1. < Heart & Blood Health

Second opinion & question about stents

Posted by fastback66 @fastback66, Nov 19, 2019

Six years ago I had a routine physical, towards the end of the appointment I mentioned that I occasionally get a flutter in my chest. I was an avid runner and in my late 50’s I was doing 7 to 8 miles at about a nine minute pace. The doctor left and the nurse came in to hook up a EKG. After running the test she said that she would be right back. She went to the next examination room and showed the doctor. I heard him say, I will speak to him. He came in and said that he could call an ambulance or I could drive straight to the ER. I had inverted T waves. I was admitted and the following morning I had a angiogram done. 45% blockage in the LAD and three other blockages in other arteries to a lesser extent.
Fast forward six years. I seem to have lost a bit of stamina and I am concerned that the blockages and getting worse. I collected my records including the CD of my angiogram and have been considering going to a large university hospital in Chicago for another opinion. When I had the angiogram I was told that where the blockage is, it could not have a stent placed there.

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mrsjaxx727 | @mrsjaxx727 | Nov 21, 2019

Yes i cant have another stent placed either thats when they said surgery..did u go to chicago i have heard so much good about them

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fastback66 | @fastback66 | Nov 21, 2019

I will travel to Northwestern university medical center after the new year. Luckily it’s only about an hour’s drive for me. They are very highly rated in cardiology.

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racerjon | @racerjon | Feb 3, 2020
In reply to @ew100 "Going to have a Nuclear Stress test next month to find out what caused my chest..." + (show)
@ew100

Going to have a Nuclear Stress test next month to find out what caused my chest pain while I was walking on the treadmill at my cardiologist’s office. Praying that there is nothing serious.

Read an article heading “When is a Stent needed? Tough call!” It said “For heart patients with few symptoms and less than severe artery blockage, whether to use a stent is a question with no clear-cut answer, say cardiologists. In fact, these days some heart experts say the mesh metal tubes used to keep narrowed or weakened arteries propped open are overused for blockages that can be treated just as well with medicine, a healthy diet and exercise”

To ease my worry if the time came for me to decide, I would reach out to you, to hear and learn from your experiences. Did you have the implant and how successful? Or you are doing well with just medicine, a healthy diet and exercise? Thank you for your help & time!

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Hi EVW. First thing I'd like to mention is stress tests are good but not 100% which I hope your cardiologist told you. I say this because I had several stress tests done over time and every one said things were normal. Finally, I went for one more on a Tuesday and it said things were OK. Two days later on Thursday I had a heart attack and had three stents placed.

If you still have chest pain after a stress test shows nothing, maybe your doctor needs to do a heart cath. This will tell him/her anything a stress test doesn't. I believe that medicine and diet can help but it depends on the individual and extent of blockages. I have severe CAD and we tried every medicine out there and nothing worked. This is what has led me to have fifteen heart stents. I pray that things work out for you. But again, if your stress test shows OK and you still have chest pain, please talk to your cardiologist about a heart cath.

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lioness | @lioness | Feb 3, 2020
In reply to @ew100 "Going to have a Nuclear Stress test next month to find out what caused my chest..." + (show)
@ew100

Going to have a Nuclear Stress test next month to find out what caused my chest pain while I was walking on the treadmill at my cardiologist’s office. Praying that there is nothing serious.

Read an article heading “When is a Stent needed? Tough call!” It said “For heart patients with few symptoms and less than severe artery blockage, whether to use a stent is a question with no clear-cut answer, say cardiologists. In fact, these days some heart experts say the mesh metal tubes used to keep narrowed or weakened arteries propped open are overused for blockages that can be treated just as well with medicine, a healthy diet and exercise”

To ease my worry if the time came for me to decide, I would reach out to you, to hear and learn from your experiences. Did you have the implant and how successful? Or you are doing well with just medicine, a healthy diet and exercise? Thank you for your help & time!

Jump to this post

@ew100 Hi I wanted to jump in here . In 1996 I had a triple by pass. I had all the test that my cardiologist ask for but still had pain, shortness of breath so he sent my into hospital for a heart catherization which showed 3 arteries blocked 85,90,95% I was kept in and had the by pass which I'm so gratefull today for . So trust your own body if your still having symptoms advocate for yourself tell your Dr. and go for the catherization or you may have the alternative ,losing your life. Sorry to be so blunt but do as others have suggested .

