can i still have bypass or should i consider it

had a heart attack 3 yrs ago and had 5 stents put in 1 of them in my lad is to hold open a stent that wouldnt stay open. i have since had 2 more stents put in to relieve chest pain 8 months ago. while in there my cardiologist told me the other stents were 45% blocked. i am now experiencing mild chest pain when at work when doing digging or other hard work.i am 47 years old and have type 2 diabetes i control with metformin i also take plavix metorpolo vytorin liscinipril and 325 mg of asprin my chlosterorel is good now i am 5ft 10 202lbs i dont understand what is causing my artieries to block up with all my stents am i still a canditate for bypass or should i consider it thank you

[MamaBush]

You should really discuss this in depth with your cardiologist.

Yes, you can still get plaque buildup with stents, either in or around the stents.  Remember, stents are simply used to open up the blockage from plaque, and plaque can build up in any cardiac artery, regardless of stents or not.

Yes, you can still have cardiac bypass surgery if you have stents already implanted.  However, 45% blockage shouldn't cause severe symptoms.

It may be possible that the last two (or one of the last two) stents did not hold, and this could be causing your continued chest pain symptoms.  Stents do have a history of sometimes collasping, even after they've been implanted months earlier.

See your cardiologist.

[mammo]

I agree.  Plus, you may be getting build up of plaque in other areas.  Unless you have changed your eating habits, plaque will continue to build, medication alone won't do it.  Stents do collapse, and plaque can build up on them, but they do have a silicone covered stent which doesn't allow this to happen.

[rockcityaudiouk]

Hello,your case seems to be a complex one for sure.As far as I can see you have two choices.
Have the Stents replaced with more modern drug-eluting stent (DES) is a coronary stent (a scaffold) placed into narrowed, diseased coronary arteries that slowly releases a drug to block cell proliferation. This prevents fibrosis that, together with clots (thrombus), could otherwise block the stented artery, a process called restenosis. But in any case if those stents are useless and it sounds like they are,either not placed correctly or clogged up they need to be taken out.or go for Bypass,which I would strongly consider if I were you.
Bypass operations these days are well noted,with many famous people having them done.
you may find that it gives you a good few more years of new vigour!Bill Clinton and David letterman had this operation!.

[ed34]

From reading your problems I find it amazing that the disease is still causing problems
so alarmingly. I assume, like me, you are on cholesterol lowering medication and your
lipid levels are low? If cholesterol is the main cause (through diet) then why would the
disease be still causing you problems? May I ask if you are have a stressful life? causing
problems with hypertension.