HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

2 working arteries / re: post 12/8/09

Support Forums
>
Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/6/2010 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
I had a post on 12/ 8 about my husband having 2 working arteries. You ask which artery was not working. They could not stent the OM the nurse said it supplies blood to the left and bottom of the heart but she didn't know how much blockage was in that artery. My question is will he get enough oxygen to that part of the heart and will it continue to damage the left side and bottom of the heart because the artery is not working. He has had 2 bi pass surgerys, they will not do another. He is on plavix, lasix, crestor, lopid, aldactone, coreg, ranexa, rqmipril, imdur. He lays or sleeps most of the time, is retaining some fluid. I don't know what to expect or do, I feel helpless. Thank you for your help.
Posted 1/7/2010 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Maxi77,

Like your husband, I too have inoperable heart disease. I have been thru Cabg and have an AICD implanted. I also have several aneurysms. I take alot of meds and have lots of tests done on a regular basis.

Of the original 5 bypasses I had done only the arterial graft that used my mammary artery remains open. All together I have 13 blockages that are not stentable but I am going to work everyday, exercising and doing the things I like.

I used to worry about it all the time and lay around because I was scared. That doesn't work.
Yeah, the dizziness, shortness of breathe, angina and fluid retention can be a drag. I understand that. Getting up and exercising, working in the yard, washing the windows or really anything that makes me concentrate on something else really helps.

I realized some time ago that the doctors could only do so much and that most of what needed to be done was up to me and what I was willing to do to be productive. Attitude is everything in the end. Like your husband, I know what it feels like to be told that there isn't much that can be done for now other than to take lots of pills and maybe someday a cure or new treatment will come along. Maybe a new heart, maybe a new pump or maybe something else. Kind of like a death sentence. That can really mess with your head.

Maybe you should talk to the doctor about your concerns. Maybe get your husband into cardiac rehab. Get him up and moving. Get him to exercise his heart, form some new collaterals (natural bypasses). I ended up talking to my doctor about some of those concerns and he was able to help me with the rehab and exercise program. He would have helped me on the emotional and mental side of things if I had asked. I understand how hard it is to motivate someone to help themselves but you need to at least try, both for him and yourself.

Gain
Posted 1/23/2010 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for your reply. Your attitude is amazing and very encouraging. They have decided to implant an AICD. As far as my husbands attitude, he is a little better. He still is not doing any excercise, and is depressed, but I can make him laugh and get his mind off of it for awhile. But I know he needs to do more. Your reply did help me more than you will ever know, you again have an amazing attitude, may God bless you.

Posted 1/23/2010 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning,


Glad to see you received a response. AICDs are a wonderful thing so please let your husband know that I have seen them save many lives.



Blessings to both of you.



Kitt
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply