1. < Heart & Blood Health

Bypass surgery

Posted by pthaley @pthaley, Jun 19, 2023

I have a total of 8 stents in my coronary arteries and have been told that I need bypass but it would be nearly impossible to find a surgeon to do it. I do have other health issues, diabetes, high blood pressure, history of PE, multiple spine surgeries. I am overweight but am working on that. My LAD is 90% blocked and have been told that they cannot put anymore stents or balloon it . I'm taking a lot of medications and feel like I'm just sitting around waiting to die. I am 67 years old and have a strong family history. I have also been told that there is not enough artery to attach a bypass to. Any suggestions?

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selima109 | @selima109 | Jun 20, 2023

We all have to take one day at a time
Enjoy our surroundings
You have so much going on
By telling others what’s happening
You need a hug😇

REPLY
hikerguy62 | @hikerguy62 | Jun 20, 2023

So sorry to hear about all of your health issues. That's a lot to deal with. Is your cardiologist the one telling you that bypass surgery isn't an option for you? For something that serious, I'd be getting one, if not two more opinions.

By PE, are you referring to a pulmonary embolism? Is so, how is that being treated? Are you on a blood thinner?

What area of the country do you live in? Do you happen to live near institutions like the Mayo Clinic, Duke Hospital or Cleveland Clinic?

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1 reply
pthaley | @pthaley | Jun 21, 2023
In reply to @hikerguy62 "So sorry to hear about all of your health issues. That's a lot to deal with...." + (show)
@hikerguy62

So sorry to hear about all of your health issues. That's a lot to deal with. Is your cardiologist the one telling you that bypass surgery isn't an option for you? For something that serious, I'd be getting one, if not two more opinions.

By PE, are you referring to a pulmonary embolism? Is so, how is that being treated? Are you on a blood thinner?

What area of the country do you live in? Do you happen to live near institutions like the Mayo Clinic, Duke Hospital or Cleveland Clinic?

Jump to this post

I do have a cardiologist in Omaha, Nebraska. I do have a pulmonary embolism and have a filter (I think it is a Greenfield filter?) also take plavix and a aspirin every day. I live in southwest Iowa. I have been seeing the same cardiologist for over 20 years and he has never suggested that I should get a 2nd opinion; in fact I sometimes wonder why he doesn't. He keeps telling me that he doesn't think we would be able to find a surgeon willing to do it

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2 replies
hikerguy62 | @hikerguy62 | Jun 21, 2023

I think this may boil down to how confident you are with your cardiologist and do you feel he has done everything he can to help you with your heart issues.

I think if I was in your shoes, I would be getting a second opinion just to have the peace of mind that I've done all I can to help myself. If the second cardiologist agrees with your cardiologist, then you can probably be confident that a bypass isn't possible. However, if they say it IS possible, then you have a choice to make.

I couldn't find a lot of reviews on cardiologists in your area. I'm not sure if you're able to drive roughly 3 hours to North Kansas City. If so, here are two cardiologists that have good reviews (found via Google maps):

Drew S. Allen, D.O., FACC

https://www.nkch.org/find-a-provider/profile/drew-s-allen-cardiovascular-disease

Michael W. Farrar, M.D., FACC, FASE

https://www.nkch.org/find-a-provider/profile/michael-w-farrar-cardiovascular-disease

Here's the address for both cardiologists:

2790 Clay Edwards Dr #520, North Kansas City, MO 64116

Best of luck to you.

REPLY
1 reply
pthaley | @pthaley | Jun 21, 2023
In reply to @hikerguy62 "I think this may boil down to how confident you are with your cardiologist and do..." + (show)
@hikerguy62

I think this may boil down to how confident you are with your cardiologist and do you feel he has done everything he can to help you with your heart issues.

I think if I was in your shoes, I would be getting a second opinion just to have the peace of mind that I've done all I can to help myself. If the second cardiologist agrees with your cardiologist, then you can probably be confident that a bypass isn't possible. However, if they say it IS possible, then you have a choice to make.

I couldn't find a lot of reviews on cardiologists in your area. I'm not sure if you're able to drive roughly 3 hours to North Kansas City. If so, here are two cardiologists that have good reviews (found via Google maps):

Drew S. Allen, D.O., FACC

https://www.nkch.org/find-a-provider/profile/drew-s-allen-cardiovascular-disease

Michael W. Farrar, M.D., FACC, FASE

https://www.nkch.org/find-a-provider/profile/michael-w-farrar-cardiovascular-disease

Here's the address for both cardiologists:

2790 Clay Edwards Dr #520, North Kansas City, MO 64116

Best of luck to you.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your help!

