Heart Disease :: Treatment Options Stent With Meds Or CABG?

70 year old male in good shape been exercising 6 days a week cardio and weights for the past 5 years or so.Last couple of weeks or started to feel discomfort in my neck and jaw while exercising, it would go away when I stopped. Went to to non interventional cardiologist who ordered up an angiogram which I had 4 days ago. Results were Right artery 99%  blocked, LAD 70 % and two other arteries on the left also 70% blocked. Interventional Cardiologist recommended CABG surgery because of multiple artery involvement and that the left arteries were not good candidates for stenting due to the position of the blockage.

My non interventional cardio after conferring with the interventional cardio said that I had options other than CABG. Both doctors agreed that my angina was most likely coming from the 99% right block.

Option is stenting the 99% blocked right and the OMT for the rest. A surgeon was also called in for consultation and neither he  or the two other Cardios would predict outcomes or give an opinion as to which course of treatment I should follow. Regardless something had to be done sooner rather than later for the  right artery. I sent the pics to  another interventional Cardio  who validated the position of my non interventional cardio that I do have choices other than CABG and that the which ever decision I would make I would probably have a good outcome. So next week I'm going to have the right artery stented and then medically treat the rest of my disease and see where it goes from there.

I also plan to make major changes in my diet to hopefully control the progression of the disease or even possible improve my condition

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Heart :: Failed Stent By Blood Clot - Trouble Breathing

I'm 44, athletic, vegetarian, never been hospitalized or seriously sick until Mid-October 2013. In mid October I had a heart attack, doctor put in stent but stent became blocked by blood clot several hours later; they couldn't get it re-opened. So it is permanently blocked...10-15% of my heart is dead. Dr said heart attack was in a good spot and I should do fine without the 10-15% of my heart. EF right before leaving hospital was 48 according to echo, EF at my checkup 5 weeks later was 46 according to an MRI. Because my heart rate was already really "athletic" and my blood pressure was good; the dr just put me on 12.5 mg metoprolol twice a day and of course plavix, aspirin because the heart attack was apparently caused by a large artery which still remains. Anyway, I just started a very low dose of ACE inhibitor Lisinopril (5 mg) about 5 weeks ago. Anyway....

Lately it seems like I have the desire to try to get a deep breath and I can't really. I can breath but it seems limited when I try to breath deeply.

Could this be low blood pressure (I'm really lethargic and dizzy when I first stand up after sitting or laying down)? Or could it be anxiety? When I'm busy doing something it doesn't really seem to bother me.

I know I need the ACE inhibitor and Beta to hopefully help my EF and hopefully keep me from getting worse.

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Heart Disease :: High Blood Pressure / Slow Heart Rate

I have a heart rate most of the time from 42 to 50 BPM , my blood pressure is usually 145 to 160 over 75 to 80.  My cardiologist has me taking  75 mg, of Lopressor, 360 mg, of verapamil, .4 mg nitroglycerin  patch. And now he wants to add 10 mg of Ramipril ( Altace ) a day, my recent cardiograms have have shown sinus bradycardia. That's before starting the Ramipril , I'm just very leary about starting the Ramipril in first of all the highest dose there is, and second of all it could further lower my heart rate and send my heart into an AV Block that could lead to many things not good !

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Heart Disease :: Amphetamine Addict - Possible Heart Attack?

I'm going to be completely honest and as thorough as possible, I'm an addict, and I've had an addiction to stimulants for the last year and a half (consisting of about 95% amphetamine usage, never used methamphetamine). I usually keep my doses anywhere around 10-60mg cause I never wanted to over do it. Unfortunately, last week I dove in deep to my addiction due to a recent break up, about 4 days ago I did around 130 mg spread out through the day, I felt fine until I took my very last dose (30 mg about), at that point it only increased negative side effects.

After a while of feeling odd and stuff, I began to have trouble breathing and chest pains (I can't remember which started first), it kind of felt like they coincided, but I still would get very minor and infrequent pain without breathing, it felt like I couldn't take a full breath of air, and when I did the chest pain would kick in (more), it felt like a tightening pain. My left arm soon became somewhat numb and tingly, not numb like when you accidentally sleep on it, but just a little numbing that felt like it stretched down my arm through a single vein, the numbness was generally more intense under my armpit and bicep area, and would intensify when I rubbed certain areas. I had a very sore/stiff neck, especially around the area between my shoulder blades and neck, it wasn't on one side, it was mostly in the middle (my neck and back are still sore after this experience, as well as the tingling sensation in my arm but its not at all that bad, and it comes and goes). I had anxiety during this event, and I felt like when people would talk to me I wasn't truly comprehending what they would say, but yet I still was able to reply to them, I just didn't say much or think about what I was saying, I only could pay attention to what was happening to me. I felt like things were kind of slowed down and I was very fatigued and zoned out. I felt as if I was slowly meeting my demise. I believe I got cold sweats a couple times, but not much. I had some heart burn later that night, and the next but its gone.

It came across to me that maybe this was a panic attack but the pain lasted 2-3 hours, after that it wasn't horrible, but it was still somewhat there, and the mental aspect of a panic attack wasn't that intense. I also do think that my left arm may just have "mouse arm" (cant remember medical term), cause I use a computer a lot, a part of my muscle/tendon in my hand has been sore for a while, and it is somewhat acting up now as I type. I really am not sure if a lot of this is me overreacting, or just a placebo effect (I hope so). I've had minor chest pains since I was 13 (I just turned 18), and every time I went in to get my heart checked out, they said I was fine, and that I had a slight irregular heart beat but it was nothing to worry about and a lot of people have it but don't know.

I also have this weird problem with my thought process either that started the night of the incident, or I haven't noticed before. The only way I can explain it is as if my brain buffers for a moment when I go back and forth between two thoughts, it's like I over excite the neurons responsible for those thoughts and I end up overriding my brain for a brief second with confusion, then it's fine. I do have some chest pains now, but it isn't very often, and honestly happens mostly when I think about it or worry about it (same with the left arm), which is why I think I could be conning my self about this entire incident, because I've had panic attacks before but they weren't as bad and were more mental than physical.

It's dumb of me but I never went into the doctors cause 1. I was too paranoid to go in, and 2. I don't want to worry my mom or waste her money just so the doc's (possibly) find nothing. I haven't lately because all I've been doing is researching about this stuff, off and on I think I'm fine and then I don't. So I came here to settle it once and for all, I have a doctors appt. next week anyways so if you guys don't think its serious (I don't, but it could be denial) I'll just wait until then, if it is then I'll go now. I know everybody says "If its your heart then don't risk it", but every time I go in for my heart, it's always nothing.

My family nor myself have a history of heart disease, diabetes, or just flat out obesity. I'm very fit, just oddly muscular for my age, but I don't work out as often as I should now-a-days. I also smoke cigarettes, and my heart pains/arm numbness do come back a bit when I have a cig, but then again it could just be my head. The last time I had any form of a heart test was probably about a year or two ago, it was an EKG and I believe a blood test, but my memory is a bit foggy in that area. My heart rate is normal, I don't know about my blood pressure, but I believe I got a test for it lying somewhere around my house. My last dose of amphetamines was today, yes I know its stupid, but it's literally my last dose (I weaned myself off).

Oh and I did have sex last night, being in the moment I may have over did it (I usually get this feeling just without the numbing), my heart pounded like hell, I got heart burn during it, my left arm and leg became pretty numb, I was kind of tremor-ish, and that's it. Once I orgasmed the numbing went away (except for under my armpit area), and my heart was fine, but beating pretty fast (110bpm).

So do you think I likely had a heart attack? Or do you think it's something else? Or a combination of things? Or simply nothing but a placebo affect or panic attack? And by the way how long does numbing of the left-arm and chest pains last after having a heart attack?

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Cardiovascular :: Trembling Heart - History Of Heart Disease

Recently my heart has been trembling a lot and i find it hard to sleep because i can feel it beating. I used to feel pain in my heart on occasion before, but i have not had that recently. When I drink coffee the tremors are more noticeable and more frequent. 

On my mother's side, she has history of high blood pressure and heart disease, her father died at 50 from a heart attack and my cousin (32 female) has a pacemaker. 

Other symptoms include: 

Redness under my eyes 

Pitted and grooved nails 

Personal profile: 

25 y/o male 

Smoker - 10 a day 

I used to use cocaine infrequently for around 2 years (a heavy session once a month)

I don't drink alot maybe once a week

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Pain After Kidney Stones And Stent

I had my first kidney stone in February of this year. I had lithotripsy twice on my right side and also a stent. The stent was removed after three days. I have had a constant stabbing pain where the stent once was. I have seen many different doctors and been to the ER several times. Each CT scan has come back negative for more stones and doctors cannot find a reason I am still in pain. Anyone have the same problem?

