Heart attack and horrid decision to make

[Mastiff]

Unfortunately, I had a heart attack in October lastyear which led to me having an angioplasty, with two stents being inserted in the artery at the "back" of my heart.

Following recent tests it appears that the stents are not doing their job properly (although there is some improvement) but also that an artery on the front of the heart is also misbehaving.

So I have been given the choice of either another angioplasty, inserting another stent to the front artery and seeing what happens in the future, or having a bypass and (hopefully) solving the issue for some years.

The thought of the bypass terrifies me! It would mean at least two weeks in hospital and some months off of work, whereas the angioplasty is an overnight stay and back to the office within a week.

The more I think about it the more the bypass is the "sensible" way to go, but then again it's a bit like a car needing a repair to a scratch on the wing, let the "smart repair" man have a go and if that doesn't work get the 'kin wing painted if I have to!

Either way I'm going in on Friday for one or the other and am worried sick

I don't really know why I am posting this, just an opportunity to say it out loud I suppose

I'm only bloody forty for chrissake.

Thanks for listening guys...

[Apache]

Shitty thing to have happen mate. You've got youth in your favour though so be positive. Best of luck and let us know how it goes

[Noel]

No worries mate, plenty of people have a bypass and go on with life without a problem, the quick fix might be more stressful in the long run.

Either way invest in a few good DVD's and car mags and put yer feet up for some recouperation time!

[Vesuvius 996]

Mastiff said:

Unfortunately, I had a heart attack in October lastyear which led to me having an angioplasty, with two stents being inserted in the artery at the "back" of my heart.

Following recent tests it appears that the stents are not doing their job properly (although there is some improvement) but also that an artery on the front of the heart is also misbehaving.

So I have been given the choice of either another angioplasty, inserting another stent to the front artery and seeing what happens in the future, or having a bypass and (hopefully) solving the issue for some years.

The thought of the bypass terrifies me! It would mean at least two weeks in hospital and some months off of work, whereas the angioplasty is an overnight stay and back to the office within a week.

The more I think about it the more the bypass is the "sensible" way to go, but then again it's a bit like a car needing a repair to a scratch on the wing, let the "smart repair" man have a go and if that doesn't work get the 'kin wing painted if I have to!

Either way I'm going in on Friday for one or the other and am worried sick

I don't really know why I am posting this, just an opportunity to say it out loud I suppose

I'm only bloody forty for chrissake.

Thanks for listening guys...

Take the bypass mate. Solves the problem for good. Are/were you a smoker?

Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Tuesday 4th September 17:51

[Balmoral Green]

Go for the by-pass and enjoy the rest of your life. My dad ed about with just such a decision, months ran into years, on top of the then waiting list, and he died of another heart attack in the meantime.

PH'er Fort Jefferson also suffered a heart attack last october, and also had the stents put in, might be worth looking him up and having a chat. He's a top bloke.

[Don1]

What health care does the job give? Sick leave pay etc? If it works out, I'd say go bypass - two collegues have had it done and the change was remarkable.

[Strawman]

Good luck whichever method you choose, my father had a stent put in his aorta about 6 years ago, and it's still holding strong

[becca_viola]

Don1 said:

What health care does the job give? Sick leave pay etc? If it works out, I'd say go bypass - two collegues have had it done and the change was remarkable.

I'd say bypass too. Family member had one a couple of years ago - dramatic improvement and frankly you may as well get the job done properly first time round.

Good luck

[julian64]

You are very young to have problems of this sort.

The question you have been given would be rather secondary in my opinion to the one that says how did I get in this position. In that regard has anyone given you any idea of why this has happened to you?

As to the question of angioplasty or CABG, I would suggest the consultant treating you already knows which of those two he would like to perform from looking at your angio, and I would pretty much agree with anything he said.

[phib]

Well I am not sure this helps but here goes

My dad had exactly the same thing about 8 years ago fist time round he was terrified.

Then as you have found one of his was not working so the surgeon just said matter of fact he would do it again as it is only a "pocedure" well in my and my fathers view it seemed pretty major, needless to say they did it and hey presto all fixed. In fact I think dad was out in about 3 days the second time around.

They didnt give him a choice to be honest.

He has had a couple of very minor blips since but not connected to the stints. Apart from that pretty much right as rain.

AS I said not sure it helps but seriously wish you all the best

Phib

[OscarT]

Go for the angioplasty with stents - less liklihood of complications and you still have the bypass for the future if needed - keeps your options open.

