Cardiac stent

Hello lucky just sending my very best wishes.

I can’t be any help about the pain, but keep nagging until you see a doctor - they are the ones to advise.

Keep in contact as I will be watching for your news.

It is hard luck, age and genes really.

I had two stents inserted a year ago. My only symptom was breathlessness. All other tests were fine so I had to keep persisting and insisting that something was wrong. Turned out that I had the proverbial widowmaker blockage. Anyway, afterwards I had a fair amount of discomfort for a couple of weeks, wouldn't go so far as to say pain, and used my GTN spray. I don't have any problems now.

I too was in a four-bed ward into which they'd squeezed an extra bed and it was all a bit chaotic, but I did have a daily visit from a doctor to my bedside and felt confident about the treatment. I hope someone can alleviate your concerns soon. It is a shock to find that something was wrong with your heart.

Oh Lucky, I hope that you are beginning to feel a bit better now.
I had a stent inserted in 2012, and honestly had no discomfort at all.
You have been much more poorly, so rest as much as you are able in the seeming chaos around you.

Luckgirl go on British heart Foundation site. They have a forum called unblocked it's for and all members have heart problems or relatives that do. They are a great source of information. They have helped me. And no question to small or silly . But you will get help from people who have and are going through the same thing. You have to join and like GN choose a username . I am on there under a different name to here. They are a lovely friendly bunch not a nasty one amongst them.

Join today and they will help you.

My brother has 2 stents in his heart and permanent AF . I have a hole in the side of my heart and have PAF.

DOH it's called healthunlocked not unblocked 🤦🤦🤦🌹

It seems I have had a heart attack, but the blockage was only in one artery and now that this is stented I should be OK in time as the others are clear. Lots of restrictions for a while and a whole raft of drugs, but I have had a lucky escape. Still got some chest pain and a bit of a washout. DD picking me up later when the drugs arrive. I am longing for my own bed and a good night's sleep ...to be honest I feel a bit emotionally traumatised by it all as it was such a shock.

Oh luckygirl - that’s quite a shock . Hope you have a good night’s sleep.
I know my friend had a stent put in and is doing well.

Oh gosh what a time you've had Luckygirl. I've followed your posts over the past while and am glad you've been seen and operated on. I hope your recuperation continues smoothly.

Gosh Luckygirl I am so sorry to read what you've been going through. I've been following your posts because I'm in the midst of tests for Afib and having to fight for everything at my surgery. I am thinking of paying privately to see a cardiologist - after all, what are credit cards for? Thank goodness for the internet to be able to research what ought to be done compared to what I'm actually receiving.

I do hope the insertion of a stent is the answer for you and that you recover well. Sending you a hug and

Hope you are on your way home now Luckygirl. Sleep tight tonight.

Hope your health improves now lucky x

Oh luckygirl so sorry to hear you’re not well, but glad to hear you’ve had treatment, although it does sound chaotic ! I well know what hospitals are like, spent so many hours in and out of A and E with my mum.
Hope your tablets turn up quickly and you can get home to your own bed. Wishing you a speedy recovery

Luckygirl Wishing you all the best! I had a heart attack 7 years ago and a stent fitted - and I'm still here.

Have they said anything to you about having an echocardiogram?

Wishing you a good recovery - im sure. being in your own bed will help.

Hello😊

Good to hear how you are doing. Of course you will feel washed out for a while, but you will recover, and most importantly will be carefully watched.

The daily round of pills will be your lot from now on, but you will have comfort knowing that they are doing their work.

Well done you for surviving!!💔💔❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹💝💝 ever onwards!

Why do we keep getting different information from different doctors? It is supposed to be factual, is it not? Or purely guesswork?

I had a stent fitted two years ago following a HA. No internal pain but my right arm was swollen, black and blue and agony. I am still unable to have any needles stuck in it - too painful. This after-effect seems to be known by the medical profession but noone tells you in advance. Wonder why?

