Hi there…
My consultant said I have severe heart disease, LAD 99% blocked, one at 55 and one 45. He stented the main one but said 55 and 45 were moderate and wouldn’t be done. I just wonder, now that the LAD is clear, do I still have severe heart disease or am I now clear? Thank you - this is a great site and very helpful.
Unfortunately stents, or even bypass surgery, does not actually cure us of our underlying heart disease/atherosclerosis. They can reduce or remove the symptoms of angina, and a stent can save our lives if used to unblock an artery during a serious heart attack. But heart disease is both incurable and progressive, which means we have it for life and left to its own devices it will tend to get worse as we age.
The good news is that stents and bypass surgery also buy us some time, time for medication and life style changes to take effect and hopefully slow down the progress of our disease.
The two real options we have for a healthy active future are firstly to precisely follow the doctor's recommendations when we take our prescribed medication (about half of all the medication prescribed in the UK is either wrongly taken or not taken at all), and secondly to switch to a healthier life style, (ie quit smoking, drink moderately, maintain a healthy weight, eat a healthy diet, exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, etc.).
Get these two things really buttoned down and many of us can reduce our risk of a heart attack or stroke back down to the same level as the general population. If you can get a place on a cardio rehab course you'll be given lots more information about both medication and lifestyle.
Good luck!
Thank you… I’m doing all of the things recommended. Not knowing what’s going on inside plus with your head a bit I guess. Just need to be positive as well dont we.
Wow - that is amazing. Well done… I’m similar condition wise then tho I am 64 🤦🏻♀️ Have to say my diagnosis was a bit of a shock as I am vegetarian, never smoked, not a big drinker and always walk, cycle, bit of gym work etc. Have pulled a team together for London to Brighton bike ride next year too. So everything going in right direction but the words ‘severe heart disease’ sort of sit in my head. Plus they said it’s prob hereditary so I do wonder if it just keeps on furring. Think I have to just stop reading maybe, just accept it’s ok now and trust it will stay that way. Thank you - very encouraged by your story.
We’re you on Lipitor when you had your heart attack? If so how many mg? Had you had a recent heart calcium test score? What was the reading for your LAD? Did you have a Heart PET scan in the 3-5 years before your HA?
Hi there - my sudden decline into breathlessness, achey calves and feeling exhausted crept up on me over a couple of years. My cholesterol also shot up and I was told by our practitioner to take statins (on many occasions). Had I accepted her ‘advice’ and not pushed for an angiogram I’m fairly sure a heart attack would have followed. As I wanted to know why I was in decline, and not just treat the symptoms, I found out my arteries were seriously blocking. Fortunately I didn’t actually gave a heart attack but I do now take the statins, amongst other meds. I was exceptionally lucky I think 🙏
hi, for comparison, I had similar - as in 97% blocked LAD and the other were around 50% blocked - which my consultant said was not an issue. I didn’t have a HA but had debilitating stable angina - this in Feb 2021 at age of 52, and was diagnosed with familial hyper-cholesterolemia, so genetic,
In my case they gave me a CABG triple on the LAD. I queried the 50% on the others to which my consultant said not to worry about at all.
I also learnt from my surgeon and rehab staff that they won’t consider stents unless the arteries are over 70% blocked, under that they just manage with meds.
As others have said just keep taking the statins and other meds because assuming yours is also based on genetic high cholesterol, then diet and exercise won’t manage it alone. just keep a check of those cholesterol levels from time so you know your in the safe zone - and you’ll be absolutely fine 
52, that is very young. We are almost twinnies in other respects tho. What is the CABG triple? I think I just had a ‘regular’ stent - may check that. Little frustrating to be told it’s genetic really. I am doing everything recommended and, on the plus side, have lost over a stone since surgery - which has made me feel better as well. We need to get out there and live our best lives I guess. If I read too much I worry everything will just clog up again. But in reality I guess we are the lucky ones as there must be so many walking around not knowing they have a problem. Thank you…
yep, is defo young at 52 but luckily I did not have a heart attack, my dad had same op with high cholesterol being the issue at 52yrs in the early 80’s / running in the family. btw, CABG is coronary arterial bypass graft - 3 grafts in the one artery being the LAD, left anterior descending - aka widow-maker! It’s the one everyone has problems with, basically it provides the major blood supply. Don’t worry, as long as you take the pills to curb your cholesterol and don’t go crazy with the lifestyle you’ll be right as rain as any normal person without cholesterol issues, - and remember whilst they they call it heart disease, it is not your heart, it is actually your arteries and them getting blocked - I expect there is prob nothing wrong with your actual heart, cheers
My ‘Mum had a triple bypass when she was just 52. She was a smoker tho, bless her. And she loved the fat in meat, dripping on her bread, cream cakes etc. Dad had a defective valve but didn’t know until he was around 80. We know a lot more about food and lifestyle these days - as you say, need to be careful for our best chances. 🙏 ,,,
You’ve had a big scare and survived to tell the tale, congratulations 😊. The clue for going forward is what you have twice mentioned yourself: It the inside of your head dominating you now! You are doing all the right things, so let go and proceed to enjoy your life - you have certainly earned the right. Consider Mindfulness or other relaxation techniques to help. Swimming & walking (esp cross-country, or at least out in the country) are particularly good. How about a good tramp, with a picnic/pub lunch or refreshments at a really nice tea-room…
🙏 - your name, by the way, is great. Certainly describes how I (and so
many on this site) feel I guess. Thank you.
