Natural regeneration of new artery

Posted By Lesley on August 20, 1998 at 21:58:58:







I really don't know what the proper words or categories are for this question.  
Have heard of such a thing, vaguely a year or so ago.  Brief history - stress
induced tiny heart attack 1994, angioplasty, angioplasty failure 10 months later,
repeat angioplasty.  Symptoms appear late winter 98, meds upped.  No history of
high blood level cholesterol or high blood pressure, other blood work usually noraml
no generallized pattern of CAD.
     August 1998, angiogram to check on current status, with intent to finally install
a stent, now the usual procedure at this particular heart institute (don't trust angioplasty
anymore so sometime in past three years stopped it as treatment of choice)
     Two findings with angiogram that seemed more than a bit surprising to cardiologist
and patient!
     One, the old bad spot is 100% blocked now, solid, not treatable.  No blood flow at all.
Too late for a stent.  
     BUT, as the old bad angioplsty spot was gradually filling, artery had linked up with
smaller blood vessels, and coinciding with blockage formation, increased enough to carry
blood past blockage!  Thus, no repeat heartattack, (increased meds to really recuce blood pressure
and nitro patch 4mg may have helped buy time.  
     How often and common is the occurance of this natural 'bypass'?  It has been suggested by
friends and family that I must surely be Someone's Good book!!! :-)  And how long can it take for this
new construction to equal the original blood flow?  
     Sent home with same meds, and told not to go lifting heavy bales of hay anymore!

    OH, first heart attack, follwing years of various lengthy stress situations, age 44, and now
stresses over with, more physically active lifestyle (small farm) age just turned 49.  And I am
female.  (first minor heart attack was preventable, but unstable angina diagnosed as indigestion becaue
doctor did not know difference between men's and women's symptoms and all blood work perfect, normal
blood pressure, normal health, too young, and female - so sent home withorders to take Diovol and
problem would go away.  family doctor concurred the next morning.  So didn't head back to hospital in time
to stop real attack)