Angiogram Results

Hi everyone, I received my letter today after my angiogram 2 weeks ago. To sum up the findings are:

I have a subtotal obstruction in my distal LAD and moderate disease in mid LAD.

I have been referred for a myocardial perfusion scan at the JR in Oxford with a follow up appointment in 3 months back at the clinic in Milton Keynes.

They said currently it will be managed with medication (I was put on 4 different types).

My biggest concern is that I really hoped it could be stented as I am only 52 I do not want it managed by meds. I have fibromyalgia and m.e so I am already on lots of meds.

Am I right in thinking the scan is to determine what needs to be done? And if they deem it more urgent then I will seen sooner than 3 months?

Any advice and experiences would be gratefully received, thank you so much.

[ChoochSiesta]

Be careful what you wish for. I was hoping for a stent too, but ended up needing a bypass. At my angiogram they said they would stent at the same time, unfortunately for me, they said a bypass would be the best option.

[Heather1957 in reply to ChoochSiesta]

I had an blockage in my LAD but because of where it was located it was decided a bypass was the best option, a stent or medication wasn't even an option. We really are in the hands of the experts.

[Hidden in reply to Heather1957]

Yes that is true. Thank you.

[Hidden in reply to Heather1957]

How long did you wait from initial diagnosis to having the bypass? Are you doing well?

[Heather1957 in reply to Hidden]

I think it was about 4/5 months, I think my original cardiologist chased up the surgeon, that is one of the problems with it having to go to another hospital. That said of the 6 of us who went down for an angiogram only I needed further referral for a procedure. (I was listening as the Cardiologist spoke to the other patients on the day ward so I can see why the carry out the angiograms even though they can't do any stents etc.

I was okay after it but a couple of months ago I started having angina again and ended up with 2 more stents but this time in my right artery, this was only 4 years after the bypass.

[Hidden in reply to ChoochSiesta]

I certainly don't wish for any of it. The clinic I went to only do angiograms and do not stent there. I just wondered if anyone has had similar results and it has just been left and managed by tablets or after the scan did they decide on another way forward. Time will tell I suppose. I hope you have recovered well.

[Heather1957 in reply to Hidden]

The hospital I initially went to only did angiograms so whatever medical procedure I would need I had to be referred to another hospital. I had to go to Cardiff to see a cardiac surgeon for a consultation re my bypass.

A couple of months ago I had further Angina pain and they transported me to Cardiff for the angiogram and I had 2 stents fitted then and there.

[Hidden in reply to Heather1957]

I hope you are feeling better now.

[ChoochSiesta in reply to Hidden]

I have now become a member of the 6 million+ NHS waiting list. Hope you get well soon.

[Badger4]

Hi, I remember receiving that letter earlier this year, it felt like my world had fallen apart. I am young too and felt the same about meditation. End result was 1 stent during the angiogram and on 5 meds daily, 4 probably for the rest of my life.

My diagnosis was slightly different but the feelings you talk about, I remember well.

What helped?

Learning more about my condition.

This forum.

Realising that I was in the best hands I could be in and having faith that they would do the best they could.

Most of all.... time.

Good luck

[Hidden in reply to Badger4]

Thank you so much for your reply. It is a great help to read your experiences. All the best

[Legs]

Morning Mbroad, similar to you after my Angioplasty last August I have been left with the same blockages as you, 100% distal LAD plus 35% Mid LAD but also 60% distal RCA, only a 75% blockage in the Mid RCA was stented. I was told also that I would only now be medicated for what remains. I have tried to find out what the prognosis for distal LAD disease is to no avail so would be interested to know, 16 months later I have still not had a chance to speak to a cardiologist about it. My guess is that your further scan is not going to lead to any stent decisions but wish you well.

[Hidden in reply to Legs]

Thank you for your reply. I have a feeling my outcome will be similar to yours. I will let you know if I find out any information. I hate the thought of being left with a 100% blocked artery! Ita really getting to me to be honest. It doesn't seem right to leave it but I will leave it to the professionals.

[mathematics in reply to Hidden]

Hi it is worrying, especially when you have to wait so long to speak to someone about it and also wait for procedures and tests. My husband recently had a chest scan then very quickly an angiogram that had been arranged after we had paid privately to see a cardiologist. The result of that was having to have stents as his artery was so narrowed apparently like a pin prick and the stents he had in 2007 had also narrowed so they had to be restented. he is having a consultation with this cardiologist in March. He is still young and had his first heart attack when he was 44. Hope everything works out for you and you are not getting any chest pains etc.., my husband was having chest pains with pains running down from his jaw, teeth and neck to his chest then down his arms, he said it felt like a heart attack like he had in 2007 but when he went to A and E tests were inconclusive. However speaking to the nurse who was recently giving me an ecg she said blockages and narrowing do not show up on ecgs or blood tests as they are looking for a rise in troponin. Take care and hope that you get sorted soon. My husband did have a chest scan before he had the angiogram but he was called in very quickly to have the angiogram after the chest scan.

[Legs in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Please don’t let it worry you as I’ve been generally fine and pretty active since recovering from my mild HA and getting used to all the meds, plus dealing with my own anxieties which is possibly the hardest thing…..

[Hidden in reply to Legs]

Absolutely, my anxieties are high at the moment but I am trying hard to stay calm!

[Prada47 in reply to Hidden]

Hello You can live for years with a totally blocked Artery LAD or RCA the Heart gets a blood supply from other sources as my cardiologist told me !!!

Regards

[Prada47 in reply to Legs]

Hello I can't give you a prognosis but what I can tell you is I had a total Distal Occlusion of my Right and Left Stenotic Arteries in 1982 which caused a heart Attack so it looks like around 40 years at least !!!

Regards

[fairgo45]

I had a stent 6 months ago but are only on statins what else are people taking ?

[WorriedOfOxford]

The team at the JR are incredible. You are in very, very good hands

[Hidden in reply to WorriedOfOxford]

Thank you, yes I have heard they are fantastic

[Masters69]

Hi I had a my first angiogram in jan 2020 due to the blockage being further down the artery I was put on medication for life. I have also recently after over 2 years of investigation to pain in my legs and body the rheumatologist diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. So

I presume heart condition and fibromyalgia both most be connected??