Stent or not to stent?

[Kiromase]

Hi all, new to the community and seeking guidance. I had a CT Scan today and have been diagnosed with 80% blockage of the left anterior descending artery. I am 55 and have been advised to have a stent applied. I am looking for support with this decison and any guidance gratefully received. I had hoped to manage with meds and lifestyle. My angina symptoms are exercise induced. But appear to be happening at rest today after the CT scan.

[happyrosie1]

Stenting started to become common thirty or more years ago and the doctors who do the procedure - and all the other people who work with them - are highly skilled and competent.

My husband had three stents done 22 years ago and it gave him a new lease of life. Of course, diet and lifestyle are important to maintain that change.

[Maxbar]

I would seriously look at having the stents done,and then go on a very healthy life style regime , without taking away all the fun or what would be the point, and I speak from my own experience you will get probably advice about going either way , but it's down to you which sliding door your going through .Good luck with which ever way you choose .

[Murderfan58]

My recent angiography showed I did need a stent as the furring in my right artery was slight . I had it done via my left wrist .

My brother had 2 stents in his heart he said it took him 45 mins to walk from the car into the hospital. 2 hours after the stents where fitted he could have run home. He even watched them do it on the screen. They have changed his life this has to be over 10 years ago . He swims every morning for a hour ,walks over 10,000 steps a day and uses weights at home . Plus has a large garden and an allotment. He will be 66 this year. He always says best thing he had done as he couldn't walk up a flight of steps without stopping and was out of breath at the top.

[Lonmayloon]

I first experienced exercise induced angina symptoms in January 2011. LAD found to be severely blocked and had stent fitted in early March 2011. Great success and angina symptoms have never returned. I can now tolerate quite high levels of exercise.

[psethura in reply to Lonmayloon]

very good. May i ask what 1-2 things that you are doing which is contributing to continued good health after stent. Thank you

[Lonmayloon in reply to psethura]

Hi psethura, I think the thing that contributes most to my general wellbeing is exercise. I run 5km two or three times a week having started this during lockdown. Slow and steady improvement over the last few years and I can now complete parkrun in under 25 minutes. During winter months I ski as often as I can (50-60 days per season) Fresh air and sunshine are great tonics. If you are given the ok to exercise I heartily recommend it. I’m 66 now and hope to be doing this for many years to come.

[psethura in reply to Lonmayloon]

Thank you.

[PilgrimsProgress]

This forum has of course many, many benefits - but if you are asking for advice on clinical options, surely it is better to listen to the professionals - rather than the partisan views of lay people - no matter how well meaning and empathic they may appear to be...The professionals are fully up to date with all options - and more importantly have a much much better understanding of the risk v benefits of each choice.. - And they are legally obliged to ensure your consent is fully informed....(That's my "lay view" - LOL ).

[Zerohere in reply to PilgrimsProgress]

I agree with you, the forum is a a source of experiences s, procedures and outcomes but everyone on here will have had an individual diagnosis and professional advice.

I’ve just had a CABG x 3 and a mitral valve repair when I met the consultant to discuss the op I was told that I was going to have a bypass as stents would not work either not take during fitting or fail fairly quickly,.

The mitral valve was never discussed and I didn’t find out about this till a week before I was admitted.

As for the op it didn’t quite go to plan and instead of being in ITU for a couple hours after the procedure I was in isolation and kept under sedation for 24 hours and spent another 4 days there until I news moved to a ward, which is another story.

Which takes me back to my original point.

[Redfloyd]

It's a no brainer really, a bit late for change of lifestyle to reverse the blockage but if you've been offered a second chance then make the most of it and change your lifestyle. I had a stent at 47, a genetic issue rather than lifestyle, just had an AVR, again had a leaky valve for years but it suddenly went from mild to severe in a matter of months, I'm just grateful that these options are available.

