the first time. Plavix is known to cause rashes, statins to cause joint and muscle pain, etc. But don't stop taking anything. These are issues to discuss with your cardiologist. The goal is to feel better -- and to attempt to do so mean moving in three directions: the angioplasty/stent may remove the immediate problem, the medications may provide a reduction in risk factors like cholesterol and high BP, and finally changes in lifestyle, stopping smoking, losing weight, etc. But any adverse effect should be reported to your cardiologist. If you feel you're not getting answers, try a second opinion.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, July 17, 2007

• My DH had a heart attack the last week of june - within 18 hours he underwent angioplasty to open one artery (the artery was too small for a stent) The past two weeks, he continues to feel pressure in chest, tingling in left fingers, very pale fingers and ankles, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue and has lost 7 lbs. We went back to the cardiologist and ran all sorts of tests, and they say his heart function is normal and he should resume all activity. He still continues to feel all of the above symptoms - what should we do?
R.L., Pennsylvania, USA, July 15, 2007

• Hi, my name is Sanford. I am 67 years old. 5 years ago I had an angiogram and was told the 2 blockages were not enough to warrant angioplasty. An abnormal EKG and chest X-ray revealed I needed to see a cardiologist. Last February I had 5 stents put in through the leg into my heart. I was told to start walking for 30 minutes per day and to take it easy. The first few days, I had chest discomfort. It eventually went away, but after I started working as a security guard on graveyard, I started to get these pains in my chest that became more intense and more frequent, even to the point when I barely moved. I thought it was the night air. I went back to my cardiologist, and he put me right back into the OR to have 2 more larger stents put into 2 other blocked arteries, he said he couldn't reach the first time. I had some discomfort, and he prescribed more drugs. Isordil, which is according to him, a time released nitro. He had already prescribed the little nitro pills you place under your tongue. I have been walking at least 30 minutes a day, until this last week, when I had a cold, and it kind of took the energy out of me. I have one small side blockage, and with each visit, he asks me, if I want him to go back in to stent it. I have no chest pain. Oh, an occasional twinge, or flutter, but nothing I hadn't had over many years. I am on statins (Zocor 80),Plavix 75, Norvasc 10, Lotensin 40, 2 baby aspirin, Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5, atenolol 25, and Isordin 20 three times daily. I have had no chest pains. I have walked and jogged for a minute or two intermittently. I asked if I could be taken off of the Nitro, and he said, drop it to twice a day. It seems like as long as I have no pain, the cardiologist is happy, and of course I am happy also, but... It is scary reading all of this trial stuff and test done by the AHA. One does not know what to believe, and what to do. Of course everyone is different. I have had my share of kidney stones over the past 38 years. I have one kidney that is slightly undersized, due to trauma from passing too large of stones. It seems to me, that most of these cardiologists doing this procedure are doing this procedure blindly. I had no chest pains before the first stents were put in. I was really out of breath on the treadmill, but I was over weight and have lost 25 pounds since then. I was a smoker, but had quit smoking last December 2 months before the first procedure. Anyway, it is great to be alive! I feel for others that have had this procedure, and of course being male or female, age weight, smoker or non, all has a definite effect on the outcome. But I feel that everyone is after the same results, which of course are, no pain, feeling good, and enjoying the rest of our lives. The doctor I have, knows how to prescribe all of these pills, and is more than eager to perform another procedure, after all that is how he makes the brunt of his living. I can understand how everyone feels, like a lamb being led to slaughter. Especially when you don't know what is going on, and on the operating table you are asked, after the wire is in, do you want to think about the stents or do you want half of them put in, or do you want all 5? I told him to go ahead. And yes it was a feeling like really a bad heartburn. The next time they put in the other 2 stents, it was excruciating pain. I had 2 sprays of nitro, didn't work, and then morphine. I was very close to having a heart attack, in my estimation right on the table. So, I guess, we don't realize what is going on in our own bodies. The guidelines the HMO's will pay for are largely ignored by the doctors. They have their way of getting approved. So, now what? Do I continue to take all of these drugs for the rest of my life? I heard that Plavix causes problems after a year. I heard that Zocor can cause damage to organs. So what is the answer? Thanks to any and all that respond. I hope I answered some questions others may have had.
Sanford B., California, USA, July 14, 2007

