I have haad scan, stress test, and there is a suspicion of LAD giving problems, but nothing conclusive. I was put on Beta blockers, statins, and now I have no pains, low blood pressure and am walking up to 18 miles a day with group. I do get raised heart beats if I walk to fast, or am physically tired.
Now booked in for Angiogram, for possible stent. GP says I can refuse stent if I want. Worried it will reduce my activities? Also worried about the procedure and after effects? Is the procedure risky? I am 70 years old. Anyone old gone through having a stent?
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boldold
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Never had any symptoms, was never out of breath or had any angina type of symptoms.
One day I had a heart attack, 100% blockage of LAD in one place . Had a stent put in, all other heart vessels were in good shape.
I'm back to excericse , the medicines are a pain but I'd prefer for to take them.
The stent procedure was over in a jiffy, infact I watched with amazement even though I was having a heart attack .
I had soreness and brusing in the wrist for a few days bit fine after that.
You will be put on blood thinners to protect the stent for a year.
My mum and dad have had a few, my dad who had his 3rd heart attack, who is 78 had a stent a few months ago and he's doing fine.
I think my point is, if I was in a position where I was diagnosed pre heart attack and a stent was an option I would take it, I would be very grateful for that opportunity,rather then have had a heart attack.
Thanks so much, I dislike beimg on meds too. Reassuring that your Dad is 78 and has got through it. I don't walk 18 miles every day! and I dislike the thought I might not be able to keep walking for a while after a stent. The info I got reckons there's a 1/2000 chnace of stent proceudre going wrong, short odds methinks. I do have high familial cholesterol, and can't tolerate statins, so doing nothing could lead to a heart attack, so I'll get my big girl pants on! and get through whatever will be.
if I can go back to weight training, rowing, walking miles, cycling after a heart attack and stent I reckon you will be absolutely fine with doing your physical activities, just give it time to heal and bed in. 👍
The procedure is quick and easy, you’re awake and watch what is happening on the tv screen. Recovery time will probably be about a week, purely because they have poked a small hole in your artery (your wrist or groin) and that needs to heal. But recovery just means doing normal activities and nothing strenuous. Most people have stents at the time of their heart attack, so the recovery period is long but that is due to the heart attack not the stent.
I had a heart attack 5 years ago and two stents to open up a blocked artery. I had no symptoms before it and only indigestion during the HA. The angiogram was easy. I had sedation and felt nothing. They give an injection to reduce your blood clotting then they put a pressure bandage on your wrist afterwards until all risk of bleeding from where they went in, has stopped. I was having tea and toast half an hour later and home for lunch. I had to take it easy for a couple of weeks but I never even noticed I had stents. There are risks with an angiogram like with any procedure and they must tell you about them but they are doing this procedure day after day after day .I had another angiogram two weeks later to check on 2 other blockages they saw. After one of them,they released the pressure bandage too early so I had bad bruising up that arm b ut it cleared up ok. It's your decision in the end but I know if they will agree to stent the other two partial blockages I know I have, I'd have no hesitation.
Had 4 stents in 2018, 3 are in my LAD. I had 100% blockage in my LAD but had made some natural collateral bypasses or I wouldn't be here. I have had zero issues. I take a baby aspirin and I'm on Repatha for cholesterol. They won't place a stent unless you have at least 80% obstruction from what I've been told. I opted for stents instead of bypass and I have no regrets on my decision. Don't worry you'll be fine! FYI I'm 62 now had procedure when I was 56.
Thank you all for that. It's funny, I had a pre-assessment with the cardiac nurse, and asked the questions, but your replies are all more reassuring because you all describe actual experiences. Anyway, que sera sera, it's marvellous what they can do nowadays, good old NHS!!!
A feeling of pressure in my chest if I overdo things, like walking up hills, although since the beta-blockers things have improved, and I slow myself down if doing anything really strenuous
If you do have a problem with lad then better to get fixed surely, when I was in hospital recently,a lady opposite loved walking but got very breathless,they couldn't see anything on tests,scans so she had angiogram and came back to the ward having had stent done there and then,she said she felt better immediately
I had two stents 10 yrs ago itsv an odd procedure (as you are awake) but within an hour of completion I felt so much better. They recently checked that they were OK and there has been no problem whatsoever and they have confirmed that my heart and blood flow etc is good and I am not due another cardiac appointment for 12 months. If they belive you need it I would personally have it as it did make a huge difference to me.Trev
Can I ask just how the checked if your stents were ok? IT's almost 6 years since mine when they also found two LAD blockages at 64% which they didn't s tent. I'm worried about whether those blockages have got worse as I get breathless. Not keen on having another angiogram. Is there a less invasive way of checking? I thought my echo would show it but that only shows the condition of the heart itself.
