Angiogram

[green_been]

I went for my EKG stress test and a nuclear stress test. The tests indicated a blockage. I am now waiting for an angiogram. They put me on drugs after the test. I am on 1.25mg Monocor, 5mg Norvasc, 10mg Crestor as well as ASA 81mg - one per day. Now I wait for Angiogram. I am quite freaked out. So I am scheduled for an angiogram on Feb 5th. They tell me there are risks in this test. The risk is 1 in 1000 people die, stroke or have a heart attack during this proceedure. My question is this, Should I get a 64-slice Coronary CT Angiograph​y? This machine has no risk and will give them the same answers. This test is not covered by our health care insurance. It will cost me $1300. I am not opposed to paying that extra money to eliminate risk. What are your opinions? .

[green_been]

It is now 2 years 6 months since my stents. Stress test is excellent. Only taking 5 mg of Norvasc and 5 mg of Crestor and 1 aspirin for med's. Fell good, working out hard and enjoying life. Things seem to be good.

[Mikey51]

I have to go for angiogram in April, a bit nervous. Going through the wrist

[Mikey51]

I have to go for angiogram in April, a bit nervous. Going through the wrist

[green_been]

Just checking in. I am still doing good. Staying active and working out. My most recent stress test I lasted almost 17 minutes. I am off Plavix for almost 7 months. down to 5 mg of Norvasc and 5 mg of Crestor. Feeling good. All blood test are also  good.

[green_been]

So I had my appointment with the cardiologist, the stress test was good. I was taken off Plavix 1 week ago and no problems so far. Still feeling great

[boobag]

good to hear that you are doing good now.
may i ask how old you are?
and what is your thought as to what may have contributed to the blockage?

[ed34]

It's good he's keeping you on plavix for longer. I stopped mine after a year and wallop, half my stents restenosed. I wouldn't be concerned about being on it for longer, the longer the better with some patients. I'm on plavix for life now.

[green_been]

So I went to my family doctor and my last blood tests were very good and he cut my crestor in 1/2 to 5 mg from 10. I started out with 20. He gave me another 3 months of Plavix and made me an appointment with the cardiologist. He said the cardiologist should be the one to take me of Plavix. It is common here in Canada to do 1 year on Plavix after stent then stop. My 1 year is up right now.

[CasayDasay]

Well, never mind!  I thought Plavix was a statin drug.

[CasayDasay]

What was your cholesterol to begin with?  I wonder why they take people off if they aren't having any side-effects; I guess the doctors know what they are doing though.

[ed34]

I came off plavix after a year and pretty soon some of my stents blocked. That was within a month of coming off the medication. I guess it's luck of the draw but I am back on plavix, for life now. I don't take aspirin.

[green_been]

So I am coming up to 1 year after the stent. I feel great, eating right, working out a lot and very hard with both weights and cardio. My blood pressure is great, and all blood test are excellent. I am due to come off Plavix soon and I am a little nervous about it. I am worried about things plugging up. I would like to hear from anyone who got through this part  

[ed34]

As long as you don't smoke and don't eat much red meat I think your stents will be just fine. You will already have a nice new lining formed inside them.

[green_been]

Well another 4 months and still kicking. I am working out hard still, no problems, my crestor has been cut in half and things seem good

[ed34]

I'm so pleased for you :)  By now your artery will have grown a nice new lining through the stent and obviously your heart muscle has recovered nicely. I love a good ending :)

[green_been]

Had my stress test. Things went good. Lasted 20 minutes. 8 minutes longer then 2 weeks after the stent. Things seem ot be going good.

[ed34]

Thank you for the update, great news :)

[green_been]

It has been six months since my stent. Things are good. Working out very hard every day. No problems. I will be going for another stress test in 2 weeks.

[MandaTaylor]

My Husband is 36yrs old and he had a heart attack in Nov 2012. He had a 95% blockage on his Proximal LAD and 1 Drug releasing stent was placed. He had what they call the Widow Maker and is very lucky to be alive today. He also had a 100% Chronic Occlusion on his RCA. His LAD had grew extra vessels to feed the right side of his heart. We learned he had all this because the angiogram told us. He is scheduled for a stress test June 1st to make sure his heart is doing okay and looking for anymore blockages. His recent Echo showed and EF of 51% which is improved for 45% after his MI 18 months ago. His total cholesterol was 402 and LDL was 350 at the time of his heart attack. It is now 226 and 170 with 60mg of Crestor daily. He also takes a Beta Blocker. Metoprolol 25mg daily.

[green_been]

They went in through my groin. It did not hurt. I had a lot of bruising after but not a lot of pain. Each doctor has their own preference. It does scare me to think I would have to this again not because of the pain but more for the risk and the unknown outcome.

[ed34]

You know, everyone goes through the psychological problems but they do lessen as time goes on. It's early days yet, but when your first stent anniversary comes up, you will start thinking "well that's a year and I'm still fine". Then you find it goes further and further into the back of your mind. It will then seem like 5 minutes when you look back thinking "wow its been 5 years now".

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

So did they go threw your wrist and did you have pain,

Does it scare you to think of having it again if you had to

[green_been]

I am doing well, thanks. It has been almost 4 months since the stent was put in. I am working out at a high level and feel very good. I am no longer on a beta blocker. I am on Norvasc which is a calcium channel blocker. The beta blockers were not good for me as my heart is very slow most of the time. Relaxed it is about 50 BPM. I was having a real hard time getting into my target heart rate during exersise. I have been going to cardiac rehab. It is there that I proved to them my heart was a lot slower then other peoples and they decided to switch things up for me. I am concentrating on cardio during my workouts and not trying to go to heavy with the weights. I think now my biggest problem is my mind. I am always worried about something going wrong.

[ed34]

Just wondering how things are progressing. If you are still doing well, which I'm sure you are, then I would personally discuss coming off beta blockers. If there is no obvious heart damage and you have good blood flow, then you do not require this medication. If they give the excuse that they are needed for blood pressure reduction, then they can attack this in other ways, such as ace inhibitors.

[ed34]

I would personally say absolutely. It will have been decided beforehand that the ulcer is due to severe ischemia and so revascularization is required before necrosis sets into the tissue. Surgical techniques typically involve bypass grafting using veins and in a high number of cases these fail within a short period of time, usually a year. Angioplasty is the better option with the tools they have to hand today. They have cutters and lasers that can be passed up and down limb arteries and reach the artery network of the feet. Stiff sheaths can be placed inside the arteries rich with disease holding them open. If an Ulcer is being caused by Ischemia and nothing is done, then the foot will start to become necrotic and amputation will result along with severe infection that can cause septic shock/death.

[muzaffarrehman]

Is the angiogram of leg advisable for the patients suffering from diabetics and foot ulcer? Please do reply for my question....