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Current Postings on This Page (33):
• Jim P -- Dizziness is a very difficult symptom
to find a cause for. It may be completely unrelated to any heart condition
or medication, although some meds may have this as a side effect -- for
example,
metoprolol. Have
you discussed the dizziness specifically with your cardiologist?? Certainly
do not change your medications until you've done so -- he/she may suggest
an alternative or different dose, etc. As for fear of recurrence, what
stents do is open up the coronary arteries to allow greater blood flow/oxygen
to
the
heart
muscle.
A lack
of oxygen most often causes angina (although there are other symptoms).
Sounds like you are doing the right things re: lifestyle changes. Good
work and keep it up! As for worrying about a recurrence, your cardiologist
can do some tests if there is evidence of a problem, but relaxation is
an important component of recovery (for example, Dr. Dean Ornish's program
includes meditation, etc. which has been shown to help). Let the Forum
know what you find out and keep in touch!
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, August 15, 2010
• I had a heart attack 2 years ago, had angioplasty
and two stents inserted. Taking lisinopril, plavix, metoprolol, crestor
and aspirin and am dizzy every day. The worst thing is the paranoia where
every
symptom mentioned on Google makes me think i'm having a recurrence of another
heart attack. In fact a year after the first angioplasty i had another
inserted with a stent which didn't help. I follow the rules completely
eating all
the health foods recommended, avoiding meat completely, very little sugar
and salt, not smoking, not drinking etc. But I'm still dizzy. Any suggestions
from other angioplasty recovering people on what to do or doctors that
would be helpful?
Jim P, just an individual, Chicago, Illinois, USA, August
15, 2010
• Gas Grill in New Jersey -- Adolph Bachman, the
first person to ever have a coronary angioplasty, had his in 1977. He's
doing just fine today 33 years later and has not had a recurrence of that
blockage. You can view the story of the first angioplasty here.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, July 18, 2010
• I had angioplasty nine years ago that worked
out fine but I cant find
any information about how long it will last?
gas grill, Freehold, New Jersey, USA, July 15, 2010
• Sankar -- see our Forum Topic, "Angioplasty
and Stenting in the Elderly"
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, July 13, 2010
• my mother aged 74years, is the safe angioplasty
to her
sankar, chilakaluripet, andhra pradesh, india, July 10, 2010
• CM Hammer in Oregon -- you should read the Forum
Topic, "Plavix
and Surgery" because the biggest problem with surgery
after stenting is that the patient needs to take Plavix (clopidogrel) to
keep blood clots from forming in the stents -- with drug-eluting stents,
a year of Plavix is recommended -- and most surgeons do not want to operate
on a patient who is taking Plavix, due to the risks of bleeding. By the
way, the blockages of 10% and 14% can't be right. Perhaps you mean that
the arteries were only open by 10 or 14%, meaning that the blockages were
86-90%.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, June 20, 2010
• My 83yr old dad had an angioplasty today for
2 blockages. One was 10% and the other was 14%. Now he needs a lobectomy
for lung cancer. How long will he have to recover from the angioplasty
(no stent) before the lobectomy can be safety performed?
CM Hammer, Portland, Oregon, USA, June 14, 2010
• Alana -- read our related topic in the right-hand
column -- Plavix and aspirin are necessary to take for a year after a
drug-eluting stent is placed -- 4-6 weeks if it's a bare metal. If you
are having any
adverse reactions since taking the drugs, call your cardiologist. Your
dosages may need adjustment (dizziness, for example, is a common side
effect of metoprolol) but don't change anything without clearing it with
your
cardiologist.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, May 15, 2010
• I have heart disease in my family. I am
51 and had my first stent put in. I am very sensitive to any medication
and would like to know what is the
very least medication I need to be on. I am otherwise extremely healthy and
I am not on any other medication. They gave me Plavix, metoprolol and simvastatin
and I seem to be getting dizzy and lightheaded, maybe overwhelmed. I would like
to be on one only, any suggestions?
Alana, Minnesota, USA, May 13, 2010
• I have undergone angioplasty for four times
in a period of 3 years. I am taking all the prescribed medicines regularly
like anti platelet, statins, anti diabetics. Every time there is a
new blockage after a period of 8-9 months. Doctor said that there is
some
calcium deposit in my RCA after undergone recent angiography. One blockage
was there in OM and got angioplasty.
