Mended Hearts Open Forum

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  • 1.  New Member...

    Posted 12-15-2020 13:04
    Hi, I'm Keith, new member here.  I tried to post this in the introduction topic but I'm obviously not pushing the correct buttons.  So if this shows up both places, sorry about that.  Anyway, on October 13th I had a heart cath and a stent placed in my right coronary artery which was 90% blocked.  No heart attack, just some discomfort over the summer that the doctor and I were trying to figure out.  Had an endoscopy to rule out GERD in late September.  I'm 59, never smoker, occasional beer drinker, weighed about 190 before the stent.  I never had any discomfort while exercising, weightlifting mostly.  On October 10th my discomfort was worse than usual and I went to the ER.  EKG, blood work, and x rays all normal.  3 days later I have a stent.  Doc puts me on plavix, lisinopril, baby aspirin, 20mg lipitor, and low carb diet. 

    Two weeks ago I started feeling fatigue and some chest pains.  Fatigue/pain got worse over a few days, until I didn't want to get out of bed or eat.  Went back to my doc, new EKG, blood work, and x rays...all normal. By now I'm down to 176 pounds, doc takes me off lipitor and puts me back on a normal diet.  Three days later the fatigue and pain are starting to get better.  Now I'm a week after quitting the lipitor and most all the pain and fatigue are gone.  Not back to 100% yet but working on it.  Still have a little bit of headache.  Just really strange how it all came together and I went downhill so quickly.  

    I feel like now, two months after a single stent, I'm where I should have been the week afterwards.  This has been an incredibly frustrating, humbling, and scary experience.  Reading all the comments from those who have had OHS, I'm amazed at all the great recoveries, attitudes, and encouraging words for others.  I just had a cath and one stent...y'all rock!  

    Thanks for the opportunity to share my experience.  

    Keith

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    Keith Martin
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  • 2.  RE: New Member...

    Posted 12-18-2020 18:34
    Dear Raymond
    These months are an intense time for you and of course you are frustrated. Healing takes time and doctors need several months of adjusting the medications for a few months to find the right balance for you . Most heart patients post op get put on Medicines and diet. This is usually beneficial for most people.

    Marilyn B. Rosenhouse
    Mobile: (214)850-0655




  • 3.  RE: New Member...

    Posted 12-19-2020 06:36

    Hi Keith,

    Some people just can't tolerate lipitor for some reason.  I've read, though, that there are substitute meds you can take.  In fact, others on this website occasionally discuss their negative lipitor experiences.

    You ought to ask your doctor if there is any ongoing benefit to you taking cholesterol lowering medication and, if so, what alternatives exist to lipitor and whether they'd be right for you.

    Best of luck.

    Ira



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    Ira Reid
    Hoboken NJ
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  • 4.  RE: New Member...

    Posted 12-19-2020 10:49

    Good Morning Keith and welcome to the Heart Warrior troop!

    You've likely heard this before, but it's worth saying again. Be patient and live in the moment! I can tell from your post that you have the primary attribute of being a heart warrior, you want to get better. And you probably will, it may not be in a time frame that you want, but keep at it.

    Based on your post our profiles are very similar. Especially the frustration part about healing and lipitor. My path to recover from open-heart surgery to repair a congenital heart defect that I wasn't aware of until I was 47, has been far from a straight-line. My story is at www.backnblack.org Regarding lipitor, one cardiologist says for me not to take it, one says take it. After many sleepless nights and GI issues as a result of the drug, I've stopped taking it. That's my choice, be sure to follow YOUR doctors advise.

    Hang in there on your recovery, keep at it. I'm still not where I thought I'd be 18 month post-op, but making progress. In fact, need to wrap this up so I can complete my morning run. Slowly.

    Be well,

    Barry Weis



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    Barry Weis
    Salina KS
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