Anyone else have probs with drug stents? - Heart Disorders Message Board

godsproperty000 · 01-17-2007, 12:54 PM

I am sorry to keep bothering people with this question, but every day I learn more and more and get nervous more and more almost to the point of panic! I saw my cardiologist yet again (its usually at least once a month) and we're considering yet another cardiac cath in a couple of weeks. This one will be my 5th cath since May 2005. The prior caths, all but one required more drug eluting stents in the same artery. ( I think this is called rethrombosis?) Anyway, I even went to the FDA site to read about these stents, and they're not even sure about them! I am sooo nervous!! The more caths I get the more risky they are. What if they find another blockage??? I don't want to keep getting the same stents that seem to be causing the problem. But if I dont get the stent...then what?? Is there anyone out there who has had drug eluting stents and what is your opinion on them. Good or Bad I need to hear something.

Lenin · 01-17-2007, 05:41 PM

I have one stent in the main trunk of my RCA...it is drug eluting.
I haven't had any problems and it has been in for exactly 2 years.

Pwarbur,
An option for you is to ask your cardiologist to angioplasty and blockages he finds, whether IN a stent or elsewhere.

After 5 stents, perhaps saying enough is enough might be reasonable.

Before the age of stenting, I had a neighbor with a "bad heart" and every year or so my mother would say that "Jockey had another baloon procedure on his heart"...he went on for 15 years like this when his emphysema eventually killed him, so plain vanilla angioplasty DOES work.

Another option for those who keep making new blockages is ATHERECTOMY where the plaque is carved out and removed.

What levels of LDL do you have? What drugs?

started04 · 01-17-2007, 05:49 PM

What are your symptoms? I have a completely blocked LAD (collateral vessels have provided a natural bypass. And a branch (circumflex) about 70% block. The RCA artery (98%) was implanted with a drug-coated stent 2 years ago.

You should be alerted that many stent implants may not be necessary. If you don't find relief from symptoms (angina, SOB, etc.), the continued intervention should be questioned as whether or not it is the correct treatment for you.

The guidelines recommends a stent implant not be done on a 70% or less blockage. The intervention cardio who did my RCA stent, and then a short time later wanted to do the 70% when I had no symptoms.

I asked what that would do for me. He couldn't speak English very well so I never got an answer, just a shrug. No doubt in my mind he was after the money and didn't really consider my best welfare. MY opinion was somewhat validated after he moved out of state a month later.

I'm sort of turned off with foreign trained non-speaking or lightly speaking English doctors. A significant part of their professional life is communicating!! Hope you don't have a similar doctor and experiencing identical circumstances. A good doctor should be able to explain your condition and the expected results with treatment. If it doesn't make sense, or you can't understand his objective, find a good doctor.

godsproperty000 · 01-17-2007, 09:19 PM

Actually I have a very good cardiologist...or so I think. He is a young Jewish man (and quite good looking!!! must be the reason for all my heart probs. lol ) anyway, he is the one who does the cath but not the actual stent placement, I think the cardio who does the placement is from India or some place like that..and he told me last time, that I cant keep coming back every 6 months for a cath...but I cant help it if I keep getting blockages! I think the stent is causing them if you ask me. Anyway, my classic symptoms are arm and shoulder pain...and jaw pain. Sometimes shortness of breath but thats usually when I think about it...then I convince myself I cant breath. Sometimes my left arm gets a lil numb, but I wonder how much of that is circulatory cause it happens alot when I type. I dont have any chest pains as of now..just the pains. They are going to schedule me for another cath in 2 weeks..but I feel really uneasy about it and not sure what to do. My doctor pretty much leaves it up to me..cause everytime in the past I had these symptoms, I would get a cath and stent. The first 3 stents was 90% blockage, the second stent was a blockage between 2 of the 3 stents prior..dont know how much that was. And the last stent was 20% blockage on a bend in the same RCA. The last stenting hurt like hell and I havent been the same since. AGGGGHHHH

Lenin · 01-18-2007, 06:30 AM

I guess I was lucky in that I had a wise, communicative, U.S. trained, highly rated cardiologist do my angiogram AND stent at the same time, with continuous clear communication with me...over ALMOST all issues.

I have also been reading that with stents, there is good evidence that angioplastying or atherectomying the distal end of the stent is a good precaution.

Pwarbur,
Is that arm, shoulder and jaw pain always WITH EXERTION?
Why not have another nuclear stress test before you do another angiogram? Find out the focus of the ischemia. IF it is again the RCA, seek out someone who can do an atherectomy. IT would seem yet ANOTHER stent in the RCA is asking for more trouble.

Highlight is that since you started with a 90% blocked RCA, evidence is good that you developed a collateral circulation that will save your life in case of total blockage.

Quote:

And the last stent was 20% blockage on a bend in the same RCA

That's just malpractice, plain and simple.