Who do I contact?

[RATP]

my LAD is 90% blocked. They’re unable to stent. After a stress test in an MRI a member of my consultants team phoned. He asked if I had any symptoms, I said no. He asked if I was still taking all the medications after a stent was put in another artery. I said I was. He asked how I felt about that? I said if it’s keeping me well I’m happy! He said that in that case they just see how it goes, and that was it. If I start to get any symptoms do I go back to my GP, A&E or call my consultant? I feel a bit in limbo waiting for something to happen. I have unstable Angina but have not had to use my nitro spray

[RATP]

oh! There was an excellent and helpful reply here but it seems to have been deleted?…

[RATP]

Thanks. That’s very helpful. I guess it just come in waves!

[El-Tel1990]

Hello RATP,

The LAD blockage is a serious problem. If they can’t stent it they should have suggested a bypass. Mine was 70% blocked and my consultant suggested a bypass as the “gold standard “ way to deal with it. I now attend a gym for intense core and cardio work on 3 days pw, golf maybe 2/3 times pw and walk regularly. I ended up with a quadruple bypass. I am 60 years of age.

[R3mi]

Hi RAPT

Go back to your consultant just ask for confirmation of what he told you and has he any recommendations to help with how you are feeling.

[Silvertail]

I'd be changing my cardiologist. In my humble opinion, LAD is not to be trifled with. Mine is 50% but they won't do anything unless it is 70% blocked, which is fair enough.

[wischo]

Yes I would ask him why he has not suggested a bypass and his reasoning regarding keeping you on drugs as a main treatment. As some bypass ops have an average 10 year life span maybe he is holding on a few years before going down that route but either way I would like to know. Ask him before you over do the strenous exercise just to make sure it is safe for you. All the best whichever route you go down.

[tunybgur]

I had a heart attack 10 years ago when my RCA became blocked and it was subsequently stented, I was 64 at the time.

The angiogram also identified a 90% blockage in the distal LAD which they couldn't do anything about, I guess it was too difficult to get at....??

I did a lot of research and some people who have blocked coronary arteries just suffer a bit of angina. Apparently if the main arteries get blocked, the heart develops a network of small collateral arteries, in effect a natural bypass.....look it up, it's very comforting.

Anyway, I've been taking my meds to reduce BP and to keep cholesterol at 4 or below, keeping fit, (although I was always fit, my HA was at the gym and I was a regular runner), watching my diet, and I retired shortly after 65 birthday mainly because it was considered stress was the probable culprit! I loved my job but it was very stressful and involved a lot of responsibility and travel, although I never considered myself as old.....

I'm still very active, play competitive golf three times a week and go to the gym every week. I have no real health problems apart from AF which probably developed from nerve damage to the heart from the HA, but this is completely controlled by flecainide....so far, fingers crossed.

All this with a 90% blockage in my LAD, so don't fret about it, just look forward, be positive and get on with life.....hope this helps.

Good luck

[RATP in reply to tunybgur]

Wow. Thank You, that’s very reassuring.