Had angioplasty a week ago,She couldn’t get stent in LAD as things were” too tight” but did managed to open it up, but also said during the procedure that CABG was probably best option.I will get a app in 8 was to discuss how I am etc. I was feeling positive until I read the discharge notes yesterday and researched what they mean.😨distal lms atheroma, stenosis in mid lad , preserved Lvsf ? and something else...which I can’t read! Now I’m really panicking, to the point my heart is pounding all the time & not much sleep! Also cardio recommended to increased atorvastatin to 40 .so I spent an hour trying to get through to doc to action this yesterday.
I have NOW read two reports that this statin stops the clopidergrol working well....which doubles my risk of post procedure risks! I just feel like I’m a ticking time bomb. My husband is getting fed up with me talking about it, but I’m really scared😰logic tells me I must get a grip and calm down but I can’t think of anything else. Thinking I will try and get keyhole for CABG if at all poss.....has anyone else had any experience of it being done this way? Honestly, my mind and heart are in a complete whirl this morning!! So sorry to post this on xmas eve of all days🙄
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Maisywhippet
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So sorry you are going through this on Christmas Eve of all days . I would be reacting just like you it’s big news you have had and a shock . I don’t have first hand experience of what you are going through so can only send love and hugs . Many on here have had the same experience and they will be along with reassurance and good advice . Hang in there
Thank you, feel like I’m really acting very stupidly about all this but just reduced to tears today which I know isn’t helping me stress wise. There’s people far worse off than me ! Thank you for your kind reply x
I’ve not heard of an interaction with atorvastatin & cloddy, I’m on both. Think it’s standard after treatment after angio etc. Try not to worry too much about the cardiac lingo in the report it’s pretty much standard stuff as far as I read it. Basically your left main stem is a bit furry, and usually a bypass is the ‘go to’ treatment option after being discussed at a multi disciplinary team meeting.
Try to focus & enjoy Xmas and put it on the back burner till the New Year & a new beginning.
Thank you, I will really try to focus on something else, otherwise the stress will do me no favours. I’ve gone from being normal, to needing a stent, to now need a bypass in a couple of months and of course with covid there is very little opportunity to ask questions of anyone, so glad I have found this site and it’s kind people 🙂
Think of a bypass as being an end of your problem. It will give you a new lease of life. Unfortunately I don’t believe it can be done by keyhole. But think positive that it will be worth it and following all the advice from you cardio and rehab team you will soon be as near normal as possible
When enquired about this before my bypass I was informed that it is not available in Scotland under NHS. If I required keyhole I would have to go private and travel.
Your situation sounds pretty similar to mine though I’ve not heard the statins inhibit clopidogrel otherwise not sure why they would prescribe them. I have had multiple procedures for stents last few years. 2 years ago they recommended CABG after another blockage. I was resistant and elected for stents again which they kindly obliged (I have a lovely cardiologist who works with me). Was back in hospital in May this year for blocked LAD which they couldn’t stent and that forced me down CABG as only option. Had that done 6 weeks ago and I am now in recovery... to your message, I was 6 months between the two procedures awaiting and meds helped keep me safe with a blocked LAD. Of course CABG is a massive op, but believe in the surgical staff and the amazing things they do these days, you will be fine. Happy to have a chat in more detail if that helps put your mind at rest, it does sound like you are safe for now with them having successfully opened your LAD so rest easy, enjoy Xmas right now, and have a think in a few days about your Cardiologist’s recommendation.... Hope that helps.
Thanks for your reply, have cardio app in approx 6 weeks to see how I am. If I have to have CABG then I’m going to try’n get it done keyhole, prob means travelling to London and spending the kids inheritance...but what the hell...couldn’t face the saw down the front‼️😨
I never knew keyhole CABG was an option, and I had mine done at St Barts in London which is a ‘World Leading Heart Centre’ with specialists. Knowing now what CABG involves, I am surprised they can even do this keyhole, I would suggest you discuss thoroughly the pro’s and con’s of doing it keyhole including the risks to you during the procedure. As for my scar ‘from sawing me down the middle’, if I’m honest I’m stunned at how quickly the scar has already disappeared and I’m only 6+ weeks in. Good luck with your decision.
It is painful and there is of course the risk of infection. I was loaded on painkillers to manage the pain, stepping down after 3 weeks, and just followed their instructions religiously to manage infection risk and been Ok. I respect your concerns so you should follow the course of action you feel most comfortable with. Good luck.
