new to forum, Dave's Angioplasty & Heart Attack

Sorry if you heard all this before.

             I am 56 years old and an ex smoker for 25+ years, climbed 3 mountains last year and well here I am ready to go back into hospital for an angioplasty. I was origonally addmitted into hosptal 07/09/20011 for chest pains. which after a ECG, blood tests and an angio gram I was diagnosed with ACS NSTEMI- interia wall. At the time it did not feel like a heart attack.I was let out of hospital after 2 days with a bag full of mediction, only to return one week later with what felt like a heart attack. However this time the ECG and blood samples showed negative and I was discharged the next day after doing a treadmill test which went pretty well without any pain during the excersize.

             I have returned to hospital twice since for blood tests and now I have an appointment for angioplasty preassement and wonder what my options will be, ie angio with or without stents and which stents to get fitted.

            Since I came out of hospital I have tried to remain active and wakl at least 1 hour every day with the dog. However just to complictate matters I also suffer from a bad back which I am sure causes me some reffered pain in the chest as walking tends to aliviate the pain rather than it becoming worse. Also the Spray does not always eliviate the pain.and sometimes painkillers do. I sometimes wonder if their diagnosis is wrong. This is all compounded to my worry and has got me quite depersesed of late as I have chest pain most days and can be quite bad on some days.Any answers would be appreciated, especially if you have had similar problems

P.S. I forgot to mention prior to problems, I am correct wieght for my hieght colestrol 5 and never known to have high blood pressure and very active

 

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 1/23/2012 8:09:34 AM (GMT-7)

karen
Thanks for such an early reply. I look forward to any other replies I recieve. Best Regards Dave

Kitt
Thanks for your most valued reply.Sorry if I did not post what was found in my angioplasty. I was give a drawing of my heart which showed narrowing in 3 places. the main one was in the Circumflex marked 60% and two narowings in the 1st diagonal (1) 80% & (2) 70%. I am not sure if this suggests they are blocked this much or open this much ie Circumflex 60%open or closed ???.
Sinse my last post I have recieved a more detailed discription( Copy of a letter sent to my doctor) This letter states that I should have a pressure wire assesment of the circumflex with a view to PCI.
I understand (but correct me if I am wrong) this is a fairly new procedure but will further prove one way or another that I will need an angioplasty or not. and is more reliable than just an angiogram and stress tests on there own.The angioplasty will be done if required at the same time.
Also since posting I have had a blood test ( waiting for results) to see if the simvastatin is giving me any muscular pain and I have lso had a scan on my stomach to see if I am having any problems with reflux which showed negative.
Another question if I can be so bold. is it possible to have elivated enzimes ie tropinin 1 with damage to other muscles in the body other than the heart? Best regards Dave

Post Edited (DaveBax) : 10/27/2011 8:51:07 AM (GMT-6)

stkitt said...
Hi Dave,

Troponin tests are primarily ordered for people who have chest pain to see if they have had a heart attack or other damage to their heart. Either a troponin I or a troponin T test can be performed; usually a laboratory will offer one test or the other. Troponins are sometimes ordered along with other cardiac biomarkers, such as CK–MB or myoglobin. However, troponins are the preferred tests for a suspected heart attack because they are more specific for heart injury than other tests (which may become positive in skeletal muscle injury) and remain elevated for a longer period of time.

Increased troponin concentrations should not be used by themselves to diagnose or rule out a heart attack. A physical exam, clinical history, and ECG are also important. Some people who have a heart attack will have normal troponin concentrations, and some people with increased troponin concentrations have no apparent heart injury. Troponin levels may also be elevated with acute or chronic conditions such as myocarditis (heart inflammation), congestive heart failure, severe infections, kidney disease, and certain chronic inflammatory conditions of muscles and skin.

I feel it would be wise for you to move ahead with the angio and do stick with us as we are here to support you.

Kindly,

Kitt

Hi Kitt I am sure I am in safe hands and just pleased they are doing all the necessary test to ensure this is the best way forward. I have discussed my feelings and my worries with my G.P. Who explained that to be sure they will not fit stents if not required and even if I still have some  chest pain afterwards at least then we can possibly rule out that the pain is coming from my heart. Best regards Dave

 

hello again

          I have just returned home after the angioplasty which was a total nightmare. The surgeons had great difficulty locating the narrowed part of the circumflex artery and after 2 hours under lacal anesthetic I had what they called a small heart attack. bearing in mind that I origonally had a heart attack 2 months ago, however this was 10 times worse. They eventually gave up tyring to get a stent in there and managed to do balloning only.( total operating time 3 hours) They said that they inproved the flow from 80% restriction to 30% so some good news I suppose. Unfortunately they roughed up the area and even split the artery wall which may increase the chances of blocking up again. as there is no stent in there to support the artery wall

              Anyway I am still here but feel like I have been 12 rounds with Mike tyson and aching from head to foot. ( Not sure if this is what I am supposed to feel like)I am sitting here after taking the dog for a very short walk and wondering how swiftly I went down hill just a few months ago.Fortunaely they are going to keep an eye on me and I will be going back for an MRI scan just to make sure everything is coming along nicely. Fingers crossed

Dave,

I am so sorry to read of all the problems and I cannot imagine how frightening this whole heart problem is for you.  I am glad that you are posting here in the forum as sharing your story is a good way to get your feelings out.

