Stented but confused

[EagleintheNorth]

Hello everyone

I am a 67 year old fit guy who retired in May. I started getting chest pains 3 months ago which got rapidly worse. I went in for an angiogram on Wednesday. My consultant said I needed 4 stents as my arteries were "very severely narrowed". 2 hours later he informed me he had only been able to fit one stent (with a balloon.) He said his other attempts had been "like trying to put spaghetti into a letter box." My chest pains have now gone, but I don't really know what this means. Can I survive with one functioning artery? He did say a bypass isn't going to be possible.

I am seeing him again on 6 November.

I would be grateful for your feedback, and any suggestions about questions I should ask?

[Tos92]

I am sorry to hear this! I have no advice to offer on this topic, but I just want to wish you all the best. There is also the BHF heart helpline which you can call for more information regarding your question. I’ll attach it below. They are open 9-5pm Monday to Friday.

0808 802 1234

Hopefully there are others on here with experiences on this to share with you.

Good luck with future appointments.

Tos

[Chappychap]

"Can I survive with one functioning artery?"

I can understand your shock and bewilderment. However, it's not really as simple as surviving with one artery. Here are a few things to consider,

The arteries supplying oxygenated blood to the heart have a very special ability, if they become blocked they often can bypass the blockage by growing new, small capillaries that can continue to supply some blood. Not enough blood to allow the heart to power you up twenty flights of stairs while carrying a 50kg load, but enough so that you stroll around the shops.

The second thing is that it's unlikely all your arteries are totally blocked. As above, you'll have enough blood supply for moderate exercise, but not enough for high intensity workouts.

The final point is that heart attacks aren't as closely correlated with artery blockages as most people assume. There are many people on this forum with serious angina and arterial blockage well in excess of 90% who have never had a heart attack. And also people with arterial blockages far less than 50%, but who have suffered multiple heart attacks. In the great majority of cases heart attacks are caused when a plaque in the artery bursts. Some people seem to have a genetic disposition to growing very stable plaques that are unlikely to burst. It's worth noting that a side benefit of statins is that they tend to stabilise existing plaques.

I would also suggest that you follow up with the consultant to find out precisely why bypass surgery isn't possible. Is it for some physical reason, or is it simply that the cardiologist believes the risks are too high in your case to warrant the intervention?

Good luck!

[EagleintheNorth in reply to Chappychap]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. The is so helpful. I can't thank you enough.

[benjijen]

I was due to have 3 stents but only had 2 as the third one due was too small. Much better but have unstable angina so am well medicated. Hopefully you'll receive more info when you go next week. Make sure you take a list of questions with you as I find I tend to forget half of what I want to ask! Good luck.

[SmokeAKipper]

The good thing thing is you have not said you had a heart attack. And one was stented. You need to find what medicines you have been put on and chech what they do for you..

Are you over weight , healthy diet ? Drink ? Get another appointment either with CArdiologist or a Different one .

I assume you have seen your doctor ? Good luck

[Fish4Info]

I had a quadruple bypass 17 years ago when I was 47. Reasonably fit and healthy since. I had the bypass op because my arteries were too blocked to stent. In your place, I'd ask your consultant to explain why your arteries are so problematic that they behave like spaghetti in a letterbox. E.g., can he draw some diagrams to help, or suggest the cause of the flexibility? Also can he explain why bypass isn't possible? Is there a medical name for whatever is causing the problem, so you can read about it?

Then you could go on to ask about the impacts on quality of life and life expectancy from not having stenting or bypass?

Finally, depending on how you find the answers, ask if it's worth getting a second opinion, e.g., from a cardio-thoracic surgeon? (They are the people that do the bypasses, after all.)