Test results

[Stubby2061]

Thank you for the reply. I had an angiogram and they say there are 3 blockages. I am not sure what I want to do just now but I believe I want to delay the procedure until summer. In the meantime I will try meds.

[shopman]

Why would you want to delay matters for so long?

[Heythrop51]

I think you really need to think things through. MichaelJH and NorthantsSteve seem quite experienced "hearties" whose advice should just not be disregarded. MichaelJH gave me advice early in my membership and my cholesterol, HbA1c and weight are all moving in the right direction.

[benjijen]

Not a good idea to put it off. Get it over with and work on diet and exercise. You haven't said how big the blockages are.

[Clerkenweller]

I’m surprised by your response. Have you talked the implication of the result through with your cardiologist? In matters of the heart delays are not good.

[Rose54]

Hi

When I had mine done ten days after a HA I was told thier was enough of a opening for blood to get through and meds where doing thier job so no Stents required.

But I may need it done in the future .

Its your choice but I think I would be wondering all the time if things where ok

I know my choice would have been to have stents done

[Plum53 in reply to Rose54]

Hi Rose 54, I was told the same as you. If I have more symptoms ongoing then a stent will be the next move.

[Rose54 in reply to Plum53]

Hi Plum53

I was not even given a choice thay just said the medication was working

my FFR was 0.86 so this was ok .

did you have a HA before angiogram ?

[Plum53 in reply to Rose54]

Hi, no I had two episodes of angina when walking up slight inclines in Scotland in September 2016. Had angiogram that November and found I had 80% blockage of LAD. Told blood flow was good and I would be treated on Medication . I was told they go by symptoms so if things change then back to see cardiologist to maybe gave stent. I have been refuted back to my GP to be managed as things are going ok.

I must admit I was really worried that first year incase I had HT. I am a lot better now but that is because no change. If I get any aches I am back to being worried .

Sometimes I think I would have been/felt better mentally if they had put in a stent.

Wishing you well going forward xx

[Plum53 in reply to Plum53]

Ops that should have read referred back to GP

[Rose54 in reply to Plum53]

Know that feeling

6 months on and I was feeling back to normal but as you say it does not take much to set you worrying again .

Good luck to you to

One thing is I have lost 1 and a half stone so that's a positive

and I dont get out of breath now .

[Plum53 in reply to Rose54]

Hi, I too have lost 1.1/2 stone with slimming world . I want to lose another 7lb then I will be at my target.

I have an ongoing problem with my back and I have been told that my posture has caused some muscles to be tight and others stretched . I find it hard going walking for too long. When I push my granddaughter in her pushchair it is much better as takes pressure off my back. I also have no problems pushing shopping trolley around Aldi lol

Have a lovely Christmas xx

[Rose54 in reply to Plum53]

You too keep up the good work over Xmas hard I know .

I have a problem with back or hips at present having physio hobbling around everywhere

[Sunnie2day in reply to Plum53]

OK, sorry, but 'slight inclines in Scotland' has me in a right giggle fit. I live in NE Scotland, have travelled all over Scotland, and frankly in my personal opinion there is no such thing as a 'slight incline' in our beloved wee corner of the Kingdom - even the so called mild ones are subtly steep and can bring on angina no matter how good the warm-up and prophylactic application of GTN spray!

When our friends from Down South come up on holiday and we go out and about the first thing they always say is 'Oh no, not another 'slight incline'!' - even the younger ones A lot of our sightseeing with them is planned for flat and level (hard to find up here, but doable) - works for me since stairs and inclines are No1 on my 'don't do' list.

[Plum53 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Lol , it really was a slight incline just up a path to a cafe and two days later up a path to a pub x

[Dolphin14 in reply to Plum53]

I would say that's probably worse. A " slight incline" is less exertion than a " steep incline"

[Plum53 in reply to Dolphin14]

Yes that's true and that is why I knew something was wrong . GP visit set ball rolling . I must admit in my case the NHS were great .

[Dolphin14 in reply to Plum53]

I'm glad things went well for you

[Jarvice79]

I would not recommend delaying for long. When I had a similar result from my angiogram the Dr said the bypass was the only option. It was just before Christmas 4 years ago and I asked if we could wait till the new year as I was due to fly home from Sweden. He said that I wouldn’t be able to fly anyway as I was at such high risk of a heart attack. Once I saw how serious he thought my condition was I was admitted straight away and got out on Christmas Eve. I can’t imagine walking around knowing how high the risk is, it’s bad enough now after having the 5 by passes.

[Ianc2]

There is some discussion regarding major lifestyle changes being effective as stenting but it is more intended to stopping your arteries getting blocked in the first place, as an effective method of prevention.

