We're sincerely glad that you've joined us; thank you so much for posting your questions in this group. This is what Mayo Clinic Connect is all about: meeting others with similar experiences, sharing your journey, and learning from and supporting each other.
We look forward to getting to know each of you better. @donnieg, may I ask what medications you are taking? @pamelaann1, would you share a bit more about the gene mutation you mentioned?
TY @catgic I appreciate the clarification, however, I didn't join the group for the fun of it and don't have time for unrelated junk. I thought that being an arm of Mayo Clinic that it would have integrity and that someone in this sphere would have a similar health experience to share so I could learn and get help with my decision on the procedure.
@donnieg - Dare I say, IMHO, you are making "Shoot From The Hip" erroneous judgment about the folks who join this Mayo Clinic Connect group or one of the other Mayo Clinic Connect groups. Sick people are not having "Fun." Honestly shared, valid information and life experiences are not "Unrelated Junk." One person's "Junk" is another person's "Treasure."
I feel confident in saying that Mayo Clinic Connect members are on here to learn from group members, support and give aid to fragile, bad-health afflicted folks where they can, share bad-health-turned-to-good health stories and life experiences with the intent of helping people like you who are trying to gather data with which to make sound decisions, and deal with their degraded and degrading health condition(s).
Good luck in your pursuit of the rapid receipt of the "Arterial Surgery Procedure" information you seek.
TY @catgic I appreciate the clarification, however, I didn't join the group for the fun of it and don't have time for unrelated junk. I thought that being an arm of Mayo Clinic that it would have integrity and that someone in this sphere would have a similar health experience to share so I could learn and get help with my decision on the procedure.
Thanks again Catgic! I am not making judgement about anyone and I certainly agree that VALID INFORMATION and life experiences are important and that is exactly what I was hoping to find here. It appears you may be here for something else more self gratifying. I believe above you mentioned blathering, chitchatting, non-contributors and I really don't have time for that. My post states I am interested in others with Chronic Total Occlusion. Is this something you are even familiar with? If not, please save your blathering chitchat for others who can appreciate it. I'm sure it does have value to those without hope. You seem like a nice person but I have many friends and I am not here for the social media aspect. I sincerely appreciate your kind wishes in my persuit. Best to you as well!
We're sincerely glad that you've joined us; thank you so much for posting your questions in this group. This is what Mayo Clinic Connect is all about: meeting others with similar experiences, sharing your journey, and learning from and supporting each other.
We look forward to getting to know each of you better. @donnieg, may I ask what medications you are taking? @pamelaann1, would you share a bit more about the gene mutation you mentioned?
Thanks Kanaaz, I appreciate your help in referencing me to others with similar issues.
My Medications are Lipitor, Atenolol, Amlodipine, and Isosorbide as well as a rescue nitro as needed. If necessary I can relate the dosages but I do not have them at hand other than the rescue nitro. I'd expressly like to hear from others with CTO and specifically anyone that has had the procedure with the probe to create an opening for angioplasty.
@donnieg - Thanks for your kind likes! My issue was the widow maker HA just a 1/2 hr. after exercising. I had no previous concerns so this came out of no where. Unfortunately it took them awhile to determine I was having a very serious HA and although the cardiologist was able to insert a stent in my LAD because it was 100% blocked for a few hrs. I am left with an EF of 35%. I am thankful for what he was able to do for me, but if there is ever a next time I will be sure to call an ambulance rather than take a 1/2 hr. drive to the hospital. as you saw in the post you liked I am on 40 mg. of Simvastatin, 2.5 mg. of Lisinopril, 50 mg. of Metoprolol Succinate & 81 mg. aspirin. I had taken Plavex as a blood thinner for the 1st year after my HA, but felt that I was doing well enough to take me off.
I hope you continue to ask lots of questions, do your research and listen to your cardiologist getting a 2nd opinion if something seems fuzzy.
Be well @thankful.
@thankful Wow, I'm amazed you made it from a widomaker issue. Referring to the amount of time gone by before before Drs intervened. Miracle! My widowmaker callapsed (occluded) on the operating table so not much damage. Lower part of heart damage only. I had another heart attack a month later.