I've had 4 fitted and I play golf 3 times a week weight train once a week and cycle 50 km plus a week and walk 10 miles plus when the fancy takes me. Procedure saved my life. I was dying and needed something doing and fast. They stented me twice which stabilised me enough. 6 weeks later had another 2 and watched the whole thing on a TV next to me. Never felt a thing and was over in 30 mins. Do it, it's better than having a heart attack. I can can tell you dying 5 times and being revived is no fun. Ask my family and friends who watched some if it.
I had a stent fitted at the age of 83 could not get through the wrist so went up through the groin. my Heart Attack started whilst weeding on the Bowling Green and I was told to return to Bowling as soon as I felt able.
Prior tomy Heart Attack I had no symptoms whatever and since having the stent fitted I have returned to Bowling and working on the green 3 times a week, Dont be afraid of having it done I was out of hospital within 2/3 days and really have not felt so well for several years, so GOOD LUCK go for it
I’m 71, had an angioplasty a year ago, it was 6 days after my heart attack. They put two stents in. The improvement was immediate. I’d willingly have it done again if necessary. I know many who have been through the same. I’ll mention specifics related to my situation below but they are unrelated to the PCI procedure.
For other reasons specific to my case I ended up with AVR and CABG three weeks later. I must stress they were unrelated to the stents.
For most people it is a simple, straightforward, procedure that takes an hour or so, you are conscious throughout. It is painless although I could sense the catheter being inserted. It is a day surgery procedure for most (again I wasn’t for a specific reason related to my case) meaning attending hospital and going home the same day after a short stay in a comfortable lounge area.
I finish my blood thinners in three weeks time. I’m exercising doing a 5k organised jog/run most weeks, I started doing them exactly 3 months post surgery. I’m at the fitness level I was 10 or 12 years ago now whereas pre surgery I’d struggled to walk more than 1/4 mile without getting out of breath.
The only after effect of my stents was the grandfather of all bruises, christened it my tribal tattoo.
I ended up with two of the clamps intended to stop bruising. I was also in Cat Lab for two hours against the scheduled one. It seems I was a bit more awkward than expected as the CABG was for an artery they struggled to stent. Add to that the other issues found later on and I’m not that surprised.
I’ve come through it, recovered well and would stress that the procedure really does help with quality of life (for me from struggling back to normal as if nothing happened).
Had a stent fitted to left circumflex artery in Oct’22 having been blue lighted to hospital with a heart attack. The procedure was not painful but uncomfortable at times and saved my life without question.I would readily have another stent fitted if needs be and to conclude I was 73 yrs of age ! Stop worrying you’ll be fine,good luck let the group know of your progress.
Hi boldold I had a heart attack in 2019 at the age of 69 but personally no regrets with the stent they fitted, I of course don’t know if anything else was possible but it saved my life and the procedure is nothing to worry about our NHS surgeons are so good and talk you through it. Good luck
Its good you are thinking about what you will do before you have the angiogram as you my be offered a stent immediately if they find a blockage.
Just repeating what others have said. I believe the risk of an angiogram and having stents fitted is low.
In my case I was 62 and presented with with mild chest tightness. and there was a suspicion of an LAD blockage, although I was still able to run regularly. My angiogram showed the LAD was 90% blocked and I chose to have two stents fitted as part of the same procedure.
After the procedure I was allowed to come off bisoprolol (but not the statin). As the blockage was caught before I had a heart attack I was pretty quickly back to walking 5-6 miles and felt I could go back to all my normal activities.
There was a supervised cardiac rehabilitation programme which I would recommend. This gave me the confidence to start exercising gently and build up. Three months after the stent was fitted I had a review with the cardiologist who gave me the all clear and allowed me to go back to running with no restrictions.
The blockage probably was restricting my activity, having the stent immediately knocked a couple of minutes off my parkrun time so now I need to find other excuses for being slow.
If a stent has been suggested there must be some % blockage? How bad is the blockage? (You may be feeling well now but could it end up with problems later).
However I was told by cardiologist before my check up, that any invasive procedure is never risk free! Therefore I was started on medication to sort the problem, before needing any further angiogram/angioplasty. So far all is well, I can only assume that at this stage I do not require any invasive procedure.
I had a heart attack six years ago and had two stents put in. It was a doddle. Fascinating to watch even in the midst of a heart attack. A little bruised for a few days but nothing major.
