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confused after cardiologist visit different opinions

Sodp profile image
Sodp
26 Replies

44 fit and active, cholesterol currently 2.1 ldl 1. 4 stent put in 6 weeks ago still recovering minor pain across chest and random pain across different part of body. Coping well with rehab exercises and daily walks . On metroprolol, rosuvastatin , aspirin and ticgreglor. Did my blood test and everything came normal including kidney/lung function.

went to see my cardiologist who did stent on me as 6 weeks follow up here in Australia. During discharge and some heart research put me as low risk category as I have normal BP,weight and not diabetic . Also active and good diet and non smoker , ocassioonal drinker . However my cardiologist said other wise since I had 4 stent I am high risk and also stent will start detoraite after 5 years and need intervention. She also said that my pain I thought stent stretch pain shouldn't last more than a week.but my cardiac nurse , research team and forum says it can last between -6-8 weeks. So it's very confused, just wondering if any one had multi arteries stent and had no issue for more than 8-10 years without any issues.

specially one who had in their 40s or earlier? As said by cardiologist if it's meant to Last week I still have niggles and mild discomfort so should I be concerned?.. just wanted to see how everyone doing with their stent

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26 Replies
AlfredV profile image
AlfredV

I've not heard of a stent deteriorating after 5 years. These devices are made of metal and will last far beyond the rest of your body. In rare instances, the endothelial layer where the stent was inserted can scar up and cause a narrowing (restenosis). My understanding though is that the risk of this is usually within the first 18 months or so after the procedure - and it is a rare event.

Like you, I was given an expectation that things would settle down and be back to normal within a few weeks. My reality was that it was about 18 months before I felt my chest pain finally subsided.

I hope this helps a little.

Sodp profile image
Sodp in reply to AlfredV

thanks AlfredV, exactly what I thought if I follow regime strictly, medicine I will be living normal life and stent can last for 15-20 years, also from forum who has actually gone through and cardiac nurse been saying something different. I am still going through pain and uneasiness occasionally and left it as stent stretch and anxiety. How is everything going for you now?

AlfredV profile image
AlfredV in reply to Sodp

I'm doing well however, I have largely ignored the advice of my GP and done my own thing.

Sodp profile image
Sodp in reply to AlfredV

thats good, like what .hope it's working for you. So many conflicting information out there.

AlfredV profile image
AlfredV in reply to Sodp

I've removed all processed food from my diet. I have also removed all grain products (wheat, barley, oats, rice, corn, etc), and all vegetable seed oils including any products containing them. No added sugar with anything. No soda pops, no fruit juices.

I have another underlying health condition which makes me react badly to many medications and supplements, and because of that I've weened myself off all medications. I've been medications free since March of this year and feel better for it. Obviously, I wouldn't recommend anybody else do that without consulting with their GP.

I think it important to note that for the majority of people whose arteries have narrowed, is that it has been caused by chronic inflammation, where cholesterol is the sticking plaster that comes in and does the repair. I'm far more focused on what might be causing that inflammation and correcting it, than by reducing the effects of the "sticking plaster".

Sodp profile image
Sodp in reply to AlfredV

that makes good sense, I ate moderately prior to my CAD diagnosis, now I have reduced my dairy, meat intake significantly and never enjoyed soda fizzy drinks..however cut my salt/sugar intake almost to none and any oil , processed food . My issue seems to be gene as per cardiologist...I may have to be in statin hopefully lower dose and aspirin whole life and drop ticgreglor and metroprolol after year mark. My dietician and HF suggested me to eat some white meat(chicken) and fish..I do that twice a week .fish twice and chicken twice very small portion to what I used to..so should I eat chicken or it's not good either.

hopefully I keep altering my diet and be free of medicine.

all the best seems like working for you.

Sodp profile image
Sodp

thanks Backtotheblues, totally agree I have accepted the fact that I will be on few med for life , my dad has been taking few since 52 and now he is 72. He didn't had a stent . Yes diet and lifestyle is crucial and already altered both before CVD I was fit and active and eating moderately now I have included more veggies and fruit..cut red meat etc.

my question mainly around stent life of 5 years and stent pain for longer than week as suggested my my cardio on recent visit.

Sodp profile image
Sodp

exactly , that what I always felt and told otherwise was bit confusing to me. I am sticking to my medicine and lifestyle regime hoping further arteries do not get blocked. Anxiety plays a significant role here..I am ok few days and suddenly bit strikes back. I am working with rehab team and councilor to manage anxiety . It was sort of shock to me when I was diagnosed with CVD being non smoker..all health checkup were good and you seems to ask yourself why me. Something I have to work and live way I did previously . This forum and cardiac athlete page on face book has been helping me a lot too.

once used to with medicine and control my anxiety lots of issue may resolve itself

thanks Hidden

leach234 profile image
leach234

My wife’s brother had multiple stents put in and a few years later died of a massive heart attack. To this day we think he should have had quadruple bypass surgery. He probably would still be alive. Just our experience.

devonian186 profile image
devonian186

Bypasses can have a life of much longer than 15 years but it depends on whether the recipient learns the lessons that their body will have taught them. when i had my operation it was astonishing to see the number of patients that had come in for major surgery of stents or bypasses that had been in before say 10 years previously. they were still only in their 50's and what typified them is that most were obese or at the very least very overweight and unfit.

diet is important but current thinking is often very different to the notion that red meat is bad. both cheese and red meat can provide lots of nutrients and can help prevent the inflammation referred to above.

