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43 just told I have 60%lad and rca blockages kinda scared. No really scared looking for help.

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Posted 12/8/2015 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hello I'm 43 and father of three daughters I've raised alone. Had some chest pain and referred to cardio. He did a cath and found two blockages one on lad 50 to 60% and Sam on Rca. He told me I am lucky because lad is widow maker. He did a ffr and it was 87 so he thinks chest pain from herd or muscular. He has put me on 80 mg Lipitor and baby aspirin daily. I am riding 10 miles or 30 min a day on excercise bike. Also cut out smoking and more fruit and vegetables. No fast food. I'm in pretty good shape I'm a construction worker. I have been so scared of this killing me and leaving my daughters. One is in college and two in high school. Doc says I'm luck, but not understanding why I'm lucky? Anyone else close to my age live with this or been living long time with it? He said no more test unless I get symptoms and that scares me. He is testing cholestrol and liver by no annual ct angio or anything for progression? Anyone out there with info and experience with this would help Tremediously? Thank you
Posted 12/9/2015 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
Ironmike, you are indeed lucky to have discovered your condition as early as you have, instead of just keeling over 10 years from now and never waking up.
Most men get their first (and last) heart attack without warning. about half of them don't survive.

So, the question for you to answer is how long do you want to live, 10 more years or 40 more years.
How big the changes you make will have the most to do with your outcome.
You've got the Lipitor... that is good. Hopefully you are not taking the brand name, but instead get the generic atorvastatin which costs only a fraction of the name brand. Same pill.

Next you are exercising.... but you need to know that while exercise is essential, it will not have nearly the effect as the change you make in your diet. I'm not talking about a few more veggies and fruits and cutting down on red meat. NO...if you choose that 40 year option, then you need to make some real changes. They need not be made overnight, but over the next months and years you can completely alter your diet... Or some prefer to do it all at once.

Re-read that other thread started by New Guy... I know you already posted there,, but re-read it several times.
Then begin to read and view videos by the people he mention. Lots and lots of free YouTube videos.
Spend a hour every few nights watching them. Take a month or so... watch 10 or 15 hours of the various talks.
The names... Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Dean Ornish,
There are others. Watch the film, Forks Over Knives
Read their books.
You might visit the site New Guy mentioned, for Dr. McDougall. Everything there is free. Discussion, videos, and more. Tons of free stuff.

Because you are only 43 years old, I'd not be inclined to do half way measures. Your regular doctors won't lead you to these more aggressive measures.... in great part because the simply don't believe that many of their patients will follow such programs.

Don't make a instant judgement. View and read for a few weeks, then make up your own mind.
Former President Clinton didn't initially follow the advice they give, then he had quintuple bypass surgery. Even then he only went half way, until his bypass grafts started closing up...
That did it for him.. he was scared of dying. So he went back to Dr. Esselstyn and Dr. Ornish and finally got with the program so he could live to see his grandchild born.
Clinton is not a idiot.... he believes what Esselstyn and Ornish have to say.

Start reading. Don't depend on your doctor to set a high bar. They won't.

Its all up to you. Begin learning and allow the time needed to have your tastes adjust to a new way of eating. After a while it becomes normal.
Doing less will leave you facing a slower--- but steady--- progression to the point you'll need stents or more. Diet will have more to do with your success than exercise. Both are best, along with the statin you have been given.

OK... thats all. There are no guarantees, but some paths give you much better odds of living longer without severe heart problems.

PS.. Your doctor is right about more tests. They will not and should not give you another cath angiogram or regular CT Angiogram, unless you get much worse in terms of symptoms.
Each CT angiogram gives you a large dose of radiation. Much more than the cath from what I know.
So, other than your cholesterol tests, you'll be flying blind for some time to come.
You've already gotten the "gold standard" exam including your current blockages and FFR reading.
You have all the info needed to proceed in order to slow or halt the progression. Your choice.

Post Edited (Franklen) : 12/8/2015 9:27:14 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/9/2015 6:40 AM (GMT 0)
ps. welcome. beg to differ on 1 point. my cardiologist, a professor, is hard core, mine is ruthless with me. 43 x2 by-pass nearly 2 years ago. with many complications. keep strong. I am blessed to have my surgery by 1 of 2 best cardiac surgeons in Australasia.
Posted 12/9/2015 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for taking the time to listen to my story. I will take your advice and look into these options.
Posted 12/10/2015 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
Ironmike, Good, take a look, decide what is best for you. I'd be curious as to what course you take after reviewing all the possibilities.
Just keep in mind that you will see all manner of crazy ideas if you look around long enough.
While the ideas of those doctors mentioned are fairly extreme, keep in mind that many very wise people have found them credible. That is why I included the name of Bill Clinton. Not that he is any health expert, but by the same token, I'm sure those around him would have warned him if those two doctors he credits with his new health, were nuts.
I eat everything I am served on special occasions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, but most of the rest of the time I have....over time....come to eat mostly according to what that group of doctors recommend for those who have already been diagnosed with significant blockages. I don't know how long it will keep the need for procedures at bay, but so far I am doing well.
I am about 20 years older than you and only wish I had gotten a earlier warning such as you have had..
Approach a new way of eating as a adventure, rather than a sentence of deprivation. I really don't miss most of the things I no longer eat.