Anyway, the kinds of meds I'm on that was asked of me by @OKANAAZPEREIRA are:
Aspirin, Ativan, buspirone, norco, plaquenil, isosorbide, Lipitor, nitro (as needed), plavix, ranexa, requip, traxodone.
@donning, this is a tough position you are in on the decision your up against. Surgery or not. My take, and only and as a non doctor, I'd be willing to do the surgery only if my other body parts are healthy. I look at it this way, if you die on the table there is no pain but if you die of a heart attack out side of hospital there is. I'm feeling pretty good about death than most. I look at it as a chance to go home and trying to get there with little pain as nessesary. I'm a wimp. If the surgery works out then look at all the better quality of life you will have. So sorry to be Blunt but can't think of any other way at the moment. If your breathing and can still function pretty good then be happy without the surgery. I've never had to make this decision. I just know I was calling out for them to stop my pain during my heart attack. I'd like to avoid another as much as possible.
You asked about how they went in if I'm understanding correctly. They when in my right wrist and up the arm with the stant. Other than that I haven't asked how or what. I'm sorry. I was just happy they didn't cut open my chest.
Hope this helps.
@thankful Wow, I'm amazed you made it from a widomaker issue. Referring to the amount of time gone by before before Drs intervened. Miracle! My widowmaker callapsed (occluded) on the operating table so not much damage. Lower part of heart damage only. I had another heart attack a month later.
Anyway, the kinds of meds I'm on that was asked of me by @OKANAAZPEREIRA are:
Aspirin, Ativan, buspirone, norco, plaquenil, isosorbide, Lipitor, nitro (as needed), plavix, ranexa, requip, traxodone.
@donning, this is a tough position you are in on the decision your up against. Surgery or not. My take, and only and as a non doctor, I'd be willing to do the surgery only if my other body parts are healthy. I look at it this way, if you die on the table there is no pain but if you die of a heart attack out side of hospital there is. I'm feeling pretty good about death than most. I look at it as a chance to go home and trying to get there with little pain as nessesary. I'm a wimp. If the surgery works out then look at all the better quality of life you will have. So sorry to be Blunt but can't think of any other way at the moment. If your breathing and can still function pretty good then be happy without the surgery. I've never had to make this decision. I just know I was calling out for them to stop my pain during my heart attack. I'd like to avoid another as much as possible.
You asked about how they went in if I'm understanding correctly. They when in my right wrist and up the arm with the stant. Other than that I haven't asked how or what. I'm sorry. I was just happy they didn't cut open my chest.
Hope this helps.
thanks pamelaann1, I have not had a heart attack but did have a triple bypass at age 44. I am now 60 and all of my bypass grafts and the rest of my arteries other than the mammary artery used for the bypass are 100% occluded. I'd never heard of CTO until my cardiologist told me of the condition. Apparently it is mostly genetic but my lifestyle has contributed to much of it as I was a smoker until my bypass and I also struggle with weight control. Fortunately, I still have never had the dreaded heart attack. The prescribed Isosorbide (continuous release nitro) is working but we have had to double the dose after the first few months. I have nearly constant pressure and slight pain in my face and jaws as well as my chest. The surgeon says there is a procedure to open a small pinhole between the artery wall and the blockage with a fine probe to then open the blockage and insert a stent. High risk because there is no way to get to the artery other than through smaller capillary channels and then the risk of puncturing the artery wall exists during the procedure as well as clots breaking loose. I'm trying to discover if there is anyone out there who can relate to this procedure. I have tried to learn what is available online but it is all about trial development and success failure ratios and advancement in technologies. I would really like to hear from someone who has done this and see how they are doing after any amount of time. Thanks so much for taking time to reply to my post. I appreciate your perspective on the life issues and am sorry to hear you have had to deal with so much pain............DG
I Kanaaz, Thanks for the note,
I have not recently read any updates on the procedure, I will check this out. I have been informed that the technology is getting progressively better. Cardio can do another bypass but there is a risk of losing the graft on the one Mammary artery that is still functioning. I would still like to hear from anyone who has had this PCI procedure, preferably recently, to learn about the experience and outcomes. Should I set another post for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention? Maybe that will be more direct since it involves the procedure rather than the condition.
