Failed angioplasty

Hi everyone, I’m 37 and suffered a heart attack. After an angiogram they found I have 1 blocked artery and another which is 70% blocked. I was told I needed an angioplasty to have a stent inserted, so a few months later they had their first attempt but failed. 2 months later the procedure was tried again but sadly failed and has now advise I would need a heart bypass operation. Are there any alternatives that I can ask for before a heart bypass? Ask for a second opinion? A different surgeon? Stronger medication? Going through a different part of my body as the artery that is blocked is at the bottom and back of my heart. The dr was great and advised he got the stents in both arteries but struggled to get any further. I don’t have anyone to speak to as my family are scared too so I avoid talking about it to them. Has anyone else been in this or a similar situation? I now understand the surgery is not keyhole. They will cut me open, through my ribs to do the heart bypass. I was also told there is no guarantee this will be successful either until they open me up. It’s a lot to take in straight after an angioplasty and I really don’t know what to do, i just feel so lost, everyone keeps saying I’m to young to go through this, has anyone else been through the same situation or a similar age to me? please help.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Unfortunately, heart disease is no respecter of either age or fitness! After initial checks at the Urgent Chest Pain Clinic and an angiogram I was told I would be called in for stents in about a month. However, the appointment did not come but one for a CT scan. Time passed and after other tests, including an echocardiogram, I had not seen a cardiologist again. Then one day at work I received a call asking if I wanted to go privately? It turned out that this had overtaken a letter from the cardiology department – these are outsourced about 100 miles away. An appointment to discuss this would have been preferable in my view. It turned out that after a peer review that because of calcification it was decided that a bypass was the appropriate treatment. There were other delays as further tests were required. My bypass (quadruple) was carried out just over two weeks ago and am now on the road to recovery. A colleague’s father had a bypass forty years ago and is still relatively first in his nineties. Success also depends on embracing lifestyle changes. Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to MichaelJH]

Thank you for your response, I’m just really nervous and confused on what to do at the moment.

[clarehealsworldwide]

Wishing you the very best (I have 3 different heart problems). Clare

[Hidden in reply to clarehealsworldwide]

Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hope you get well soon

[Suzannedevine22]

Hi Kirby welcome to the chat,a was 35,5ft3& 8stone,bein a athlete for years,had 3 heart attacks in the space of 12 hours,a was lucky my both stents got inserted fine,am in tomorrow to get a stent in my neck and talks about a by pass depending on what happens tomorrow,there is no age as MichaeljH said,to be honest they have you going back in and out for all different wee procedures,we’re the bypass is a big one understand your worrying but a think once that’s done ovs after recovery 99% of people see a massive change for the better, no more angina pains every day would be amazing for me & my family as they understandably are on edge cause am using my gtn stray like it’s fresh breath spray😂😂,joking aside am not looking forward to tomorrow’s procedure and what the next operation will be,fingers crossed for you best of luck Kirby x

[Hidden in reply to Suzannedevine22]

Thank you for replying to my post. I laughed when you said about using the GTN spray like a fresh breath spray as I’m exactly the same! Good luck and fingers crossed for your stent tomorrow and fingers crossed you don’t need a bypass. Please let me know how you get on.

Yes I understand if the bypass is successful then hopefully no more angina pain or feeling tired/breathless but the thought of having a bypass is really worrying me. I wanted to get a second opinion by another surgeon in a different hospital but I don’t want to upset anyone but on the flip side it’s my health/body and I’m the one who will see the scar everyday! My brains just going 100mph.

Good luck again for tomorrow I’ll have my fingers crossed for you. Let me know how you get on.

[Ginger1971 in reply to Suzannedevine22]

Omg!😳.

[gal4God]

A stunt doesn’t mean u can carry on eating junk food.

[Hidden in reply to gal4God]

I try not to eat junk food, not sure if I have that impression that I did?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Gave*

[Bplames]

morning...my husband had his first heart attack at 39 ( which i think is young to have one )

I strongly recommend u get a second opinion, my husband is under a very good consultant called Dr Clarkson with 18 yrs experience, at Frimly park hospital in Camberley, surrey ( brilliant hospital for heart problems ) i have full faith in him, hes fitted 4 stents for my husband and last week fitted him with a ICD , another hospital that is good for heart problems is Southampton, the other thing u can do is find a top heart consultant in your area ( google it ) and ask your doctor to refer u to your chosen one, hope this helps.

Dr Clarkson phone number :- 01252 342602.. if your not in this area.. perhaps he could recommend a good consultant in your area

all the best

[Hidden]

Thank you so much for sharing your story and reassuring me I am right to ask for a second opinion. I am seeing my GP this week so I’ll ask if they have any recommendations and as you’ve said I’ll do some research myself. Thank you also for sharing your husband consultants name and number, unfortunately I’m based up north.

Hope your husbands recovery is going well. Many thanks again.

[Suzannedevine22]

Hi Lucy it is but a have inherited familier cholesterolsemia aparently,high blood pressure aswell 😟 still have a life but exists of going to work doctors hospital and bed lol better than some people tho so can’t complain,hope health improves for you all the best x

[Bplames]

morning Kirby

Please keep us up to date,really feel for u having these problems at your age.

my husbands brother had a triple bypass quite a few years ago, and he has never looked back, so not all bad.

All the best

[Hidden in reply to Bplames]

Thank you Bplames, will do

[Zena166]

Hi Kirby. If you are going to get a second opinion may I suggest you look for a cardiologist and hospital that is research active. I live in Newcastle and the Freeman is acknowledged as one of the best in terms of research (you may have seen the programme about transplants). The BHF have details about what research they fund so maybe start there looking to see what research is happening and who is doing it.

The UK clinical trials gateway gives lists of what trials are being carried out in what area and who’s doing

them. This will also give you names ukctg.nihr.ac.uk

This link also shows you who has been voted top 10 cardiologists by their peers. It may be of help

google.co.uk/amp/www.dailym...

I hope these suggestions help in giving you further information and choice. I am lucky in that the interventional cardiologist I saw is only 1 out of 100 women worldwide who does this.

Hope your queries are resolved and you find someone you have confidence in.

Best wishes Zena

[Bplames]

morning

just thinking abt u and wondering how u r getting on, trust all is going well for u

hagd