Stent failing after few months .

[Pitt12345]

My husband had two heart attacks within twenty months. Last one September 2020 he has been having some breath issues. We paid private for angiogram yesterday which found that he needed yet another stent which we believe was placed over the one done in September which was failing. They put in the largest stent 35 mm. I feel that nothing is going to prevent issues again. He has always been slim, doesn’t smoke and rarely drinks! . He loves walking. Think he now has five stents. Don’t know why I am writing I just feel so frightened. Just wondered if anyone had faced this.

[Sewnknit]

Not much help from me, but I feel your fear.My hubby had 5 heart attacks, we didn't even realise what the first one was. He only needed 1 stent and was SO lucky (father died from a heart attack at 58).

What sort of support do you get from Cardiology. My husband couldn't do the rehab due to Covid shut downs but the rehab nurse rang regularly.

Anyone you can ring?

We're all here for you.

x

[Chappychap]

It's true that some people are pre-disposed towards heart problems because of their genetic profile, but you must never feel hopeless or doomed. Because, at least for heart disease, genes are not destiny, and there are still life style changes that can significantly slow down or even arrest the progress of heart disease.

For example, even though smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, etc are the main causes of heart disease, there are plenty of other causes that rarely get any attention, such as sleep apnea or gum disease. There are also people who, although not appearing overweight, are inclined to put on weight as a blanket of fat around vital organs. Or there are people who are especially sensitive to the trans fats often used in take away food, and develop insulin resistance which in turn drives their heart disease.

If you're interested there's a book by an American cardiologist called "Beating The Heart Attack Gene" which explores many of these less well-known, life style triggers for heart disease.

Good luck!

[WardijaWardija in reply to Chappychap]

Hi Chappychap. I agree with your posting in the main, especially the aspects of positivity, but feel I should draw attention to just one of your assertions in your opening paragraph.

" . . at least for heart disease, genes are not destiny"

Well I hope you dont mind me taking issue about this, but felt compelled to do so, because really they are **

I have one such inherited heart disease myself, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (with obstruction) often refered to as ' Sudden Death Syndrome' which is an ongoing, genetic and progressive disease, to which there is no cure, at least for now.

Sufferer's have no option but to live with this and whilst it may be "managed" in several ways, from copious amounts of medication, and all the side effects, through to, and alongside, invasive procedures such as ICD's and surgical ablation/s but it's still akin to feeling like you live in a world of perpetual Russian Roulette . . . " and the recurring psychological response and thoughts of "Is today THE day?"

Monitoring of the condition gives clinicians and patients statistical predictions as to the "likelihood" of death in an advance 5 year window. Of course this is only a guide.

It is, as it says on the strap line Sudden Cardiac Death - and arrives without ANY prior warning . . .

Many people are born with this form of heart disease and yet, haven't got a clue that they carry this defective gene, until it's too late.

Unfortunately its only when and if a PM is carried out, that the unfortunate family members learn the cause of death of their loved one, alongside the shock of being told that they too may also carry the same faulty gene.

So yes, our destiny, healthwise is pre-set.

** However we may wish, or not,to try to influence our genetic "destiny"and hope to delay its arrival, by adopting a holistic healthy lifestyle, increasing our stamina, looking after our psychological wellbeing and eventually extending our longevity - it certainly can't do any harm.

So yes, it'll probably get me in the end, unless of course, I die from something else in the meantime, an anaphylaxis inducing "healthy" strawberry maybe or getting hit by the proverbial bus !! That's just my take on it and it helps me mentally to be able to live with this disease and not lose my mind and motivation for living the very best LIFE I can, immaterial of time.

Take care and keep well.

[shopman]

Stents within stents is a lot more common than many think. Some are prone to things furring up. My bypass grafts failed after 16 years and I ended up with 3 procedures for stents to open some of them up again. Even then I have at least 1 stent within another one and one graft still blocked solid. There are ways round it as was offered the chance of having my original arteries drilled out (rotablation) but then it was found I had Heart Failure so it never went ahead.

[ling]

Is bypass an option?

[Pitt12345]

Apparently The stent hadn’t failed. Had letter from cardiologist today. blockage in sane artery as had caused his ha’s so bigger stent put in.