|
Current Postings on This Page (52):
• I had a heart attack and one stent placed in
the - at almost age 61 - over a year ago. I was back on my bicycle five
days later, albeit riding slowly around the block until a stress test three
weeks later confirmed I was good to go. I still had an estimated 70% blockage
in another artery.Two more stents were placed after angina pain developed
7.5 months later, in that artery. Less than two days later, I peeled back
the bandaid covering the incision in my groin, and couldn't find the wound.
I was back on my bike in three days and I didn't bother with any rest period.
I was floored, especially the second time, at how minimal the aftereffects
of such an important procedure turned out to be.
Dave Wyman., Los Angeles, California, USA, February 1, 2010
• I recently had a stent placed for a blocked artery
(LAD 95% blockage). My doctor placed me on two blood pressure lowering
medictions (an ace inhibitor
and a beta blocker) although my blood pressure runs in the normal to low range.
Can you explain the purpose of these medications and how long I will need to
stay on them?
W.V., Austin, Texas, USA, January 27, 2010
• hi my name is slem i just had an angioplasty
done on friday. whats the
recovery time before heading back 2 work.
Anslem M., Maryland, USA, January 12, 2010
• I will soon undergo an angiogram procedure. I
had open heart surgery 12 years ago at 42 and have in the last year had
multiple heart attacks. the cardiologist
can tell from the echo and ekg. What is possibility that my heart muscle will
not hold up? I had a prior MI 12 years ago. I also have pain in my legs. Will
this affect my legs?
Pat R., Clarendon Hills, Illinois, USA, January 7, 2010
• I am a massage therapist and one of my weekly
clients will be having angioplasty on a thurs. His appointments with
me are on mondays. Is there a recommended time to wait to get a massage
after
the procedure?
Evelyn, Florida, USA, November 9, 2009
• Had three stents placed in two arteries for 70
and 80% blockage a week ago today. I did not have a heart attack. Was told
I could return to work (light
duty) last Monday and did. The fatigue is what worries me. I am more tired
now than I was before. Post stent placement chest pressure and headache
are gone.
Why the fatigue. On plavix, aspirin, HCTZ, and Atentolol.
L.B., Arizona, USA, October 23, 2009
• To all who ask whether this or that activity is
too strenuous, etc...these questions should be asked of your cardiologist
-- there really is no accurate answer as to how many days, what amount
of weight-bearing, etc. is safe, since every patient has a different clinical
status, different muscle tone, etc. If the physician doesn't discuss this
with you (and they often don't) it's really up to the patient to be proactive
and find this information out directly. Also check out the related Forum
Topic on Exercise,
Sport, Physical Activity After Stent.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, October 20, 2009
• I just had a stent placed in my LAD last Friday
(5 days ago). I am an RN and am off from work for this week. Do you think
it is safe for me to resume my duties as a bedside nurse which involves
some strenuous physical activity
(lifting and pulling up patients in bed).
Dean G., Florida, USA, September 23, 2009
• I had a clinical trial stent placed on 9/1/09
and have had increase BP since (159/97 avg) and have recently had chest
pain, though not the type I had
prior to the stent. I am on Cozaar, but my BP has gone up since going to that
med. Obviously, I need to tell my cardiologist about the BP and medication,
but are the chest pains normal?
Cathy H., Penn Valley, California, USA, September 10, 2009
• After a false positive on a stress test, I got
this procedure 3 days ago. My heart is healthy and strong. My question
is...how long before I can return
to the gym and my normal workout (running/bike/weights)?