• Hi, I had 2 stents inserted from the groin area after I experienced chest pain recently. I thought my time had come and that I was checking out. At 48 I could not keep pace with anyone even on a walk, as my chest pain became alarming and unbearable. I consider myself was fortunate to have the stents.. I can walk and breath again.. I am tired and think that's a side effect of the lipitor. I pray this all works out for me. A few side effects.. but I am in a much better place.. I wish us all well and I am learning from this site..regards.
Derek Piltown, Kilkenny, IRELAND, July 11, 2007

• hi. on march 13 2007 had 2 stents put in left front and 1 put in left back artery and for last month get sore chest arms hands and legs for 2 or 3 days then nothing for a week then soreness comes back. doctors don't know why have three pinched nerves 1 in left wrist 1 in right wrist 1 in left elbow but that is not the problem thx.
Leafs, CANADA, July 8, 2007

• This site has been very helpful as many of the posts confirm what I have been experiencing. Had 3 drug eluting stents placed on June 18 2007. Now three plus weeks later and still have chest pressure. But different than the angina symptoms. No shortness of breath or squeezing. Just a pressure on the chest. Surprised that the cardiologist did not suggest that this might be the case.
BBV, British Columbia, CANADA, July 7, 2007

• 57 YR OLD HUSBAND EXPERIENCING THROBBING PAIN, ANTERIOR UPPER L. LEG. SONOGRAM R/O CLOT. BACK X-RAY FOUND NOTHING. PAIN IN LEG CONSTANT. HAD STENT 07/2006, SIMVASTATIN 80MG, LISINOPRIL 5MG, METOPROLO TARTRATE 100MG, CLOPIDOGREL BISULFATE 75MG, CITALOPRAM HYDROBROMIDE 40MG, ASPIRIN 81MG, AGITATED, CAN'T SLEEP MORE THAN 1 TO 2 @ TIME.
Lynda Howard, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA, June 30, 2007

• I'm 70 years of age and had stent installed in LAD six months ago due to 80% blockage, although no heart attack. Taking Plavix and aspirin, plus Coversyl and Norvasc for blood pressure, but also Crestor to reduce cholesterol level from 5.5 to 3.2. Initially had chest discomfort for some weeks and worried that stent had damaged artery wall or that it was becoming blocked again. However, Crestor was the cause of most of the chest muscular pain and subsequently my doctor reduced the already low dosage from 10mg to 5mg which is still holding my cholesterol level to just over 3.0. The Norvasc was added to my medication as I was still getting mild chest pain when walking uphill. Cardiologist said that I had minor arterial blockages which could not be treated and Norvasc would open these up to improve blood flow, which has eliminated the chest pain. I believe the major problem in dealing with stent placement is in the mind and once one stops feeling vulnerable and believing that it has cured the problem one stops worrying. So many people have problems because they don't maintain their medication, don't stick to a sensible diet and finally don't bother exercising - even a 30 minute a day walk which is sufficient. Have a glass of red wine daily and eat some dark chocolate!
Nick , Melbourne, Australia, June 30, 2007

• Husband is 48 years old had one stent put in 95% blockage. Having tight chest pain, stomach and groin pain, lower back pain. When trying to just walk at a slow pace his heart starts to race. He was in the ER right as he was going into a heart attack but they were able to stop it. On his release papers he is to go to ER if he has any chest pain -- however, I am reading here that many go to the ER and find that all is ok and this is quite normal for the healing process.
Tammy, Indiana, USA, June 24, 2007

• I had a Taxus Express 2 Paclitaxel-Eluting device placed in the LAD because of a 95% blockage. I had been actively losing weight during the prior year walking a treadmill three to four times a week for a half mile to one mile. I went out for a healthy walk at work and experiencde a knife dragging across my chest sensation, then a tight squeezing and finally a terrific wave of nausea. At that point I knew it was heart related and ended up in the hospital. Since I underwent a treadmill test with no conclusion, a thallium stress test with no conclusion, and an EKG which did show something but none of the four doctors I have seen have shown me the results nor expressed exactly what was seen. I had the angiopl;asty and ultimate stent placement done on April 30.

