heart blockage?

[Patti673]

I had a stent put in last week, this week I  have the same symptoms I had before.  Shortness of breath, sweating, my right arm not left as before feeling like a blood pressure cup is on. Tired legs feel heavy took blood pressure it was 145/63. I have pressure in my ears.  Any ideas?

[PlanB]

I had to have a stent because of 95% blockage in two places.  Luckily enough, they were close enough together that they were able to stretch the stent to cover both areas.  I was told that I had another blockage but that it was only about 25% at that time.  I went home and went straight back the next day because I continued to have the same symptoms.  They did another angioplasty to find that there was nothing wrong.  That was in March of 2006.  I continue to have the same symptoms and have had 8 angioplasties.  In July of 2006 because of complaining of the symptoms, an angioplasty was performed and it was found that the stent had collapsed.  They had to open it up again.  I have always felt that the original stent they put in was maybe stretched a little too far.  But who am I?  I have been in the hospital so much that I feel they don't believe me.  It is very frustrating because there is hardly ever a day that I couldn't go to the ER and complain about the same symptoms.  Because my stent is a drug-dispensing stent, I have been told that there have been problems with them.  So I go every time my symptoms worsen or they don't calm down.  I was started on 11 different medications for cholesterol, blood pressure, blood thinner, etc. and they have had to adjust them several times.  

[Tarheelguy1967]

Sorry to hear that your symptoms haven't subsided.  I'm not sure whether or not it is anything to worry about, but it is certainly worth getting checked out for.  I had a similar issue, and even though the doctors insisted it was in my head, I went in for a heart cath and had to have another stent added within a few weeks of my first batch.  My guess (uneducated guess) is that sometimes when they open that balloon for the angioplasty, they may spread the "gunk" around some and it can cause a blockage just down from the site of the original stent.  Also, I know there are many people who have difficulty dealing w/ the idea of a new stent and have a tough time getting over it mentally.  Again, not sure if you have a problem or not, but I think the patient knows their body and if you have the same symptoms, you need to press your doctor to give you a good reason why.  A nuke stress test should not be out of order in this case.  Good luck to you, and Happy Holidays!