what exactly does a stent involve?

[Blackcat99]

Consultant has just copied me into letter to GP which seems to suggest that the choice is mine, to have or not, and I’m not clear what this would involve! 😬 Any advice, please?

[Blackcat99]

Thank you for both of these links - they both look very clear and helpful!

Jay

[Blackcat99]

Thanks for that explanation - sounds like personal experience? - very helpful.

I’m currently away for almost a month but, once home again, will discuss with GP.

At the moment, I’m tempted to go for it, rather than wait for further deterioration.

Jay

[EngineerB in reply to Blackcat99]

I had two stents fitted a couple of years ago. After the procedure the consultant congratulated me for recognising very mild symptoms of what was a heart attack due to very clogged arteries. His last words were if 9/10 of people recognised the symptoms like you have they would still be here so don’t wait for deterioration. You might not get time.

[Blackcat99]

That sounds really encouraging, thank you! I have had lung problems almost all my life (TB leading to bronchiectasis) so always attributed chest pains to that, then found familial cardio issues were the more likely cause. Will be 77 tomorrow and determined to be fit to enjoy the next decade - or two! 🤞 With family overseas at present but will discuss with GP once home, and think I’ll almost certainly go for it, given advice and experiences here on the forum!

[Blackcat99]

Don’t worry - I promise that I wouldn’t blame you if it didn’t work!! Just good to have some personal experience to help my decision. Lifelong non-smoker and generally fairly fit (cycling, hill-walking, etc) but have been conscious of a distinct drop in breathing ability since surgery (broken femur) 6 months ago. Again I assumed lung issue, but now seems it may be cardiac. 🙄 Need to get it sorted!

[Blackcat99]

sorry- replied to myself by mistake! (Below)

[Blackcat99]

Blimey - Good for you, No pressure on me to rival that, I hope! 😂

[Blackcat99]

🥇🏆🤣

[BDF2]

While the procedure sounds scary, if it were my choice, I would jump at it.

I had a couple of PCIs back in 2020 when I ended up in hospital with a HA. The first I didn't really have time to think about. Between the GTN spray and the morphine in the ambulance I wasn't suffering at all by the time I got to hospital. When the consultant asked me to rate the pain I was feeling I was genuinely embarrassed to be there. Until the troponin numbers came back I began to think I was wasting everyone's time. Once the results showing pretty impressive troponin levels arrived I didn't have time to worry. It was straight up to the cath lab, a quick dose of sedative, and they were straight at it. It was all very painless and efficient, If I wanted I could see what was going on on the huge screen.

The surgeon found the a clot but wanted to know what had caused it so decided to put me on clot-busters for 24 hours so they could get a better look. This meant another PCI two days later.

The second was equally easy. I didn't get a sedative this time - it wasn't discussed, maybe they thought I was a veteran??? Regardless, it was still painfree and quick. They went back to the clot site, found (irritatingly, if they hadn't tried to see what was going on I could have gone home days earlier) that the clot was still there, so banged a stent in, got out anyway, and I was done. As I had had come ECG jitters I didn't get to go home until the following morning, otherwise I'm sure I would have been out the same day.

It hasn't been proposed without good reason. And while the idea of threading something through your arteries up into the heart sounds terrifying, think about how everyday these are for the people doing them. They are doing dozens a week, this is about as routine as an operation can be.

[Blackcat99 in reply to BDF2]

Last things first - I’m sure you’re quite right about this being such a routine procedure for those carrying it out! To be honest, I’ve had so many weird procedures throughout my life that I’m not easily spooked - I just want to get the benefits and, from what you and the other respondents are telling me, it really sounds like a no-brainer!

I’m currently with families overseas but will be seeing my GP beginning of December and will get the ball rolling then. Thank you all for the very helpful, straightforward information- it’s a big help. 😉

[Hidden]

Everything posted sounds correct to me but one small point, you will need to take an anticoagulant drug for several months after the stent is implanted. This should not be a major issue but if you are already on some other medications (some anti-inflammatory) there may be some interactions. Be careful not to cut yourself because the bleeding will take longer to stop.

You will need this medication because there is a possibility of a clot forming on the new stent. I had brelinta and this is supposed to reduce any risk significantly. I think I had it for about 18 months or so but these things are always changing so you would be best to ask your doctor's advise for the current recommendations.

[Blackcat99 in reply to Hidden]

Ah, yes - am already on half a pharmacy’s worth of meds, including Clopidigrel so must remember to check on this. Thank you for the advice!

