Recovery from LAD stent

I'm afraid I can't in good conscience recommend homeopathy. Acupuncture might help, but so would a full workup by a top-notch physical therapist who can assess your muscle tone, your posture, your ranges of motion, and such. You may also have problems in your spine which none of these things can help. You'd need an MRI to assess your spine.

Some people do very poorly on statins. If so, then a drastic change of diet might be all that is left, or just live out your days and years as best you can. I can't really advise you on diet, but something that doesn't encourage your liver to overproduce cholesterol would be a great start. Most of that is genetic anyway....sorry.

My dad needed a hip replacement, but the ortho wanted a full workup because of his age...87 at the time. They did a Doppler ultrasound of his carotid arteries and found the right occluded 100% (no blood passage at all) and the left was 90%. The vascular surgeon said she wouldn't touch the right side...it was a goner...and she could bypass the left. She did, and he went on to get the hip replaced. At his suggestion, I got a Doppler of my carotid arteries and they were clear. I was 66 then, but still...well enough along to have close to 50% blockage, but apparently I'm not aligned genetically that way with him.

I'm sorry for this change in your life. Can't be fun.

I've had MRIs of my spine previously. My bone density is good and muscle tone as I have been dancing and exercising everyday all my life. It's only now after this procedure that I am off balance, dizzy and fatigued which I think must be the Plavix. My diet is also very good. I was determined to be an atypical heart disease patient. I think this is what is very difficult for me to all of a sudden be in this situation. I have none of the attributes of a heart patient. No high cholesterol or blood pressure previously. It seems to have been a ticking time bomb building up and the only determination is genetics. I am statin intolerant as discovered in the hospital so I will eventually be taking an injectable. I am hoping that acupuncture can help me with the dizziness and fatigue. Having to stay on Plavix for six months to a year feeling like this is upsetting. Thank you for your input.

I too had the same LAD surgery as you. Quite frankly I had no symptoms at all prior to stent, just a high calcium score. I was put on plavix and 10 mg of Rosvustatin. I am going to say the 1st month is horrible, emotionally and adjusting to meds. I had an anaphylactic reaction to the Plavix after one month, unheard of but I am an anomaly. Switched to Brilinta 90 mg twice a day. All good there. My blood pressure was 130/70 and they wanted to put me on BP meds. I chose to try beet juice and it brought my BP down to 115/68. Bonus! I started having pressure in my chest and pain. Took off the Rosvustatin for two weeks and pain went away. The goal was to get me up to 20 mg. Waiting for options now re cholesterol. Maybe Repatha.
Hang in there, it will get better. I feel medications are the biggest hurdle.
I felt the stent was supposed to make me healthy and the aftermath of the stent has wreaked havoc on my active life. But now seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. You will too.

Thank you for sharing your recovery experience. I really appreciate hearing how you have been coping with the aftermath of LAD surgery especially as not one of the cardiologists I have talked to (the surgeon has not been available for me to see yet) has acknowledged my symptoms and instead they seem very non committal when I question them. I agree that it is the medication and my reaction to the statins, Lipitor and Crestor were strong enough that the cardiologist did take me of of them and also the blood pressure medication which has helped. I will start an injectable alternative for the statin soon. I am feeling weakness and radiating sensations in my arms and legs but it is less. I was taken off Brilinta and put on the Plavix because it's lower dosage and I was told it would have less affects than the Brilinta for me. I find that I am extremely fatigued after taking it. Hearing your story is encouraging. I'm going to try acupuncture and therapy for my mental health so that I can look towards the light at the end of the tunnel. I wish you well and hope you regain your active life back soon.

Rehab is great. It will help you get back on your feet.
Get walking, dancing and so on. It all helps.

I am a salsa dancer. I hope to get back to it and all my exercise once I have my equilibrium back. I am also doing chair yoga. I was previously doing yoga everyday at an intermediate level. Yesterday I went out for the first time in two weeks to walk but after two blocks I felt very dizzy. I know I have to keep going one more block day by day. Thank you for your encouragement!

I have also heard 6 months to a year on the blood thinner. More 12 months vs 6 months though. I would love to see the research on the decision making process. I hate being on meds.

I could not tolerate statins. My cardiologist put me on praluent injection since my insurance covered it every 2 weeks and dropped my cholesterol levels way down below acceptable levels without any side effects…

swilkins,

Why are not taking bp meds, if your cardiologist recommended?

Because I was able to get my BP down naturally. As long as my BP is where it should be my cardiologist is happy.