Coronary Artery Disease

[dedeniecy]

I am a 38 year old women and March of 2007, I was diagnosis with coronary artery disease. For more then ten years I have been on some many chol. medicines. The medicines always lower my chol, but I always have bad side effects from them. I now go to a cardiologist in Houston, Tx. and he prescribe welchol. This is the first medicine I have tried that I have taken more then two weeks, I started taking the meds in Oct. of 2008 and stop taking it of Feb. 2008.When the doctor told me to increase the doseage from 2 tables twice a day to 2 tablets 3 times a day each 650mg I believe. I started to get sharp pains through out my head and also like a burning sensation and also I feel like a coldness on my right side. He told me that that is not a common side effect but I was not having headaches until he told me to increase the dosage. He told me to go to my pcp for them to check the headaches,now I might have to get a MRI. I am very upset because I feel that my doctor doesn't know what to do about my case. I have tried almost everything and I'm not getting any answers. Last year I had a cath and they discover my left arterty with 15% to 20% of plaue. I really need some answers I just want to get better. I go to two cardiologist one say you can reverse it but he have not told me how and the other doctor told me no you can  only maintain it. Please help me, I feel that my doctors are not helping me. My youngest brother also high very high chol that is in the 300. My father had a heart attack at age 42. he is now 65. I need help for me and my family. Can you reconmend something that doesnt have all these side effects. Im to a point where I'm afraid to take chol meds but I know I need to be on something.

dede

[diva2008]

I never smoke or drink anything in my life the cardiologist said it has to run in my family because my sister is very young and she have heart issue herself. I'm just scare because I don't want to have a heart attack or a stroke I'm only 35 yrs old. I 'm on meds for my Cornary Artery Disease. I have no bad side effect but a headache when I take my Nitroquick And my Imdur but it is getting better with that.

[Tommy11357]

Dedeniecy,

Headaches are not a listed side effect of welchol. Without knowing the other chol meds you have tried it would be difficult to recommend one for you and your cardiologist to discuss. I've been on 80mg of Lipitor for over four years without any side effects. You may want to discuss this drug with your doc. The cardiologists at the hospital (Brigham and Women's) that I go to in Boston won't consider intervention unless you're well over 45% blocked when the cath is in you. I would be happy with 15% to 20% since I have had six stents via cath after heart attacks. CAD and heart attacks run in this family too.  Yes, you can reduce your chloresterol numbers by medicine, diet and excercise. But, you have to diet and excercise. My understanding is you cannot reverse the plaque already formed aloing the walls of you arteries but. you can maintain it from progressing . Again, 15% to 20% isn't a bad percentage to be at. You may want to be more direct with your cardiologists. Get the answers to "all" your concerns before you leave the office. I hope your brother is seeking medical attention as well. And if you folks smoke....STOP!

Good Luck!

[diva2008]

Well I'm 35 yrs old woman and I have Abnormal Cornoary Artery Disease but not of the Large Vessel but the Small Vessel Of the heat. I have chest pain and I'm taking Nitroquick as needed and I take Imdur Every Morning. I have Lots of other issue with my heart and health but you might can find something that you can take that won't give you bad side effects. Good Luck Dede!  

[Sweetwaterguy]

  I have found some excellent information and advice in Arthur Agatston's book, "The South Beach Heart Program."  Agatston is the author of "The South Beach Diet, and he is also a renown cardiologist.  He writes about "aggressive prevention" of heart disease and relates that he rarely sees heart attacks among his patients who follow his program--even though they come to him with heart problems.  
   He talks about cholesterol management as an important part of the program and recommends statins.  I hope you will be able to work that out and find a statin drug that you can tolerate.