4 stents later and still have shortness of breath

Medication..
Aspirin induced asthma, especially if combined with metformin statins or repatha.
I had 2 stents 7 months ago and cant breath still.

52 years old, not fat at all, used to run six days a week.
Currently taking metfomin , plavix aspirin and reotha. With Nebivilol.

I gained over twenty pounds while taking metroproprolo.
My cardiologist said, yeah, that's a side effect

@ss52 I should update my post! I switched cardiologist after the first 5 or 6 would not do a cardiac MRI and thought I was questioning their decision makings. 5 cathetirizations and a femoral dissection, later, I left the last cardiologist, who by the way, ego got in the way, (they were all male) and switched to a female cardiologist who has been wonderful since almost a year ago. She ran a few tests, including a Pet cardiac scan in May, which was "normal". I also saw 2 other pulmonary specialists, that said my lungs were fine. In July, I asked why is it that no one will do a cardiac MRI? She said the Pet scan didn't show anything. I said I want it done! She requested the test and in late August, I was diagnosed with Global Microvascular Disease (small vessels). This can only be treated with medication but is just as serious as the "major arteries with plaque." The new medication protocol I'm on is plavix, losartan, nebivolol, and Praluent Injection 150 every 2 weeks which dropped my cholesterol and LDL significantly from the Praluent 75mg every 2 weeks. Also Nitroglycerin when needed (which is usually upon exertion or stress). So I can't speak enough about advocating for yourself and finding the right fit with a doctor.

I have been having trouble for seven months.
Recently two trip to three er and two to the urgent care . No one knows. Can it be the stent allergy, if so there's nothing they would do. Im beyond frustrated. Ibuse to run 6 days per week and lift weights. Thats all gone and I am 52

I still have sob and my lungs feel heavy. I’ve had a heart catheterization, echocardiogram of the valves. Stress test, heart monitor for 7 days and no problems found. I’m on diltiazem 240mg, baby aspirin, zetia, 40mg avotorstatin. Trelgy which I just started taking 4 days ago for my lungs. My lungs feel normal and not asthma. My cardiologist says I have asthma and is sending me to a pulmonologist next week. I don’t know if anyone can find what is causing this sob. I take a 2 mile fast walk every day with this sob just to exercise. I don’t smoke or drink. I noticed I have been putting on weight on my stomach so maybe if I lose the stomach fat it might help my sob. Who knows?

@riflemanz64 I hope you won't mind me second guessing some here. We don't know each other, and neither of us is medically trained.

Your swollen stomach may be just that....swollen. As in 'ascites'. This is an accumulation of fluids in your gut from poor heart function. Usually there might also be some swelling of the feet tissues and ankles. Does this every happen? Or, if you're putting on weight with all this activity, then it's either drug-encouraged (medicines) or it's your body telling you it cannot use all the calories it is being forced to store....as fat. You may have to reduce your carbohydrate and/or fat content in your diet by close to half...at first, say a month or more to see what happens, and then adjust a bit upward or downward to tidy up your approach to a reasonable goal of weight loss. Figure that out as well: how much weight do you think might be a reasonable, attainable, and sustainable goal? Ten kilograms? Two? Fuzzy notions about a direction are poor motivators and metrics for goal-setting which, in turn, is a necessary motivator for most weight-loss programs. Get specific, with real numbers, and then figure out how to get 'there'. Seek advice if it will help. Or read lots. YouTube videos, several from different hosts, will help you to decide how to do this the 'right way'. BTW, that word sustainable is important. If you rebound in a year and gain it all back, you have not done it properly. You must be comfortable with the goal, and then how you get there....AND...stay there.

Finally, and I remind you that I am nothing like a doctor of medicine. No training or experience. And I'm not totally familiar with diltiazem except it is a rate control medication and meant to curb calcium channel activity in the myocardium. It helps to reduce the force of contractions in addition to how fast those contractions come. Reducing their force means less blood pressure, so like metoprolol and bisoprolol, they can often be prescribed for incipient hypertension. However, some patients begin to enter bradycardia territory with heart rates near 45 BPM, even lower. This doesn't allow the body to clear itself of gravitationally held fluids and they build up, possible as ascites, as I mentioned. But your shortness of breath, loss of energy, etc might, could be, should be investigated...that it isn't bradycardia from that, to me, high dose of diltiazem. And for God's sake, don't stop any prescriptions! Check this out with your prescribing physician.

@gloaming I stopped walking after I got the sob.
That’s why I started gaining weight. I’m going to lower my food intake and see what happens. Hopefully the pulmonologist can tell me something good.!

I’m 5’11 and weigh 181#.
I’m trying to get to 175 and see it the sob lessens.

@gerrycf You have to be relieved to finally understand what is happening in your body, beginning to get a handle on how you can minimize symptoms and slow progression.

You may be interested in reading about progress in the area of treating Microvascular Disease. This particular information highlights work at Mayo Clinic:
- Hourglass-shaped stent could ease severe chest pain from microvascular disease https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hourglass-shaped-stent-could-ease-severe-chest-pain-from-microvascular-disease/

You mention it was a cardiac MRI you had been trying to get for some time that finally provided an answer. What was it about this test that was helpful and not on others? I am also interested, are you able to stay active, and is nitroglycerin helpful?

After NM stress test and CT angiogram I had the angiogram done and I am diagnosed with the CMD (coronary micro vascular dysfunction). I was told this could be due to the MI I had 2 months back and it will help over time with appropriate medication. Waiting for the next appointment for the change in medication if any.