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1 reply
evw100 | @ew100 | Feb 3, 2020

Going to have a Nuclear Stress test next month to find out what caused my chest pain while I was walking on the treadmill at my cardiologist’s office. Praying that there is nothing serious.

Read an article heading “When is a Stent needed? Tough call!” It said “For heart patients with few symptoms and less than severe artery blockage, whether to use a stent is a question with no clear-cut answer, say cardiologists. In fact, these days some heart experts say the mesh metal tubes used to keep narrowed or weakened arteries propped open are overused for blockages that can be treated just as well with medicine, a healthy diet and exercise”

To ease my worry if the time came for me to decide, I would reach out to you, to hear and learn from your experiences. Did you have the implant and how successful? Or you are doing well with just medicine, a healthy diet and exercise? Thank you for your help & time!

REPLY
2 replies
smudge621 | @smudge621 | Feb 24 6:59am
In reply to @lioness "@ew100 Hi I wanted to jump in here . In 1996 I had a triple by..." + (show)
@lioness

@ew100 Hi I wanted to jump in here . In 1996 I had a triple by pass. I had all the test that my cardiologist ask for but still had pain, shortness of breath so he sent my into hospital for a heart catherization which showed 3 arteries blocked 85,90,95% I was kept in and had the by pass which I'm so gratefull today for . So trust your own body if your still having symptoms advocate for yourself tell your Dr. and go for the catherization or you may have the alternative ,losing your life. Sorry to be so blunt but do as others have suggested .

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Hi Im a 68 yr old woman and, I recently had an angiography with 2 stents placed and they were 80% & 30% in 2 clogged arteries. I was experiencing shortness of breath and occasional chest pain. They placed me on Plavix and I'm already on Eliquis too for a previous blood clot and Factor Leiden five blood coagulation. It's been a week and still experiencing a little shortness of breath. It's now a long road for diet and exercise. Both parents had fatal heart attacks. and any feedback would be helpful. It is so helpful to see others similar situations.

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2 replies
daniel777 | @daniel777 | Feb 25 6:15am
In reply to @smudge621 "Hi Im a 68 yr old woman and, I recently had an angiography with 2 stents..." + (show)
@smudge621

Hi Im a 68 yr old woman and, I recently had an angiography with 2 stents placed and they were 80% & 30% in 2 clogged arteries. I was experiencing shortness of breath and occasional chest pain. They placed me on Plavix and I'm already on Eliquis too for a previous blood clot and Factor Leiden five blood coagulation. It's been a week and still experiencing a little shortness of breath. It's now a long road for diet and exercise. Both parents had fatal heart attacks. and any feedback would be helpful. It is so helpful to see others similar situations.

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Give it more time. If your BMI is over the normal keep exercising and dieting to get it down to mid normal. Keep moving. Cut off TV and read books or go for hikes. If oral statins are not working for you try Repatha. Water Aerobics is a good exercise too

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feelingthankful | @feelingthankful | Feb 28 9:26am
In reply to @smudge621 "Hi Im a 68 yr old woman and, I recently had an angiography with 2 stents..." + (show)
@smudge621

Hi Im a 68 yr old woman and, I recently had an angiography with 2 stents placed and they were 80% & 30% in 2 clogged arteries. I was experiencing shortness of breath and occasional chest pain. They placed me on Plavix and I'm already on Eliquis too for a previous blood clot and Factor Leiden five blood coagulation. It's been a week and still experiencing a little shortness of breath. It's now a long road for diet and exercise. Both parents had fatal heart attacks. and any feedback would be helpful. It is so helpful to see others similar situations.

Jump to this post

Look up Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and research his diet. Still follow all your doctors advice.

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mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Feb 29 7:15am

Not everyone agrees with Esselstyn's pronouncements ... https://theskepticalcardiologist.com/2015/08/04/the-incredibly-bad-science-behind-dr-esselstyns-plant-based-diet/

Weight is a big deal ... there are recent meds that can assist in reducing weight.

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mikekennedy759 | @mikekennedy759 | Mar 1 11:33pm

@fastback66

My story is almost the same as yours. I was told I could be having more work done two years after my angioplasty in December, 2021 (26 months ago). Like you, my stamina is a little off. I am little slower hiking or walking (but I have always been slow). Honestly, I do not know if the blockages are getting bad again.

In a similar situation I am looking for a new cardiologist. I just do not have faith in my current one.

So for you, I think a second opinion is in order. They should do some follow-up. Northwestern has a good reputation. Wish you the best. If you are willing, please update us on this.

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