Since that time I have had intermittent chest pain that feels like a burning heavy pressure sensation to the left of my sternum which radiates to my left and and causes a dull numb sensation in my biceps near the crook of my arm. I have had blood tests showing nothing and a trip to the emergency room. I am having hot flashes and cold chills, night sweats, I often have a fluttering sensation and through PVC's, I have slight shortness of breath when the chest pain by the sternum occurs. I am stressed and worried am living a personal nightmare of constant contact with doctors. I take Paxil daily, aspirin 81mg, and am on levistatin. I am also having a great deal of problems with my blood sugar bottoming out which I did not have prior to the stenting. I have been extremely careful with my diet for the last year with a 47 pound weight loss. My appetite has flared since the stenting which may be a result of stress.

Overall the entire experience have been negative since I was not given any choice in the placement of a stent or any prior information so I could be prepared for that possibility during angioplasty. I would greatly appreciate any feedback. also I would like to know if you know of any support group in the Northwest Indiana area or of any patients who may like to speak with someone else going through the same thing as I am. Thank you for you help.
Lenore Samanas, Valparaiso, Indiana, USA, June 24, 2007

• To Deb and T.S. and any other patients with new pain or symptoms that have occurred since stenting, but were not present beforehand -- discuss this with the cardiologist. New drugs may have fatigue as a side-effect -- possibly dosages can be adjusted (DO NOT self-adjust, however. Lowering your dose of antiplatelet meds like aspirin or Plavix could be dangerous.) As for continuing pain, there is the possibility that anxiety can exacerbate such feelings, but it is important to rule out other causes. We cannot give medical advice, but many posters to this topic have written that they experience a feeling of pressure. Some have reported that it goes away with time. But any such symptoms should be reported to the interventional cardiologist who placed the stent. Abd please update the Forum so others can read the outcomes. Thanks to all.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, June 20, 2007

• my husband has been having continual pressure/pain in chest that radiates to neck area when it intensifies. He had stenting x3 in last month 1/2, Dr. seems to have no clue as to why this continues since last heart cath showed no new blockages. We are very worried as to what might be going on and seem to get no medical help........
Deb, Wisconsin, USA, June 20, 2007

• I had a stent last wednesday 13th June and all went well except for a angina type pain after, probably due to the stent stretching in the Arterial wall the consultant said. This cleared after a few hours and I was able to go home the following morning. However, on Monday I decided to test myself a little as I was feeling really good, no more tiredness or continuous yawning or chest pain. So I set of on a short cycle ride into town and felt wonderful when I arrived, I then returned home and realised I had perhaps done a little to much as I now had a slight pain in my chest just to right of centre of the Sternum. I read my notes again on post op. and it said no heavy lifting for one week, silly me however the consultant did say I could go back to work on Monday 18th June but I shall give it a bit longer now. Overall result; wonderful could not recommend it enough and the op. was performed through the right wrist, the radial artery which meant no pain walking and no problems with slight wound.
David Clachan, Hampshire, U.K., June 19, 2007

• My husband just had a stent put in his RCA of his heart. He is 56 years old and seems to be tired after having his procedure 22 days ago. Walking 3 miles does not bother him but he said he just feels tired. Now taking Lipitor, Plavix and 325mg. of aspirin. Is this normal?
T.S., California, USA, June 16, 2007

