Recently diagnosed with CAD - Scared to live

@jaireeves17
Have you talked to your doctors about your concern and inability to sleep?

The treatment of CAD has improved so much over the last years. It is not a death sentence. You have stent put in so you doctors did what they needed to do to prevent issues. Millions of people have CAD and have had stents.

If you had CAD did they put you one a statin? What meds did they put you on and why?

I have a ICD/Pacemaker that went off 5 times in a couple of hours. They did a catherization. They found cornary arteries partially clogged one was at 60% but blood was flowing easy so they did not put a stent in. I jst had a friend in great shape have pressure on his chest. He had a catherization and showed a cornary artery was 90% blocked. He had stent put in and feels great and thankful it was found.

If you are unable to sleep please tell your doctors this. Many sleep aids out there. Also make sure they know your fear. Putting a stent into a artery that was clogged puts you in a much better health condition that someone who had not had a stent but is having pain or symptoms.

Also consider a counselor to help you with non medical ways of dealing with CAD. You are in the right place being on MCC. For me I have a ICD/Pacemaker now for almost 25 years. I do have CAD but being controlled by medications. I also have heart failure diagnosed back in 2000. I is almost 26 years later and I do Sprint Triathlons. Does that tell you something about medical treatments and help with being treated for CAD.

Please let your cardiologist and your primary doctor know your fears and also that you cannot sleep. Not getting a good night sleep is not good for you both mentally and physically. Some great sleep medications out there to help you with the stress of your diagnosis. But getting a stent in an artery is good news. It means it was caught early enough you did not have a heart attack and had heart muscle killed. You got what you needed.

How is your exercise regimen doing? Do you have hobbies? I have CAD and millions of other do also. We are living normal lives with normal activities. Consider yourseld lucky your caridologist did the catherization and found the blogged artery and did a stent. Should have made you feel better immediately. Think about all of us ohter there with clogged arteries and yours was taken care of.

Go have a talk with your doctor. They look at things much differently than we do! You're thinking "there's something wrong with my heart, my life is over." Doctors are thinking "an artery leading to the heart had too much plaque, so we inserted a stent and that fixed the problem. And we prescribed a statin to prevent further plaque buildup. Patient is good-to-go."

You got some good advice above. What I think you need to do is get out. Go for a walk, park, farmers markets are a good place to go and visit with people you have not seen for some time, church. How old are you. After I retire I got a part time job at a grocery store working 12 hours a week, demo, helping out in other places.
After I had 2 stents put in I couldn’t wait to get back to work.

@njx58
Yes agree. I tried to post this same message but as usually brevity is not a virtue of mine.

I saw the same thing. Doctors saw an issue and fixed it. I know many many people who have had a stint put in and changed their lifestyle drastically knowing the issue was fixed. Several of my friends outlook on life changed drastically as they know a really serious heart issue was found and fixed.

Cardiac rehab is a great option!
You have had a stent so you qualify. It
Helps by giving you education a support system with medical staff and patients who have gone through what your going through. Exercise that helps strengthen you safely and lern to trust your heart, body and self once again so you can live the best of the rest of your life🙂

Hello milkmaid & jaireeves,
I've walked in your Moccasins... when I was diagnosed (by the Physicians Assistant in my GP's office) of having A-Fib, & then talked to my Dr., (her boss) they both explained, potentially It Can Be a fatal cardiac condition ... & they put me on a Toxic blood thinner. I too was traumatized + had 5 or 6 side-effects to that drug including Insomnia, (a big part was due to my fear & super-anxiety)! I had to ASK to be referred to a Cardiologist who was more understanding but couldn't change the prescrip. ordered by the other Dr. "That Was It!" - I left the GP practice (I'd used for Years) & found a New GP. The New GP then "soothed & smoothed my feathers"! She told me these types of Cardio abnormalities Can be a natural part of the Aging Process (I was 84 at the time), & that properly managed "Life Can Go On" with a few adjustments. Over the next 2 years when I felt Dr.'s weren't REALLY listening to me, prescribing an Alternative drug rather than doing a little research to find the Right drug FOR ME, I'd Find A New Cardiologist! I came to realize Dr.'s are Very Busy these days & their Clinics push them to 'get the patients In & Out A.S.A.P.'! In addition, when a Patient doesn't Really Doesn't Need an expensive Pharmaceutical, the Dr.'s are probably told, "Prescribe That Patient SOMETHING anyway!" I later learned that for a very-few number of Patients with Certain levels of Cardio Abnormalities, prescribing Low Dose Aspirin is Sufficient, Particularly if the Patient cannot tolerate the toxic Pharmaceuticals that are now available. And I have a Very Basic Policy, I WILL NOT Take A Drug to "fix" another Drug I'm taking (PERIOD). Please Find A Right Drug For Me!
Just yesterday a Physician Assistant with 30 years of experience admitted Pharmaceutical Companies commission or reward the Dr.'s OR their Practice for every Prescription written.
So There It Is! Ca-Ching$ Ca-Ching$ Ca-Ching$. It's the Tail (Big Pharma) Wagging The Dog (MOST Doctors &/or their Practice)! It took me 4 Years of asking Credible Medical People before someone would confirm My Greatest Suspicion! You wouldn't believe all the "Dodge-Ball" answers I'd get when I'd Ask Dr.'s this question (over the past 4 years ... some even Denied it.). And the PAA smiled when he said, "You're a pretty smart Cookie to have figured that out. Most patients Never make that connection or are afraid to ask the question.)