Maralee R., Tennessee, USA, August 28, 2009
• Barbara -- the bruising sounds like a hematoma,
a not uncommon complications after and angiogram or angioplasty. It comes
from blood leaking internally from the femoral puncture site (has nothing
to do with the stent itself). It usually resolves itself. The pain is another
story. If it feels odd, comes on with exercise, etc. definitely call your
cardiologist, if for no other reason than to rule out anything. Also check
out our Forum Topics on Complications
After Femoral Angiogram and Not
Feeling Well After Stenting.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, August 7, 2009
• had a stent put in 3 weeks ago today. had a lot
of bruising from knee on up. it is finally going away. but the last couple
of days i have been having pain in my chest and upper back. and also
left arm aching. Is this normal or
should i call my doctor?
Barbara, Chicago. Illinois, USA, August 5, 2009
• Brenda -- check out our topic
on Plavix. Bruising is not uncommon. If this gets worse, or your
blood pressure drops (or your stool is black) contact your physician
-- otherwise this is a somewhat "normal" side effect. But don;t
stop taking Plavix or aspirin -- very important to keep the blood from
clotting inside the stent. Lower cholersterol. Good!
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, August 2, 2009
• I am 40 and had a stint [stent] put in April
17/09. I am on plavix 75 and aspirin 81. I am bruising very badly and
it takes forever for them to go away. Is this normal? I am only scheduled
for blood work every 6 months and my doctor doesn't seem too worried
about it. My blood pressure is down lower than ever (also on atenolol 50
and
coversyl+) The doctor has lowered my atenolol to 25 and says will recheck
in 30 days. I did have a mild heart attack and had a 90% blockage. I
am
told I have a perfectly healthy heart now. My cholesterol when this happened
was 7.54 and is now down to 3.04 with crestor. Again, is this normal?
Brenda D., New Brunswick, Canada, August 2, 2009
• Advice from Joyce
in New Jersey below is well worth reading. Thank you Joyce!!
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, July 23, 2009
• I had two stent implants 3 weeks apart. I was
feeling much better going on the third week after my first stent, but
still didn't feel fixed as I still had one more stent implant needed and
still
had chest pressure and pins and needles in my left arm and hand. After
the second one I knew what to expect for the most part and just took
one day at a time. Blood pressure medication makes you sleepy and also
if your
not fixed yet meaning you still have to under go another stent implant
the feeling of feeling sleepy could be because your not getting enough
oxygen circulating through your system. Statin drugs can at first make
your food taste like tin because of the statin,but the tin taste goes
away. I am not having any problem recovering so far and it has been one
month
and five days now since both stents were implanted. When I get tired
or I know I had been busy with chores and the like I lay down no matter
if
I am feeling sleepy or not. I have some vague discomfort in the groin
area, but i suppose that will take a while to go away. If you are prone
to anxiety
attacks or are under a lot of stress at home or at work find a way to
handle anxiety attacks and stress so that it doesn't bother your heart
any. The
first thing that was suggested to me was music therapy. Also chest pain
also known as Angina can be a chronic problem. If it is not relieved
with nitro or rest within a reasonable amount of time then you have to
go get
checked out. If you were diagnosed with angina you need to ask your doctor
what type of angina you have because there are a few different types
of angina. you can read about the different types here http://www.lifeheart.com/
I am coming to the conclusion that I have to live differently now because
feeling normal and living a normal life or at least bring things back
to
the way it was before I got sick isn't going to happen, instead I have
to learn how to live differently now. It is the new norm in my life.
Since I am living a new norm then I make sure I ask my doctor questions,write
down your questions or else you will forget what to ask. Thanks for this
forum a really nice place.
Joyce, New Jersey, USA, July 13, 2009
• Hank -- check out the topic, "Not
Feeling Well After Stenting" and you'll see a number
of posters who don't feel great after stenting. You're correct
that some of this may be due to new medications that you're on. These
can be adjusted by your cardiologist. Others report that it just takes
a little
time for the body to adjust. We always recommend that patients discuss
these issues with their cardiologists.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, July 12, 2009
• Had an angio/stent six days ago. No MI prior.
The narrowing in circumflex was an incidental finding to r/o cardio issues.