[Ourdill in reply to Blackcat99]

When I had mine u was taking ticalgralor for 12 months after. .. I don't realise how clumsy I was until taking that. the bruises are super colourful and agree with the above...mind cutting yourself as it's really hard to stem the bleed

[Hidden]

I had been on an anti-inflammatory for a spinal injury on a 'as required' but had not stirred up my back pain for some time. When I did need pain relief, it became a choice of bad pain or nose bleed.

I hate all meds unless absolutely necessary.

[Blackcat99 in reply to Hidden]

Me too - but it’s difficult to argue with doctors, when each specialism wants you to take yet another tablet for their issue! I’m convinced that some of these must fight with other meds in your system 😳

[Sooty2020]

I had a stent fitted in 2015 aged 53 when a 95% blocked right coronary artery was discovered during an angiogram. Fitted there and then. Not sedated and watched some of the procedure. It was a game changer from no energy (obviously heart wasn’t getting enough sustenance!) to feeling like a new person immediately. The risk was bigger to go without a stent.

[Harefieldfan]

hi. I’ve got two and my case was a bit unusual. The first one went in (right coronary artery) easily but it was too short and had started to gunge up again. The second artery (left anterior descending) was clogged with calcium and they couldn’t get past it. So after two tries, I was referred for rotablation, which is a tiny drill that gets the calcium out. It worked and didn’t hurt. Lots of sedation and morphine. Wonderful doctor. However, I often wonder what would have happened if they hadn’t had to make a second attempt. How would they have known about the restenosis? And what would have happened? Having said that, I think the stent is the greatest invention ever. I wish you good luck!

[momander]

Hi Blackcat99,

I am so sorry that no one has sat with you and explained what the procedure is to have a stent fitted. I really am quite surprised at this. I have had 2 stents, one last year and another this year. One of the cardio nurses I spoke to told me to ask for sedation, but when I got in to the cath lab and asked, I was told that they give a local anasthetic at the site where they feed the tube in to the heart, then further medication to help keep you calm. It is not complete sedation as such, only very slight as you are completely awake throughout the procedure that can take up to 2 hours depending on what they find and do. Unfortunately the sedation medication did not work for me, but I have been told this is quite common. Although it is an extremely unpleasant experience, I would definitely recommend it to someone who had a choice. all the very best of luck and take care.

[Blackcat99 in reply to momander]

Don’t blame health services for not discussing this with me - they haven’t yet had the opportunity, as I only got email from consultant the day after leaving home for extended trip abroad. Then got wakened in the middle of the night (Singapore time) by GP’s surgery wanting me to make an appointment to discuss! Will see doctor as soon as home, early December.

Thank you for your info - I’ve had quite a lot of relatively unpleasant procedures done under local anaesthesia so guess I can cope with yet another, and this one really does sound to be well worthwhile!

[momander in reply to Blackcat99]

Well Blackcat99,I am sorry I replied to your post. You are exceptionally rude. At no time did I blame Health Services. I said " I'm sorry no one sat with you and explained what the procedure is" you did not make it clear at all in your original post what your circumstances were. You said that your consultant copied you into a letter to GP which seems to suggest the choice is up to you to have or not, and you are not clear what this would involve. We all try to be as helpful.as we can on this forum as it is invaluable to alot of us. Blatant and unwarranted rudeness from members such as your self is unacceptable . I'm sorry you felt the need to react in this way. Good luck with your procedure if andvwhen you decide to go ahead with it.

[Blackcat99 in reply to momander]

Oops! I really didn't think I was being in any way rude, and your reaction came as a complete surprise to me. I was just concerned that people might have misinterpreted my original post as getting at the NHS by suggesting that I was being left high and dry to make the decision without being given adequate information. (Which was not the case)

There's a long (non-medical) story as to why I was asking for people's experiences/advice at this stage of the proceedings, before I can get to see either GP or consultant, and I just hadn't thought it necessary to go into it all when asking a question on the forum.

So sorry that you took this the wrong way and were offended (and now I’m the one who is feeling upset!) but I am very grateful to all those who have taken the time to explain things to me from the point of view of the patient, rather than purely medical. Your help is much appreciated.

[Oaks6]

I’ve had three stents in one go and would Recommend it.

[Blackcat99 in reply to Oaks6]

Thank you - I’m getting a lot of really helpful feedback on this. Much appreciated!