Thank you, I can take some reassurance from the fact that it all went well for you....sounds like you’re doing really well thank goodness, this proves that there is light at the end of the tunnel😊
Hello Maisywhippet, so sorry to hear of your stressful situation, I’m not sure that I can help, but felt a reply might at least be a reply to say hello and to say that heart conditions of the smallest “problems”. Are not small to the patient needing assistance. My story to be brief was also the LAD. It went undetected for a long time. Told all was well following physical tests etc. Then the truth became apparent. I felt ill but didn’t think it was my heart because I was told it was ok. Went to GP who said I had been over working. He was wrong a few days later went back saw another GP. Result. Taken to hospital stent fitted. Told they could not do any more and therefore might need further surgery. Ten years later LAD ok but needed other stents fitted. So first was in 2007 second in 2018.
I’m ok but it is scary it’s your heart. It’s personal! I don’t think others always grasp the seriousness of it. That’s not good. I believe one should always be prepared to ask for a second opinion. If I hadn’t I guess I might not be replying to your good self. So please hang on in there. We find our true friends when we have life situations to deal with. Find them and talk and talk
Thanks for your advice, yes I definitely think we have to be pro-active with our conditions and ask lots of questions. I have been lucky so far and all this has been investigated and diagnosed just because of a mild ache between elbow and wrist on left arm,, which then was much better after original angio echo. However one cardiologist saw something on ecg and passed me to interventional cardio and things have progressed from there. Could have gone much further undiagnosed and then not such a safe outcome, so guess I’m lucky in one way! Let’s hope 2021 is better for us all in many ways!
Hello,Waiting to hear if I need a bypass or whether if they do angioplasty first in the LAD then they will then be able to get a stent in. I do have calcification in other areas, but don’t think it’s enough to cause problems at present. Yes I have been put on Atorvastatin 40mg, Asprin and Clopidigrol for 6months.
I had a reasonably healthy diet anyway, but am cutting back on the sat fat. I would find it hard to follow a complete Mediterranean diet, as I really don’t like beans/pulses etc...but doing my best with lots of chicken, fruit and veg and less chocolate and biscuits 😊
Hi,I was on clopidagrel and 80mg of atorvostatin for about 18month and i didnt have a problem with the clopidagrel,but once i got valve replacement i got took of clopidagrel and put on warfarin, i got put on the statins because i had 4 TIA strokes before my heart op,the statins has caused me to have alot of muscle pain and weakness,av been on them for about 3 years now and my doctor took bloods from me and its came back saying the statins is damaging muscles and tissues,so my dr took me of the statins straight away,been of them about 3 weeks now and pain has eased but on monday there i took another TIA stroke,i feel awful now,im so worried that its because iv stopped my statins,i have read its dangerous to suddenly stop statins and can cause risk of stroke,i think thats whats happened with me,
Thanks for your reply,So sorry to hear that you have these problems which I’ve heard statins can cause. I was recommended to go on statins years ago as my risk score was high and turned them down. Now I officially have a heart problem I have no choice! Hope your doc finds another solution to keep you safe, good luck.
Being told we need open heart surgery is a scary place to be looking into, I have heard about this new technique of minimal surgery but don’t know of anyone who has had it.
Mine was the normal open up the chest and fix it that way. I am 4 years on didn’t have any problems after surgery I had Aortic valve replaced and bypass done. My scar is very faint but even at the beginning I would look on it as a battle scar, sometimes I would forget what I had been through and see the scar and think wow that really did happen. If you follow all the instructions you are given do your breathing exercises and coughing ones do some gentle walking to start with you will be well on the way to getting your life back.
After my surgery I used to get a bit freaked out with the thought that someone had had my heart in their hands, but it soon past and now I think of it as a was a gift I was given.
I wish I could take your anxiety away with a few words, but it will be alright your medical team will mend your heart and your life will be back on track.
Hi there,sorry to hear you need another op,i had heart surgery august 2019,to replace my mitral valve,and i got it done threw minimal invasive surgery which im so thankful for,i was still in pain afterwards but i healed alot quicker than i would have if i had open heart surgery,still scary any heart op,but im sure you will be fine,take care
Hi, thanks for your reply, good to hear from someone who’s had min invasive surgery. Could I ask if you were offered this on NHS ? As my understanding is that it is a private option and then I would have all the complications of arranging assessments etc with a cardiologist possibly in London which is 50 miles away from us! Wondering how complicated this would be to achieve if I’m told that I need CAB surgery.
