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4 stents later and still have shortness of breath
Has anyone had shortness of breath and some chest pressure, 99% of the time upon exertion, EVEN AFTER, having 4 cardiac stents in the LAD artery? I have met with 3 pulmonary specialist who advised my lungs are fine and it's not my lungs. I have had 4 catheritizations in less than 2 years, 2 of which they inserted 2 stents each time and 1 of which caused a femoral artery dissection (right groin) and 1 which was last August (in arm which spasms), said no need for any other stents at this time. 4 cardiologists later, I'm at a loss! I'm frustrated, fatigued, gaining weight, losing my hair and very frustrated. Are there any other tests that can be done that are not invasive? recent stress tests (nuclear and exercise) seem to be considered normal. Echo shows only mitral valve moderate regurgitation and mild tricuspid regurgitation. Cardiologists said he will do another angio "If I want". If I want? Not sure what to do! Still on plavix, aspirin, metropolol, imdur, losartan, repatha.
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I presume your aortal valve checks out, and also your ejection fraction? No septal hole? No infarct leaving a muscle incapacitated or actually morbid?
How does your endocrinology look? Your thyroid levels okay?
Have you had a polysomnography to check for sleep apnea?
Every doctor except one said I was not having a reaction to plavix. I did have some of your symptoms. Tiredness, cold, chest pressure. Switched to Ticagrelor and I feel so much better. Just a thought.
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1 Reactioninvasive tests include CT, MRI, and PET scans. You may want to discuss with doctor(s).
Non-invasive, I am sorry for the typo.
Why would sleep apnea cause a shortness of breath durning the day?
It might be due to flutter or atrial fibrillation. I was/am very sensitive to what my heart does, but you'd be amazed at how many patients walk into a doctor's office for one thing and get found they've been fibrillating for some time. Either case, flutter or fibrillation, can leave the person feeling faint, disoriented, out of breath (dyspnea), or just unwell enough to seek their GP's help, only to find that they have an undetected arrhythmia.
To answer directly, sleep apnea can cause atrial fibrillation (AF). Happened to me. It generally starts as 'paroxysmal', meaning it comes and goes on its own, lasting perhaps for a few seconds or minutes. Some people get their AF when they get into bed (sister-in-law). My heart would fibrillate during the day, which meant I lived conscious of feeling unwell and poorly at ease. If you have poorly managed sleep apnea, if may mean that your heart is irritable and may be in AF at times, particularly when active. Just offering this as something for you to consider...might be a dead end. I hope you get it figured out.
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1 ReactionHad this discussion today and he wants to do another cath and if it's still OK (no other stents required) then he said MRI.
hmmmnnn Interesting you would say this because on day 1 of my first 2 stents, they gave me plavix immediately, and the next day I went home and took my next dose and my throat was raspy like I was feeling allergic and I called cardiologist and asked if I could be allergic to it. He said "you could, but highly unlikely - see how you do." But truthfully, I had the shortness of breath before the stents which led me to getting heart checked to begin with. Meeting today, cardiologist wants to go in again. Say a prayer! 🙁
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1 ReactionHow are these checked: aortal valve? septal hole? infarct leaving the muscle weakened, etc.?
I keep saying it feels like a pulled muscle. ???
thyroid levels normal; endocrinology - bloodwork normal
no never checked for sleep apnea.