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Kidney Stones :: Stent Help To Relieve Pain? On Warfarin

I've got a 13 x 12 mm kidney stone in my left kidney.

unfortunately, they are unable to remove the stone due to the fact I'm on warfarin.

The doctors are going to put in a stent to help relieve my pain. 

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Disease That Causes Enlarged Heart?

what are the diseases that cause enlarged heart? and what can I do to help with this problem are I am doomed to die with it without notice? mine was inherited . my older brother has it and my son has it. just here lately found this out . I new about mine , but not of there's. I was told by a doctor twenty years ago after doing a stress test that the heart was slightly enlarged and he also said I had the heartbeat of an Athlete, meaning that when I worked out my heart would raise up and when I stopped it would fall back to normal beat quickly.
                                                                                        

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Heart Disease :: Intermittent Vibration In Chest

I've been experiencing an intermittent vibration from the region of my heart for the last 5 months. It can occur at anytime but usually when I am at rest or sleeping. I also get PACs and tachycardia in the afternoons which occurs whenever I am standing or walking (approximately 110 bpm). Sometimes the vibration is triggered by a PAC.

I have done the following tests

- 24 hour ecg (normal)
- Echocardiogram (normal)
- Blood test to check electrolytes and thyroid (normal)

I am 31 years old and Male. I am currently taking medication for hypertension but have been assured this is not a side effect of the med.

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Heart Disease :: Ejection Fraction Is Calculated To Be 56%

I was diagnosed with an mild fixed perfusion at the cardiac apex wall near the apex and a infarct involving the apex and anterior wall near apex and my left ventricular ejection fraction is calculated to be 56%. My question is what does this mean in laymen terms and what medication,  treatments or diet may help this condition?

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Heart Disease :: PACs - Small Flutters Again

I have pacs and they have been gone for a while, but yesterday they started up as small flutters very tiny.   and lots air when i have them i burp a lot. went all day today i can put my hand over my heart and feel it pause a beat/skip   is this my reg pacs or do ya think i should be seen, i have no other problems with this, except so stress lol, i feel them in my throat , not really in my chest unless i put my head on my heart.

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Heart Disease :: Stem Cell Injections - Anyone?

looking for others thats had stem cells injected into there heart.

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Alternative Therapies :: Treating Heart Disease Holistically

We have a Facebook group dedicated to treating heart disease holistically. Search for it " Healing Heart Disease Naturally".

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Heart Disease :: Are Nuclear Stress Tests Truly Safe?

In the past, I have had chest pain walking up hills. So I told my doctor who said "you need a Nuclear Stress Test. We discussed it, it seemed fine to me and  I had one scheduled.

The procedure seemed relaxing enough, I was told to relax in the  Gamma Cam while the radiopharmaceutical they injected me with had a chance to circulate. Then the Gamma Cam did its thing for about 15 minutes and  I was on my way home. Easy? No problems.

But then I had some curiosity about radiation, so I got out my Geiger Counter. I held the probe near various parts of my body and was able to absolutely peg the meter on the highest setting - 50 mr/hr. I called the Nuclear Stress Test technician and cancelled part two of the study, the treadmill test. I then called my doctor, told him about the gamma-ray radiation levels and he convinced me to go ahead with part two of the test.

The next day, the Nuclear Stress Test. technician tried to calm my nerves by saying "Do you see me running away from you after giving you the radio pharmaceutical ?" and "I run when its Cat-scan time..."

Anyway I completed the day two test, went home and again was radiating well over 50 mr/hr. in Gamma radiation.Knowing the radio-pharmaceutical''s half life was 6 hours, I kept a journal and my radiation hit background level in about 48 hours.

But someone has to convince me that injecting me with a radiopharmaceutical which emits positrons which go and cancel themselves with the closest electron in an anti-matter reaction which emanates two gamma rays 180 degrees apart from each other is entirely safe...

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Heart Disease :: Intense Cardio With Tachycardia And PACs?

I've started working out every day pretty intensely, as I'm trying to get very strong. I'm a seventeen year-old girl, and I was recently diagnosed to PACs and tachycardia, much to my surprise. I was completely unaware of these conditions until I went to my annual physical (which was the event my doctor discovered the conditions), two specialists, and had to wear a holter monitor for a day. My heartbeat is usually around 120, but the holter revealed it fluctuates anywhere from 56 to 173 BPM when I am not exercising. I have no idea how fast it goes when I exercise intensely or even at all.

