CABG surgery and stents soon after the surgery.
I had a CABG surgery on 11/14/22 x5 and then less than 2 months after my surgery 4 out of the 5 grafts failed and I ended up recieving 3 stents. Since then I have had 5 more stents placed plus having angioplasty twice as well. I am down to just one choice for doctors where I live and do not have the means to travel to a bigger city with better doctors to try and get some help. I cannot get any answers for anything and I really do not trust the doctors that I am seeing now because I keep getting conflicting opinions. This episode turned my life upside down as I am on disability now because of this and from other medical issues. I have had one good cardio doc and she told me because of my condition I would probably be taking a blood thinner for a very long time and my new DR is saying I might not need to take a blood thinner after September since that will be a year since my last stent. I would prefer not to take anything but I have not been able to go longer than 6 to 8 months without having to have an intervention . I am afraid to stop the blood thinner because of what I have had going on for the last 3.5 years. I had another heart cath done in March because of symptoms, they tested pressures on several stents because they looked like they might need attention but did not end up with any stents thank god but I deal with chest pain all the time heart palpitations and now my pulse is low so i quit taking metoprolol, and they put me on an event monitor because they think I might need a pacemaker so I do not know what to think anymore and really do not think these doctors know what to do either so I am getting a little scared about what to do, So if anyone has had similar situations and have advice on what to do or where to turn please respond, thanks Greg...
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I feel for you. Had CABG x3 five yrs ago (age 59) & 2 of them failed w/in 4 months. 5 stents were placed @2 different times during the next year & I continued to have angiograms for chronic chest pain thereafter w/ no answers. Local cardiologist only knew how to structurally “fix” & couldn’t help me w/ chest pain other than to do angiograms & load me up on meds. Went to Mayo for second opinion last December & they determined significant cardio vasomotor dysfunction, which is where the arteries & microvascular system contracts/constricts, but does not relax. Was on 15 meds for past 5 yrs & now on only 8. Yes, still on blood thinner & anticoagulant, but am off metoprolol. Would love to be med free, but know I would probably die w/out them. I knew for years that local DR only knew so much (hit the wall in terms of knowledge/experience) & couldn’t help me any further. Additionally, Mayo ordered acupuncture & it has helped a great deal w/ pain & fatigue. I was forced into retirement & altered my life greatly, but I still wake up each morning. If you can find a way to at least get a cardio consult @ Mayo, I would highly recommend it. All cardiologists are not cut from the same cloth. Mayo’s are the best. I hope the very best for you. It’s hard to be disabled so young ❤️🩹