l have had a stint placed in my heart in Feb. and June of this year. A week after coming home in June, l showed signs of CHF...went to ER, and was admitted for 3 days to hospital. Was doing well until this week. When l laid down at night to go to sleep, both my arms ached badly, and l had a slight discomfort in my chest through to my back, and even some achenes under my armpits. Took nitro, pain subsided. Twenty minutes later, same pain, took another nitro...pain subsided, and l went to sleep. Next night, no pain. Following night when l went to bed within 20 min. the same pain came back. Took Nitro, went away.Called Cardiologist this morning and his reply was ''If it does not go away, go to the ER''...he needed a degree in Cardiology to tell me this??? DUH...l am so upset with him.Anyway, tonight, same story...pain. l got out of bed, pain went away. l do not have any difficulty breathing when l lie down. just this crazy pain...could it be CHF?l have no clue. l am also diabetic.Anyone have any of these symptoms? If so, what did you do for them? l NEED to be able to lie down and sleep.
Appreciate any suggestions.
l actually had CHF shortly after the last stint was put in, just wondered if the pain in both arms could be linked with the CHF due to the fact it only occurs when l lie down to go to bed.
Additional info:
i think it finally hit me what is causing this wierd pain going down both arms...l am also on Statins, and believe me, l have tried all of them....seems that whenever l take them, after awhile, l develope symptoms like the flu, achey joints and very tired. Then l discontinue them for awhile and 'Viola' l feel normal again!!! l really think it is my Zocor and, or Zetia that is causing this problem. l will stop it and see if it stops the pain. Only problem....what in the world can l take for a statin...Lipitor was the worst at making me ache.
And, to answer some questions...l take a baby aspirin a day and Plavix. Also take 40mg. diuretic.
Thank you for all the replies. And, no, l will not talk to my cardioligist other than to ask him if he would refer me to a doctor that wants to take care of patients. l am seriously upset with this man.

Diabetics dont have much pain with heart attacks due to neuropathy you need to go get checked out better be safe than sorry.

First l would find a new Dr. and in the mean time maybe sleeping with a wedge will help?? or try folding a few blankets and pillows to form a wedge see if that will help so that you can sleep at a sort of elevated level from the chest up.Are you retaining water? you should be on a diuretic? lasix and some potassium anyone l have known with CHF always did. Good luck stay well

Congestive heart failure is usually a rapid onset of symptoms- shortness of breath, swelling in the lower extremities, loud wheezy or wet lung sounds, & sometimes people cough up pink phlegm. The person is usually pretty sick & has feeling of impending doom- they usually end up in the ER as the person needs medical intervention quick. As far as the symptoms that u described, it is nice that the nitro controls pain. However, even if u had stents placed this year- It may be best to visit the ER if u r having the bilateral arm pain & chest pains. The cardiologist may have gone to school forever. But he does not have x-ray vision. If u r having these symptoms every night, then perhaps u need an updated EKG to ensure that there r no acute changes. If ur cardio doc blows u off- fire him & find someone that is more concerned.

have u gain weight 5 or more lbs this week? do u have distended neck vien? shortness of breath? unprotortioned size of lower extremities? how many pillow do u use when u sleep at night? do u sometimes wake up at night grasping for air? These r some questions for people who think that they have CHF. about ur pain? u mentioned that ur surgeon placed a stent in ur heart. r u taking any meds for that such as plavix? plavix is to prevent platelet aggregation. IF ur really concern, talk to ur cardiologist about this especially u have a history of heart problem. Also ur pain problem. l believe ur practitioner/nurse told u how to use it.

If u r still having this pain, u should go to the hospital.

It does not sound like CHF from the details u have provided but patients in CHF exacerbation can feel some chest discomfort. The symptoms of decompensated CHF r usually gradual & not sudden as stated by another post. l would be more concerned about the stents (not ''stint'') developing clots or narrowing in them which may be the cause of ur chest & arm discomfort. Depending on the type of stents that were placed, u should be taking Plavix or at least aspirin. If u have not been taking these meds, u r at higher risk for developing problems with ur stents.

However, since the pain only occurs when u lie down, it could either be neurologic or musculoskeletal in origin. Either way, given ur significant cardiac history & the fact that nitro helps relieve the pain, l would rule out any problems with ur stents & coronary arteries first. Talk to ur cardiologist again or get a second opinion.