Question: Hello Doctor, I am a 55 year old South Asian male with a history of Type II Diabetes diagnosed in 2006 and hypertension since XXXXXXX 2010. I had an angioplasty and Drug Eluting Stent (Everolimus) placed last week on the 6th of February 2014. The indication for this was that I failed a excersize stress test on the 27th of Dec 2013 where after 11 minutes, there were ischemic changes on most leads. A CT coronary angiogram (on 4th Feb) suggested moderate to severe stenosis of the Left Main Coronary and moderate to sever stenosis of the Proximal Left Anterior Descending (LAD). The catheter angiogram showed a left dominant circulation and the Left Main Coronary artery has 30% occlusion and the Proximal LAD had 80% occlusion. Mid-LAD diagonals were small with 60% disease and the distal LAD has 60 to 70% disease. The anioplasty was performed on the Proximal LAD and a Resolute stent placed and dilated again and was shown to have been re-opened with 0% occlusion. The procedure was tolerated well and I was discharged home the following day on Ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily, Ennalpril 20 mg once daily, Asprin 325 mg once daily subsequently reduced to 81 mg due to ulcer like pain, Bysystolic 2.5mg once daily (also stopped) and also take Nexium 40 mg once daily. I have been on Insulin Lantus once daily and Novolog with breakfast and dinner (blood sugar between 97 and 211 mmol/L) Rosuvastatin was recommended. Five days after the angioplasty and stent, I woke up with pain in the left chest with maximum point tenderness over the nipple. I have had long standing discomfort in my 4th and 5th fingers, forearm and elbow (on both sides but mainly on the left) which is not related to excersize. I went back to the Cariologist and a EKG was done and entirely normal. I was told a Troponin test was not necessary although following the stent placement it was elevated and reassured this would come down over time. I am gradually starting excersize again with walking and a few minutes on the step-machine Is there a reason, I would be having pain over my rib after a stent that was successfully placed in the one worst affected blood vessel, the LAD? Heart pain, I am told is not meant to be felt by pushing on the rib? Could this be from the stent itself and if so, are there treatments for this? Hope you can help me with an answer? Many thanks.

Dear Dr. XXXXXXX Thank you for the prompt reply and reassurance. The resting ECG done at the time of my stress test showed, 'Non-specific T-wave abnormalities' and in the Cardiologists office on Wednesday (2 days ago) post-stent - said 'Sinus rhythm - Normal EKG'. I read on the web that, some patients with stents experience 'vascular spasm' that could mimic restenosis and even cause death! There were some discussions recommending, Nitoglycerine (but that did nothing to my pain and gave me a headache). Others have suggested a Calcium channel blocker but apparently there are black-box warning of severe side-effects. I am nervous about excersizing more with this pain and my Cardiologist feels there is no need to do a repeat excersize stress test. I hope this is right? Meanwhile, I am trying to decrease my meat intake (increasing fruit and veg), plan to leave work early, reduce stress, and try to incorporate excersize into my daily routine. I also plan to get a blood pressure monitor and aim for a blood pressure that you have suggested. My family is against me taking a Statin because of all the possible side effects; dementia, cataract, liver problems, muscle weakness, worsening diabetes, kidney problems ... My Cardiologist is not very happy with this but I am hoping with better control of my blood sugars now that I am on Insulin, my lipid profile will improve. (Last lipids: Cholestrol 213 mg/dl, Triglycerides 85 mg/dL, LDL 124 mg/dL, HDL 72, Cholestrol/HDL ratio 3 and LDL/HDL ratio 1.72). Thank you again for your feed-back. XXXXXXX