REPLY
hikerguy62 | @hikerguy62 | Jun 21, 2023

You're welcome. I hope we can hear some good news from you soon.

REPLY
davej | @davej | Jun 23, 2023
In reply to @pthaley "I do have a cardiologist in Omaha, Nebraska. I do have a pulmonary embolism and have..." + (show)
@pthaley

I do have a cardiologist in Omaha, Nebraska. I do have a pulmonary embolism and have a filter (I think it is a Greenfield filter?) also take plavix and a aspirin every day. I live in southwest Iowa. I have been seeing the same cardiologist for over 20 years and he has never suggested that I should get a 2nd opinion; in fact I sometimes wonder why he doesn't. He keeps telling me that he doesn't think we would be able to find a surgeon willing to do it

Jump to this post

I cant sleep, at mayo rochester where I've been last 3 week with a fixed heart. New nurse from Iowa was with me tonight so my advise is to Call Rochester Mayo set up an appt with one of their cardiac teams.

REPLY
selima109 | @selima109 | Jun 23, 2023
In reply to @pthaley "I do have a cardiologist in Omaha, Nebraska. I do have a pulmonary embolism and have..." + (show)
@pthaley

I do have a cardiologist in Omaha, Nebraska. I do have a pulmonary embolism and have a filter (I think it is a Greenfield filter?) also take plavix and a aspirin every day. I live in southwest Iowa. I have been seeing the same cardiologist for over 20 years and he has never suggested that I should get a 2nd opinion; in fact I sometimes wonder why he doesn't. He keeps telling me that he doesn't think we would be able to find a surgeon willing to do it

Jump to this post

Sorry about all going on
Sometimes we have to get out of
Comfort zones
And try different things and see
What helps us feel live a more productive life.
Let me know about 2 nd opinion ?

REPLY
oldkarl | @oldkarl | Jun 26, 2023

I have had bypass 2x, and a total of about 20 stents in and around my heart. Most of the work has been done by top cardiac surgeons of Mayo, Las Vegas Sunrise, etc. Probably my best experience was at Sunrise, but many others were very good at what they did. I have dozens of genetic issues, including LGMD r23, many cancers, myeloma, etc, and others. Now for the good part. I am 83 years old, 64 years married to same woman, 4 children, 10 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, traveled and worked in all 48 contiguous states, plus half of Canada and Mexico, 50 years in organized football, written a dozen books on athletics, religion, poverty relief, backpacked through US mountain ranges, taught levels from kinder to grad school. Most of this AFTER first struggles with cardiac. So I say, there are great docs out there. You just have to be ambitious to find them. Like the little cardiologist lady at Sunrise. (Phillipino, I think. Very, Very good work). She put in about 14 stents in me. before lunch one day. By the way, Anyone else have a case of LGMD r23 or LAMA2 or Myeloma? Old Karl

REPLY
1 reply
pthaley | @pthaley | Jun 26, 2023
In reply to @oldkarl "I have had bypass 2x, and a total of about 20 stents in and around my..." + (show)
@oldkarl

I have had bypass 2x, and a total of about 20 stents in and around my heart. Most of the work has been done by top cardiac surgeons of Mayo, Las Vegas Sunrise, etc. Probably my best experience was at Sunrise, but many others were very good at what they did. I have dozens of genetic issues, including LGMD r23, many cancers, myeloma, etc, and others. Now for the good part. I am 83 years old, 64 years married to same woman, 4 children, 10 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, traveled and worked in all 48 contiguous states, plus half of Canada and Mexico, 50 years in organized football, written a dozen books on athletics, religion, poverty relief, backpacked through US mountain ranges, taught levels from kinder to grad school. Most of this AFTER first struggles with cardiac. So I say, there are great docs out there. You just have to be ambitious to find them. Like the little cardiologist lady at Sunrise. (Phillipino, I think. Very, Very good work). She put in about 14 stents in me. before lunch one day. By the way, Anyone else have a case of LGMD r23 or LAMA2 or Myeloma? Old Karl

Jump to this post

Thank you for replying. After reading your post I feel there is hope. Like you I have many other health issues and have been talking to my family about contacting Mayo in Minnesota. I've been praying about it and will see where God leads me. Thank you again for your post.

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