question: I have recently had an angioplasty (10 days ago) with one stent inserted. Within two days I started to get a mild but sharp chest pain and a heavy ache down my left arm. The pain is slightly different to the angina pain I initially presented with, in that the chest pain is more akin to a blunt needle piercing the heart rather than the more diffuse sternum pain I experienced initially. The pain is intermitant but arises whether I am at rest or exercising. I am 5 foot ten inches and weigh 88kg. I am 44 years old next week. I have smoked 15-20 cigarettes for 25 years but have stopped since the angioplasty. I have been taking plavix (75mg), nebilet (5mg) and ezetrol (10mg) for the last four years which has successfully reduced my cholesteral to just above acceptable levels and blood pressure to within normal limits. Since my angioplasty my medication has changed to 150mg Plavix (for two weeks and then to be reduced to 75mg thereafter), 75mg aspirin, 5mg nebilet and 5mg rosuvastatin. I was diagnosed with an LBBB in March 2007. Other medical history of note is 15 years of active alcoholism that is now under control. (I have not drank for three years) and horseshoe kidneys that do not appear to affect me in any way. Is the pain I am now experiencing to be expected after angioplasty? I do have a follow-up appointment with the hospital consultant who carried out the angioplasty in three weeks time. Should I wait until then or would you advise an appointment with my family doctor more immediately?