Cheers...
Posted 12/10/2015 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
May I ask about your situations? Today I had a friend I work with often pass out on 16 ft pick doing roofing. He is 53 he broke vertebrae in neck four ribs. He had a heart attack today that's why he fell. Two blockages 100% and 90. One of my biggest problems is I feel like a walking time bomb. Sometimes I wish they could have been stented just so I know instead of waiting for a symptom that I may not survive. Could it be a year,5,10,20 ? Or hopefully never that's the part I hate. I sit and wonder will I see 60 and grandkids. Or am I gonna even see 50. I haven't wrapped my emotions around all this yet. Thanks for all the info and help. Me just spitting it out helps.
Posted 12/12/2015 6:38 AM (GMT 0)
okay, it's like this, 1 your not dead, got life around you. one day we will all get dead. franklen is exact about the in between, food, diet, exercise and the need to acquire new info, whilst not flipping out about it. so don't dr. google everything as it will just do your head in. (anxiety)

2. not dead, so be alive instead of a ticking time bomb. I had nearly 2 toe tags on me after 2 ops and 33 days in hospital.

1st attempt at surgery, anaphlaxis, adrennalin and steroids, code called icu. 2nd attempt, good. after surgery could not breathe, sent to icu, went into acute renal failure and inotropic heart failure and was put under for 8 days or so to be worked on. I was tube feed, nasal, wires everywhere and much of it was a blur.

having your sternum re-knit is the worst pain in my life, and my gp did not give me anything either. I begged the pharmacist with good result once!!! my story in short, that caused this. 1. diabetes, from getting fat, sedentary from mental illness, smoking and eating wrong. I mean I have co-morbidities but I do not excuse anything. I did this to me. the diabetes came on with cause I must say, but a massive genetic predisposition. cholesterol was not good. I use Lipitor, but diet is far more important. actually having a heart attack from a condition alike diabetes is more common than just having a ha. diabetes done my teeth, all out, vision (diabetic retinapathy) heart and massive bladder issues.

so I did a cardiac rehab program. really good. I walk each day. I am upping my rate when I can.

so, eat well, exercise, enjoy your family and the less worry you will have about a toe tag. Shawshank, 'get busy living, or get busy dying'. I make a lot of errors, vision, blown right, left vitrectomy and years of laser and occular injections.........funny they use Lipitor....liquid, go figure.

live life.
Posted 12/12/2015 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a 48 yr. old female, and I'm in a similar situation.

Just had my angiogram on Wednesday. They found a 30-40% blockage in the front of my heart. I was told they couldn't stent, because my heart would likely see it as a foreign object, and try to cover it up. That would cause a larger blockage, and would lead to certain open heart surgery.

At first, I was frustrated that it couldn't be "fixed", but I'm not anxious to have my breast bone cracked open.

I have always eaten a pretty healthy diet, but I certainly need to exercise more. I do have a family history of early onset heart disease, so that old gene pool sometimes sucks you under.

Good on you for dropping the smokes. I'm sure you have a plan with your doc to follow this condition. Just live as healthy as you can, and enjoy those girls.
Posted 12/13/2015 3:01 AM (GMT 0)

Ironmike323 said...
May I ask about your situations? Today I had a friend I work with often pass out on 16 ft pick doing roofing. He is 53 he broke vertebrae in neck four ribs. He had a heart attack today that's why he fell. Two blockages 100% and 90. One of my biggest problems is I feel like a walking time bomb. Sometimes I wish they could have been stented just so I know instead of waiting for a symptom that I may not survive. Could it be a year,5,10,20 ? Or hopefully never that's the part I hate.

I think you can relax regarding to thinking you may have a heart attack at any moment.
There is no value in stenting a 50% or 60% LAD and RCA.
This isn't a simple plumbing problem in your case. Your friend's case is quite different at 90% and 100%.
All the more reason why you want to take all the steps now to avoiding ending up like he is.
Studies indicate that stenting a 50% or 60% blocked will result in no fewer heart attacks or deaths.
That is why your doctors said no to stenting.
Now, loads of heart attacks do occur in people with blockages of less than 70%.... but that does not mean they occur at the location that is narrowed to 50% or 60%.
The thrombosis (clot or blockage) can and does happen in places that might only be 30% narrowed.
You will learn more about this as you read more. Bottom line is that its not a simple plumbing problem where if you open it up with a stent, the problem is resolved.

For now, take your meds every day.... exercise.... and above all really begin to alter your diet.
If you get serious about that, your heart could well avoid a heart attack for 30 or 40 years, and who knows what treatments they will have by then.
You were basically given a good bill of health, but with a warning about your future if you don't get your lifestyle in order.
As I've said, you don't have to do 100% of everything overnight, but along with the daily meds you can over time alter your eating habits.
Start reading, keep reading and watching the video offerings. After a while you'll be brainwashed in a good sort of way.

