Narrowing of the arterys

In Aug of 2007 I had an angiogram and found out I had 5 seperate narrowings of 30 and 40 percent in my LAD and RCA. For about a month I went on a strict diet and walked a few miles every day. Then depression set in and I went on a year long ( on and off , not every week ) cocaine and depression binge. I stopped eating low fat and ate whatever I wanted at times and other times I was restrained. 2 weeks ago I went for a CT angiogram and today I got the news that my blockages are now 70 and 50. The one thing I have started to do well in the past 2 months is I take 2000mg of Niaspan and 20mg of Pravachol. My cholosterol numbers are 82 LDL 43 HDL which is the best either number has ever been for me.

Anyway the cardiologist said he doesn't recommend me getting a stent yet as he said he wants me to get serious with the diet , stay totally away from as much fat/cholosterol as possible and sugars and do a lot more exercise..and of course no more cocaine. Does this sound smart or should I be going and getting a stent and get rid of at the very least the 70 percent blockage? He said he wants me to take a stress test in 6 months to determine if my blood flow is good even through the blockages and since I don't really have much chest pain I should be ok as long as I take the aspirin and do as he says. I am going to get a 2nd opinion , 70 percent in the LAD is dangerous and even though he does that for a living I can't help but wonder why it would not be better to open up that artery all the way and smash away that plaque.

Oh and 1 more thing , when I said to the doctor that that was a huge jump for such a short amount of time..going from 40-70 in around 17 months..he said I was comparing 2 different testing methods and that another regular angiogram ( and not the CT Slice Angiogram ) may show its only 55-60 and not 70. I dunno , those CT scans are supposed to be pretty accurate. He said I was comparing apples to oranges. I could really use some advice if possible from some of you who are in somewhat of the same boat as me.

[Lutheran122]

Guess no one has any advice for me heh. I am gonna make an appointment with another cardiologist and bring both my 2007 angiogram and the CT heart scan and see what he thinks. I really think I need to stent that LAD 70 percent blockage but so far I am really not having any pain from it. I am just afraid it will rapidly become a 100 percent blockage and I don't want to even think about bypass surgery. That scares the daylights out of me ( of course if I had no choice I would have it done ), I am now eating like a bird and only fruits and salads and non fat items. Also I am running on the treadmill. I hope running on the treadmill every day helps me and doesn't dislodge some of that plaque.My doctor said it would only help and that plaque does not easily become dislodged heh. Thanks for listening , this is a nice website.

[ireneo]

I wish I had some advice but my heart problems are electrical (arrhythmias), not plumbing. I think it's a good idea to get another opinion as you are doing. I don't know if exercise reduces blockages. I know it will increase the collaterals which in turn improve blood flow to the heart.

Did you get the OK to take up running on the treadmill? Anyone with any kind of heart problem should be cleared by the doctor to start an exercise program. I don't know your fitness level before but if running is new to you, start slowly and work up to it. The blood vessels really didn't clog over night and they won't clear up quickly either. Please take care of yourself and let us know what the other cardio has to say.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

wow so sorry your going throught this , yes i would get another opinon on this , but i have heard drs say if its 70 percent they wait . but am with you no wait lets get it dne before the heart attack comes . as far as running on treadmill not to sure of that either , would be asking a dr that.     so a ct heart scan shows the heart values, do you have to be injected with anything when doing that test, is it a better test than a stress /nuclear test do you know.    there is a dr fourm on here you pay 20.00 and they will answer your questions if you want to try them but i would see another dr , or if you trust yours go with what they say . wishing you the best,

[Lutheran122]

Yes they inject you with a dye , I have heard its a little better then a nuclear stress test but a little less accurate then an angiogram. I may pay that 20 just for the hell of it to see what another cardiologist says but I will be going and speaking face to face with the best one I can find out here. I think my doctor is a smart guy but everyone I talk to tells me I need 2 opinions with something this critical. On another website this other poster is adamant that I should not stent , that I should go with the real low fat diet and exercise program and just keep track of it. He thinks a stent could be more dangerous then the plaque with regards to blood clotting. As long as there is no chest pain I should go the route my doctor suggested. I just am scared and depressed. I wish I didn't have this issue , I am only 44 years old and have stopped even thinking of a future anymore. I feel doomed and its a rotten feeling.

[Lutheran122]

It is amazing that almost 3 years later I am in the same boat. I am such a fool. Depression + heart disease is a terrible mixture. I am in so much pain and having so many PVC's that I am probably going to be in the hospital within a day or 2 if not worse. I still feel doomed lol now it is just 2011 instead of 2009. I am gonna just bite the bullet and let them do another angiogram and I am positive if I make it that far I will be headed to a bypass table.

[ed34]

Yes it can be very frustrating and depressing. I went around in the same circle over and over again for 4 years. A Man I met in my adventures (as I call them) was in the same position as myself, with the disease in the same vessel. He had his LAD stented top to bottom like myself but his has blocked again. I really feel for him because in 4 years time I'm almost certain nothing will have been done. It's as if you have to take charge and tell them what you want. Then you have to hope theres an expert who can do your request.

[ireneo]

I'm glad the narrowings haven't taken you. The thought of bypass surgery is scary but I know a couple of people that have been through it and are so thankful they had it done. It seems the recovery from the surgery is more tolerable than living in fear and pain everyday with those clogged arteries.