Before procedure, I could easily walk or treadmill two miles, at 140
bpm, no symptoms. Today I got light-headed walking around the block. I
realize
it could be new meds, but I assume time to
get rechecked, yes?
Hank, Michigan, USA, July 12, 2009
• CR -- good question. Most hospitals I've been
in send patients to CCU recovery, but not all. For example, patients
where the transradial approach through the wrist is used, patients go
to a simpler
recovery room and are able to sit up immediately. Would be interested
in hearing from other hospitals on their protocols.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, March 3, 2009
• Is it usual to go to a specialized unit after
PCI? I am a nurse in a cardiac
step down unit and getting a lot of "push back" from administration about the
misuse of the step down unit. the ratio on the unit is usually 3 patients to
1 RN with a higher level of vigilance during the removal of the arterial sheath.
I sometimes get the "practicing old medicine" line from admin. but the docs want
an "ICU" level
of care. Stuck in the middle.
CR, Louisiana, USA, March 2, 2009
• Robin -- not insane -- sounds like your brother
got to the hospital quickly enough so that an interventional cardiologist was
able to open the blockage causing the problem in time to prevent damage
to
the heart muscle. Before angioplasty, little could be done for patients
except to "wait out" the heart attack, which allowed the heart
muscle to become damaged, and life changed radically for the patient. Now,
what might have
been
a full-blown heart attack can be stopped in its tracks with little or no
heart damage or long-term effect -- if it's treated in time.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, March 2, 2009
• My brother, age 53, had emergency PCI (one stent)
2 nights ago. He is being released from the hospital today & says the
cardiologist told him he could return to work the day after tomorrow. Does
this sounds insane to anyone other than me? He is a draftsman but does
a lot of driving during the day, too.
Robin, California, USA, February 28, 2009
• To the posters who have written in regarding fatigue
and/or chest pain following stenting, these are issues to discuss with
your cardiologist, since every person has varying clinical pictures, and
different recovery times. For example Sanjay in India, who had "kissing
stents" at the bifurcation or branching of the LAD and Diagonal is
feeling pain and having trouble walking, while Graeme in Australia was
well enough to move furniture and paint a room. Often stent patients are
suddenly taking new drugs, which may cause a reaction or possibly fatigue.
Certainly any strong or intense pain should be reported right away. You
might also want to browse through a related topic, "Not
Feeling Well After Stenting".
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, Feberuary 27, 2009
• My husband had a stroke and heart attack about
10 days ago. He has recovered well from the stroke in his use of his
limbs, speech etc, only his walking is a bit wobbly. He had an angiogram
and stent
inserted in a blocked artery. He was discharged the next day and is home
recovering. He is very tired and lethargic. What sort of recovery should
I expect?
Cecily T., New South Wales, Australia, February 1, 2009
• Hi, I went through Angioplasty a week ago and
the procedure was completed with two stents, one in the Diagonal (D1) and
other in the LAD artery. However
I kept having distinct chest pain throughout next day while being in ICU. Having
complained about this, I was again put through angiography which revealed
that everything was alright, the stents were in place and the blood flow
was established
very well. Later on my pain slowly went down and I was discharged from the
hospital. However during last one week when I go out for a short walk,
I get a chest pain
very early, just after even half a Kilometer and walking further almost becomes
impossible. This is worst than the original trouble I had before angioplasty.
What could be the reason ? I am going to meet doctor after a week, but very
worried whether anything has gone wrong during angioplasty.
Sanjay D., India, January 28, 2009
• I had 2 stents inserted end to end in my right
coronary artery on 23rd december and home on the 24th. Without a lot of
guidance i set about some tasks that felt within my physical capabilities
- painting a room, moving furniture out of the road and some other quite
physical tasks - all within the first couple of weeks at home. Can these
actions impact on the "seating" or bedding in of
the stents.
Graeme, Sydney, Australia, January 15, 2009
• I had a stent put in last thurday and I am still
weak and I am having some
pain. Is that normal? Thank you.