• Angela -- have you discussed this with the doctor who did the stenting (he/she is not a surgeon, but is part of a subspecialty caled interventional cardiology). He might be able to explain, or he might want to examine the stents and make sure they are not getting reblocked. As for stent allergies, not much is known about them. If you look in the right column, you see the we have a notice hooking up patients with potential stent allergies to a research study being conducted by cardiologists in Texas. Email stentstudy@angioplasty.org for more about it and contact info. Another possible explanation is that sometimes, in the process of stenting, a small side branch of the artery gets blocked, which has little functional detriment, but which sometimes can cause pain. These are all topics which your cardiologist should discuss with you. You are definitely experiencing pain, it started right after the second stent -- something isn't perfect, that's clear. And, as you can see from the more than 200 postings on this topic, you are not alone. Please keep the Forum updated on what you find out.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, June 15, 2007

• The pain begins in the left/center area of my chest and radiates to my front shoulder. It is very acute and did not begin until after the placement of the second stent. I believe that I am having a reaction to the drug that is eluted from the stent itself or that it was improperly placed. the exhaustion I am feeling is most likely due to the medications. I have one kidney left. I was born with a deformed kidney and double ureter along with heterozygous familial heypercholesterolemia. My new cardiologist has referred me to a lipid clinic to undergo LDL apheresis because I do not respond to medication and do not tolerate it well. My kidney and liver panels have not come back very good for at least three months. Prior to surgery and the battery of meds that I now take, both panels were fine for many years. The pain that I am having is not angina because it does not go away. It has been constant since the day of the second surgery. I am sure there are many thousands of people that have wonderful outcomes with coronary stent placement and that it has saved many many lives. However, this is not the case for everyone and I think that surgeons need to be more aware of individual case details before they immediately stent people. I am not 60, 80, or even 90 years old. I am supposed to be in the prime of my life and even if I had died early, at least I would have been able to live and work until that point. Now, I am in constant pain that no one is willing to find a cause for and constant exhaustion caused by medications that I was given because it is protocol to prescribe them whether they are needed or not. I am very disappointed that science has given way to the ideal of quantity over quality of life.
Angela H., Indiana, USA, June 14, 2007

• Angela -- can you be more specific as to the the type and location of the pain? As you can tell from reading this Forum topic, there are many different reasons for "not feeling well after stenting". Some have nothing to do with the stent itself. For example, you may be having an adverse reaction to a new drug that has been prescribed, or problems at the arterial access site (usually the femoral artery in the groin), etc. The medications coming off the stent are very dilute and seldom cause a systemic problem -- they are designed to act locally. You say you have "a kidney issue". Can you explain?
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, June 14, 2007

• I am 33. In Sept. 2006, I had a Taxus II stent placed into an artery with a 80% blockage. I did not have a heart attack, abnormal EKG etc..... I have a lipid disorder that I was born with. I was not on statins because of a kidney issue. I have always been hypotensive. It was a "precautionary test"....90 min later I was on the table. After placement of the first, it was advised that I have a second stent placed for a 70% blockage. So one month later, in I went like a blind and fatted calf and did want the doctor said to do. This was almost ten months ago, I wish I would've died on the table. I am in constant pain, The medications are actually poisoning me because of my kidney's inability to process waste (something I've dealt with my entire life, but every doctor ignores and loads me up anyway) It is not depression, I've been fighting this my whole life, but I feel worse, since the stents. I wish they would rip them out or that I had never gotten them. Maybe I would've died , but at least the last memories that my husband and son had of me wouldn't be as an invalid who is in constant pain. I am losing my fight. I think that's what hurts worse...having to watch them see me in pain all the time. these stents may have prolonged me survival, but they have ruined my life.
Angela H., Indiana, USA, June 13, 2007