Getting proof that it is as effective in removing blockages is a much more difficult process. The meds will help but It all depends on how badly blocked your arteries are?

[Salihyuksel67]

I had triple bypass 18 months ago and I want to delay but my surgeon said I could get hearth attack and die ,My advice don't delay ,good luck.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

I'm surprised by your choice to wait until next summer - that's a long time away. The doctors cannot force you into any course of action, but I would be guided by what they consider to be the most beneficial option.

[thetidders]

When I had an angiogram last year like you I thought I might need stents but the cardiologist told me I had 3 blocked arteries, 2 of which were totally blocked & 1 90% blocked & that I needed a triple bypass. He told me stenting wasn’t possible. I hadn’t had a heart attack previously but had been diagnosed with angina.

Although it was a shock I realised I needed to have the op. & went ahead with the bypass 6 weeks later. Before my bypass

I felt I had a ticking time bomb in my heart.

As others have said it’s your decision but please think carefully about it.

Jean

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to thetidders]

I had worsening angina and breathlessness before my (much) delayed bypass. Before surgery you need to pass "fitness for surgery" and get a dental sign off (no loose teeth, no decay, no gum disease). After all this just as I was getting a date I developed a dental abscess. Referral to oral surgeon, four weeks delay, antibiotics denied because of (not) NICE guidelines, antibiotics given two weeks later. So I would say start the process now Stubby2061 as you do not know what the future holds!

[Sunnie2day]

I had an angiogram 20 November 2019 and was in a real tear worrying I'd need multiple stents or even bypass - for one thing fear of pain (yes, I am a major whimperer) and for another I wanted to get some things done before anything 'serious' like stents or (gulp!) bypass.

I have to say my husband and I talked (near-endlessly, I really was frightened before the procedure) about the potential for stents or bypass and he persuaded me waiting was not an option. (Ok, yes, well, his words were 'Are you mad?! Why would you risk your life delaying life-saving treatment, ya numpty?!')

I told the cardiologist if I needed stents or bypass if possible I'd like him to either take me straight to theatre or book me soonest if he found anything.

I was giddy with relief to hear my arteries were 'crystal clear' - but had I been told I needed stents or bypass I wanted it done as soon as possible - hanging about feeling like 'a heart attack waiting to happen' is no way to go about getting on with as much daily life as is possible.

[shopman]

The OP does not appear to have been back since posing his question but there is more which may explain his reasons @ healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

[Sunnie2day in reply to shopman]

I saw that post and agreed with Michael and Steve. Clearly Stubby did not and chose instead to try again with a new post here - just as clearly, he doesn't like the answers he's got on this posting so isn't replying to any of the comments.

He's well within his right to choose how he goes forward with his cardiac treatment although I disagree with his apparent choice to try reversing significant blockages with medication only. I just wish him well - I think he's going to need all the well wishes he can get.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Sunnie2day]

Hi Sunnie

In the autumn a major research study was published in the US

ISCHEMIA. It was a big trial over a long period of time.

Here's a quote from Medscape about the results.

'.....That blockage is not a time bomb in your chest. The clear results of ISCHEMIA, combined with the prior evidence, show that the clogged-pipe frame of treating (stable) CAD was wrong. Clinicians must help change the public perception.

In patients like those in ISCHEMIA, the right answer is to start with optimal medical therapy—including lifestyle modifications. ISCHEMIA results do not mean that stents and surgery have no role. It means the initial approach is to treat the underlying disease. Most patients do well with that.'

medscape.com/viewarticle/92...

[Sunnie2day in reply to Milkfairy]

I saw that and as I was at the time in the queue for an angiogram, was hopeful my cardiologist had seen it as well - I really wasn't keen on having stents and would have argued for the diet-exercise-medication combination instead.

That said, had he told me I needed bypass (as the OP has been informed by his cardiac team - he needs a triple according to the other post) I would have wanted to go straight to theatre if at all possible. I really do think if a cardiologist with a good reputation advises multiple bypass is wanted, that bypass should be done ASAP. To me the advice to have multiple bypass is life-saving - one bypass might be treated with the combo but once multiple bypass comes into the equation there seems to me to be an imperative.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Sunnie2day]

I agree.

However not everyone feels inclined to jump on the theatre table😊

[Sunnie2day in reply to Milkfairy]

I know I would have been in complete and utter terror all the way to theatre!

Given the OP's other health issues I can understand his reasons - I don't agree with those reasons but I can understand his wanting to try something other than multiple bypass.

[Dolphin14 in reply to shopman]

An md must have felt the need to look into a cardiac cause of his issue despite his history.