Sharon P., Indiana, USA, January 14, 2009
• I had a stent put in 10 days ago and 2 others
put in 3 weeks ago. I am very tired and have pains in chest now and then
including center of chest is this normal and will it get better? I feel
very weak doing regular duties etc. and have little energy to go out
socially etc.
Jerry H., Carson City, Nevada, USA, December
29,
2008
• Rosematie -- you might want to look over the postings
on another Forum Topic, "Complications
from Catheterization, Angiogram or Angioplasty". As you'll read,
many patients have itchiness, lumps, etc.. As for when to resume activity
in your father's case, especially lifting heavy objects, you should talk
to your father's cardiologist. Hope allheals well.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, December 11, 2008
• my father had PCI to LAD just 6 days ago, now
he's feeling more better but the problem is there is hematoma on his
right femoral region on the insertion site and also there is lump he said
only
today he notice that, also there is mild itchiness is it normal. also
for after how many days he can resume his regular daily activities like
lifting
heavy object?
Rosematie V., Qatar, December 10, 2008
• Suman -- gangrene is a symptom of peripheral artery
disease. The same disease that causes blockages in the heart arteries
also causes blockages in the leg arteries (peripherals), thus the gangrene.
You and your father should discuss your questions with your cardiologist.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, September 13, 2008
• hi, my father age is 56 yrs , he has undergone
angioplasty due to heart damage, later he discovered a complication i.e.
gangrene so his right leg got
amputated , so he was 10 days in hospital and nw he is back to home now its 2
months finished after the angioplasty and he kept artificial limb and he is practicing
to walk without support, also taking the medicine for heart also regularly visits
the cardiologist to know the staus...so our worry how he is going to recover
his heart muscle which was got damaged .. what would be chances life risk due
to heart damage in future life and is completely out of danger ...and how he
it can be recovered from heart damage and heart stroke ... Please let us know
what can be done what
are
possibilities?
Suman, Bedok, Singapore, September 12, 2008
• Gwendolyn -- There's no literature we
know of that would link stents to weight-gain per se. but that's a pretty
large gain in a relatively short time -- you also have other clinical issues,
so we suggest that you
discuss this with your cardiologist and/or G.P.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, August 11, 2008
• I had 2 DES inserted last year (Dec.2007). Is
there a diet pill OC or by prescription I can take to help me lose weight?
Before the stent implants
I weighed 120 pounds. After the stent implants,my weight soared to 165 pounds
and I cannot adjust well to this weight increase. I am on Plavix, Lasix, Premarin
and Benicar/HCT 20 mg. At the present time, I have been diagnosed with Acites,
liver cysts and gall stones that have caused my abdomen to become extremely swollen
with an increased weight gain of 45 pounds.
Gwendolyn D. Evans, Author/ Poet,
Ellenwood, Georgia, USA, August 9, 2008
• I have just had my second angioplasty - only
1 stent this time. Staying still and horizontal for 4.5 hours after the
procedure did the trick for me; for 5 days after, no driving or lifting
and no sex. the result is no bruising, lumps or pain this time.Just take
it easy, work can wait if you really want complete recovery from a somewhat
invasive procedure.
Andrew Baker, London, England, UK, July 21, 2008
• Dear editor, thanks for your reply I have to
have another stent put in in a week or so. It does seem strange that
I can do these things and hope that this is because there is not much
or any heart damage, I will ask the cardiologist what he can see whilst
he
is doing the next stent which is not a complete blockage (like the
last
one) but a restriction and carry on trying to lose two stone and be
healthy, hope It lasts? I am 46 so a bit young for this sort of stuff,
rather
a fright to the wife.
W., United Kingdom, May 7, 2008
• W. -- your cardiologist is the best person to
discuss this with you. The figure you are looking for is called
the "ejection fraction" which is a % of how efficiently your
heart is working. Using
ultrasound or a catheterization, the cardiologist can also see how well
the heart muscle is moving and exactly where and how much damage has occurred.
