After Angioplasty

[cardioboy]

In early August as I was walking to work I experienced a terrible burning sensation in my lungs.  I was admitted to the intensive care unit at a large teaching hospital and the next day had a cardiac cath.  It was determined that I was 99% blocked in the left main artery (at the branch) and needed three stents. One very tiny branch artery (which the doctors say does not matter could not be stented and remains blocked.) To give you some background: I am 54 years old, cholestrol around 215, all other indicators for heart problems are negative except for a family history.  My EKG and stress tests have always been normal. B/P around 110/60, pulse around 56.  I had excercised on a regular basis and weight around 175 (I am six feet tall).

Since having the cath and the stents, I was re-admitted to the hospital the following week with a feeling of chest pressure and my heart beating rapidly on exertion.  Another cath was performed.  I was told everything was flowing fine.  One artery which has a stent was just slightly sluggish from the original procedure but looked good and no problems were detected. I had a stress test with dye - good results.

I was placed on Zocor 20mg, folic acid 1000mcg, Plavix 75 mg, altace 2.5 mg, 25 mg metoprolol, and one full aspirin daily.

Problem:  I still have chest and neck pressure and fullness when I exert myself and even slightly at rest.  I have an achy feeling in my chest and neck and my heart feels like it beats more rapidly when I exert myself.  I also have a dry cough.  The altace and metoprolo were stopped.  I am still symptomatic.

[vivekpr]

A related discussion, cough after angioplasty was started.

[flower521]

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[DonaldVine]

A related discussion, Follow up tests after angioplasty was started.

[HealThySelf]

It just goes to show that a more thorough determination of root cause is in order before placing stents or doing bypass surgery.  I have spent a lot of money replacing good parts on my car because my mechanic misdiagnosed the problem.  Unfortunately stents are forever and can lead to more procedures and bypass surgery.  Lives are destroyed by careless and clueless cardiologists.  

The additional symptoms that you have now may be caused by drugs.  A dry cough is one of the most frequent side effects of ACE inhibitors.  Dropping the Altace might eliminate it.  

Metoprolol is a beta blocker.  They generally slow down your heart rate and can cause fatigue and other side effects. "Common side effects of beta blockers are fatigue, low pulse, nausea, nightmares, occasionally shortness of breath, depression, etc."

Since you don't have high blood pressure, you probably don't need to be on these drugs.

You do need to find another cardiologist who is willing to take the time to determine the true root cause of your problems.

Good Luck.

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Cardioboy,

Thanks for the post.  Sorry to hear of your ordeal.

I have 2 thoughts regarding your continued symptoms.  The most likely explanation is that the artery that was "too small" to be stented is causing the pain.  If indeed it is a small vessel, then it may not show up on a nuclear test.  Another possibility is that the artery with sluggish flow has poor stent position, and thus is not allowing adequate blood to reach the heart muscle.  Other possibilities exist, but these are the first two to examine.

Also, when you reach 54, you can refer to yourself as CardioMan.

Hope that helps.