Mizuna: is the breathlessness confirmed as being due to the stent or because of the dicky heart? I get so breathless, I can barely do anything. Even getting out of bed or going to the loo leaves me struggling for breath. As for getting dressed - well ..................

I moved from Sussex to Norfolk in April. All medical notes were sent up to new GP here. I asked for a referral to cardiology three times. Called the nearest hospital who had received nothing. Wrote a stroppy to the practice manager.

Action.

Received a letter from the hospital to say that the letter had been sent to the wrong department and contained zero information/history!! Couldn't they have just walked down the corridor and given the referral to the right department? Or is that too logical?

Despair does not enter into it.

SparkF: Go for the private consultation. It costs about £250 but watch out for the add-ons. They can be cripplingly expensive. Having said that, heart issues are supposed to take priority in the NHS.

The heart also affects the lymphatic system, which means that you end up with swollen legs and feet. Proper shoes - forget it!!

Get well everyone and keep me posted with any updates. GN is my only source of sensible information!!!

That must have a shock but now you have had a diagnosis & treatment for the symptoms you have been so worried about. You are on the road to recovery & hopefully on the way home. Take it easy & enjoy life in the slow lane for the time being. Wishing you all the best.

Thank you for kind words and advice.
I am at my DD's for tea then she will take me home. I would stay here but their stairs are so steep and I do not feel well enough to negotiate them.
They have sent me out with a carrier bag of drugs (13 different things!) but have not told me which they have already given me today so I am going to have to try and work out which are likely to have been given .... some just say once a day and do not specify morning or afternoon. I am sure that taking double would be a bad idea ... or missing something.
I will get some food down then tackle that conundrum.
I went into AF just before I left the hospital and they did not seem bothered in spite of the fact that it was and is giving me chest pain. One nurse said "How do you know you are in AF?" in a rather indignant voice, as if I had no business making a diagnosis! I felt like saying "You have obviously never had it!" I have been managing it for years.
You do feel so out of control in hospital I find it very hard.

It sounds dreadful that you have little info re your medication, Luckygirl3 - could you phone 111 and ask for advice?

So sorry that you have been so poorly served and that your hospital was so under pressure. When you are rather better it might be worth writing to the Chief Executive to set out your experience. Even over a weekend you have not had the quality of care you have a right to expect. Hope you can get some sensible advice about your drugs and possibly some support from your GP tomorrow. Keep us posted because we will be concerned for you.

Luckygirl3 Have you not been given a discharge letter and told about follow-up arrangements? My GP was useless (I couldn't even get an appointment for five weeks) and I had to be transferred from Papworth, where the stent was fitted, to Addenbrooke's, but the hospital rang me within a couple of days and I was then booked in for an echo, cardiac rehab and a follow-up appointment. To be perfectly honest, I felt it was all too much and I was being hounded, but I can't complain that I wasn't followed up. I wasn't in any pain (and I'm no medic), but if you're still in pain, I think you should push to see a cardiologist.

PS. You'll need to speak to your GP for repeat prescriptions.

Luckygirl3. Wishing you a comfortable sleep in your own bed. After a restful night you will be able to deal with the new drugs issue by contacting your GP or 111. Such an appalling response you have received to your queries. Sleep well and please let us know how you are tomorrow. 💐

I've only just seen this, Luckygirl but didn't want to read and run.

I don't know about the immediate after-effects of having a stent fitted but I do remember my SisIL having heart attacks and another one in ths ambulance taking her to hospital. She had more than one stent fitted and has been fine since.

If you feel up to it tomorrow, you could sort your drugs out and perhaps write out a chart of what to take when. It can be confusing, I'm staring at the cocktail I have to take in the morning at the moment, hoping none conflict with another and hoping they can be reduced soon.

It is not acceptable not being able to get straight answers from anyone in the hospital and I hope you get a follow-up with a Consultant very soon.

In the meantime I hope you can manage to get a good night's sleep - is anyone coming in daily to look after you, cook a meal etc?

I should think it is quite traumatic for the artery to have a stent fitted and it may feel tender for a while afterwards.

Take it easy