Sodp profile image
Sodp in reply to devonian186

i have been told by dietician to avoid particular cheese and red meat as both may contains high cholesterol. So as my question goes does stent start to Deteriorate after 5 years. was told that it last for ever and if you maintain good lifestyle and follow medicine . But what I am reading here is most of them here having issue after stenting.

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop in reply to Sodp

Coming up 5 years since HA and two s tents. Most definitely not told stents have a short life but they would last as long as I do. The only risk was not altering lifestyle and diet which could cause the stents to block.

Juice12 profile image
Juice12

So I had two stents and a balloon procedure back on 2017 I was told the the stents were the dissolving kind and will disappear in three years, exactly 3 years after started feeling chest pain and elected to go into hospital where they discovered stenosis where one of the stents was fitted so re stented as far as I know even after the stent has dissolved the artery will maintain the shape that the stent created.

Sodp profile image
Sodp in reply to Juice12

wow disolvable stent, I had metal latest generation one supposed to have less issue and last longer..reading in forum and per my cardiologist it start to cause issue in few years. I am hoping to maintain my lifestyle..follow medicine and regular check up and hope it last for

devonian186 profile image
devonian186

Both have been rehabilitated but who is to say that by next year both won't be in the doghouse again.?

As for fat and carbs again there has been a sea change in the approach to both. Bearing in mind all the research into what's good for us stretching back thousands of years you would hope there would be a consistent story by now! As regards Cheese I prefer the strong stuff which means I eat much less of it

Sodp profile image
Sodp

unfortunately not and just have to manage that for rest of my life, I was living active life , non smoker.. ocassioonal drinker and moderately eating healthy foods and neither overweight.Borderline cholesterol rest BP to sugar was good . Unfortunately still had issue with 3arteries in my early 40s. Since then have changed my lifestyle significantly and now my cholesterol is 2.1 but I know I will remain in statin and aspirin for life . Just trying to be positive and continue the life I had pre diagnosis. Thrown back bit after cardiologist told me usually start deteroit after 5 years . Recently had a first child few days before my procedure.i hope technology changes and will have better treatment available in coming

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Sodp

My husband had his first stent insertion in his 40's, 11 years ago. He's very much still alive and kicking.

Stents and surgery fix blockages not the underlying cause, coronary artery disease.



Sodp profile image
Sodp in reply to Milkfairy

 Milkfairy so good to hear that, in 11 years did he had any issues with stent or blockage? That's so reassuring.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Sodp

My husband has had no problems.

He had a stress echocardiogram a few years ago with a good result.

Keep taking the tablets, adopt a heart healthy lifestyle and find ways manage your stress.

Sodp profile image
Sodp

thanks Backtotheblues that's a very good response. We all believed it's with gene for me as I lived moderately. I am going through my rehab, soon after things settle will increase my exercise rythm and hopefully back into MTB . Probably too risky while on ticgreglor

thank youbavktotheblues for your response..all the best for your year ahead.

Sodp profile image
Sodp

yes I have started my daily brisk walk as suggested by rehab team. But for MTB bleeding issue for cuts etc .for mountain biking need to wait pass 1 year mark. I used to play football on weekends don't know if I l be confident enough to go back

Mtk1 profile image
Mtk1

Interesting you mention assuming cholesterol is the problem, I have never had bad cholesterol yet suffered a heart attack in March followed by angiogram and stent, then further stent 6 months later, I was fit and active with gym classes 3 times a week , cycling, walking etc, not overweight, but I am on a treatment for blood cancer which I think caused my heart troubles, when I asked cardiologist if this could be the cause he just shrugged his shoulders and said maybe. Dave.

Mtk1 profile image
Mtk1

I’m afraid cancer treatment is on going, it is a lifetime treatment until it stops working, it’s just that I started in September last year and had heart troubles in November, I was also receiving treatment for bladder cancer simultaneously which has now stopped. But like you say who knows, on a happier note I am doing ok getting back to fitness levels and feeling good, hope you are well too.

Dave.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

Men in Japan have a higher incidence of non obstructive coronary artery disease NOCAD in particular vasospastic angina.

Smoking is one of the triggers for coronary vasospasms. Otherwise there are very few risk factors for vasospastic angina.

They routinely test for coronary vasospasms during angiograms in Japan unlike here in the UK.

mjadkinson profile image
mjadkinson

Hi I had a heart attack out of the blue 4 months ago and had a stent fitted I had quite a severe pain down the lhside of my chest. It got worse if I overdid my exercising so I used this as a warning system and rested the next day. On reading online I worked out that this was stent stretch pain. It lasted about 8 weeks then faded away and has not returned. Good Luck Mike

Zbignieva profile image
Zbignieva

Did they use a biodegradable stent? In the UK they only use them in children.

I only have one stent, but it is common to end up with chest pain :

1. Stent stretch

2. The stent can block off small capillaries that isn’t seen in the angiogram and these die off. This is far more common than you would think, at least according to the specialist at Bart’s.

3. Small amounts of plaque near the stent or behind the stent might break off and cause small blockages further on (at least that is one thing the cardiologist said to me, I think they just didn’t know what was going on (small district hospital outside London).

If you have chest pain that doesn’t go away after 3x sprays of GTN 5 minutes apart, then call an ambulance

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