Stents prevent the artery from narrowing or closing again to ensure proper blood flow. After the stent insertion procedure, it takes up to two weeks for the stent to settle into place. As a foreign body in the artery, the settling stent can cause some discomfort.
It generally takes most people a couple of weeks to start returning to their normal activities after angioplasty/stenting. Before you leave hospital, you'll be given detailed instructions for exercise, medications, follow-up appointments, ongoing wound care and resuming normal activities.
It is also possible that you are experiencing discomfort because the stent is taking time to settle. This is quite normal, but make an appointment to see your GP and check if they want to review your medications.
U.K. sources add that it's common to experience this new chest discomfort in the first few days and weeks following a stent procedure. “This is because your artery has suffered some trauma and bruising from the stent being fitted. You can have episodes of pain or discomfort as the stent settles into place.
Increased pain, redness, swelling, bleeding, or other drainage from the insertion site. Coolness, numbness or tingling, or other changes in the affected arm or leg. Chest pain or pressure, nausea or vomiting, profuse sweating, dizziness, or fainting.
First few days after the procedure
A patient may feel more tired than usual, in the first few days. Drinking plenty of fluids is also usually recommended in order to flush out any residual contrast dye which is typically used during the procedure to visualize the arteries.
It's common to have bleeding or bruising under the skin where the catheter was inserted. More serious complications are less common but can include: damage to the artery where the sheath was inserted. allergic reaction to the contrast agent used during the procedure.
The coronary stent procedure recovery time
For a non-emergency coronary stent procedure, the recovery time is typically around a week. However, an emergency procedure may require a recovery time of several weeks to more than a month. Ultimately, the cardiologist should tell the patient what to expect beforehand.
Symptoms like fatigue, chest pain or shortness of breath can indicate in-stent restenosis. If you experience symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider. Newer, safer drug-eluting stents can lower your risk of developing in-stent restenosis.
DURATION OF SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH A STENT- CAN THEY IMPROVE? There is some evidence that some of the symptoms such as pain while passing urine and blood in the urine, may improve with time. However, this remains unpredictable.
A medication called Pyridium can help control stent pain. It is taken 3 times a day and should not be taken for more than 3 consecutive days. A side effect of this medication is the urine becoming a bright orange/red color.
Myth: The angioplasty procedure and stent fixed my heart problems. Fact: You should feel better immediately after your angioplasty because it opened your blocked blood vessel and blood started to flow freely.
This generally only last a few hours, but should resolve over the next 2-3 days. Sometimes, mild discomfort can last up to 2 weeks. You may also have burning with urination, with urinary frequency as well. What should I do after stent removal?
Will I feel the stent? No. You will not feel the stent inside of you. (Though you will probably feel better after it has been implanted and blood flow in your coronary artery has been restored.)
It's normal to feel tired afterwards but most people find that they're back to normal after a few days. However, if you've also had a heart attack, it will take longer to recover. If you've had a stent fitted, you'll be given medicines to help reduce the risk of blood clots forming in and around the stent.
It depends primarily on the underlying heart disease, age, and medical condition of the patient. A younger patient, for example, who has a strong heart and has never experienced a heart attack, will be expected to live a full and active lifespan.
As recommended in the National Disease Management Guidelines (6), patients with coronary heart disease and those who have undergone stent implantation should be followed up regularly (every three to six months) by their primary care physicians, independently of any additional visits that may be necessitated by ...
You will need to take antiplatelet medicines, or blood thinners, to prevent blood clots from forming in the stents in your arteries. Your provider may prescribe these medicines for 1 year or more after getting a coronary stent. For carotid or peripheral artery stents, it may be 1 month or more.
As a result, even after implanting stents in three major coronary arteries, if correctly controlled, you can live a long life.
Avoid strenuous exercise and lifting heavy objects for at least a day afterward. Ask your doctor or nurse about other restrictions in activity. Call your doctor's office or hospital staff immediately if: The site where your catheter was inserted starts bleeding or swelling.
These results, which support previous animal and human research, strongly suggest that moderate alcohol intake protects against restenosis in patients undergoing angioplasty and stenting.
You may also experience tiredness for a few days after the procedure. This is totally normal and will pass in a week's time. Once you leave the hospital, your post-procedure care will involve taking the prescribed medications and making some important lifestyle changes.