SP Bhatt, Surat, Gujrat, India, April 27, 2010
• HI there, my husband went in 7 days ago
and had two stents placed in his heart and he is tired and recovering.
He is on 5 different medications. However, his spirits are good. Our
Cardiologist told him at least 1 week of complete rest. Then gradual
return to activities. The big thing seems to be no lifting of anything.
MAP, Melbourne, Australia, January 11, 2010
• 2 years ago angioplasty was done 95% blockage
in one artery a stent was
put what treatment should i continue?
Kumar V., Chandigarh, India, September 20, 2009
• Anil -- we assume you mean travel by air? You
should consult with your cardiologist because to judge your individual
clinical status it is best to have your records and be sitting face-to-face.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, March 30, 2009
• i had undergone angioplasty on 17.03.2009 and
I wish to visit Delhi for attending SAAOL HEART PROGRAMME ON 11.04.2009
wHETHER IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR ME TO UNDERTAKE JOURNEY FROM JABALPUR TO
DELHI AND ATTEND THE PROGRAMME SUCCESSFULLY?
Anil D., Jabalpur, MP, India, March 23, 2009
• Omar -- for some examples of how people are doing
after angioplasty, read our Forum Topic on "Exercise,
Sport, Physical Activity After Stent" -- you'll find a number
of patients who have resumed very active lives.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, November 20, 2008
• I am about to go for angioplasty but i need to
know anyone who had recently gone through it to know how life is after
this.
Omar, Pakistan, November 17, 2008
• A lot of the posts i am viewing are anywhere from
1-7 years old. I would like to know how you people are feeling now? Has
it all been worthwhile and given expected results?
I had this operation 1 week ago and so far so good.
Ted Bugden, New Zealand, October 4, 2008
• I went through Angioplasty for three blocks after
6 months I feel breathless 2 to 3 times a day I want to know wether it
is normal and what should I do my medication is following one Clopitab
one Flavonoid and one Aspirin as I AM DIABETIKER I take insulin and metformin.
Filomena, Goa, India, July 6 2008
• l underwent Angioplasty on 5th Feb 08 and
went home the next day. Important things to note:
- take a good 2-3
days rest;
- do not drive for at least 5 days (I drove
2 days later and
the the groin was badly swollen and bruised;
- Do
NOT lift anything more than 2.5 kgs for at least 2 weeks.
Take care folks
Raja, Singapore, March 2, 2008
• Hi, my name is Marcela and my dad has undergone
an angioplasty + stent procedure 6 days ago. My doubt is that after 3-4
days passing uneventfully, now he has this feeling of drowsiness which
I cannot find cause of. Maybe some of you could give some feed-back,
please. Thank you very much
Marcela Allheimen, August 18, 2005
• i have an employee who is having angioplasty
and a stent put in. he has 80% blockage in one artery and 30% in another.
How soon after can he return to driving cab for us.
debra stewart, quesnel, bc canada, July 22, 2004
• my mother is having angioplasty this Thursday
18/11/04 and we hope to fly out to Sydney next Friday- anyone think this
is possible as Idon't want to push her. Janine, Auckland, New Zealand.
15/11/04
janine Brearley, Auckland New Zealand, November 15, 2004
• My father has had a similar reaction to
his recent angioplasty as Connnie's husband had. After first five days
passing uneventfully, he has been acting very erratically, irritable,
reports feeling dizzy and generally "out of it." Left hospital with no
plan for cardiac rehab and a one week follow-up appointment with cardiologist.
Cardiologist simply stated that internist should deal with symptoms my
father has been experiencing. Any others out there with similar stories?
Sheila, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 25 Jul 2002
• I had my angioplasty (for 3 blocks) three weeks
back. I have not resumed my normal activity yet. Please let me know the
rest period and the rate of activity level to begin with.
Samuel George, Madura Coats, Tirunelvali, Tamilnadu, India, 22 Mar 2002
• My husband had a quintuple bypass 12 weeks ago.
