topic Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery? in Community Chat

Has anyone had a Stent placed in an artery? EDITED WITH UPDATE ON HUSBAND

Georgiagrama — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 02:39:49 GMT

Have any of you had, or know someone who has had a stent placed in an artery?

My husband's Doctor wants to go in and "look" at a portion of his heart that he believes may need a stent. My husband is terrified. He feels that if he doesn't need the stent, and the Doctor is just looking, it could cause him to have a heart attack. Plus, the down time for this procedure appears to be several weeks.

I'm hoping to ease my husbands mind about this procedure.

EDITED: I would like to thank each and every one of you who took the time to respond. I've read each post with interest and have placed a call to the Doctor. You have each given me a good idea of the reasoning behind the Dr.'s recomendation and I feel that I can ask more knowledgable questions of the Dr. and that I can reassure my dear husband.

Thank you all. I will try and update and let you all know how things turned out. And thank you especially for your good wishes and prayers.

*********PLEASE SEE THE LAST POST ON THIS SUBJECT FOR UPDATE ON MY HUSBAND

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

phoenixbrd — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 04:14:08 GMT

Just my opinion, I would trust your husband's instinct. Wishes for the best of health.

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

dooBdoo — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 06:20:26 GMT

@Georgiagrama, I don't have direct experience with this procedure but wanted to comment. I've spent most of my life working in the health care world, many people close to me are medical professionals, and I have my own history of other procedures and doctors. It's normal and human for anyone to be worried about procedures, or even afraid of them. We also have to be prudent and protect our health. There's nothing wrong with asking here for posters' personal experiences. I really do understand asking, but since the internet isn't always a reliable place to get the advice or information that applies specifically to our own individual needs, if your husband doesn't trust his physician he might want to get a second or third opinion and also be cautious in taking too much time to decide in case there's a serious problem that needs attention. My prayers and good wishes for you both, and for his medical team, too.❤️

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

hsawaknow — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 04:34:39 GMT

My 92 y/o ex MIL had this done 2 weeks ago. She was in the hospital for 3 days and is recovering nicely. She was also afraid but the Doctors explained everything to her and she came thru with flying colors.

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

Georgiagrama — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 04:41:49 GMT

@dooBdoo

Thank you . I also prefer to ask those who have some experience or knowledge in different situations. And, of course, everyone has their own unique experience. I do wish I had been with him when the Doctor told him he wanted to do this.

What you read on the internet can be terrifying.

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

dooBdoo — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 09:21:50 GMT

@Georgiagrama wrote:
@dooBdoo

Thank you . I also prefer to ask those who have some experience or knowledge in different situations. And, of course, everyone has their own unique experience. I do wish I had been with him when the Doctor told him he wanted to do this.
.
What you read on the internet can be terrifying.

You're welcome, @Georgiagrama. I understand completely, and that's why I was careful in commenting in my first post -- there's nothing wrong with asking, and it's something many do here. The internet, as a whole, can be a wonderful help, and people usually mean well, but it also has its perils, and I've seen some dreadfully bad advice offered and needless scare tactics along the way. I think the key to this is for your husband to fully express his concerns to his physician and, if not satisfied, get more opinions from other specialists he trusts. I wish you had been there, too, and I can hear and feel your concern and love. My heart and prayers are with you and your dear husband.❤️

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

shoekitty — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 05:06:41 GMT

I havent, thank goodness.. But my pastors wofe, and close lfroend did! She had felt bad for a while, then at a wedding she felt really sick, froend there said go to hospital!!! She did and it was heart attack, the artery in neck had shredded and hung by a thread. She is athletic and was 50 at the time. Who'd a think it. They put a stent in, and she had it ever since....no problem so far. She was forced to do it, because of emergency.

my brother just had a stent put in from kidney to bladder. That is a teip. It is a little uncomfortable, but he feels better. It iis a temporary situation. For 6 months and they have to take it out

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

brancare — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 05:56:55 GMT

My brother just had four stints put in his heart and his kidneys failed. He had this done at MId michigan midland. He is diabetic He had a heart attack and the "balloon" didnt work. The next day he was up walking and the following day he was released. He is 46. The heart doctor said his heart is good and everything is flowing well. Also to my surprise after a heart attack he said my brother had a strong heart. This just happened about 3 weeks ago. He needs to watch his diet very closely both follow heart smart and diabetic. He says he feels good. He gets dialysis Tuesday Thursday and Saturday. He says he feels better then he has in years. I pray for him daily. It saved his life Prayers for you and your husband. I dont come from a healthy bunch Both my parents died young from different types of cancer. My sister age 55 has lung cancer and her son age 35 has brain cancer and my husband was found to have gist last Oct. a type of intestial cancer, He takes a targeted drug everyday called gleevec. I am very glad my brother had it done . It was successful. His doctors are more concerned about his kidney and dialysis then his heart right now. as I said prayers and thanks for letting me unload on your post

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

brancare — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 05:59:12 GMT

I just read my post not supposed to say well. He is still healing. It was supposed to say walking

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

Blingqueen023 — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 07:14:56 GMT

@Georgiagrama I've had a few cardiac caths performed and was awake and was awake for my first two stents that was placed. It's a piece of cake, and painless. Then I had two other stents placed, and again, awake and painless. I was back to work in two days. Wishing your husband the best of luck.

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

webbgarner1 — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 08:53:41 GMT

@Georgiagrama I have had several cardiac caths and 3 stents placed. Like almost anything else, there was a bit of discomfort, nothing unbearable. All procedures have certain risks involved but cardiac cathsare s a very common proceedure now. My question would be what are his symptoms? I would follow his cardiologist advice . especially if he is having episodes of chest pain especially upon activity that stops with stopping the activity( like walking).

