Ongoing heart things

[Skittler]

I was a member of the Online Community but didn't know it had changed.

I had a CABG 13 years ago and have lived a healthy life since then until earlier this year when I started to get angina attacks. I didn't realise straight away, nor did one of my doctors, as the pain was more in my left side to start, due to it being one of my bypass arteries. We also thought it could be my hiatus hernia. Then I spoke to my new lady doctor, who is brilliant, and she got me in for an ECG and arranged for me to see my cardiologist after the weekend. Had an angiogram and they saw the blockage. Had a stent last week, end of September 2018, and all done, apart from side effects of Ticagrelor and a painful arm.

[jimmyq]

Welcome back! What do you mean by "lived a healthy life"?

[Skittler in reply to jimmyq]

I could do everything I wanted and used to do before my two heart attacks. I changed my diet, as I had to after having my gallbladder removed and being borderline diabetic. The only problem I had was with statins, as they didn't do me any good, cramps and painful legs, so stopped them. I'm now on Ezetimibe, which works differently to statins and my cholesterol is way done now. Sadly done a bit late, so got this latest blockage. Mind you, they do say that it happens about 13 years after a bypass.

[jimmyq in reply to Skittler]

I had 4 CABGs in 1997 and had no Angina since. I have recently come off the statins (doctor's orders) because my cholesterol has come down and I was experiencing a lot of side effects. You could try a Whole Food Plant Based diet (WFPB) to clear your arteries out. That's what I have been doing. You could start by watching the film "Forks Over Knives". It is on Netflix and YouTube. It is about global medical heart research and the findings, including a massive study of 800,000 Chinese people. You might find it helpful, I did.

I have also been able to come off the diuretic I was on and reduced the dosage on the beta blockers to the lowest. I hope to get off them soon. All due to the diet and exercise.

[Skittler in reply to jimmyq]

Thanks, I'll have a look. I am virtually vegan now, due to having no gallbladder. My arteries aren't bad, they think that mine blocked up as I had a bad virus in December, for six months and that stopped me doing my five to six-mile walks every day. The heart doesn't like you stopping suddenly. The reason for my two heart attacks in 2004 was stopping heavy weight training without detraining. Not a good idea.

I knew I shouldn't have signed up as an organ donor, they are taking them early!

[jimmyq in reply to Skittler]

Wow! I said to my doctor last week that every episode of "heart disease" (arteries blocking up, BP going dangerous, mini-stroke) I have had has happened after a viral infection. This should be investigated more.

[Skittler in reply to jimmyq]

I'm not sure it was the virus that caused my blockage, more like the cessation of exercising due to the virus. If you don't de-train, then the heart, being a muscle, will become less efficient and become like your other muscles, flabby. I think this is what caused all my heart problems. There have been many cases of fit people stopping regular exercise and then having an episode.

[shopman in reply to Skittler]

I was told average time to get from bypass was 7 years but managed 16 before things started to go wrong. Had 3 procedures for stents since with a proposal to look at drilling out my old arteries - on hold indefinitely at present. How things have changed over the years.

[Skittler in reply to shopman]

Indeed they have. My surgeon told me that arteries usually last twenty years, but as mine were in good nick, they should have lasted longer, it was probably having a whole string of medical things that upset it all, stopping me doing the exercise I was doing.

I'm now waiting to do my rehab and get back to my country walks which I haven't been doing, due to a nasty virus that attacked my joints, since December. Looking forward to getting back to that, if all the other things let me. No fun this getting old!

[shopman in reply to Skittler]

Wish I could go for a good brisk walk but an arthritic knee holds me back a fair bit plus the bank where I am is a steep half mile long and a swine to walk back up.

[Skittler in reply to shopman]

I know that one. I live on a hill and either start with a walk up or finish with a hill. I had a suspicion that something was wrong when I had to keep stopping on the hills. I have a bit of osteoarthritis, but my physio gave me some good strengthening exercises and that helped. It gets better as I walk. When I need a rest, I stop and take pictures, one of my hobbies or just soak in the view. I was so annoyed to miss all the lovely summer though!

Still, I am determined to get back to it as soon as I can and work off all the other ailments. I need to keep up with my grandson, who is 5, when I see him!

[Berniel69]

Thank you all for this thread, I have found it really interesting. I had a CABG x4 in May of this year and recovery has been going well. However one can't stop wondering what the future holds so this thread has possibly given me a bit of an insight. In the 5 months since my event, I also have changed my lifestyle, lost some weight, eating healthily and lots of exercise, which is probably all one can do to try and guarantee a long and healthy life. Thank you all.

[shopman in reply to Berniel69]

Hi Bernie

I had my first HA at 5-30am on 25 December 1997 at the ripe old age of 44yrs. Had another in hospital on New Years Eve. Standard joke in the family is to ask if I will be at home for Xmas. Time marches on and am pleased to say I get my bus pass later this week.

In the 21 years since this happened I returned to work some 2 years after my CABG and 2 years later bought the first of a small chain of shops which saw me going back to work 7 days per week. Now got rid of all bar 1 which is mostly run by staff and I only put in a maybe 6 hours per week.

Took the opportunity to go on plenty of foreign holidays - all in Europe, and best of all have been able to enjoy my grandchildren who all know my limitations these days. I would say get on and enjoy life as best you can - Good Luck.