ANGIOGRAM

[Lookingtochange]

Not certain if this the right forum to get some questions answered.  But here it goes.

History of me and family..

1) I am 34 years old in relative good shape.  My father died at 40 from a heart attack.  My brother at age 36 just had a heart attack (three arteries blocked, and one was small from birth, heart will be at 85 percent for rest of life).
2) I do have high cholesterol 220, and have been on medication since I was 23.  No change.  Diet is ok, but needs to change.  I used to smoke, for about 10 years, but done with that.
3) I have had numerous EKG, a couple of stress test and one echo done all normal.
4) On New Years Eve of all days, I went to the ER for chest pain (felt like gas bubles in left armpit, pectoral, and back, and they went through the entire heart attack process.  Next day I was in a cardiac cath lab, having an angiogram.......and here are the results.

1)  One aretery is 50-60 percent blocked or lesion is what is says on the paperwork.  There were 2 other ateries that had a 30 percent lesion on them.  This was all on the left side, and the right side was negative (almost like they never looked at that side.)  All other heart functions were normal or at least that is what it appears.  The surgeon who did the cath, never came and talked to me.  Instead and intern came and chastised me about my life style and said if I don't change I will have problems.  Nevermind, if I was ok now??????  No bedside manner.  Oh yeah, and now he wants to put me on different medication to lower my bad and raise the good cholesterol.....why have I not been on that before?

Ok here is my question.

Are the results of the angiogram really bad?  

How could I be discharged from the hospital without being talked to by the surgeon that did my test?  An intern-come on....The nurses answered more questions than that guy.

What do I do now.

Oh yeah, the pains that come and go in my left armpit, chest and back are still there, never went away......what is the probable cause of this?  An artery in my arm clogged????

[Lookingtochange]

Thank you NTB,

had to look up continuum. LOL.  But that makes sense.

Thank you for the advise, and I will be taking notes tomorrow.

[NTB]

your doc switched to Zocor from Lipitor, they're both statins - I suppose he feels that Zocor is more effective for you in handling your cholesterol etc

> why would I still be having refered pain?

yes, you hit the nail on the head. But heart disease is not all or nothing, it's a continuum.

Any physician always has to balance out the good that a treatment can do versus the harm that it might do. So he/she will probably tell you that you're not bad enough for any kind of surgery but you are bad enough to need the drugs.

And your family history will be a big big extra "risk factor" which means they'll treat you more aggressively than somebody without that association.

Good luck tomorrow, I hope you take a pad and write things down - both what to ask and what they answer.

[Lookingtochange]

Thank you both your posts, yet I still am anxious to talk with docs.  I have an appointment scheduled tomorrow.

Medicine is currently: Zocor 80mg only.

Medcine prescribed is: Lipitor 80mg, Niaspan 500mg, 2 baby asprin, and folic acid (not sure of the dose.)

One question is if the surgeon looked at my heart, and said it was still good, and he did not want to do anything, then why would I still be having refered pain?  Or is it something else?  

[NTB]

great answer from Tony, all around. I especially like the parts about being persistent and also demonstrating the motivation to change.

To Lookingtochange, I'd add that the size of the blockage doesn't really tell you how likely you are to have a heart attack. That would more tend to tell you about the cause of chest/arm pains (angina).

But a heart attack is most likely to occur when a so-called vulnerable plaque ruptures, and the body overreacts by 'healing' the rupture with a big clot. That big clot has the effect of closing off all blood flow.

What meds were you switched from and to?

Btw, when you feel heart pain in the arm etc that's called "referred pain".

[TonyC2639]

I am a heart attack survivor and currently have three tents.  I have also been a volunteer at the cardiac ward of our hospital for the last 5 years.  My heart attack was a compltee shock as I felt I was in prettuy good health up to that point.  Here are some observations I can make from my experience.

The lack of response from your doctor is atrocious an unacceptable.  One thing I learned...YOU have to take charge of your health and welfare.  It shouldn't be that way but it is.  You must DEMAND to see the doctor and ask all the questions you need answered or maybe you need a new doctor.  I kept asking and finally met with my surgeon for over an hour.  As it was all new to me I asked for and met with a dietician as well.

From my experience as a volunteer I can tell you that hereditary heart problems are the most dangerous and the most difficult to combat.  the blockages you have are serious...don't wait on this to get worse.

Most cardiologists are under the opinion that we create these heart problems ourselves which is often true.  Unfortunately they get jaded by this and are lax in offering advice.  Convince him you want to change.  As a volunteer I run into my doctors all the time.  They tell me they are proud of me but that I am one of the few who really want to change my lifestyle.  Convince them that you are too an they will help you more.

I'm not a doctor but the pain in your arm is probably coming from your heart not your arm.  In any event. this is NOT a good sign.  Get a new doctor if you need to, or even another hospital but get help NOW!