I give this advice because it's what I did after medical advice from a friend ten years ago and no sign of any problems since then. The way I look at it I still have the bypass option for the future if needed - hopefully not.

PS I have never smoked.

Edited by OscarT on Tuesday 4th September 19:39

[Nick P]

my father has a quadruple bypass about ten years ago after a history which sounds very similar to yours......go for it.

p.s. he is still alive by the way!!!

[Mastiff]

Thanks for the replies one and all, I didn't expect so much support.

To answer some of your questions, I am covered by BUPA and as it is an ongoing condition they would cover both the angioplasy and the bypass later on if required.

Work have been tremendously supportive and have basically said that they will work around whatever my decision may be. Very nice of them considering I work for Mercedes and this is (obviously) the busiest month of the year.

As for why this has happened at this age, all down to me I'm afraid. I could make the standard jokes about very long paper rounds etc but at the end of the day s'all my fault.

The heart itself is absolutely fine and bangs away like a belt fed mortar, despite my best efforts to curtail a long life with outrageous excess wherever I could find it. It's the plumbing that is the problem, and that is down to one thing and one thing only. Smoking. End of story.

[Biker's Nemesis]

My Father had a triple bypass nearly 11yrs ago, the old bugger is still hanging in there.

Good luck.


John.

[turbobloke]

Mastiff said:

It's the plumbing that is the problem, and that is down to one thing and one thing only. Smoking. End of story.

All the best Mastiff, whichever route you take.

A close friend has recently returned from a bypass op at the John Radcliffe in Oxford. To say cardiac surgeons do fantastic work would be an understatement. He was walking up and down the ward virtually straight out of critical care, and that wasn't long either, measured more in hours than days. Amazing.

This guy is 60 but he's led an active life lugging mail round as a postie, and hillwalking for pleasure at weekends. Never smoked in his life. The skilful chap who operated on him said that even non-smokers get to need these ops, if your family history is wrong and you got the wrong genes as a birthday present you can clog up almost regardless of lifestyle. So don't feel guilty, pointless now, relax as much as you can and remember what amazing work the surgeons do then enjoy the rest of your life to the full.

[missdiane]

Ooer what a decision, seeing as the stent is the easy thing, can they do that first and then do the bypass should that not be successful. Its a life decision, they could have given you longer to decide, well whatever you decide, best of luck.
What hospital is it btw?

[ZR1cliff]

A mate had a bypass and said he has never felt better since the op.
Good Luck to you matey,it cant be an easy time for you.

[Karen182]

Mastiff said:

Thanks for the replies one and all, I didn't expect so much support.

To answer some of your questions, I am covered by BUPA and as it is an ongoing condition they would cover both the angioplasy and the bypass later on if required.

Work have been tremendously supportive and have basically said that they will work around whatever my decision may be. Very nice of them considering I work for Mercedes and this is (obviously) the busiest month of the year.

As for why this has happened at this age, all down to me I'm afraid. I could make the standard jokes about very long paper rounds etc but at the end of the day s'all my fault.

The heart itself is absolutely fine and bangs away like a belt fed mortar, despite my best efforts to curtail a long life with outrageous excess wherever I could find it. It's the plumbing that is the problem, and that is down to one thing and one thing only. Smoking. End of story.

and maybe genetically some bad luck too? Is shockingly young to have that sort of trouble

[Apache]

Karen182 said:

Mastiff said:

Thanks for the replies one and all, I didn't expect so much support.

To answer some of your questions, I am covered by BUPA and as it is an ongoing condition they would cover both the angioplasy and the bypass later on if required.

Work have been tremendously supportive and have basically said that they will work around whatever my decision may be. Very nice of them considering I work for Mercedes and this is (obviously) the busiest month of the year.

As for why this has happened at this age, all down to me I'm afraid. I could make the standard jokes about very long paper rounds etc but at the end of the day s'all my fault.

The heart itself is absolutely fine and bangs away like a belt fed mortar, despite my best efforts to curtail a long life with outrageous excess wherever I could find it. It's the plumbing that is the problem, and that is down to one thing and one thing only. Smoking. End of story.

and maybe genetically some bad luck too? Is shockingly young to have that sort of trouble

unless you smoke like an Egyptian taxi

[Markytop]

As with previous comments, I can relate to your situation with my Dad, he had a heart attack, stents etc and everything was fine, but 10 years after he still had to have a double bypass, so my view would be have a bypass now so hopefully removing any further trouble in a few years. Also you are younger now, so your body should recover quicker and easier from major surgery that it might if you have to undergo it later in life.

Whichever way you decide, all the best to you.