I Kanaaz, Thanks for the note,
I have not recently read any updates on the procedure, I will check this out. I have been informed that the technology is getting progressively better. Cardio can do another bypass but there is a risk of losing the graft on the one Mammary artery that is still functioning. I would still like to hear from anyone who has had this PCI procedure, preferably recently, to learn about the experience and outcomes. Should I set another post for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention? Maybe that will be more direct since it involves the procedure rather than the condition.
Sorry, I meant to say Hi Kanaaz, (wireless keyboard) Thank you for the reference. I did read the article and there is quite a lot of medical terms I don't understand but it does appear that the procedure has undergone many advancements in the last two years. What I learned most from it was to find the right PCI Operator who has performed more than 300 or does 50+ per year. I printed the article so I can reread it a few times and hopefully digest it further. Thanks again for your help!
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Welcome to Connect @donnieg, and @pamelaann1,
We're sincerely glad that you've joined us; thank you so much for posting your questions in this group. This is what Mayo Clinic Connect is all about: meeting others with similar experiences, sharing your journey, and learning from and supporting each other.
Here are a few discussions that you may wish to view:
– Clogged arteries at 86 yrs. old https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/clogged-arteries-at-86-yrs-old/
– Aortic Stenosis & Valve Replacement:: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/aortic-valve-calcification/– What are the best methods for removing plaque from the artery? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-are-the-best-methods-for-removing-plaque-from-the-artery-what/
– husband's open heart surgery https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/husbands-open-heart-surgery/
There are quite a number of Connect members who can share their experiences with you. I’m tagging @thankful @scottb @cynaburst @contender1 @HeartPatches @ronbee @llecrup @lyndamm @swanny @callalily74 @michael123 @yarrum @elvandi g @jackj @uncbball @contender1 @jc2buds to please join this conversation. I hope you can give @donnieg some insight.
We look forward to getting to know each of you better. @donnieg, may I ask what medications you are taking? @pamelaann1, would you share a bit more about the gene mutation you mentioned?
@donnieg - Dare I say, IMHO, you are making "Shoot From The Hip" erroneous judgment about the folks who join this Mayo Clinic Connect group or one of the other Mayo Clinic Connect groups. Sick people are not having "Fun." Honestly shared, valid information and life experiences are not "Unrelated Junk." One person's "Junk" is another person's "Treasure."
I feel confident in saying that Mayo Clinic Connect members are on here to learn from group members, support and give aid to fragile, bad-health afflicted folks where they can, share bad-health-turned-to-good health stories and life experiences with the intent of helping people like you who are trying to gather data with which to make sound decisions, and deal with their degraded and degrading health condition(s).
Good luck in your pursuit of the rapid receipt of the "Arterial Surgery Procedure" information you seek.
Thanks again Catgic! I am not making judgement about anyone and I certainly agree that VALID INFORMATION and life experiences are important and that is exactly what I was hoping to find here. It appears you may be here for something else more self gratifying. I believe above you mentioned blathering, chitchatting, non-contributors and I really don't have time for that. My post states I am interested in others with Chronic Total Occlusion. Is this something you are even familiar with? If not, please save your blathering chitchat for others who can appreciate it. I'm sure it does have value to those without hope. You seem like a nice person but I have many friends and I am not here for the social media aspect. I sincerely appreciate your kind wishes in my persuit. Best to you as well!
Thanks Kanaaz, I appreciate your help in referencing me to others with similar issues.
My Medications are Lipitor, Atenolol, Amlodipine, and Isosorbide as well as a rescue nitro as needed. If necessary I can relate the dosages but I do not have them at hand other than the rescue nitro. I'd expressly like to hear from others with CTO and specifically anyone that has had the procedure with the probe to create an opening for angioplasty.
@donnieg - Thanks for your kind likes! My issue was the widow maker HA just a 1/2 hr. after exercising. I had no previous concerns so this came out of no where. Unfortunately it took them awhile to determine I was having a very serious HA and although the cardiologist was able to insert a stent in my LAD because it was 100% blocked for a few hrs. I am left with an EF of 35%. I am thankful for what he was able to do for me, but if there is ever a next time I will be sure to call an ambulance rather than take a 1/2 hr. drive to the hospital. as you saw in the post you liked I am on 40 mg. of Simvastatin, 2.5 mg. of Lisinopril, 50 mg. of Metoprolol Succinate & 81 mg. aspirin. I had taken Plavex as a blood thinner for the 1st year after my HA, but felt that I was doing well enough to take me off.