I will admit I am at a loss for words to comfort you and to reassure you that all will be OK.  I would not negate the seriousness of your heart disease.  I hope you can stay positive and use negative to inspire successful thinking.  Always believe in yourself.

I am here saying prayers for you to mend and life to treat you kindly.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt

Hi All

Back again if anyone is interested in my update. I went back into the hospital for the 4 time in total with the  same pains in the chest which were actually seemed to be getting worse. Another Angioplasty was preformed which this type was more succesfull. A total of 4 drug eluding stents were fitted joined together in the cercumflex coronary artery. Shorter setnets were used to anable fitting them around the bend. Blockage of that particular artery is now reduced from 70% to 0% so hopefull that will be me feeling better from now on. However as I have now had two lengthy procedures( 3 hrs followed by 2 hours) in just over a week I am feeling a bit washed out at the moment and also some pain twinges in the chest which I hope is to be expected having only had the stents fitted yseterday

Hi All

 Back for another moan after 21 days post second angioplasty.  Some progress with back pain as my G.P has put me on a pain killing patch and after 4 days there is some improvement. I am also waiting for an appointment for an edoscopy to see if my pain is in my gullet.Went to see my cardioligist today, who said he is happy with my progress ( I have now started the cardiac physio program without problems)and  does not think that my chest pain is angina related.Due to having an edoscopy I have been taken off the renetadine and the chest pain is worse if anything and always comes on after eating especially if I start moving around soon aftwards.I am now beginning to think that this feeling of not being well and chest pain does and never ha scome on with exercise and has became more pronounced since the very first time I went on heart medication. It is my beleief that  my pain is related to the meds and wonder has anyone else had similar problems with meds and would it be possible to come off some of them. Hope you guys are still listening and would apprecdiate any imput

Kitt

        Thanks for your reply which is much appreciated. I have researched the meds I am taking and the one which sticks out like a sore thumb is pasagrel. Symptoms are pain in back,legs & arms. Exactly my symptoms. I have suffered with cronic lower back pain for the last 5 yrs and wonder if the pasagrel is making the pains worse. Unfortunately I have been prescribed pasagrel for 12 months and the cardioligists are very keen for me to keep taking these due tp previous problems when fiiting stents. My G.P. has told me to increase the pain killing drugs ( Buprenorphine patch from 5micrograms to 10 micrograms ) in the hope of aleviating the pani. Good news is the chest pains have subsided possibly due to physiotherapy but back & leg pain is worse but determined to carry on with the physio, I just have to keep taking the pain killers

Hello All. I have nowt to do so I thought I would update you guys. By the way hope you all had a nice xmas and lets hope we all have a great new year.Anyway back to the heart problems.
It does seem that the pains I was having in my back, legs abd neck have much improved since coming off the Prasurgrel, so perhaps the patches for pain are now working as this is the only pain killer that I am now taking. The chest pains are stll there but only seem to be in the morning and gradually get less as the day goes by. I have stopped eating chocolate and fatty foods, just incase the problems are gastric related and also not drinking coffee.
Some great news. Whilst over the hollidays and the physio guys were on holliday, I managed both a 4 mile & a 6 mile walk ( So beat that Prince Philip oH I forgot he is 90)I did have pains in my chest and did find it fairly hard going on the hills, but this I think was definately not angina.I was very tired the next day , but generally feel better overall.
I have now had the first part of the MPS scan and will have the 2nd part in a couple of days time. Hopefully this will show that the blood supply to my heart musle is much improved and will confirm that the pains that I am having are not heart related. It is a still a couple of weeks before my apointment with a consultant gastrologist and quite sometime before I have an endoscopy, but things are definately moving on now. Hopefully I will have more positive news to give you when I have got the results from my tests.
Anyway wjishing you all the best of luck ( you to prince Philip)
Regards Dave

Hi Kitt
Thanks for the very simpathetic reply and Just to let you know how I am getting on.Just as I thought I was getting on fine. Due to taking the pain killers stuff in my digestive system started to back up a bit and what I was taking to trying to move things along was causing servere stomach pains So I have removed the patches. Unfortunately the chest pains returned and are almost contant and are definately not angina related.
I have been looking through other forums and the symtoms of Costochondritis look all to familiar and I have posted on there https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=24&m=2305706
to see if they can share any light on the situation. I am still having the appointment to see the gastrologist and an endoscopy which will hopefully let me know one way or another if the problems lis with my digestive system and also the results of my MPS scan which will now rule out my heart.
I am still managing to do the exersizes but is difficult without the pain meds.
Best Regards Dave

Post Edited (DaveBax) : 1/8/2012 12:20:10 PM (GMT-7)

Dave,

Fantastic update and I am so glad to know how well you are doing.  You have recognized your problems and taking the initiative to work through them.

I have great respect for you and do keep posting here as your thread is so inspirational.

Take care, be well and know I am here supporting you.

Your thread has had 821 views - that is awesome.    

Kindly,

Kitt

Dave,

You are remarkable ! I hope you get the back pain under control.

Congratulations on your graduation from Cardio Program.  I am so glad to know you are doing so well and your positive attitude and hard work are much to be proud of. 

Take care my friend,

Kitt