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Readers Respond: Why Were You Given A Stent?
Responses: 44

By , About.com Guide

User responses are not monitored by About.com's Medical Review Board.

If you have received a stent for your stable coronary artery disease (that is, for a blockage in a coronary artery that was NOT causing an acute heart attack or unstable angina), please tell us what reason your cardiologist gave you for recommending a stent instead of non-invasive medical therapy. Tell Us Your Reason

Why I got my stent

I was having pain in my upper left arm on exertion and it was getting worse. My primary care physician sent me for a stress test. After reviewing the battery of tests, the cardiologist told me that the left part of my heart was not getting enough oxygen. She wanted to schedule me for a heart catheterization as soon as possible. Two days later the angiogram showed that my LAD was 99% blocked and an interventionist was called in to place a stent. I was never given a choice and not much time to think about it. I was already taking a calcium channel blocker and exercising and my ejector fraction was 55-60% before the procedure
—Guest spud272

15 Stents

I got quad bypass 2003 then since 2007 and months after, I have 6 stents, then 3 stents, then 5 stents and then 1. When I asked what's happening with me? one doctor told me "series of badluck!"
—Guest Ironman

cardiac arrest and stents

My husband 59 went into cardiac arrest he was given cpr and the difibulator within 4 mins. was rushed to hops. 3 stents pt in right coronary artery what are the chances of full cardiac arrest againsharonsilvestr@yahoo.com
—Guest sharon silvestri

recent stent

They put a stent in the proximal circumflex which was 90% blocked. I did have increased symptoms that were happening at rest and exercising.
—Guest clara

Why stent

Ran a 3.45 marathon at 50. Three weeks later fainted after a meal, no heart attack but angiogram discovered 60% LAD block. One stent in,that was 9 months ago. Shock at the time but much better now,walking but only jogging maybe 5 mins max. Is it safe ?
—Guest jimbo

Stents

I had a choice of open heart surgery or stents...To me there wasn't much of a choice.
—Guest Charlie Napier

3 stents after a MI

One artery blocked 100% and the other 95% blocked.. I waited 13 hours before I went to the hospital.... It's only been 2 months since the heart attack...
—Guest Maria

Cardiac arrest 04-15-06

While I was on hemo-dialysis at my center, I had a cardiac arrest which I do not remember anything. So I was told that I got, I beleive 4 stents. Since then I have had no problems.
—veress

heart

iv had stent in ,,for the last 4yrs,because i had a heart attack ,..
—Guest jenny

Stents galore

I'm at 41yr old male. My first heart attack was at 31 with a 99% blockage in my RCA. It was stented and shortly after I had to go back for 5 more stents in my RCA. I just recently had another heart attack from restenosis of some of the previous stents. Another 5 stents were put in to open my RCA. During the procedure I was told I had a 90% blockage in my LAD. I had to go back again a couple weeks later to have 2 more stents put in my LAD. The stents I have now are drug eluting and to be honest although I feel fine I wonder what's next for me. I think I run a higher chance for something else to happen and I'm worried.
—Guest Stent Man

What to do now

Is had triple by-pass 4 years ago. This August heart attack and one of the by-passes was 100% closed. two stents to open. Since then I have occasional high blood pressure 180 or more over 90.
—Guest MarilynEG1934

Stent After Soft Plaque Rupture

I was given two PROMUS drug eluting stents after a soft plaque rupture caused a thrombus in my circumflex artery. HDL/LDL numbers were great, no genetic history of CAD, Had just run a sub 4:00 marathon 7 weeks prior. My gut feeling is that marathon stress caused plaque rupture, but probably will never know.
—RonRJr

Why were you given a stent ?

I reached the ER and collapsed, hit the ground and immediately jaw started to hurt. Apparently, I was at the right place at the right time and God didn't feel my time to go had come yet. I was told I was having a heart attack. Within 20 minutes I was move to a cardiac specialty facility and angioplast and catherization was performed. LAD was 100% ocluded and 2 other smaller arteries in the back also. Only the LAD was stented(2). I've been very strict with my medicine regimen and diet and above all have learned to manage stress a bit better (poor management/taking on too much had pushed me over the edge!). That procedure was performed on April 9th , 2008. Today is May 2nd, 2009 & I don't intend to go back to the hospital ever again..:-) I have consulted many specialists because my EF is still only around 20-25%, but I'm functioning OK, expect that I have to take things real slow or else I get tired. Cant do extensive exercising either.Life is going on trying to keep stress levelslow
—Guest Sam

allan

I have four stents after two MI,s two in the circumflex and two in the left anterior descending I have left bundle branch block but I feel good.I was on amiodorone 4years not a very good drug.after I stop taking no problems
—Guest allan mills

No Reason given..No choice given

I have written this before to you Dr Fogoros,last April after the placement of my DES, RCA. I am an RN, after my cardiologist suggested the Arteriogram, I researched and decided my choice would be what the Courage study revealed..aggresive therapy if needed. I did not want to be on Plavix! I discussed this with cardiologist, evidently he did not discuss this with interventionist. They put my Happy Ass to sleep, I woke up with a stent! They found a 70 % blockage right coronary artery (ostial). He told me that he and his partner discussed it and decided it would be best to place DES!Guess what? It took him 2 1/2 hours for that 15 minute procedure!(missed it by 2 MM All of my other arteries were at 20%. I am and have always been proactive with my health. Diet, exercise and weight normal BMI. I am 62, Hope I live a long and happy life! Cardiologist says 2 years on the plavix! I get mine from canada at a much greater price, but what worries me is coming off of it in an emergency!
—Guest Jeannie

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