After a heart attack I had two stents where the artery was 99% blocked b ut I was also told I had two more blockages at around 65%. A second angiogram showed that blood was flowing freely through those so they were left alone. It's now down to my lifestyle and medication to keep those as they are and prevent them from getting worse. The only worry is that I've no way of knowing if they are getting worse until I get pain.
That is the problem as you do t really get symptoms until things get really bad do you 🤔 I am same - really want to see inside 🤦🏻♀️
Yes I want to know whether they are better or worse or the same because these two were in the LAD which could be more serious than the HA. I had an echo scan early this year which was fine but it really didn't tell me what my brain needs to know. Now I've developed constant PACS and PVCs , it's even more important. I want to know what's going on and why.
Hi. There are some really good comments above. The simple answer is: yes, you still have heart disease. But you also have a second chance. You won't ever be cured but if you adopt lifestyle changes, you may still have a long and fulfilling life.It is sixteen years since I had unstable angina and an urgent quadruple bypass (CABG × 4) when I was 47. I've been relatively fit and well ever since. I'm never going to win any marathons (or even try) but I'm going to try my best to enjoy life till my number is up, whenever that is.
Best wishes,
Fish4info.
Wow - 4 at just 47 - that must have been a huge shock, bless you. I wonder why I am blubbering on when I hear accounts like yours. Well done you. Actually I think positivity must be the key to so much. I normally have a very good mind - I am going to concentrate on that and just be grateful if I can 🙏 Sending you very best wishes - amazing.
I’ve been fishing for info today ! Trying to make myself feel better as the last two days I’ve been racked with anxiety over my CAD diagnosis. This gave me some hope. I have AF and CAD but hopefully I can make though another few decades ! I was 47 one week after being told I had moderate stenosis in my LAD. Anyways good to see you doing well. Needed some hope today.
So sorry you had such an early diagnosis. I was told that nothing under 70% is stented - which leaves people in a bit of limbo really. It’s so difficult knowing you agave a problem you can’t even see/so can’t keep an eye on where you are with it. Plays around with your mind I think. Guess we just have to try and eat healthily and exercise lots. As others seem to be saying on here.
yeah for sure I’m in one part glad I don’t need a stent and the other part frightened and paranoid ! I’ve read a study saying that a stent is only needed at over 70% blockage with symptoms. I have no symptoms but I also have afib so it’s even harder to tease apart what’s afib and what’s the coronary disease. Hasn’t been a great few months. Feel like I’m dragging myself off the floor to exist for now. They said if I have a heart attack or develop symptoms then they will look again 😬 so waiting on my prescription for 80mg atorvastatin and hoping it doesn’t give me bad side effects. Had some good advice from the gang on here. But probably need to get off searching this forum and Google and try and crack on with life. So i totally get where your coming from.
Hey, glad it helped. How you're feeling is entirely natural. I thought I was gonna die for months after I had had my CABG war wounds. The truth is I was actually less likely to die after such radical treatment. My arteries were actually 85-90% blocked which is why I qualified for treatment. While I agree that it sucks, at least it means you'll be more closely monitored. And hopefully you'll navigate a path through life that avoids anything too nasty. Try and be positive, and although you'll probably always remember being told, memories will diminish over time.
Have a lovely Christmas,
Best wishes,
Fish4Info
I appreciate it man ! I’ve just got to get over this hump. I’m hoping like many of you that the anxiety gets easier to deal with as I go along my journey. So far my lad has a short moderate stenosis blocked 50-70% and I have mild in circumflex and mild in distal part of the lad.
So I know I’m sort of lucky that the AF meant I’ve found this out. Now I gotta get my head in order. Diet is good as all I had to drop was sugary snacks and fatty treats hasn’t been too hard. Exercise is already good and I’m hoping I can push through any side effects from the meds.
But reading your 16 past cabg very good for me today !!
Cool! It's good for me too! 😀
Post stent discomfort
Travelling post stents- nervous 
Chest pain post angioplasty/stenting
post stent breathlessness (very worried)
Post stents
