Plavix long term use

[bon007007]

Being a diabetic for over fifty years I understand that hardening of the arteries and small vessel disease is a given.  I have been taking 81 mg of aspirin for eleven years.  A year ago I was put on 75 mg of Plavix for carotid artery blockage.  The vascular surgeon recently installed a stent and advised me to stop taking the Plavix three months after surgery.  I strongly believe that the Plavix is doing the damage from the diabetes some good, i.e. kidneys are strong, eyes are clear, and doing a blood glucose reading let’s me know that I am getting a lot more blood to my fingertips then I was prior to Plavix.

I firmly believe that I am better off with the Plavix than without.

Opinion???

[Forum-Volunteer-CDB]

We are all volunteers on this forum and couldn't give the sort of specific medical advice you're seeking. All I can suggest is asking the surgeon WHY he/she wants you off the Plavix? Is there an increased risk of side effects? Or complications? You seem very educated on your medical issues, as one would expect after managing this disease for 50 years (congratulations on that), so your surgeon ought to give you the sort of detailed, intelligent answer you need-- and he should hear you if your reasons for staying on it seem more important.

You make a good case for staying on Plavix, but there could be all sorts of extenuating circumstances that only an expert would know.

Good luck with this issue. It's great that the drug has been so valuable. Maybe it can continue to be so.