Responses:
 
• I have had seven angioplasties with a stent in the LAD that had to have restenting two years later, in other words the second stent was placed inside of the first stent. The reason was that the first stent was a Johnson & Johnson and was actualy two stents in one with a bridge joining the two together in a curve in the artery. This caused a build up of deposits and thus blockage. My doctor used a high speed diamond drill to remove the plaque and then restented with a NIR stent that was one unit, so far it has done very nice. I had the restenting performed at The Texas Heart Institute in Houston by Dr. Emerson Perin. I have to go this Jan. to have an angiogram for blockage in the right cornary. I will use Dr. Perin again.
Roger Murray, Cleveland, Texas, USA, January 2, 2000
 
• Three weeks ago today I saw my internist for indigestion. I mentioned being a little winded while walking fast, uphill. Two weeks ago today I had a cath showing blockage in two areas. My only previous cath was in 1993 showing some blockage in one spot. One week ago today I spent 3.5 hours on the table with stents, plaque removal by a drill, and a balloon used on two spots. Thank goodness for the Foley which if you don't watch out can become pleasantly habit forming. I went home the next morning, went to the office for an hour in the afternoon, and worked a full day the next day. My breathing is not as heavy. I have a slight pain in my chest occasionally. My groin area bruises are clearing up. I have no problems walking around the block. I have a treadmill in two weeks. I feel good. The Rex Hospital nurses were all super. Dr. Nutt was tremendous. I feel like I have hit the long ball and missed the big heart attack my father had when he was 41. I am now 51 and plan to keep avoiding the big one. Spread the word: go to your cardiologist early and often.
Paul Carruth, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, February 29, 2000
 
• Anybody ever had a catheterization in the 60's? I remember it was a bad experience- the table I was on went upside down for quite sometime, not a whole lot of fun. Going for an angiogram Wednesday, 3/22/00. Does this procedure hurt as much as a cath? Thanks?
Pat Jennings, Chicago, Illinois, USA, March 19, 2000

• Well the new stent NIR did no better that the J&J stent, so it is back to the cath lab for a new procedure (study) this time they are going to treat with gamma radiation a possible cure for scar tissue build up around a stent placement, the idea is, treat with gamma radiation to destroy the cells that cause the build up. Hope this works. I will have this procedure next week 6/7/00 I wish everyone well Roger Murray
Roger Murray, Patient, Cleveland, Texas, USA, 3 Jun 2000

• Just had to make an addition to my posting of 1/2/00. Had a cath on 6/7/00 by Dr. Emerson Perin of The Texas Heart Inst. A stress test indicated blockage in LAD were the stents are placed, they found no blockage in any artery. When I was back in recovery, Dr. Perin came in , and wanted to re-cath, so back to the cath lab, they did a ultra-sound of the artery linings, found no blockage. So my reason for posting this is to let all of the patients that have gone through these procedures know, with the right technology, and diet (Dean Ornish diet) you can be cured of CAD.
Roger Murray, Cleveland, Texas, USA, 17 Jun 2000

• I am a 48 year old male. I have had a total of 10 angioplasties, 7 coronary (RCA), and 3 peripheral (both legs). I've had 4 stents all in the RCA. My last procedure was in March 2000. I beleive that restenosis has occured again, and am being tested later this afternoon. I am in a cardiac rehab program and I've never been in better condition, and my numbers (cholesterol, Hdl, ldl, trigly, etc.) have never been better. What are the lastest protocols to stop restenosis ?
Gary Fluxgold, Merrick, New York, USA, 13 Jul 2000

• My mother-in-law had a angioplasty (cut away the hardened plaque) and stent in March. In August, the procedure was repeated with a balloon, because tissue had invaded the stent. She is experiencing pain and taking nitroclycerine tablets the first week after the procedure. She is 79, worried, and in distress. She also takes medications, including one to prevent the return of breast cancer--some cause nausea. There was no diet prescribed aside from a note in the release papers to follow a low cholesterol diet. Why is there so much pain when the blockage should be gone? Should she be exercising or resting? What medications react with each other? Should she cease the anti-cancer medications until her heart is stabilized? Is a small glass or two of wine acceptable under these conditions and medications? There really need to be some general guidelines and expected resulting physical conditions in writing for patients and their families to refer to. Any input would be appreciated.
C. Curtis, 10 Aug 2000

• Hi All. Just had my 11th PTCA and have 8 stents and only 38. I wish I could only have had no caths but it happened. Yes it's frustrating but I'm at the mercy of My body. It seems that my body wants to attack itself. The best that I can do is prolong the cath's with proper diet and exersize. If any one can help let me know.
David Zemaitis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, 23 Dec 2000

• I had angioplasty in mid October. A stent was placed in one artery and a balloon in the other. Five days later I experienced the same severe chest pain that moved into the left arm and jaw. After being rushed to the hospital, the Cardiologist performed another angioplasty with the results that I would have to undergo a quadruple by-pass. After that procedure we were told that the stent and balloon were by-passed - therefore everything should be corrected. Last week, two months later, I began experiencing severe pain - so intense and frequent one night that the only medication that would work fast was nitro. A non-invasive X-ray done 3 days ago shows that there is a problem in the area of the stent. So, another angioplasty has been scheduled. Has anyone had a similar experience? This is so frustrating and disheartening since I really believed the by-pass had cured all my ills.
D. Brooks, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 23 Dec 2000
 

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