CobaltBlue

blu,

The best that I can tell you from my experience is that if the pain is the same or very similar to how it manifested itself before that stent, then don't hesitate to go back in and have them do another angiogram and examine that artery where the stent was placed, as well as your other coronary arteries for any occlusions. Did you have a stress test with Tl & Tc prior to your angioplasty?

When I had my first stent placed in the RCA, my LAD artery was 50% blocked near the top of my heart (S1). I would get out and walk and when I would push it, I started to notice "discomfort." When I started to try to run, that same characteristic L arm and both shoulder pain returned for me, so back in I went 3 months later. That time my LAD had progressed to 90% blockage so I had another stent put in, but my initial stent was fine. After being out of the hospital 3 days after the second stent, I went back in due to anxiety about some L arm discomfort. After a third angiogram (which lasted 60 min), all was still alright. Finally, I became anxious again over some arm pain a few months later and went back to the ER a 4th time in 2002. This time, I had the stress test I mentioned above. For the first time, all looked great on it, and ever since that trip I have been fine. The message I want to convey is don't hesitate to go back in if you don't feel right--much better safe than sorry. My record is 2/4 now, with those 2 false alarms. I don't regret my choices of having them check at all. Far beats the alternative of not going in and having something really go wrong.