Here is just one short video that I had never seen before of a cardiologist in his regular practilce.
https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/videos/advanced-study-weekend-experts/dr-joel-kahn/

Tons more more to watch at your own pace
https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/videos/advanced-study-weekend-experts/
Posted 2/4/2016 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
Just and update. Been riding 10 miles a day and less meat little better diet. I started with cholesterol 220. Yesterday I am 121 trig 96, good chol 30 from 26, bad is 71. Doc was happy have lost 20 pounds and not smoked since November.i am taking Lipitor 80 mg, baby aspirin,coq10, omega 3.no fast food more vegetables ,do eat lean turkey now and then. Doc says see ya in a year no more test. Nothing unless symptoms still scares me being its at beginning of my lad and rca both 50 to 60% ffr rate was .87. Just looking for some advice or thoughts thanks
Posted 2/5/2016 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Nice to hear you are doing well. Most of the drop in your cholesterol readings are due to the 80 mg of Lipitor. BTW, do you pay for the drugs? If so, then make sure you get the generic as it is so much cheaper than the brand name Lipitor. The drug is atorvastatin.
Your cholesterol scores are only markers. Even though they have dropped greatly you still need to keep pressing ahead with your dietary changes.
This is a very very very long engagement/process/battle given that you are only 43. Forty or more years ahead, so get used to your new way of eating. You can keep adjusting it as you read more and more and find new ways to eat in the most healthy way.
Do not fall prey to some of those Paleo diet web sites... or those that say high fat can give you great cholesterol readings. Again, those scores are only markers, not the actual health inside your arteries.

If all goes well, you can halt the progression of the cardiovascular disease process and remain at 50% and 60% for decades. Don't slack off. You are most fortunate to have gotten the early warning you did.
Very few find out until they are 75% or greater and feel angina...or worse yet, have a heart attack.
Treat your new way of eating, exercising, etc. as a adventure.
I see you were a smoker... That is a absolute NO NO...for ever more... Nothing worse for heart disease.

Go back and read some of the prior posts.. those doctors names I gave you.
Read their books.. or watch their youtube lectures. All free. Look up their sites where more free video by them and others exists. The McDougall site has lots of free videos by himself and other doctors.
Allow yourself to be slowly brainwashed into your new way of eating.
Keep reading and you'll find your own way as long as you don't get caught up in the new craze sites where bacon is good.. the more the better.
You are NOT every patient. Let me repeat that... you are not every patient.
You already have proven blockages from years and years of your prior lifestyle as well as from smoking. What might work for others is not what you can afford to do.
Often the people suggesting such do not have proven CAD.. They simply tout their new cholesterol numbers and suggest their way of eating is fine.
Ask them for proof it works for someone who already has a 60% blockage. They will have nothing to show you.

OK... You'll do fine. Your FFR is good at .87 the cutoff is .80, meaning that your blood is still flowing well.
Don't sit around expecting to fall off a roof like your friend. Just keep doing your changes.
Keep your eye on seeing your daughter's future children graduate from college.
That should motivate you.

Keep in touch.
Posted 5/2/2016 11:45 AM (GMT 0)
Triseo I also have an abnormal EKG which Drs say is the new normal for me.
My situation is a little different, I am age 65, and after the first abnormal ING and stress test, I had a heart CT scan which showed lots of plaque and a Calcium score off the charts at 937. Two days later I had a cardiac cath and they inserted 2 stents to clear an 80% blockage in the LAD and an 85% blockage in the distal circumflex.

This was last June. Since then over the last 4 months I've gone to a low carb diet. Wheat and grain free, no pasta, rice, bread, quinoa, etc. it's not that hard surprisingly. I am also on low dose Crestor 10mg, coq10, niacin, vitamin d, besides my prescription meds (blood thinner, beta blocker, blood pressure)

In ten last 5 months my cholesterol has gone from 130 to 84, LDL from 70 to 33, triglycerides from 208 to 85, and HDL from 30 to 34 (still a problem). I walk 2 miles every day (knees won't let me run). And while I don't eat high fat, I do allow myself some fat, including a small amount of saturated, but mostly monounsaturated.

I'm hopeful that staying with this will slow or stop the progression of my plaque

By the way, from what I've been reading, LDL-C the LDL that most Drs measure, is not very meaningful as it is a calculated number not actually measures. LDL-P is more meaningful, as well as particle size, (small LDL being more harmful than large LDL). You might want to ask your Dr about advanced testing

Post Edited (Pratoman) : 5/2/2016 5:49:20 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/4/2016 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
Triseo, on my last LDL-c reading, of 33, I had raised my Crestor from 10 to 20 mg, just 5 days earlier. I was told by 2 Drs, my cardiologist, AND a lipidologist, that the increase in dosage wouldn't have such an effect on my LDL in just 5 days.i since went back to 10 mg, but based on what I've read about the anti inflammatory effect of statins, I'd like to go back to 20mg. But I'll wait until June at my next round of blood tests to see if I am still in the 30s. My LDL-P btw , was 552, which I understand is pretty good,

The lipidologist said being this low on LDL - c is no problem, and actually a good thing. My total cholesterol at 84 wasn't a problem either according to him, it's ok as long as it doesn't go below 60.

Saw you on Cureality BTW, are you following the Cureality program?
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