My dad had seven stents put in 15 years ago. He’s now 87, going strong, out for walks every day and taking good care of himself.
Try not to worry. The doctors know exactly what they are doing and are brilliant at their jobs.
Having survived a LAD "widow maker" heart attack (12% survival rate) I would have probably had a preventative procedure if I had known what was around the corner. I have though made a full recovery. Take care.
Hi, I'm 72 and had an angiogram in February after I collapsed (syncope). An echocardiogram showed the basic heart structures as okay. So the next thing to check is the blood flow in the pipes. The procedure/technique for checking the blood flow is the same as for fitting stents. So in the pre-op consent process this was discussed and they ask you to agree to have stents fitted if needed there and then. It sounds like they have a clear idea you will need at least one stent. For me they didn't know what to expect. Once the procedure starts they are working very quickly, you may have some sedation. If they make the decision to fit a stent or more than one you won't have time to 're-think ' this during the procedure. If you have second thoughts , and ask them not to proceed with stents, you will either not have the fundamental protection they offer, maybe have to go to the end of an elective queue to have the same procedure again down the track. So you really need to have done your thinking and asked your questions about stents no one when going through the consent process.
I didn't need stents but I was in hospital for nearly seven weeks and I saw a lot of people who had procedures, mostly from emergency admissions rather than electives. I'm aware of some (not many) people being prepped for stents when having an angiogram but the results showed they needed a bypass. I did see one complication from an elective who was admitted post procedure. A risk is a blood vessel tear, and this man had a tear in his arm that led to a haematoma. However, they proceeded with the stent insertion. He stayed in overnight for observation rather than the day case originally planned.
A second person was very unwell and in their 80's and was in the CCU unit with me for over a week before their procedure. Unfortunately they had a cardiac arrest during the procedure, but again they fitted the stent whilst undertaking cardiac resuscitation!! Although they suffered some broken ribs from the resus they made a full recovery and were discharged after a further week.
I did feel the procedure going through my arm but there was no discomfort. For me it was very important to know what the angiogram was saying. This procedure really did feel routine. The fact that it 'unexpectedly' showed my heart and pipes were working well, meant other causes for my problems needed investigating.
You have some good advice and experience above. I hope I have added some helpful thoughts.
I had a heart ‘event’ in 2014 and a stent was fitted into one of my coronary arteries. I’m 85 now and have never looked back! Since the procedure, since the stent was fitted, I’ve had numerous ECGs and ECHOs, for various reasons, and no problems found. The actual procedure was a ‘doddle’ No problems during or following the procedure. My advice is: Relax and look foresrd to a new lease of life afterwards, Best wishes, Mike
Thanks all, it's really comforting in a funny kind of way hearing about your experiences, I'm a bit more relxed about it, and will go with the flow, appreciating all the time and effort to maintain my little heart!
I had stent in January , following elective angioplasty . The cardiac rehab is really helpful for giving you confidence to get back on your fit , and with exception of a sore bruised wrist ,the procedure is itself is ok . Good luck
I am 5 days post stent in my LAD, which had a severe narrowing. I had not had any pains other than 2 incidents, very short lived, of a sharp shooting pain which at the time, was put down to post Covid pain. I am feeling okay physically and anxiety is to a tolerable level. I am looking forward to rehab and know the BHF is available to talk to on the phone if need be. I’m 66 this year. Good luck to you, let us know what you decide.
Thank you, see my reply - No stent, tortuos areteries (and yes that is a medical term!) So they would'nt fit stent onto twisted LAD, angiogram was interesting, come away with more meds, but hey, and seeing cardiologist in three months, heart pain lessened but will see.
Hi boldold you youngsters don’t half natter about silly things!I had a heart attack and blue lighted to hospital in 2022 where a stent was inserted to my circumflex artery and one minute I’m dying and the next I’m sat in bed having tea n toast fully alert and grateful for that piece of metal keeping my blood flowing!By the way youngster I was 73yrs old then and the procedure is life changing and done before you can read the Beano ! Seriously get it done and I wish you nothing but the best and keep this forum in the loop with your progress xx
Glad you are so well after frightening experience. I got my big girl pants on, the procedure was fine as everyone predicted. But see my other reply, tortuous LAD, honestly on the screen it looked like a country lane with twists and turns and sharp corners! 74% blocked at one a part ofit, so no stent, and meds,
Isodur, Bisapropol, Aspirin, Ezetimebe, and Ranolozine. So back to every day being a good day! and off walking when the briuses on my arms have settled.
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