Basically, I want to know if it's safe for me to be doing intensely strenuous exercises and intense cardio. I really want to be super strong and fit, and I know there are certain limits of mine involving cardio. Ex: I can't run a mile in under ten minutes because my heart prevents me from being able to breathe enough. But I use the stairmaster regularly and do intense muscular workouts, and I just wanted to make sure I'm not putting myself in danger.

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Hysterectomy :: Increased Risk Of Heart Disease And Osteoporosis?

When I met with the gynaecological oncologist, and decided that to be safe I should have a hysterectomy to get rid of the rapidly growing, funny looking (on MRI) fibroid, he said "we'll take out the ovaries, too." At the time, I didn't say anything.

However, after I went home, and I did a lot of research and found that it would be a bad idea because having my ovaries removed increase my risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, and my family has a strong history of both, but not of cancer (which I didn't think to mention at the consultation - finding out that there was a slight chance I might have cancer in my uterus put other thoughts out of my mind.) So I sent a very long, detailed email to the gyn/onc, explaining why I thought removing my ovaries would be a bad idea but never got a response. So I called the gynaecological nurse, who was present at my consultation, and she reassured me that I didn't have to have my ovaries out; I have to consent to the surgery.

Well, I was all relieved until I had my pre surgical assessment on Wednesday, when I was given the paperwork to fill out and on the top of the first page it said TAH/BSO (The BSO part means removal of Fallopian tubes and ovaries.) I wrote on the page that I did not consent to BSO and told the assessment nurse, who said she just go that from the doctor and it had nothing to do with her.

So when I returned home, I spoke to the gyn/onc's secretary, who said that she must have mistakenly wrote TAH/BSO on the form and not to worry, the doctor knows about it. I said that I wanted to make sure that he was aware of it prior to my surgery, which is this coming Wednesday, and she said she would speak to him on Friday (today) and would call me back.

Well, I never heard back so called around 4:50 and spoke to a woman (not sure if it was the same person) who, after I gave my name, immediately started reassuring me that my operation would go on as scheduled. I explained that wasn't why I was calling, I wanted to make sure that the doctor wasn't expecting to take out my ovaries when I didn't want him to. She then tried to reassure me that everything was as expected and something about an email being forwarded to him (not sure if she said she forwarded an email or my email). I think she also mentioned something about getting in touch on Monday.

I know that I don't have to consent to anything I don't want to, but I also don't want to have the doctor come in on the morning expecting to do one type of surgery and then being asked to do something else. If the gyn/onc thinks that even with my family history, I'm better off without ovaries, then I'm willing to listen and change my decision, but I don't like the idea of not knowing what is happening with me until the last minute and having to have these kind of conversations on the day of my operation.

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Heart Disease :: Stress Test - Ejection Fraction Of 72% - No Ischemic Changes

Hi, new to MedHelp.  I just got my results on a patient portal from a stress test that I just had done a few days ago.  I don't see my doctor for 2 weeks, but my anxiety just makes me want to know what is going on.  Does anyone know how to interpret these results?  Thank you for any input you can give.

Findings:

Patient was pharmacologically stressed with adenosine at a
     dose of 48 milligrams. No chest pain occurred during stress. A maximal
     heart rate of 108 beats per minute was achieved.

     Injections of 10 mCi and 30 mCi of technetium 99m Sestamibi were given
     for rest and stress imaging, respectively.

     SPECT images after each injection show normal size left ventricle. No
     fixed or reversible perfusion abnormalities were present. Ejection
     fraction was calculated at  72%. No wall motion abnormality.

     IMPRESSION:    No ischemic changes with pharmacologic stress. Ejection
     fraction of 72%. No wall motion abnormality.

