70 and 90% blockage in one artery

Question

last week I went to the emergency room with chest pains, they found high heart enzymes in my blood and a clean EKG. they admitted me into the icu unit and watched me for 2 days then put me on the floor for another day. the doc told me I had a mild heart attack and gave me meds and sent me home. he told me to resume activity as tolerated. I went to work that Monday and Tuesday and had the pressure again and my heart rate was irregular, so I went too a bigger city to the er. they were amazed that this doctor didn't send me for a cath or a stress test. they ran these test and found 90 and 70 % blockage in one artery in the front of my heart, and put 2 stints in. they told me i was lucky i didn't have a major heart attack. the previous doctor claims to be a cardiologist what do you think?

This discussion is related to Blockage in circumflex aorta artery.

ed34 · Answer

I think the hospital were nothing short of useless and you was lucky in there not to have an acute heart attack and die. I assume they relied on clot busting medication and you was very lucky it worked. If it was broken calcified plaque that caused the blockage, the medication would have no effect and you would have lost a lot of heart tissue life. The blockages seen afterwards 'could' cause a major heart attack if they break, but it's not likely. Statistics show the smaller blockages cause more heart attacks. Kenkeith has large blockages which haven't caused major heart attacks, and I had some for many years. So I'm not sure they were correct saying you was luck to escape with those large blockages.

kenkeith · Answer

The first visit to the doctor who stated you had a heart attack should have taken a blood test and that would have markers that would identify a heart problem or not. Did you have relief from your symptoms at the time of hospital discharge? What were the medications? 

If you continued to have chest pains there should have been a stress test.  Many years ago I had had a heart attack and ICU for several days with congested heart failure.  I had stent implant, and 100% blockage of an artery and 70% blockage in another and discharged from the hospital. Going on more than 6 years I have not had any problems with medication.  

I don't believe the first cardiologist was irresponsible.  Your second doctor relied on additional information obtained by your then current medical status, your prior medical experience and treatment.