[DWizza]

How is an 80% blockage going to unblock without stenting ? I know which option I’d be going for , stenting and then lifestyle changes . I wouldn’t hesitate. I had nstemi and quadruple bypass July 2023 , blocked arteries , stenting wasn’t possible. You’re in a good position 👊🏻. Ask loads of questions and Listen to your medical team 👍🏻

[Dubman1972]

Get the stent or stents done ... no pain from the procedure all I had was a bit of a numb bum from lying on the operating table 😁 .... I lay there awake listening and talking to the cardiologist whilst having the procedure

[Nelson71]

angioplasty is an outpatient procedure. It’s very safe. It’s a little uncomfortable and the room is cold. You can watch the process on the screen above your head and generally takes about 30 mins. At the moment your LAD (also known as the widow maker) is not too bad but it will only get worse. Best treat it now before it gets too bad. Opening up the artery will give you a new lease on life and with correct diet and exercise will be good for 15-20 years. I had my stent in 2004 and had no further issues till Dec 23.

[mathematics]

If they are offering you a stent then I would have it done.

[Col650]

Had "mild" heart attack. Had 2 stents. Improved diet and exercise. Not had another HA. Feel fitter than ever.

[Goonerboy6661]

if you are getting chest pain then a stent is probably a good first option but remember life style going forward is more important as stents don’t prevent heart attacks as these a generally caused by a plaque rupturing and causing a blockage that ether goes to the heart and causes a heart attack or to the brain that causes a stroke. If you have time to make your mind up I would read “Prevention Myths” by Dr Ford Brewer.

[Golfer67]

Dont even think about it...just do it. Doesn't hurt, relatively quick procedure. And it's impact is immediate.

[Buddy00]

I really don’t understand why you would even consider not having it done after being told you have an 80% blockage. It’s your choice but it’s a ticking time bomb that can be avoided.

[pete109]

There are probably millions of people that don’t know they’ve got blocked cardiac arteries because they’ve never had any symptoms, never had any tests, I had no symptoms but had a BP problem which lead to a call on a Sunday morning from my cardiologist and a couple of appointments for 4 stents, at least you and your family know and have likely avoided a heart attack, as others have said there’s no pain at all from the procedure, so get it done while it’s on offer and change your diet etc.

[Singingforever]

If it has been advised then I would go for it. 80% blocked is not going anywhere without a stent. No amount of exercise./dietary changes/medication is going to shift that.

My right coronary artery was 94% blocked - I am grateful for the stent that has saved my life.

[john5438]

I had a stent 2 years ago, when I was 85 prior to having a TAVI last year. All I can say that it is a very easy and painless procedure, taking less than an hour and you are conscious the whole time. I can only recommend that you proceed.

[OK10]

Good luck. It is simple prosedure. They go in through your right wrist under some sedation. You will be fully awake and can watch it all on the screen. The usually send people home on thr same day

[Cazzablanca]

Hi I'm another one in the stent group. There are risks of course like any procedure but it's a common procedure. I went into Bart's in London in June needing two stents but it turned out I only needed one. I couldn't walk upstairs without a rest and mostly put it down to being unfit, menopausal and overweight. I didn't dream it really was heart disease.

After the stent was fitted, I felt immediately better even on the way home after having it done. It was as though it had taken ten years or more off of me.

I now avoid saturated fats, I got a GP referral to the gym after which I continued my membership and now go 5 or 6 days a week where I swim, work out, walk uphill on the treadmills and also do relaxing stuff like stretching classes and tai chi. I feel so much better than I did. I was constantly zonked before. I now eat healthy food and occasionally just have a teaspoon of someone else's dessert if it looks extra special and an occasional small glass or two of wine.

My consultant said to me we can manage your symptoms with medication but you want another 20 years or so don't you (I'm early 60s).

The procedure itself was really nothing much. It really doesn't hurt or even feel unpleasant. It's only the anxiety that is the scary bit. I even went out for (healthy) dinner in a restaurant on the way home. You can't use public transport though for a week or so in case it jolts. The incision (wrist in my case) is tiny. Obviously there is all the boring medication after, including 1 year's worth of blood thinners which make cuts and dentistry a bit more inconvenient but it's only for a year.

For me it's a no brainer and I would do it again but hopefully I won't need to. Good luck with whatever you decide. Call the BHF nurses if you need to chat. I found them very helpful.

[Brht]

Definitely get them done, why wouldn't you ? It will prolong your life and the quality of life. I was told if I didn't have them done I might manage another5 years. Not sure what they have told you but if they say you should have them done then do.