Hi maisywhippetI did get the op on NHS ,they made a 5inch cut under my right breast to do the op,very impressive to think they can take ur damaged valve out and put a new one in it took 5 hours,
I shall ask the question with my cardiologist, as I also work for someone who had a bypass done by “keyhole”privately and obviously the recovery time is much less than the breast bone method! I guess it also depends on what exactly needs repairing.
Thank you...it will be better when I’ve had appointment and know what they recommend.Waiting is stressful because it’s always there in the back of your mind, but people far worse off than me!!
A think the waiting time is always the worst,gives you to much time to think,I remember being a wreck waiting on my op,i constantly thought of the worst,saying what if something happens during op and i dont make it,i had horrible thoughts,but am fine now apart from my cardiologist saying to me the other day that he thinks i have AF,so i have a monitor on just now for a week to see what it picks up,av bn getting alot of heart palpitations and dizzyness lately,so we will see,
Hi Pauline, thanks for your encouragement. Yes it is a very scary place to be and it’s always good to hear from people that have made it out the other side. I guess the waiting for final decisions on surgery is possibly worse than the final operation, once that is definitely on the cards then we just have to grit our teeth and get on with it as we have no choice! X
Good Evening Maisywhippet, sounds like you have the same dodgy arteries as me! That bloody LAD has got a lot to answer for! Mine was fully blocked and caused a Widowmaker to my heart. Mine was stented by emergency angioplasty. To try and keep this positive which is what we all need to focus on you havent had a heart attack yet so the boiler is ok just dodgy plumbing. Also you are very much on the radar and help is imminent. Hang in there you are doing really well. They will fix you. They do this every day. Be kind to yourself. I read that your worried about what your Husband thinks. Dont be. Its happening to you. It is very difficult for someone who isn't going through it to understand what you are going through. We do though. Keep talking to us. In case it got lost in the rest of my rabble, Be kind to yourself. Best advice I have had so far on my Journey. Keep us updatedJim ( the Newlywed ) Pond ♥️x
Hi Jim, thanks for your reply it made me smile 😉 always thought heart probs may be on cards for me as heavy smoker (gave up 8yrs ago when Dad passed with lung cancer) also he had major heart problems over the yrs including 5 W CABG,(caught infection a wk later and had to be re-zipped!) HA -stent from which he caught another infection , nearly caused amputation,but he got away with that too. Now to hear it isn’t possible to stent my LAD and I may have to have CABG frightens the poo out of me! Thought I was healthy apart from ache in lower left arm!! Positive is that at least with angioplasty it is open for the time being!, It’s a bugger getting older...62 but still want to be 35😂😂
If nothing else you seem to have the right attitude towards life and your current situation. I think a sense of humour gets us through a lot of life's challenges! It sounds like you may have some genetic issues, as do I. I confess to being a heavy smoker pre Heart attack also. Not sure if you play cards but this is the hand we have been dealt, its the one hand we have to play with so game on...Jim x ♥️
I still getting slight chest pain but I still think it’s a chest infection giving me the pain, my angiogram is two weeks today, I had my call this morning for my pre op, did you suffer from a cough and breathlessness at all
No didn’t have a cough,,was slightly puffed on exercise...but put that down to getting older and years of past smoking! However have noticed that since the procedure I don’t get puffed so quickly.Walking up big hills I still have to stop for a couple of minutes, but no aching in left forearm anymore ..on reasonably flat ground can walk 4 miles no problem, apart from stiff legs after!
It’s hard not being able to see a doctor due to covid, phone appointments are only ok to a degree but you can beat being examined. I just have a tickle in my throat that don’t go, when this all started back in October A&E took chest X-ray saying I had chest infection and I don’t think it ever cleared up. I am 57 I had a chest crush accident 31 years ago followed by IBS, I gave up smoking 20 years ago, then put on weight after stopping the cigs then diabetes came a knocking, now blocked arteries, I wonder if it comes from the accident or the smoking, I have forgotten what it feels like to be completely well, but there is always something to be thankful for.
Yep , know that feeling....perils of getting older too I think.Are you on blood pressure meds cos I know some of those can cause an annoying cough...seem to remember Ramapril was one..
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