• Tony -- First off, congratulations for stopping smoking -- one of the best things you could do for yourself and your heart. The feeling of something caught in your throat (scratchy?) may be a slight adverse reaction to a med, but these things are difficult to pinpoint. For example, ACE inhibitors (a typical blood pressure med taken by heart patients) can cause a persistent cough. Allergic reactions to stents are under study (see right hand column) but the first step is to eliminate the more common medication reactions as a cause. This, however, should not be done by patients themselves. Call your prescribing doctor (cardiologist) and report this problem. Often a different drug can be tried, which may eliminate the feeling in your throat. And please let the other Forum readers know what you find out.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, June 10, 2007

• I had a stent put in at the end of April. About a week after I started filling like something is caught in my throat, like I swallowed something wrong. I have never had this problem before. Could this be from the Stent, meds, or maybe from stopping smoking after 25 years?
Tony Pierce, Houston, Texas, USA, June 8, 2007

• Hi again All Here we are now 5 months post stent to RCA (Medtronic Endeavor DES) and stress test in March which suggested something not right. I am seeing my cardio in June, given that I am experiencing the same `pressure` on my chest area after walking (up hill is by far the worst, just like on the treadmill)which did show up on the stress test, what sort of questions should I now be asking the Cardio. They decided to leave me on Nitro patches after the stress test, which are used daily, but certainly do not stop the `pressure` on walking. My last angiogram back in Sept 2006 suggested that my first stent (bifurcation with BMS) was only mildly blocked. However they did talk about first diagonal of an ostial stenosis `jailed` by the bifurcation stent, diffusely diseased throughout?? What does this mean exactly (bi stent was a guidant bifurcation stent BMS) In my case all these stress tests are not helped by my being in Perm Atrial Fibrillation.
Terry M., United Kingdom, May 28, 2007

• Norman -- stents are implanted in the artery and become part of the vessel wall, so it's not really possible to remove them, even with open heart surgery. Has your cardiologist ruled out possible adverse reactions to any of the medications you're on? Statins, for example, can cause muscle aches, etc. (Note: do not self-adjust any medication -- only do this in concert with your cardiologist.) You might also want to check out the "related topic" on Stent Allergies -- a number of patients have reported similar reactions -- they sometimes dissipate over time.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, April 29, 2007

• I had a medicated stent placed in my LAD in Dec. 2006. I am 38 years old, was in good shape and have been losing weight ever since the stent placement. Besides that I have been having chest pain, jaw, back, etc. I have been told that I will never be able to have the stent removed. That it is in there for life. Do you think it is possible to have it removed with Open Heart Surgery? I really want this thing out of me, it has ruined/destroyed my life. Thanks.
Norman, Michigan, USA, April 29, 2007

• [addition to April 18, 2007] -- His diagnosis is Peripheral Vascular, with about 90% blockage in the left leg artery and a little less in the right leg. Yes they did enter the groin area. Two stents were placed on each side below the juncture of the abdominal artery-- a total of 4. Now he is starting to get muscle aches and lightheadedness. Thursday evening we went out to dinner and after dinner ended up in the emergency room for severe stomach pain ( he did not eat very much). Tests and X-rays showed nothing. ER doctor said the muscle pain is normal with Crestor and goes away in about 4 weeks. He was on Benicar for several weeks, but the Plavix (with aspirin) and Crestor have just been added. Your feedback is appreciated as I am trying to learn as quickly as possible to help him.
Barb, Orlando, Florida, USA, April 21, 2007

• I HAD A HEART CATH. IN FEB. THIS YEAR. CARDIOLOGIST PLACED TWO STENTS IN ONE ARTERY AND ONE STENT IN ANOTHER. OCCASIONALLY I HAVE A PINCHING SENSATION AROUND MY HEART. WHAT COULD THIS BE? IT DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG BUT COMES BACK PERIODICALLY. I WALKED MY 3 MILES FOR EXERCISE YESTERDAY. HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET BACK INTO EXERCISE REGIMEN. UPON COMPLETION OF MY WALK I HAD SEVERAL PINCHING SENSATIONS IN LEFT UPPER CHEST. IT DIDN'T LAST LONG BUT DEFINITELY LET ME KNOW SOMETHING UNUSUAL WAS FELT. WHATS UP?
DOUGLAS H., Louisiana, USA, April 19, 2007

