Another Heart Cath????

[ritao]

have an extensive cardiovascular history for someone who is 61.  To be totally honest,  I do not understand most of it.   I saw my doctor this week, due to angina.  Had a nuclear stress test,  which was abnormal.  ( but I was not surprised,  I've never have had a normal results on any of this type of test)  My options are : to schedule a heart cath  or  wait and see.   After the stress test yesterday,  I felt terrible.  Pretty bad chest pains.. two imdur's and two nitro later.  Today I'm fine,  the stairs seem to bring on shortness of breathe.  I think since I had my bypass when I was fifty,  I've had about nine heart caths.  and problably  six or sevens stents.   I have to ask myself  is this "normal"  is this what "other's" have also ??   My doctor and I have a good dialogue, and I understand his "position"  but  I just question   if I'm on a stent merry go around.?   The Angina,  could it be from something other than arterties?  My doctor, has expressed concerns that he hopes  the problems are not in the upper part of my heart,  what does he mean by that ?  Can you get blockage in the Aorta and does it show on a heart cath ?????  
  I don't know how much of my history you need to know.  On all the wonder drugs, never smoked, bad genes, (i guess)  lost 2 brothers before age 50, mother at 54, father at 70...
Had a heart cath, 2008 ( some narrowing  but not enough to stent)
March 2007 had a drug stent placed in LAD (was told he placed a stent inside a stent) April 2007  bypass in the left subclavian artery and left vertebral artery.  Past history CABG 3 vessels 2000, LIMA to LAD, SVG to circ and SVG to ramus intermedius (occluded)   I

[joanincarolina]

I certainly understand your position and thought process.Where does it end and what are the best answers and treatments?You have pain AND have medical treatment. And you complicate CAD with diabetes or vice-versa.But have a discussion with your doctor about the affect of both on your cardiac microvessels, those tiny ones not seen by any cath or current technologies.Having a better understanding of what's bothering you is so helpful.If exercise brings on chest discomfort, be very careful.Don't push it.Read my journal here at 'joanincarolina' and see if it helps.My microvessels 'act' like they are under the influence of diabetes, brittle and stiff, but I don't have diabetes.And I too 'act' like all's ok, I even look very well.But I sure have your symptoms.Let me know. Joan.

[ritao]

Thanks for the reply,   I am on Altace, Topol, Crestor, Plavix,Imdur,  and a water pill.   I am active,  but exercise does bring on chest discomfort.    
Never know how much and how far  "to push it".    I try to live like "everyone" and ignore the small stuff... just not sure what the "next step" should be.    
..

[Flycaster305]

I have felt exactly like you describe so well.  I have not had the bypass surgery, but multiple stents, multiple stress tests, and never have they showed no problems.  My heart problems started when I was fifty nine, that is when I had my first heart attack in 2000.  Between then and 2007 I had two more heart attacks and eight stents, and a pacemaker.  I was very discouraged.

That being said, I was the poster boy for bad cardiac health before the heart attack.  I worked in a very stressful position, had the stress of parents and loved ones with cancer/alsheimers disease, was overweight, diabetic, and rejected statins to lower over the top cholesterol levels.  I dealt with those issues, and perhaps that is why my CAD has finally slowed down, apparently.  

I also believe the good drugs work wonders like Coreg, Vytorin, Imdur, Lisinopril, etc.  

I'm told I'm fortunate also that all the damage to my heart is in the lower part.  I'm assuming that because the left ventricle is so important, damage there is worrisome.

What drugs are you taking?  Are you exercising, and following good cardiac health guidelines?

Thanks for posting.  Best wishes