Just did a final stress test after my 2x LAD stents in December. I managed to push quite hard for 15 minutes - but experienced a very slight left shoulder sensation (which I’ve had before). I’ve been playing football once a week and managing to run for most of it.
Letter from consultant said I’d done great but that the shoulder sensation did correlate to some ST within the stress test. Conclusion - carry on as I am.
While it seems good news to everyone else - it’s knocked me back. I do have a 30% block in another artery (that he didn’t want to stent) - so I now know that either that is the culprit, or that the stent isn’t 100% effective.
My mind is racing - wondering how long I’ve got until the next stent. I guess it’s inevitable now.....just when. Not a great state of mind.
Any advice?
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DavidG1971
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It’s 30% in the non dominant right coronary artery. Which is why I’m thrown as to how I’m getting symptoms. Often it’s when air is cold at the start of exercise. This time just a very subtle ache when I was at peak exertion.
"wondering how long I’ve got until the next stent. I guess it’s inevitable now.....just when."
I'm not so sure I agree with that. I don't believe it's possible to reverse heart disease, but I do think it's entirely realistic, in some cases at least, to either arrest or slow the progress of atherosclerosis to a crawl.
If you can identify the root causes of your heart disease, combat them with medication, and make the appropriate life style changes, then I don't see why one episode of stenting (or bypass surgery) needn't be your last.
Sure, that optimism needs to be tempered. I recognise that for some people a genetic disposition will make them extremely susceptible to heart disease, and of course the biggest risk factor of all is age, so you can never be complacent. However, I don't believe most people's medical future is written in the stars, no outcome is "inevitable".
Hey, putting all that to one side, even if I'm doomed I intend to go down fighting!
Absolutely agree my friend! That's my attitude as well, although it has taken a long time for the depression and thoughts of inevitability to subside and be replaced by a we can't reverse it but we can damn well stop it getting any worse frame of mind.
I was doing really well until finding I still have some symptoms - even if they are mild. Just knocked me back knowing that this remaining artery is having an impact. Hard to believe that the block won’t get at least a little worse with time. Maybe it’s an artery I can survive without. I don’t drink or smoke, I’m already under 10 stone and exercise regularly. Cholesterol is now 2.7.
Initial treatment by stents or bypass is aimed to deal with the worse affected arteries to deal with a heart attack, severe angina or other issues. This sort of treatment means you have CVD. So as not every coronary artery needs treating or can even be treated the next aim is to stabilise things by lifestyle changes and medication. Some people will always need further treatment. Whilst I know of people who did not make a year post bypass (cigarettes and alcohol) I have posted about two people in their nineties who are over forty years post heart attack and bypass respectively.
That’s the route I’d set in my head (90s) - just feeling a little less optimistic knowing I already have mild symptoms.....and probably from the artery already identified.
Hi David, I have a 50-74% blocked LAD I and blooming determined that I will slow issues with the so called widow maker! I do rehab, started running and always take the healthy eating option whenever I eat now! I was told by cardiologist after my HA that my issues are possibly hereditary and told me to tell my brothers to get tested... both came back high cholesterol so looks like it’s hereditary for me, response from cardiologist was not a great deal they can do about that and was reliant on me drastically changing my lifestyle to slow the process!!
Now to point, I know we are all different but I get no pain at all when running or excercising to that matter currently, cardiologist said they won’t stent below 75% and even then they will only stent if there are symptoms!
I try not to worry about this! I am in a slightly different boat in saying I wish they would stent mine to put my mind at rest 😳
My mentality now is I can only do my best to not cark it before my kids get married and I get to play with any future grandkids ! Keep ya chin up mate and keep up the healthy stuff, it’s all we can do 😁👍🏼
I got given ‘hereditary’ as well - which felt more like ‘don’t know.’ My cholesterol was a touch high - but my dad is 77 and ok. He’s not exercised since he was a lad, smokes and drinks. I’ve always stayed active and don’t smoke / drink. Have cholesterol under control at 2.7 - but so did a gent in my rehab who was back 6 months after his first go. All blows my mind a bit. Thought I was mostly fixed.
My small blood vessels and coronary arteries go into spasm so temporarily reducing the amount of blood to my heart.
My recent 24 hour ECG showed everytime I have a brief episode of chest pain, 100 times in 24 hours usually at rest I was having changes to T waves and ST segments. I live with alot of ischaemia. I can still exercise and keep fit as possible. I cannot be cured by stents or surgery. After 7 years my heart muscle is still fine because I was so fit before I became ill and I keep exercising my heart.
My husband has a stent and Atrial fibrillation and his attitude is not to worry about something that may not happen. Just because you are at higher risk of a cardiac event does not mean it is your destiny.
We can however take control of some things to improve our heart health to try and halt the speed at which our obstructive cardiovascular disease progresses.
Diet, taking our medication, exercise, managing stress and anxiety. Not smoking or not being over weight
Keep in touch with the relevant healthcare professionals for appropriate support and reassurance as necessary.
Find joy in your life through volunteering, sharing our time in good company, friends and family.
Life is for living and growing artichokes, tomatoes, squashes, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet peas and all the other many things in my garden.
Perhaps go to see your GP or speak to one of the Cardiac nurses on the BHF helpline and talk through your experience, results and how you are feeling.
Thanks - I was feeling very positive until yesterday. I even feel guilty for feeling bad, when I know it’s not terrible news. I’m sure there are plenty here who would swap with me. Just need a mental readjustment. My biggest issue is stress / work. I’d love a job I can do day to day - not constantly thinking 3-6 months ahead. That’s what I need to sort.
That’s really reassuring - thank you. It’s possible I wasn’t pushing myself as hard as I might like to think I was (before). I’m ok normal life and playing football for an hour. So maybe I should take that as good for my age.
Well before they fitted my stent they found I was 60% and didn't want to stent and I had no excersise issues or pains, I got stented when I had an issue over a year later when it was said to be 70% did they class the 30% mild, minor or moderate? they can check stress wire test to see the bypass rate past the blockage but not that I am a cardiologist but I would not have thought 30% would be causing discomfort in excersise, Cardiologist will be a le to answer the ECG questions.
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