Angioplasty.Org Home




Editor's Blog



Imaging and Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease












Donate Now to Angioplasty.Org

    

Angioplasty Recovery Period

What is the time for recovery after an angioplasty?

Add a Post to This Topic          Return to all Forum Topics

Current Postings on This Page (17):

• 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...
Donate Now!
 

Click here for more information about these

add your response
(Please keep your posting concise; a posting that is too long may be edited for readability) :

your email address
(email address must be current and valid; if email sent to the address
below is returned, your comments will not be posted; your email address
will not be displayed on the Forum unless you specifically request it): REQUIRED -- Check the box below to let us know you are a "real human being" and not a spambot. You must check this box for your posting to be submitted: I am a real person and not a spambot Check the box below if you wish Angioplasty.Org to "anonymize" your posting (for example, John Doe, Baltimore, Maryland, USA would become John D., Maryland, USA): please anonymize me The following information is optional. your name:

your organization:

city/state/province/country:


Please note the following disclaimer: The information contained in this web site is accurate to the best of the knowledge of Angioplasty.Org. None of this information should be viewed as a substitute for medical advice or as a consultation with a medical doctor. It is highly recommended that readers discuss any advice with a medical doctor before deciding on a course of action. Angioplasty.Org or its producers assume no liability for any actions taken as a result of information contained on this site, whether implied or expressed. Opinions and recommendations expressed on the FORUM are solely those of their authors. All submissions are reviewed and posted at the editors' discretion. FORUM submissions that are primarily commercial in nature, advertising services or products, are not posted. Any medical advice expressed on the FORUM does not necessarily represent the views of Angioplasty.Org, its producers, or of anyone associated with it, or of others appearing on this web site. Please note that this is a moderated discussion, so your response will appear after a short review.


Angioplasty.Org Home •  PatientCenter


send comments & suggestions to "info at angioplasty dot org"
read Terms of Use and Privacy statement

The Cardiology Patients' Forum
receives sole support from
reader contributions and sponsored search engine ads

Angioplasty.org is an independent educational health site
which receives support from
Toshiba America Medical Systems, Volcano Corporation, Terumo Medical Corporation
Cardium Therapeutics, Inc. and Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute of NY
All content, including text, photos and video
© Copyright Venture Digital LLC 1996-2008