drug eluting stents & invasive surgery

[charlie74225]

I am confused. I had a drug eluting stent placed in my heart about a month ago. I am taking Plavix and 2-81mg aspirin daily. My cardiologist told me before the stent was put in that i should have my 2-wire pacemaker replaced with a 3-wire pacemaker. So I began making arrangements for this procedure. Now my Cardiologist  tells me that I have to wait another 5 months to do this because I don't dare stop the Plavix and aspirin. And that I cannot have any kind of invasive surgery during the 1st 6 months. I just learned this a month after the stent was put in.  My main question is this. What all is invasive surgery?   I need to have some more small skin cancers removed and also may need to have a cataract removed.  Is this safe or not?   Apparently someone slipped up by not explaing all this before I left the heart hospital.
At least I found out a month later.  Thankyou

[Encephalomalcia]

Some doctors recommend 1 to 2 years on Plavix with coated stents.  Other doctors recommend being on Plavix for the rest of the persons life.  It is extremely important that you stay on Plavix for as long as your doctor recommends.  Going off of Plavix could mean a blood clot with a severe heart attack.  You will need to talk to your doctor to find out how urgent it is to have the skin cancers removed and cataract done.  Replacing the 2 wire pacemaker with the 3 wire pacemaker is a surgery.  My mom had this done and it was more than she expected, so it would be wise to wait as your doctor recommended the 5 months.  

[Momto3]

Hi charlie74225,

Did your cardio explain why he prefers you to have a 3-lead PM?  I'm sure there are a number of reasons, but I do know that when our ejection fraction is less than 35%, and ICD pacemaker is indicated.  The third wire on the PM is designed to keep the left and right sides of the heart pumping in a synchronized manner.  The general idea is that the heart will work more effectively if both sides are working in tandem, as opposed to even a tiny bit out of sync.  

I'm not exactly sure what constitutes "invasive surgery," but I would imagine anytime their is a chance for an interruption to the blood flow the doctors will move forward with caution.  Optimally, your PM incision, external and internal, will need to heal completely before the doctor attempts to get back in there.  

Depending on the type of procedure, the dermatologist may be able to proceed, but I'd be sure to let him/her know exactly what's going on.  As for the cataract, I'm not sure...It seems to me that type of procedure would not necessitate you having to stop your medications, but I'm not a doctor, and that's just my guess.  Check with your cardio before going ahead with either procedure.

Hope you're doing well since your stent placement.  Take care and let us know what you find out.