So you're saying that you just had a heart attack last week, and a stent,
and since then you've mowed the lawn twice, hoed the garden and walked
two miles into town??!! Not to be facetious, but we'll
bet there are some readers who are breathless just thinking about that.
Best
of luck to you and please let the Forum know what you find out and how
you are progressing. Cheers.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, May 6, 2008
• I had angioplasty and a stent put in this last Saturday having had a heart
attack that I never felt until central chest indigestion type pains afterwards,
it was two days later having done some reasonably physical work that I went to
the doctor and they did a cardio graph and called an ambulance on viewing it.
After having a blockage stented I came home, no work for six weeks and no driving
for four weeks. Have mowed the lawn twice hoed the garden walked round the village
(2mls)felt pretty tired and slept a bit no pain but a bit breathless. I had an
enzyme reading of 7.0 on the blood test two days after the event which worried
the hospital. My question is how much damage to the heart have I done and is
it normally assessed after this sort of thing. thanks A (IS THE BREATHLESSNESS
RELATED CLOSLEY TO THE DAMAGE?)
W., United Kingdom, May 6, 2008
• Thank you for your fast reply! I feel better
today but have another problem - high temperature - I feel like I have
a flu
but I hope the high temperature is not connected to the angioplasty or
the meds. My cardiologist said that I should not have pulse more than
58-60 but my pulse is 85 when I am relaxed-the blood pressure is ok 70-130.
I've
heard that the high temperature increase the pulse. My cardiologist couldn't
explain why my pulse is so quick.
Bilyana Dimitrova, Bulgaria Gabrovo, April 1, 2008
• Bilyana -- almost 50% of patients report some
chest discomfort, sometimes a heaviness in the chest right after stenting
and there is an adjustment period as the body gets used to it. With a 99%
blockage
now
opened up,
the heart
is
suddenly getting more blood and oxygen. But if the pain is like the angina
you had
before stenting, report
it to
your
interventional
cardiologist, for peace of mind of nothing else. As for stent thrombosis,
it's a rare but acute event --
a blood clot doesn't just cause pain or discomfort, but blocks the artery,
similar to what happens in a heart attack. Again, it's rare -- so keep
taking for
aspirin
and Plavix or other prescribed meds.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, April 1, 2008
• I have been in the hospital last thursday for
coronarography. It was find out that I had 99% occlusion and the doctors
placed one stent - the coronary has been successful with optimum result.
But I worry because I still have some kind of heaviness in the chest,
this morning I had pain in the left side of the chest and had nitroglycerin.
I want to know is that normal, I am going to have control examination
after
two weeks, shall I wait till the examination or shall I go earlier because
of these symptoms. I get all the medications including Plavix. I would
like to know what are the symptoms of stent thrombosis - is that pain
in the chest means that there is a problem or is this adaptation period
of
the
body! Thank you all!
Bilyana Dimitrova, Bulgaria Gabrovo, March 31, 2008
• Guncha -- prognosis, etc. are things which your
husband's cardiologist can answer best. Much depends on how quickly his
angioplasty was done after his first symptoms, and what his heart function
now is post-MI -- i.e. was there much heart muscle damaged? His general
state
of health is also important.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, March 24, 2008
• Hi, My husband [56yrs] had to undergo angioplasty
of two of his arteries after he suffered a major heart attack. He was
in the hospital for four days. He is now back home and on a number of medications.
His treating doctor has given him four weeks of leave from work. It has
now been almost 8 days since his release from the hospital but he seems
to be recovering pretty slowly and has low level of energy. Can you please
tell me what should we expect with regards to his recovery rate? Thank
you.
Guncha, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 24, 2008
• hi, just to thank you for being here, tonight.
