Is surgery always the answer?

[nevvy]

I have stable angina, and a stress echo test revealed I have multiple vessel CAD. Surgery has been suggested, but are there any other options?

[e.r.boy]

There are several books on CAD and reversing it. I suggest you buy several.You will learn something from each. New studies suggest aggressive medication therapy with  lifestyle changes has better outcomes than surgery and angioplasty. Every case is different though. If your doctor feels you are in eminent danger of a heart attack, he may opt for bypass or stent. Some people live with blockages for decades. It's not the blockage that kills you, its the soft plaque that ruptures and completely blocks a major artery, especially the left coronary. Knowledge is power. Good luck

[Momto3]

Hi newy!

Welcome to the Heart Forums!!  I'm so glad you found us, but sorry to read about the CAD.  

I certainly understand your fears over jumping into surgery, but once you've had a chance to absord what you've been told, you may find out that it really is the best option. Are you planning to get a second opinion?  I would really recommend the 2nd opinion, especially since you are not certain surgery is for you.

What timeframe has the doctor suggested for surgery?

Connie

[nevvy]

Thanks to both of you for your answers. e.r.boy, I will get the books asap. I am always one to look things up, have done for everything I have encountered in my life. I have already done a fair amount of looking on the internet, and have read abstracts of the studies you mention. I would love to be able to try, for say a year, to get this thing on track. I am very disciplined, and will do anything to stay alive. But surgery scares me, especially after reading about what can go wrong.
Momto3, I will try to get a second opinion, but it is damn hard to find a doctor who will see me in less than three months! I am classified as category ll, that's a Canadian scale, but 1 is the best, and there are a total of 7 categories, so I don't think I will be dropping dead anytime soon. At least I hope not!

[MysteryChemist]

There was a study, called COURAGE, published last year that show that in patients with stable CAD (no unstable angina), that aggressive drug therapy was just as good as stents and aggressive drug therapy in preventing heart attacks and/or death. To get more info, try googling Courage or use the following link.

http://heartdisease.about.com/od/angioplastystents/a/courage.htm

In the above study, stents were helpful in controlling the symtpons of angina.

Why does your docotor want you to undergo bypass surgery? Are you having problems?