Waiting for the verdict
CABG 09/04 Sitting here in the hospital tonight waiting for the results of my stress test today. Another chest pain episode on friday evening. I think I have lost track of how many times I have visitied the ER since my by-pass. A previous December heart cath procedure had indicated that two of my four were clogging up again. But the doc wanted to take a wait and see approach to see what if any medication would do to keep the blood flowing. My regular card doc was off this weekend so another doc covered for him. He ordered up the stress test today. Now the nurse in trying to reassure my fears of the upcoming uncertiny, told me that the stress test indicated only a single artery blocakage. ?? Can meds really help unglog an artery. I only take plavix, lopressor and aspirin.. Because of my ER yo-yo visits I am guessing the my regular doc will probably suggest a stent in the one clogged artery. What if any questions should I be aware of. What about medicated stents. Anyone have any thoughts. Wish me luck..........will post results tomorrow. Good night all.............. Tom in Tomball, TX
Let me clairfy. Had quad bypass in September 2004 Had heart cath in December and that is when they said that two of the four bypass's had clogged up. So now after new stress test, they indicate that ony one of the bypass's are plugged, hense the possible stent procedure
The new stents were approved in the U.S. just about two years ago. They were in use on a trial basis for a while before that. A group in Denver was involved in the trials and that is where I went for a second opinion about possible surgery. As it turned out, a stent was not an option, since my aortic valve was definitely in need of replacement - as I mentioned in a recent message - so surgery had to be done anyway. It has worked out O.K. Last saturday I "competed" in a local Ultramarathon. There were three events, all starting at 5000 ft. and heading up - a 50 mile, a 50 km, and a 20 mile. Hikers were invited to join the 20 mile event, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot. I was slow, taking almost 7 hours to finish, but I wasn't last and I got the trophy for my age group, since there wasn't any other guy, 80 and up, crazy enough to do it. In fact, there were no men in the 70-79 bracket. (There was one 71 year old woman and she was doing the 50 miler!) I think that my heart would have been up to trying to jog it, but my knees told me, "No way, buddy - you walk this one." regards, Bob S. On May 22, 2005, at 9:12 PM, Elwin Bagley wrote: Thanks for the explanation Tom. Also, I just found out that they are now using medicated stents to prevent blockage. The medicated stents have been in use for several years in Europe, but not here. Elwin