Too small for a stent

[james223]

I'm new here.

I had two heart attacks in March and a blockage was found in my heart but it is too small for a stent but big enough to cause pain and breathlessness. Being treated with drugs but concerned that the condition will not improve. Anyone else in similar situation?

[Zena166]

Hi James. I had a heart attack June last year and they managed to stent the main blockage but one small artery is 90% blocked and another 70% blocked. They felt like you that the 90% blocked one was too small and overtime other vessels would compensate. The 70% one is where the artery branches off in the V shape. So the stent couldn’t grab hold of the vessel wall if that makes sense!! Anyway with medication diet and exercise they felt it would be fine. I am certainly feeling better although anxious at times! I am much better than when it first happened so hopefully as you get better and fitter you will improve. However if it persists then go back to docs. If it worsens at any time then seek help immediately. March is only a few weeks ago so it’s early days. I took a long while to adjust physically and mentally but now am fitter and healthier than I ever was. Take care and stay strong. Zena

[Zena166]

Ps. Forgot to mention about cardiac rehab. That helps enormously

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

You are now on the radar. If a suitable drug regime combined with any appropriate lifestyle changes do not improve things they could potentially consider a bypass depending on position and other factors. Although not to you it is early days yet.

[tunybgur]

Hi James,

I had a similar condition after a heart attack. I had one stent fitted to my RCA but the Angiogram also indicated up to 90% blockage in the distal LAD which was too small to stent.

That was more than 5 years ago and I cycle, work out and carry on just as I did before my HA, so take the meds, make any lifestyle changes necessary and the condition should stabilise and the heart will hopefully develop collateral arteries to bypass any restrictions.

Look up 'collateral arteries' and think positively!

Good luck

[controlcause]

For me also stenting failed due to one artery is calcified (100% blocked) . doctor suggested CABG but my collateral is strong enough and I am able to do bruce trademill workload of 10 METS so I did not opt to go under the knife . Medications are doing good . At times morning dizziness and hopefully dosage needs little streamlining otherwise fantastic