Strike Three?

[xnovax]

48 yo male with no prior problems. Slightly elevated BP and cholesterol. June 21, 2001, stent placement in the LAD for a 90% blockage. October 21, 2001, stent revision after restenosis including brachytherapy. This week, another cath after 5 level chest pains. Severe spasm of the LAD during the cath with 10 level pain lasting about 6 minutes before the doctor quelled it with 200 Nitro and other pain meds. Release with sublingual NG and a longer lasting nitro in pill form with the diagnosis of "spasms". 43 year old brother died one month ago from similar causes.

Am I doomed? Is there something more I should be doing? This is making me a wreck.

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear Glenn,
No, you are not doomed.  You are at very high risk for a cardiac event (heart attack) given your family history and cath findings.  However, there are many things that you can do to reduce that risk.  In conjunction with advice from your doctor you can take medications such as beta-blockers, aspirin, ACE inhibitors and cholesterol lowering medications which have all been shown to decrease mortality and should also help improve your symptoms.  A healthy diet and exercise program as recommended by your doctor will also help symptoms and prognosis.  Finally, your doctor may advise bypass surgery if your symptoms cannot be controlled with medications alone.

[little debbie]

Don't despair...this is an area that much is known about.You need to be treated agressively.Meds,diet,& exercise are extremely important.
My dad had bypass surgery a few years ago,then had to have stents.He was told that his arteries are extremely diseased.
Well,dad wanted to live so much that he decided to do exactly what the doctor told him to do,and more.
Today,at 67 years of age....he rides his bike at least 20 miles EVERY day (sometimes he goes 40 miles),he jumps rope,he lifts weights,he follows his diet religiously,takes vitamins,and reads & learns all he can about the heart.He no longer has to take insulin shots.He no longer has to take cholesterol medicines.
He only has to take low doses ofmedicine for high blood pressure.
(his blood pressure is not high,but part of the aggressive treatment from his cardiologist is to keep taking that.)
So don't give in to this.Adopt a new life style.Life is worth living. Good luck & God bless.

[John Mc]

Hang in there Glen, I'm 46 years old now, at 42-43 I had 5 seperate angioplasties with a total of 4 stents put in and then finally double bypass to correct the problem. Excersize, good diet and medication and I now feel like a million bucks. One word of advice keep at the doctors until you feel you are right, get second opinions and don't be complacent with this.

Good luck.
John

[sheryl]

Have an "inferior artery" which is 60% blocked.  Is this fixable with angioplasty, or would it require open heart surgery?  Am worried; please somebody answer me.  Thanks.

[charlieann]

God's Blessings to you Glenn - Please do not give up - I am a 44 year old female with no history of heart disease until 3 months ago.  I have undergone 6 cardiac catherizations in 3 months. I had a stent placed in my right coronary artery for a 98% blockage - the stent closed 8 weeks later - they did brachytherapy (radiation) and cleaned out the stent - now 4 weeks later I have had to have emergency bypass surgery. If I had not been persistent with my doctors, my vague symptoms would have been overlooked.  My doctors decided that I had undergone enough and went ahead with the open-heart surgery.  This happened last week and I have just returned home. I am very hopeful that this is the last time I have problems. I really understand about the strike three that you are asking about. Please, report any vague symptoms to your doctor and demand the tests that you need. I have found that you have to be aggressive. Also, I have found that a cardiac rehab program to be a great help to me -
Happy Holidays and Good Wishes to you and yours
Charlieann