backache, tiredness and black stools after stent procedure

[tkengkai]

My father is a 56 year-old man, high BP, high cholesterol and diabetic. He had a sudden heart attack in the morning. He was rush to emergency department and a stent procedure was done. According to the doctor, he had at least 4 episode of heart attack in the middle of the night, his heart is only functioning at 20% now. He is now schedule for a second stent in one month times. His primary diagnosis is “ST elevation myocardial infraction, Anterior STEMI” and secondary diagnosis is “Two coronary vessel diseases, s/p PCI to LAD”. The proposed treatment is “For Staged PCI to RCA +/- mid-distal LAD”.

His average cigarette consumption a day was 20-30 stick a day. And he is now agreeable to cut down his consumption to 15 sticks a day. (if this is fine for a patient like him)

He complained backache, feeling tired easily and black stools (non-sticky) after discharged from the hospital. I am wondering if this is normal for a patient like this.

Thank you in advance for the kind advice.

[Flycaster305]

Your father, if he wants to live a longer life, has to quit smoking completely.  Believe me, as a former smoker, you can't cut down.  I quit 25 years ago by simply sitting on my hands and hurting for a few days, and it got better quickly.  Millions of us have quit.  Keep in mind, every time your father smokes a pimp stick, his arteries will enflame, whether he smokes 15 or 50 pimp sticks.  He has to face the fact that all his meds will be worthless unless he quits completely.  

[Ger57]

Backache and unusual stool might be caused by the long hours in hospital bed. It should subside very quickly.
Being easily tired will probably be the direct effect of the STEMI and the heart functioning now at 20%. This could improve over time also, especially when they place the 2nd stent.
Good luck to your father.