STENTS

I NOW HAVE 11 STENTS ALL AROUND MY HEART,  IT ALL STARTED BACK IN FRIDAY OCT. 13TH 2007. THE MOST RECENCT AND MOST PAINFUL STENT WAS INPLANTED 06/16/20011. I'AM NOW REFERED AS HAVING A FULL(  METAL JACKET) I HAVE BEING WORKING IN THE OIL & GAS IND. FOR THE PAST 24YRS. JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS HAD MORE STENTS, OR IS THERE A  STOPPING POINT AND START LOOKING INTO OP/HEART S. OR WOULD I HAVE BEING BETTER OFF NEVER HAVING STENTS VRS. OPEN /HEART /S.

[ed34]

I've had 8 stents and a triple bypass. My triple bypass only lasted 3 months, so there's no guarantee with anything. Once your arteries are full of stents, you can of course have stents within stents.
Just on a side issue, I met 2 guys at cardiac rehab on wednesday who have bio-degradable stents. They completely dissolve away over a few months leaving nothing behind. If you have those, I suppose there's no limit.

[Flycaster305]

Like ed34, I have eight stents, and like you, I have the 'full metal jacket'.  I've had some of the stents twelve years.  Recently two new blockages were discovered, and it wasn't possible to get stents through the metal tunnel, so to speak, so I ended up with the bypasses.  My stents served me well for quite a long time.  My suggestion is to do aerobic exercise in addition to your obvious physical work, don't smoke, and eat a cardiac-healthy diet and don't worry about which is best.  If you have further problems, it will take care of itself.

[lauer884]

My husband had 14 in a matter of a 3 week period, apparently one had a huge tear when they tried to stent, so instead of a bypass, they just stented the whole thing.