Stents

[fyzzie]

After suffering some angina pains, subsequent angiogram revealed severe blockages in 4 of my major heart arteries...90 to 95% blockages. Cardiologist, after consultation with colleagues, advised stenting. Used self eluting stents, 6 in total. Successful procedure performed by wonderful cardiologist. Last of the stents inserted about 4 months ago. Minor discomfort since then, with the occassional sharp pain, mostly in the back. Feeling good, and back to normal routine. Would love to hear about other peoples experiences regarding their stents. Seems to be almost nothing around on the net relating to personal stories.

Fyzzie

[happybunny]

My story is a bit like yours. I was found to have blockages in 2 arteries - one was 90% and the other 95%. I now have 3 drug-eluting stents in place and feel great. My angioplasty was 7 weeks ago. I'm back swimming, walking 2.5 miles top speed, exercise bike, and I'm "stair climbing" - this week going up & down 5 times non-stop (flight of 14 steps). I increase the stair climbing each week.

I have had NO angina and am able to exercise without getting out of breath too much. Also I'm less tired generally than I've been for a year or two. Great result! I'm so pleased with my recovery as I had a retro-peritoneal bleed 2 hours after the angioplasty so that left me pretty washed-out for a couple of weeks but I have still got back into action well.

So that's 2 success stories. Didn't we do well to avoid bypass surgery!!!

[ladychecotah]

I have 8 stents- six in the RCA and 2 in the LAD. I do not have the new drug eluting stents. The two in the LAD were put in just before they came out. I take Plavix every day (a blood thinner) and I believe with the Lord's help that medicine is the reason the last stent has stayed open.
This is my history. 2 stents in Oct 98, 2 Stents in Mar 99, angioplasty in May 99, 2 stents in Aug 99 and bypass in Dec 99 all of the RCA artery. The stents were staying open less than a month in some cases. Then in 02 I almost died and learned that my bypass had failed and the LAD was 95% closed. One stent in July 02 and 1 in Nov 02. In Nov 02 was when I started taking Plavix every day instead of the routine several days after stent and I have been able to avoid another surgery so far. My RCA is 100% closed and I have a mitral valve prolaspe so I have angina every day. Thru all of this I have had 12 heart caths and do not look forward to another. I have also developed a serious latex allergy. I truly hope you have great success long term with the drug eluting stents.

Pat, female age 56

[Lenin]

Hi gang,

One stent here a big sirolimus eluting one to open my 3.5 mm RCA which was 98+% closed (I think 100% from what I saw.) I have a "couple more" in the 50% range but I get no more angina...I had it one day and it was gone the next.
I am trying to keep my HDL over 40 (or better, 50...got 48 last time) and I DO keep my LDL below 90 and triglycerides below 100. I pray that the 50% plaques grow no larger and I'm doing all I can to prevent it.

I faithfully take 10 mg. Lipitor and low dose niacin.

Pat, do you clink when you walk? "SIX in the RCA".......AMAZING. Why did you have to have that bypass?

[fyzzie]

Thanks to the other 'stenters' for your responses. A comforting feeling to make contact with all of you. I too had a bad bleed, fortunately in the right arm, where the wrist had been used as the stent insertion site. Took about 4 weeks to get the haemoglobin levels back up to near normal, the exercise not helped by being a vegetarian - no quick way to increase iron levels in the bloodstream, apart from chewing on a few nails. But a relatively small price to pay to avoid a bypass!
Have been on Plavix [75mg] and Aspirin [100mg] since having the stenting done, and to date no 'stomach' problems.
Have had a long history of high cholesterol, and an aversion to statins. The usual aches and pains! Recently tried Ezetrol. Again bad side effects, involving lower back pain, and severe stomach pain after 5 days of being on the medication. Back again now trying Pravachol. Seemed to be the best tolerated. Still some aches and pains, but figure that its a good trade off to maintain the current state of my arteries.
In Australia, figures for cholesterol, HDL, LDL etc given in a different format eg My total cholesterol was given as 8.6, so am finding it difficult to relate it to American system of presentation. Does anyone know what the conversion factors are?
Thanks again for the feedback. Take Care.

Ron