Living with 2 Blocked arteries.

[Immy786]

Hello all,I recently was admitted in hospital at 42 years old with chest pains. Kept in for 10 days at the CCU eventually being told I have had 3 blocked arteries at my Angiogram. No previous symptoms at all, non smoker/drinker and regular gym goer.

Outcome: Was told I had an NSTEMI. 1 stent was put in to my LAD. I was told the 2 other stents would be managed through medication. Currently having a large cocktail of medicines daily.

4 months later after follow up MRI under stress, I am being told the 2 blocked arteries I still have won't have any work done to them. They still remain blocked but have been blocked for a very long time the cardiologist said. I am now type 2 diabetic too and have a family history of heart disease/attacks.

I am confused what to do now? I was hoping to have my 2 blocked arteries stented and opened up so I could move on in life. Living with 2 blocked arteries and just always wondering what could go wrong is not ideal. I have been advised my a Doctor friend to get a second opinion.

Has anyone experienced the same?

Kind regards, Thanks in advance.

[PadThaiNoodles]

A lot depends on how blocked they are.

While putting in a stent is a relatively low risk operation, it's not zero risk, and it would appear that your cardiologist thinks it carries a higher risk for you than carrying on with just medication.

Which isn't outlandish. Modern medicines can bring your risk of an adverse event with partially blocked arteries down pretty low.

But it's also not to say that a second opinion wouldn't be valuable. Balancing risk isn't cut-and-dried.

[Gardeniaflower]

Hi,

I had triple heart bypass and one of the grafts failed and I can tell the difference with shortness of breath and angina when I exercise. The cardiologist did not seem concerned / he said he had patients living with 90% blocked. I am getting a second opinion!

[happyrosie1]

also, it’s quite possible that your heart has found other ways to get around the blockage so that it functions quite well.