I fully agree with you and it’s not just doctors offices. It’s veterinarians too. They recommend food or meds for animals the same way because they get a cut from the company that they’re recommending, same for doctors.
A lot of the doctors don’t listen to how you are feeling on some of these medication’s with side effects. They’ve told me that certain meds wouldn’t give you any side effects.. baloney
I think I’m having side effects from taking Eliquis for the last six months. It started after a month of it where my legs felt very stiff and it hurts when I walk or climb stairs but they’re telling me I should stay on it for another six months and then maybe go to a baby aspirin.

As we get older, we will have common health issues, and we are to expect them along with our doctors. Knowing that a lot can be done by individual and their doctors to offset those upcoming issues with lifestyle changes.

Some time ago I was posting that if you do not trust or find your doctors competent, experienced and your best interest in mind seek another. My reason for this is that it is our lives and we only live them once. Keep searching and don't give up or settle for less.

I received some negative feedback about having to accept doctors in low population areas. I don't agree with accepting sub standard medical care. Over a decade ago I lived in a small city and even though some of my doctors were outstanding could not find the experienced specialists for heart failure who had special training and experience with that specialty.

I asked for and was given a second opinion appointment at Mayo Jacksonville. Even though Mayo was almost 4 hours away I knew I was going to an experienced and patient orinted medical facility. After I had two diffferent appointments with medical specialists I asked to be treated there. I then drove almost 4 hours to and 4 hours back to get that treatment and care I wanted.

In 2015 decided to move to north Florida as found several 55+ communities I loved that had the amenities I really like. I thought (but was wrong) would be cooler in summer. I have been a patient of Mayo Jacksonville since 2006 with medical specialist then then in 2015 all my medical care was there including my primary care (who is outstanding) physician in their community health division. The motto of Mayo is "Patient First."

So if you do not feel you are "patient first" with your doctors keep looking. There are many excellent doctors out there even in small communities. I was seeing a primary care doctor in my small city who in my opinion had no idea what he was doing. Mayo offered back then a search of doctors in your area that were trained by Mayo. I did that and found an outstanding and caring primary care doctor.

Even though I received negative posts with some and mentor saying have to deal with limited numbers in small city or rural area I say keep looking for good medical care and not give up just because you live in a small or rural area. I still stand by that post. You can find good and caring doctors even in rural and small cities.

@jaireeves17 I see you recently joined Mayo Clinic Connect. Welcome! Receiving a diagnosis is difficult and you have taken a valuable step forward to find support. I am glad to hear you ready to take your life back.

You have received good feedback from other members already. If you are comfortable sharing, it may help others know how to comment when they learn more about what you are dealing with.

What led you to your CAD diagnosis, were you having symptoms? What does your doctor say is your next step?

Margaret - I would offer some caution regarding your input - you sound convinced the doctors are not competent and that the companies providing medications are in some sort mode to simply take your money. Both of these, IMO, are not accurate.

Medical professionals work hard to do the best thing for you. Does it always work - of course not because, among other things, we are all bio-physiologically different. You have way oversimplified the complexities of medicine and those providing it.

Conspiracy theories do not explain most things in life - and, certainly not in medicine.