quility of life.

[jerry234]

48yrs/male/2 mi's/3 stents/cad/chf/23 diffenrt meds/recent admit.ct shows 5 blockages on left, that side already 2 stents. 1 on right side. blocks range 70% to 25%.have had 7 caths over 13yrs.tons of er vists. and admmit's,for chest pain/short of breath.you know the sighns. dr.stated that I could not have a cath due to rad risks from past cath's,not strong enough for procedure, and treatred with more heart med.also been having arritma's for the past 3 yrs.copd/asmatha/central appnea/obstru/.is anyone else denied treatment due to nuclar dye from past heart caths??? and if so, due they intend to only fix it when it breaks???did they increase pain meds morphine 45mgs 3x daily. to help quality of life.till it causes another mi and possible death. it as if they would rather give it to someone who will not due what is required to do to stay alive after 13 yrs after 1st mi. ,and seems it dosent matter who I talk to it's the same, it's as if they all have talk and have gooten there advice the same. why. due dr.get together before seeying them to get the story straight. cause it happened to me.


need help. please don't responed whith see a spec,or get a scond opion, it's 13yrs done that and some.thank you.

[ed34]

I agree with Flycaster and it's the same here in the UK. If your heart is still pumping, then you won't be considered for heart transplant, even with EF of 20%. Anyone over 50 will not really receive a donor heart because they are in such short supply and there is always a long list of younger recipients. I was told these facts by my Cardiologist the other day, but luckily my EF is 70%.

[Flycaster305]

I suspect you have other medical conditions that make the cath dye dangerous, maybe kidney or liver problems?  Normally the radiation problems exist with the rads you will get during the cath process, not the dye.  I'm considered high risk for caths as I've had so many, in fact I've got radiation scars from past procedures, but it has to do with the process, not the dye.
Three stents isn't a lot, some of us count our stents with both hands and sometimes our toes.  Is bypass an issue?  Have you had cardiac rehabilitation in a hospital setting?  
I agree to keep up the fight, continue to ask questions, and do talk about heart transplant.  At your age, it makes sense.  I have an ejection fraction below 20%, but I'm 72 years old and not a candidate.  Someone your age will go to the head of the line if you are indeed physically a candidate.  Generally, older people aren't unless they are a former Vice President.

[Jerry_NJ]

Are you on a wait list for a heart transplant?  I know nothing, thank God, about heart transplant beyond what I've read, but I understand it is the one measure that can fix a really damaged heart.  I also understand the wait can be long so one has to start as early as possible.

If you already discussed that and I didn't understand, my apologies. Your story makes my heart problems sound like a "walk in the park".. hope you get the help you need.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hi, as there is a high risk for cardiac cath, your doctors have denied it. If medical therapy fails, cardiac transplantation is recommended for all eligible patients with an LVEF below 20%  regardless of clinical symptoms. It is difficult to predict the exact prognosis, as this depends on other co morbid conditions like diabetes and hypertension and the cause for the low ejection fraction values. Continue with your medications and lifestyle measures, it will help with your symptoms. Regards.