[Flimflab]

Your GP and consultant will be able to advise on whether meds and lifestyle can manage your condition and the benefits and risks of having a stent.

If it helps, my experience was similar to Lonmayloon as you will see from my profile.

My understanding was that diet and medication would slow further build up of the blockage, but would not reverse the blockage already there so I decided to have 2 stents put in.

[fishonabike]

Was the angina at rest a one off due to the CT scan or is it now happening more often? Has it happened before?

If you are in any doubt I would suggest a longer chat with the cardiologist and maybe a second opinion - in some cases angina can be caused by vascular spasm, particularly if you are a woman and/or the angina is occurring at rest - in such cases stents can trigger more angina causing spasm

[Staywell57]

Hi, similar age and circumstances . I am 62 yrs old now and feel fitter than 6 years ago when my stent was fitted. Your choice of course but the tiny stent has made a massive change for me. Best wishes

[Qualipop]

I wouldn't even think twice. I'd jump at the chance. I had two stents after a sudden heart attack 6 years ago when bits of that plaque suddenly broke off. A second angiogram confirmed two more 65% blockages , not quite bad enough to stent but I've now been worrying for 6 years whether they've got worse. It's usually a very safe procedure. Like anything, things can go wrong but it's very very rare. It didn't hurt and I was home eating lunch by 1pm. I just had 3 weeks of no lifting while they bedded in.

[Mancunian1]

I had similar and the blockage is say isn’t going to ever get better and at a point will net be stentable, in my case resulting in a double heart bypass as mine got to 95% blocked and stenting was unsuccessful.

If I had the option knowing what I know now I’d have certainly opted to try a stent to give myself better outcomes further down the line.

[Singingforever in reply to Mancunian1]

Sounds as though I was lucky that my 94% blockage was successfully stented!

[Singingforever]

Remember that the collection of plaque that is blocking the artery is a focus for more build up of plaque and nothing will stop that. It will get worse whatever you do. It is like silt in a pipe - once it collects in one place then more will accrue over time in that same place and cause further blockage.

I think that if it has been recommended then it is needed for your long term safety.

The procedure is painless and untraumatic - you just lie there in a sedated haze whilst they do their stuff. Then you lie around for a bit - and then go home!

[Pundit999]

Wow all replies recommend stent. Yes. Please get this done.

It appears that in your case it is not an emergency. So you can take your time and get it scheduled at your convenience.

I was in a similar situation 15 years ago. Had a stress test after a shocking pain in the gym. I failed the stress test mildly and they wanted to insert a stent.

I declined the recommendation and went on a whole plants only diet as recommended in Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Esselstyn.

Over the years, my angina reduced and I had it only under high physical stress (going up the mountains etc.)

But the last two years I was not 100% on the diet and was also exercising less.

My angina returned and eventually they found a 95% blockage in my LAD. A stent later, I am doing great. I am now on the optimal medical therapy (high dose statin, blood thinners, BP meds, metformin) . I am also back on the diet 100% and exercising more.

The stent will make your life better. But heart disease is systemic. Addressing just one place through stents is not effective in other places. Medications and, diet and exercise changes, will reduce the chance of the arteries clogging again. So do everything.

[Toothgam]

Have the stent placed ASAP! This is the LAD. If you have a heart attack you will die. No collateral’s with LAD.

[TasteLessFood4Life]

Definitely go for it, especially if you have symptoms and affects your daily life. Firstly, not everyone with blockages can have stents - so you have an advantage there. Secondly, it is a relatively easy procedure compared to CABG.

[Harefieldfan]

hi. I have two stents. I don’t know they’re there and presumably they are working. I also had 80% blockage. I’d say get the stents. Good luck!

[Jedi14]

Go forth and Stent!

[Di1966]

Hi Kiromase.

Mine was totally blocked, causing a cardiac arrest.

I was resuscitateresuscitated at home and rushed to hospital 9 mths ago.

Immediately had a stent fitted- no choice because I was unconscious.

I have had no problems since having the stent.

The consultant obviously made the right decision.

I would definitely recommend a stent but it's your choice.

Good luck