A friend had me boggled, when he was about his normal business, including
driving, less than a week after an angioplasty and insertion of stent.
He is one who usually, but not always, good about following recommendations,
and I was concerned that he was "trying
too hard", which he sometimes does. Your article and forum entries were very
helpful. I
have my CPR, but who wants to use it ? thanks again.
Elle Fagan, Artsite, Vernon Rockville, Connecticut, USA, October 10, 2007
• BJ -- we assume you mean "stents" not "splints".
See our comments below as to recovery time. Also you say you have a systemic
disease. Do you mean coronary artery disease? This is a chronic condition
and that is why, even with angioplasty and stents, medical therapy and
lifestyle change is very important in keeping the progression under control.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, August 24, 2007
• i am going in for a heart cath and possibly splints;
how long will i be in the hospital and how long will my recuperation be?
My calcification level is 331 and i have a systemic disease. Could that
have caused my high calcium
level?
Thanks.
BJ., Mississippi, USA, August 18, 2007
• Mohamed -- as we say to all patients, these are
questions that are very individualized for each person, depending on their
health, clinical status, and what is being done. Your interventional cardiologist,
who should be able to see your entire medical history, is the best person
to make this call. We would certainly think you'd want to wait a few days
to make sure your access artery has no complications, etc.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, May 14, 2007
• I will be undergoing Angioplasty very soon, but
not in the country where I am working right now. I am planning my angioplasty
in my home country. Can you please tell me how long I have to wait for
an air travel (about 4Hrs 30Min) after angioplasty?
Mohamed Raffik, India, May 10, 2007
• Hi Peter My cardiologist signed me off from work
for 10 days following the op. To be honest, I could probably have gone
back three or four days later but I took full advantage of the break to
rest and relax properly. In the UK you are not allowed to drive for a week
after the op. It is very important not to put any stress on the groin area
in any way for two or three days afterwards. I overdid it after my second
angioplasty and suffered quite bad bruising due to an internal bleed. Given
that you know that you have to have an angioplasty, it is also very important
that take it easy from now until the op too ! PS. If it's any reassurance,
I found the most uncomfortable part of the whole procedure was having to
lie still in the hospital bed for 6 hours after the op ! The actual op
itself is relatively painless.
jj, Lancs, UK, April 30, 2007
• Peter, You are fortunate to have advance notice,
please use the time to learn as much as you can and to work WITH your doctor,
don't just let him tell you. From my perspective, there is no such thing
as recovery period after angioplasty. Although I was home the next day
and at work the day after that, there was no "recovery". Recovery suggests
returning to the way things were, but things will never be the same. Look
forward to new experiences, many of them wonderful. It's like moving to
another part of the country - you bring the old furniture, but now you
have to figure out how to make it work in the new house .... and you will.
Tom S., Encinitas, California, USA, April 28, 2007
• Peter -- recovery varies with the individual,
their state of health, the amount of work being done and whether or not
there are any complications. Normally patients are kept in hospital overnight
and can go back to work within a couple days. There is really not much "recovery" needed
from the angioplasty/stent -- more from the catheter access site (groin
or wrist). If the procedure is being done from the femoral (groin) artery,
you definitely want to avoid lifting, and any exertion for a while. You
want the catheter access site to fully heal to avoid bleeding or arterial
complications. A long haul trip would involve lifting suitcases, etc. so
you may want to give yourself a few days. Discuss these concerns with your
cardiologist, for sure. Also you may be on some new drugs post-angioplasty,
so you want to give yourself time to make sure you're not going to have
any reactions to these when you're on the road away from your doctor. Any
other stories out there regarding recovery time??
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, April 28, 2007
• I will soon undergo angioplasty. Can anyone tell
me anything about the recovery period following this procedure? I'm scheduling
a long haul business trip and concerned.
Peter G., United Kingdom, April 27, 2007
|
The Cardiology
Patient Forum needs your help...
|
 |
|
|