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Heart Disease :: PVCs And PACs - Syncope With Erratic Sinus Rhythm

I am Nico, I am a 26 year old male who has been suffering from an array of symptoms since I was 17 years old. I am 5ft 8" and I weigh 235 lbs ( I've gained over 60lbs in the last year and a half) I have had a Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and dizziness (not vertigo) problem since 17 (nearly 8 years now). In 2009 I got into a car accident and fractured my frontal right sinus cavity and had to do a reconstructive surgery. In this accident I also got a concussion and was in shock and also unconscious for about an hour. The last few years my health has gradually been declining and my quality of life has gotten so low. I have seen a TBI specialist, a Neurologist, a Cardiac Electrophysiologist, a Psychologist, and a Psychiatrist for Psychotropic medication management

****(Since Wednesday Morning 10/7/15 I noticed whenever I am Sitting or Standing that My Heart Rate Is Super Erratic and Jumping around a lot, it goes into the 120s-140s when I stand "from a sitting 60-70 bpm" and then bounces all over the place, 40s to low 100s to 80s to 50s, etc. Also since this has started I have noticed an extreme shortness of breath made worse sitting or standing, made better by laying down on my side, my blood pressure since wednesday had also been very low for my normal average when standing, other symptoms with this are blurred vision and off balance/dizzy... I fainted for about 5 seconds friday 10/9/15 night after climbing my flight of stairs, earlier that friday morning I went to the Emergency Department to be evaluated and they said my chest xray was okay as well as my CBC and CMP blood tests.... I explained that most of my symptoms were POSTURAL and or ORTHOSTATIC but they kept me lying down till discharge and didn't let me show them, but on the monitor I was having 100s! of PVCs and PACs which is not normal for me to have that many, also the PACs were making my shortness of breath worse.... They discharged me even though I said I don't feel safe because these are new symptoms and they said well we need your room because we are busy and your cardiologist said all the Arrhythmias are from your Sinus Node so your fine and were discharging you.

. Here are the symptoms I have experienced daily or within this time frame:

*Panic Attacks
*Constant Fear/Adrenaline Rushes
*Always Tired
*No Sex Drive
*Irritable
*Easily Overstimulated (sensory Overload)
*Non-Rotational Dizziness
*Neck Pain
*Cervicogenic Dizziness
*Heart Arrhythmia (PVC's, and Sinus and or Paroxysmal Tachycardia)
*Sensitive to Sounds (Always have to wear earplugs)
*Sensitivity to Light (always wear sunglasses)
*Off balance
*Slight body tremors
*Chronic Neck and Muscle tension in Occipital and Trapezius Muscles
*Startled by normal everyday sounds (occasionally)
*Frequent muscle twitching (Eyelids, Stomach and Diaphragm, temple, legs)
*I can't climb a flight of stairs without feeling exhausted (2 years ago I used to hit the gym a lot)
*Always Feel Like I Am Dying or That I Have Some Serious Terminal Illness
*Tinnitus
*Elevated Blood Pressure
**Obstructive Sleep Apnea (Not using CPAP)
*Obesity
*Brain Fog Always
*Shortness of Breath
*Lump In Throat
* Every few months a random mouth and tongue become paralyzed for less than a minute when I eat then I get
Confused afterwards or Panic attack.

Here are the Medications I take everyday:

Clonazepam (Klonopin) .75 Mg
Diazepam (Valium) 5MG as or if needed
Aspirin 325MG

Here are TESTS performed in the last 7 years I will put a number next to it to indicate how many times I've had it done

* Head/Brain CT Scan   3-4 Times
* Brain MRI                    4-5 Times
* Neck/Throat MRI        2 Times
*Chest X-Ray              10+ Times
*EKG                           20+ Times
*Implanted Cardiac Monitor 4/01/2014(Still Implanted)
*EEG                           3-4 Times
*Basic Neurological Function Test            10+Times
*Echocardiogram Stress Test                   2 Times
*Echocardiogram                                     1 Time
*Stress Test                                              2 Times
*Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound  (testing for artery compression or insufficiency) 1 Time
*Neuropsych Testing  (TBI and cognitive function)          2 Times
*Blood Tests/Urinalysis   >CBC>CMP>CRP>Troponin>Metanephrines>Cortisol>Lipid Panel>Heavy Metal Compounds>Catecholamines>Thyroid Levels> and some others I can't remember.
*Pulmonary Lung Function Test (shortness of Breath)    1 Time
*Overnight Sleep Studies (In Lab)                  9 Times
*Cervical Trigger Point Injections (Marcaine/Lidocaine)      Done Monthly

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Anxiety :: Ongoing Heart Wall Pain, Chest Pain, Radiating Pain, And Headache?

After my mistake (HIV scare) I have all these symptoms heart wall pain, chest wall pain, radiating pain to the whole body, and headache, and cough and sputum.  X-ray 6 times in 6 months and doctors can not see what is wrong with me. Do I have a virus going inside my body? A viral infection?

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