I hope you continue to ask lots of questions, do your research and listen to your cardiologist getting a 2nd opinion if something seems fuzzy.
Be well @thankful.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@thankful Wow, I'm amazed you made it from a widomaker issue. Referring to the amount of time gone by before before Drs intervened. Miracle! My widowmaker callapsed (occluded) on the operating table so not much damage. Lower part of heart damage only. I had another heart attack a month later.
Anyway, the kinds of meds I'm on that was asked of me by @OKANAAZPEREIRA are:
Aspirin, Ativan, buspirone, norco, plaquenil, isosorbide, Lipitor, nitro (as needed), plavix, ranexa, requip, traxodone.
@donning, this is a tough position you are in on the decision your up against. Surgery or not. My take, and only and as a non doctor, I'd be willing to do the surgery only if my other body parts are healthy. I look at it this way, if you die on the table there is no pain but if you die of a heart attack out side of hospital there is. I'm feeling pretty good about death than most. I look at it as a chance to go home and trying to get there with little pain as nessesary. I'm a wimp. If the surgery works out then look at all the better quality of life you will have. So sorry to be Blunt but can't think of any other way at the moment. If your breathing and can still function pretty good then be happy without the surgery. I've never had to make this decision. I just know I was calling out for them to stop my pain during my heart attack. I'd like to avoid another as much as possible.
You asked about how they went in if I'm understanding correctly. They when in my right wrist and up the arm with the stant. Other than that I haven't asked how or what. I'm sorry. I was just happy they didn't cut open my chest.
Hope this helps.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactionsthanks pamelaann1, I have not had a heart attack but did have a triple bypass at age 44. I am now 60 and all of my bypass grafts and the rest of my arteries other than the mammary artery used for the bypass are 100% occluded. I'd never heard of CTO until my cardiologist told me of the condition. Apparently it is mostly genetic but my lifestyle has contributed to much of it as I was a smoker until my bypass and I also struggle with weight control. Fortunately, I still have never had the dreaded heart attack. The prescribed Isosorbide (continuous release nitro) is working but we have had to double the dose after the first few months. I have nearly constant pressure and slight pain in my face and jaws as well as my chest. The surgeon says there is a procedure to open a small pinhole between the artery wall and the blockage with a fine probe to then open the blockage and insert a stent. High risk because there is no way to get to the artery other than through smaller capillary channels and then the risk of puncturing the artery wall exists during the procedure as well as clots breaking loose. I'm trying to discover if there is anyone out there who can relate to this procedure. I have tried to learn what is available online but it is all about trial development and success failure ratios and advancement in technologies. I would really like to hear from someone who has done this and see how they are doing after any amount of time. Thanks so much for taking time to reply to my post. I appreciate your perspective on the life issues and am sorry to hear you have had to deal with so much pain............DG
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Hug
2 ReactionsHi @donnieg and @pamelaann1,
I was wondering whether you saw this update from the ACC (American College of Cardiology), about a growing body of evidence suggesting clinical benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the procedure you mentioned above:
– Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion Interventions: http://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2015/06/09/13/31/coronary-chronic-total-occlusion-interventions?w_nav=LC
Don, may I ask if getting another bypass would be considered?
I Kanaaz, Thanks for the note,
I have not recently read any updates on the procedure, I will check this out. I have been informed that the technology is getting progressively better. Cardio can do another bypass but there is a risk of losing the graft on the one Mammary artery that is still functioning. I would still like to hear from anyone who has had this PCI procedure, preferably recently, to learn about the experience and outcomes. Should I set another post for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention? Maybe that will be more direct since it involves the procedure rather than the condition.
Sorry, I meant to say Hi Kanaaz, (wireless keyboard) Thank you for the reference. I did read the article and there is quite a lot of medical terms I don't understand but it does appear that the procedure has undergone many advancements in the last two years. What I learned most from it was to find the right PCI Operator who has performed more than 300 or does 50+ per year. I printed the article so I can reread it a few times and hopefully digest it further. Thanks again for your help!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
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