There are several reasons why people may have chest pain, some cardiac some not. The doctor probably wants to determine the cause of the chest pain , if cardiac problems can be ruled out, that is great.

Has he had any other cardiac testing done such as a stress test?If the stress test is abnormal it would be wise to get the cath.

Best wishes to you and your husband.

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

Lilysmom — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 09:17:27 GMT

@Blingqueen023, wow! LM

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

Lilysmom — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 09:19:56 GMT

@Georgiagrama, my FIL had this procedure and came through it very well. I wonder if you could see the doctor again with your DH and have the rationale for the procedure and the procedure itself explained more fully. It might make you more comfortable. LM

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

puttypiesmom — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 09:55:21 GMT

@Georgiagrama wrote:
Have any of you had, or know someone who has had a stint placed in an artery?

My husband's Doctor wants to go in and "look" at a portion of his heart that he believes may need a stint. My husband is terrified. He feels that if he doesn't need the stint, and the Doctor is just looking, it could cause him to have a heart attack. Plus, the down time for this procedure appears to be several weeks.

I'm hoping to ease my husbands mind about this procedure.

I'm surprised they do this to just take a look when they have ct scans and other imaging machines for veins specifically. Hmm, I think since they go up the groin and there is a lot of bruising later, that procedure would be done only after knowing for certain a stent was needed. But I guess the doctors do have a better view going inside. Can't a MRA be done?

The magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) scan takes very clear, detailed pictures of the blood vessels, including arteries and veins, using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. The MRA may be included as an extra test when an MRI scan is ordered, or may be ordered by itself.

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

SeaMaiden — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 11:35:23 GMT

@phoenixbrd wrote:
Just my opinion, I would trust your husband's instinct. Wishes for the best of health.

If her husband's instinct is based on fear and not science... than that could be a deadly choice for him to make over his doctors suggestions. Yes any surgery is difficult. But to just not have it because you are afraid is foolish.

My husband had an Aortic abdominal aneurysm repaired 5 months ago with a stent. It most likely saved his life.

Her husband needs to get a second and third doctors opinion if he does not trust his doctor....

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

qualitygal — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 12:08:13 GMT

My husband had a stent done years ago. Maybe his doctor can explain the procedure better to your husband so he isn't so fearful of the unknown. It's perfectly normal. You should set in on that conversation with them both. Ask questions first. Good luck to you both. My hubby, is just fine now.

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

on the bay — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 12:12:26 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@phoenixbrd wrote:
Just my opinion, I would trust your husband's instinct. Wishes for the best of health.
If her husband's instinct is based on fear and not science... than that could be a deadly choice for him to make over his doctors suggestions. Yes any surgery is difficult. But to just not have it because you are afraid is foolish.

My husband had an Aortic abdominal aneurysm repaired 5 months ago with a stent. It most likely saved his life.

Her husband needs to get a second and third doctors opinion if he does not trust his doctor....

Instinct is good too-it can lead to good questions and answers to lessen the fear and make a decision and to get a second opinion.

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

Trinity11 — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 13:14:08 GMT

I have had five stents and a balloon placed in my left artery and left interior descending artery from having had 2 separate heart attacks in 2016 and 2017. I only wish I had an angiogram right before the first heart attack. There are times an angiogram can do what no nuclear scans nor stress tests can do to "diagnose" a serious heart condition such as a blocked artery.

The procedure itself is uneventful. Once the catheter is placed, the patient remains awake. There was little to no bruising except for wound care for about a week. I was discharged within hours of the procedure last time.

All told I have had 5 angiograms. One was through the wrist and the others were through the groin. No pain with any of them and you are also given a sedative before the procedure. If the patient is taking Metformin, it is advised to stop it a few days before due to the dye used in the procedure. The patient will receive a print out on not lifting things for a few days and not resuming the Metformin for about a week. (Just mentioning this because there are a lot of Type 2 diabetics here that take this medication)

If anything is found and your husband has a blocked artery, it will be determined immediately and an angioplasty will be performed. I found it to be a painless procedure but every patient is different. It is best to ask the interventionalist because some patients are found to have arteries that are blocked that need surgery and a stent cannot be used.

Google the stats on how this procedure is safe and rarely life threatening. As far as your husband's fears about the angiogram......far better his interventionalist gives him an angiogram than to suffer a heart attack. In addition, it can be a baseline for him to see if his arteries are clogged BEFORE he has a heart attack. Once a portion of the heart muscle has been damaged, life changes quickly, or at least it did for me as a Type 1 diabetic.

Please tell your husband not to fear this procedure rather look upon it as one of the best diagnositic tools available to prolong life. Just be sure he goes to a hospital where this procedure is done frequently and to research who his interventionalist will be. Check his or her background and make sure they have done this procedure many times before.

Let us know your husband's decision @Georgiagrama. Please do not fear this life saving procedure. I wish you and your husband my best...

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

Marp — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 13:21:47 GMT

@brancare, as a matter of curiosity after reading your family history I am wondering if you have investigated if there is a genetic component to cancer in your immediate family AND/OR if all those mentioned have primarily lived in the same general location for most/all of their lives?

Recognizing that I'm asking a very personal question please do not feel obligated to answer but please consider the answer to my question for the possible benefit of future generations.

Re: Has anyone had a stint placed in an artery?

sidsmom — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 13:34:14 GMT

@Georgiagrama

Do we know why his arteries are compromised to begin with?

More than likely it’s nutrition/lifestyle.

If he goes through the procedure & the same nutrition/lifestyle

is maintained, those stents can become re-clogged, as well.

A doctor should recommend the path of least resistance first.

A change of diet/lifestyle is not only recommended but a

requirement for after surgery, if he chooses that route.

Either way, do a “180” now to prevent surgery or

later to precent other complications.