Hi, I’ve just joined the site. I was first diagnosed with unstable angina age 40 had a stent fitted, 10yrs later another stent fitted, and a repair to femoral artery. I’ve been having angina symptoms for a few yrs now had and both stents are 50% blocked
Has anyone had there stents unblocked please
Thanks in advance
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2stents
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My actual cardiologist said stop worrying nothing likely to happen again. However a friend who had 4 stents said he wasn’t worried as his cardiologist told him they can insert inside others .
Yes, they can put stents within stents. Sometimes they will use drug-coated stents to reduce the chances of a reoccurance. Blockages are caused by two mechanisms; further plaque buildup (lifestyle changes help prevent this) and the body recognising a foreign body and virtually attacking it (restenosis). Sometimes they use a minute drill to clear the blockages. If all else fails bypassing may be considered.
I cannot comment from direct knowledge. I have read a book though, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, by Caldwell B Esselstyn (a US doctor) who claims that a plant based diet is the way forward; that it can reverse the clogging of arteries.
Basically, the diet forbids the eating of fat and oils. Food that comes from anything with a face, including fish, is forbidden. There is a companion recipe book too. I believe there are other books advocating a similar way forward, but I have no details. Be careful though as a fat free diet can have its own dangers and I have absolutely no knowledge or expertise to give advice, other than to point out the existence of this book.
It seems a tough diet, especially if you are a meat eater, like me. A vegan would cope though.
If you try this route, please do write it up here; I'm sure many would love an alternative way forward to exist.
I know exactly what you mean. Apparently Bill Clinton is following it after his heart problems, though I am not sure if that info encourages or repels me!
Its both an opportunity and a possibility that I feel the need to make a positive decision about. However, I also know I need to understand if there are risks in the diet and what they are. So I need to talk to some knowledgeable person. I know I would regret not taking this decision in a positive way, particularly if something bad happened later that I felt I could have done something to avoid.
But in the meantime, I eat a lot less meat, just chicken really, more fish and veg and wherever possible, no fat apart from Proactive spread on bread and toast. Hardly use a frying pan now and no oil. Most cooking is boiling or steaming.
Yes one stint blocked after a couple of years. I think that the artery that it was in, was just left blocked and other routes to the heart opened more.
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