Last week he had to go back in and have a stent put into one of the bypassed
arteries. Since we have been home, his behavior has been somewhat erratic.
He is taking heart medicine and was taking vicodin (back pain). He falls
asleep during conversations, moves as if in slow motion, talks quite slowly
at times. What is normal for a patient recovering from this procedure?
Connie, Glendale, Oregon, USA, 27 Dec 2001
• I am going in for an angioplasty. Are there statistics
on recovery period after the operation? How long will it take me to feel
better? How long before I start normal activities?
Mona Ramani, , KlL, Malaysia, 22 Oct 2001
• Had a 99% blockage in the right posterior artery and underwent the procedure
March 7. The rest of my arteries are clean and the procedure took about 45 min.,
with the entry point in my right radial (wrist). After having my wrist clamped
with what appeared to be a nylon ratcheting strap for about 8 hours, (allowing
me to move around the ward) I was kept overnight and released the next morning.
Pretty painless aside from a bit of swelling at the site, but I have decided
to take a few days off just to gain back some energy. I will be taking Plavix
for a month to prevent my platlets from "attacking" the stent and plugging up
the site again, plus 6 weeks of Ramipril to dialate my vessels, although my blood
pressure has always been normal. I also will continue with Lipitor for my cholesterol,
which has been brought down to normal after 3 months of use. Too little, too
late though. It's an easy procedure to endure and I found it quite fascinating.
Good luck to you.
Pete, British Columbia, Canada, 9 Mar 2001
• This is my 2nd angioplasty and one stent and bypass
surgery within the last 5 1/2 years. I came out of the hospital on Tuesday
and was back at work on Thursday. I am on a blood thinner to prevent the
restosis from re occuring since this was at the stent. I should be able
to go to the gym next week.
Dot Lynch, Mobile, Alabama, USA, 8 Mar 2001
• My mom was out to lunch in 2 days following her
angioplasty....from being rushed by ambulance on noon Tuesday, surgery
same day at 2 pm, out by 5 pm...by Thursday at 10 am she had her Dr. appt
follow up and then wanted to go out to lunch. She is taking it easy - but
doing desk work at home, light housework, etc....but resting as needed.
I came to this sight for insight thinking that her recovery period was
too quick and that she was pushing herself. I am surprised and glad that
others have also had a quick recovery. Good health to you all!
Tina Rodgers, 5 Aug 2000
• William: I was back to my desk job two days after
my procedure. I have continued to take my blood pressure medication and
a plaque inhibitor added. I took my blood pressure at the drug store and
it was the lowest, both up and down, it has been in years. I am taking
also Zantac for some indigestion which may or may not be related to the
additional medicine.
Paul Carruth, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, February 29, 2000
• Dear William: By this time you probably have already
been under the procedure and I hope are feeling better, as I am. I had
the procedure about two weeks ago. In one week I was back to work (not
full load) and have been taking different drugs. I am under my doctor's
control and have had blood exams weekly. This will take a full month and
followed by six months of lighter control. Had to cut salt and fat (animal
or vegetable) and have lost about 5 kgs in the last two weeks. Not bad,
since I needed to lose some. I still feel a very light pain (more like
a scratch) on the left side of my thorax and some times a little pain on
my lower left back. In general I am OK and the procedure was simple and
clean. No pain, but naturally a lot of stress during the time the doctor
was doing it. I am 54 male, live in Brasilia, Brazil and I am happy to
share this experience with you. Good luck.
Yamil e Sousa Dutra, Brazilian Bar Association, Brasilia, BRAZIL, May
1, 1999
• As always, the interventional cardiologist
who is performing the procedure is most familiar with your case, and
can most accurately tell you what to expect (medications and recovery
time vary from patient to patient). For some general information about
angioplasty, browse through our "Links" section;
the patient
guide published by Guidant (a device manufacturer) is pretty good.
Finally a good source of contact with other patients, as well as doctors,
is on two newsgroups, sci.med.cardiology and alt.support.angioplasty.
Good luck!
Burt Cohen, PTCA.ORG, March 21, 1998
• I will soon undergo angioplasty. Can anyone tell
me anything about the recovery period and medication following this procedure?
William F. Markle, retired, Connecticut, USA, March 21, 1998
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