• Barb -- you write that your husband had "4 stents placed in the groin area". Where exactly were these stents placed? In his leg? Four stents in a small leg area seems like a lot. Or do you mean they entered through the groin area (femoral artery) but were guided up to his heart? As for the 40-50% blockage -- that is not normally considered significant. Guidelines do not recommend "opening up" anything less than 50%.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, April 19, 2007

• My husband had catheterization with 4 stents placed in the groin area on 4/13. He was very bruised in the groin area (called his cardiologist). Because he had a reaction to the dye for the CT 64 slice he was given Prednisone on 4/12. He was taking Benicar, Crestor and now Plavix. The procedure opened up the blockages in his legs, but a 40-50% blockage still remains in the heart area. He is getting chills frequently and now has cold hands most of the time. I am reading and trying to learn what is the norm and what is a concern.
Barb, Orlando, Florida, USA, April 18, 2007

• Response to Gail K. [April 14, 2007] -- I think the alternative would be worse than you not having a procedure done to correct what is wrong. First of all the Angioplasty/Stent procedure for the most part is painless ! They'll enter through your groin and the Femoral artery which feels no different than when you have blood drawn from your arm. You'll probably be slightly sedated and you might feel a little pressure when the stent is actually inserted. It all depends on the nature of the procedure, I was in the middle of having a heart attack, so the stent was instant relief for me ! You'll have to take it easy for a couple of days while your groin entry site heals, they might use what's called an angio plug to seal the site, it might bleed a little bit and can be bruised. It should be healed up in a week if you take care of it properly. Most people are awake during the whole thing so your cardiologist can talk to you during the procedure. All you can do is trust the doctors and have faith that their clinical judgment is in your best interest, and for the most part, they are acting in your best interest. You have to realize that a lot of these posts are purely personal experiences and a place for different personalities to express concern to others and to receive some kind of affirmation that they're not alone. If we do have one thing in common, it's that we all had to undergo something that invades our body, physically and emotionally. Like with anything that goes out of whack with your body, the worse feeling is not seeming to have control over it. You are at the mercy of medical technology and it's an uneasy often life changing experience. Someone hinted to me that the best attitude is to face the situation as a "wake up" call, rather than a death sentence. Talk to your doctor and do not be afraid to ask questions, you have a right to know what's going to be done to you and focus on the benefits, all of the other anxieties will fade in time. It's not easy adjusting to new medications, in fact in can be down right frustrating and being a little depressed is normal, I feel it at times, and everyone else on this forum has too.
David C, Lenexa, KS, April 18, 2007

• On March 21st, I had an MI with a stent placed in the LAD. I was 100% blocked with no prior symptoms or precursors that anything was brewing in my ticker. I'm 34 and do have the family history but always did a decent job of taking care of myself and have never smoked! I was very scared and was comforted by the amazing cardiology response team that took care of me.

For the first couple of weeks, a small walk to the mailbox would produce a strange cold feeling in my chest which did not radiate anywhere else. I didn't seem to be out of breath and the feeling was not severe enough to stop me in my tracks. the best way to describe it is that feeling in your lungs when your out of shape and it's cold outside...and it was random in nature. I told my doctor and we went to the Cath lab again, I have a 50% blockage in another smaller artery, but in his own words "nothing to write home about", so no intervention was done. I'm on plavix, aspirin, coreg, amiodarone (one month), Inspra, and 40mg of Lipitor at night. What is interesting is that my cardiologist is very anti-Nitro...in his assessment, if you need to use Nitro that often, then there is still an underlying issue that needs to be clinically addressed. So he has never prescribed it to me, he sees it as a crutch that unless it is medically needed, he wont give it to this patients.

I'm not suggesting that those using Nitro should be taken off it, but there is overwhelming evidence of how the anxiety construed by the mind can have