Greetings. I thought I had posted last night but haven't been able to find it. I wanted to introduce myself. I am 64 1/2, anxiously awaiting COVID vaccine and Medicare. I have been diagnosed with CAD for about 15 months now. 1st heart cath was Dec of '19, one stent placed for mid left diagonal branch lesion that was 95%+. I did well afterwards and came to FL, where we have since moved permanently. In March I started having discomfort again and ended up going to the ER for evaluation. Next day I had a cath where they found the same lesion had re-stenosed and placed a 2nd stent inside the 1st, and placed an additional stent at the proximal takeoff for this vessel. Again I did well for several months, but June 2nd, had another cath due to chest and arm discomfort, found the same lesion to have blockage again. That doctor said it appeared angiographically to be clot, which she performed balloon dilatation multiple times to open it up again. She changed me from Plavix to Brilinta. Another almost 6 months goes by, and end of November I was traveling in Southern IN and staying across the border in OH. Developed significant discomfort and went by ambulance to hospital in western Cincinnati. Great hospital and interventionists there. I had 99% occlusion again at the same location. They used laser athrectomy, about 8 passes, and did multiple balloon dilatations again. My doc here in Punta Gorda added low dose Xeralto to the mix when I got home.
Now I am starting to have angina again. Not severe, but usually a sign that I'm getting occluded again. I have never had it until I'm pretty far along. Saw my doctor yesterday and he is starting 2 new antianginal meds, and will do a stress test in a couple of weeks to see of there is significant blockage developing. If they find impaired circulation will do another heart cath and decide then if it's time to go ahead with CABG. I'm getting really sick of being cathed every 3-5 months!
Wondering if anyone else out there has had problems with re-stenosis, and what your experience has been. I am diabetic, waiting on an insulin pump to hopefully improve my glucose control. Last A1C was 8.1, not terrible, but have not been able to control it well for last couple of years. Started seeing and endocrinologist and she discovered I am pretty much type 1 now, thus the insulin pump. My cholesterol numbers have always been fantastic, never had elevation and good ratios, but my first cardiologist started me on Atorvastatin due to the diabetes. Have maxed out on that now.
I don't relish the thought of open heart surgery, but if that's what it takes to nip this in the butt then so be it. My cardiologists think for some reason, my body is just reacting the the stent in place and that's causing irritation/inflammation and causing the re-stenosis so soon.
Anyway, that's my story. I look forward to interacting with this group and learning as well as doing what I can to help others. I am a retired nurse with 30 of my 40 years in critical care, cardiac units and ER. Thanks for listening.
Dennis Danner
Punta Gorda, FL
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Dennis Danner
Punta Gorda FL
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