Nightmare

[tessadog]

Just a update on my hubby was due to have bypass on Wednesday after a week in hospital and sat waiting for transport to Leeds a call came from Leeds to say they didn't think a bypass was best option and stents would be better!!! so having a failed attempt he is now having another procedure on Thurs petrified this will not work carnt believe this has taken a week to come to this decision.

[Prada47]

Hi Tessa

Think of the positive it looks like someone has looked at everything and run a Risk v Reward scenario and come down with Stents being the best option. You can only ask as to the Why this decision has been taken !!

Wishing you and your Husband well.

Take Care

[Stockport1958]

I would agree with Prada47 they must have thought the stents a preferred solution for your husband, hopefully you can talk to the consultant concerned

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Locally our cardiology have peer-to-peer MDT (multi disciplinary team) reviews of their cases. I was the subject of this more than once. The plan had been stents and then became a quadruple. However, I found out about this via a phone call from the hospital I had been referred to for surgery. Letters from the local hospital are sent out from around 100 miles away and often arrive late as they did in this case. Like yourselves quite a shock!

[Chaika]

Oh dear. Having built yourselves up for one thing it is hard to have a change of plan and no real understanding of why it has changed. The hospital teams do seem to keep reviewing and it can be hard to follow what is going on. But they are experts and they know what they are doing, so trust them.

And let us know how you both get on.

[dunestar]

What a rollercoaster! I do hope that the stent works out after all. Looking on the bright side it is a much less invasive procedure than a bypass.

[Prada47]

I remember after the angiogram the Cardiologist came to talk to me.

" I have looked at it and I think I can fix the problem with stents " !!

Not long after maybe 30 minutes he came back and said " I have had another look and you need bypass surgery I will put you to the Surgeon with the Shortest List " now that was a sobering few minutes. When my wife came to collect me she couldn't believe I needed OHS, just glad my young GP asked for an ECG and then put it straight to Cardiology, as she said it doesn't look right to me !!

Stay positive and stay well

[Handel]

Hi tessadog. Building yourselves up for bypasses and then being told stents would sort things out is frustrating to say the least.

Stents were never an option for my husband. The only change from the original plan (and after several cardiology group meetings!) was an additional bypass. As the surgeon said "might as well sort another one out while I'm delving around in your chest"!!!!

Everything will turn out for the best I'm sure. Best wishes to you both and keep in touch xxxx

[Andyman]

During my heart attack they wanted to give me by pass surgery but I would have died during the operation. They tried stenting as a last option and it worked. In the end I had 4 stents fitted. That was 8.5 years ago and I have never felt fitter or better. They work and I can only say don't worry.

[tessadog in reply to Andyman]

It's just the fact that they have tried once so it's second attempt that worries me!! thanks so much for the reply.

[valeriep]

The disappointment after that kind of build-up is awful, I know. After a failed attempt at stenting, I was admitted for a bypass op at 9am one morning and discharged the same day at 6pm, as they'd discovered blockages in my carotid artery and wanted to do more tests. I was so hyped up, I burst into floods of tears when they told me they were sending me home. Four months of waiting followed while my case went back and forth, and then my cardiac surgeon looked at the footage of my failed stenting procedure and suggested to the angiogram team that they have another go, as it would be much safer and less invasive for me. From what I can gather, for the second attempt they put a special team together (including a doctor from another hospital in the trust) and they were ready for my complications (very narrow artery, heart rate suddenly shooting up mid-procedure) and dealt with them as they arose. This time they were successful and within a fortnight, I was feeling better than I had in years. The stress and worry to me over those months was incredible, but if I saw him again, I would not be able to thank that cardiac surgeon enough. Due to his decision, I avoided a major operation, which was particularly risky for me, and subsequent lengthy recovery period. I would hope that they will take the same approach with your husband, looking at why the first attempt failed and taking steps to overcome those difficulties the second time. And if it fails this time, please don't get too upset. I think someone on here posted a few months ago that they'd had 3 attempts at stenting before it was successful! We just have to trust that the specialists are making the best possible decisions on our behalf. Good luck to you and your husband, and let us know how he gets on.

[tessadog]

Thanks so much for the reply they have said there are other things they can try plus it's a different consultant who they say is very good🤞🤞🤞🤞, glad you ok now X

[valeriep in reply to tessadog]

That sounds very positive. Fingers crossed indeed that they sort it out for your husband on Thursday - and try not to worry too much! Don't forget to tell us how it goes, cos we'll be rooting for you both. xx

[tessadog in reply to valeriep]

Just letting you know Stephen my hubby had stents done successfully this afternoon so relieved X

[valeriep in reply to tessadog]

Great news! How's he feeling? xx

[tessadog in reply to valeriep]

Ok he still at hospital could come home tonight but think it will be better tomorrow didn't finish stents till 4ish on a drip for 4hr so would be 8.30pm xx

[valeriep in reply to tessadog]

Sounds like a sensible solution. They kept me in overnight because I developed atrial fibrillation, which is quite common after stenting - just my heart protesting at being messed around with, the doctors said! - but my sister wouldn't have been able to pick me up till 8pm earliest anyway, and it was reassuring that they were keeping me under observation overnight. Did it take longer this time? My first attempt took 40 mins, the second nearly 2 hours. xx

[tessadog]

Yes I will sleep better than if he were home knowing that they will be checking on him!! took longer this time but the right result achieved!! X

[valeriep in reply to tessadog]

Definitely! Sounds like they had learnt from whatever went wrong last time. Hope he gets out this morning and that you both have a nice, relaxing weekend. I think you deserve it! xx

[tessadog in reply to valeriep]

Woke up feeling great we been married 41yrs and feel we been given extra time!!! looking forward to a nice weekend with family X