Bypass surgery and options?

Question

I am a 48 year-old woman who has severe heart disease.

My heart disease is hereditary.

I had quadruple bypass surgery in November, 2003. I actually had 6 blockages but one of them was opened using a stent and the decision was made on the other to not do anything at the time. The surgeon had trouble finding veins and arteries in my body that were in good enough shape to perform the surgery with. By January of 2004 two of the 4 bypasses that they performed had collapsed. The decision was made to attempt to maintain my health through numerous medications. A second surgery is in my future but the surgeons feel that it is the last option I have with the remaining useble arteries.veins in my body so they are holding off as long as they can to give me more time.

I have two questions. I had asked the first one of the surgeons after my surgery once I knew of my situation and at the time they had nothing positive to say.

Please bear with me.. I need to type additional info...

Has anyone ever heard of using pig (or any other kind of animal) veins and arteries to perform bypass surgery with?

2nd Question..

Is it possible that I am building up an immunity to the medications I am on?

I have noticed recently that my symptoms are increasing in severity and am wondering if the meds I am on aren't as effective as they once were. The main medications I take are Isosorbide, Plavix, Toprol, Lisinipril, Lipitor I am on an experimental drug that works with the Lipitor to help raise my good cholesterol and I take an aspirin every day...

Let me say this... if you didn't know that I have a heart condition and couldn't see my "zipper" then you would never know one exists. I don't live like I am waiting for something to happen. I refuse to. I treat every day as a blessing and am still very active only sowing down when my body tells me I must.

Thank you in advance for any information/advise you can give..

Sincerely,
Tammy.

Thank you all for your responses.. Such kind souls you all are..

Nice Guy, you really are :)

The only relatives that I have that may have suitable veins/arteries are my own children. Never in a million years would I allow that to happen. The day may come when they are going to need access to all they have as well. The three of them have offered. I guess the look I got on my face told them all they needed to know. It's good to know I can still scare them. *lol*

The lifestyle changes you mention are a work in progress. Everyday...

IAINTTELLEN, Thanks for the input on the meds. Your answer is extremely helpful. Yeah, the anti-rejection meds I would have to take was the main reason the surgeon felt using porcine tissue was not an option at the time. I was curious if anything had changed.

finaldx, from your keyboard to God's monitor.. :) Thanks for the input... you confirm what the other two said..

I

Doc8, I do expect it. I just don't dwell on it. This isn't the first time I have faced a disease that could potentially end my life. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32. I breezed through that.

Thanks for the prayers all.. Let me say this. I am a blessed individual. While battling the cancer I learned a lesson about life at a young age that most people don't learn until the best years of their lives have passed them by. How precious living a happy life is. Can't be happy all the time but, life is what you make it. I've had a good life and it ain't over!! :)

I'll continue checking back here... Thanks folks... you've been extremely helpful and made my day. :) Now I gotta go paint the porch!

Answer 1

I to am proud to be an American!

I'm sorry to hear of your dilemna. I know that there has been experimental research done using animals with the intent of transplants into a human body. I'm do not know how far they have advanced with this technology. I think you are on the right path by thinking outside the box as far as different ways to improve your coronary health.

I don't know if this is practical or not, but can you have a relative or loved one that can donate usable veins that would be suitable for bypass? That seems like a reasonable course of action if your doctors believe it is practical to do so. I've read promising information about IV chelation, but am not entirely familiar with the process or just how effective this process is. There are plenty of books written on this and loads of info. on the web. There are some doctors, although a minority, that in some cases recommend IV chelation as an alternative to bypass surgery. This is certainly worth researching. I know it is outside the box, but I believe under the circumstances those are avenues that need to be explored.

Also, in the interim before you have another procedure, I hope that you will consider the lifestyle changes recommended by Dr. Dean Ornsih for individuals diagnosed with coronary artery disease. In a nutshell, he is bascially recommending a low fat vegetarian diet, regular moderate cardiovasular exercise, and controlling stress. It is a difficult regimen to follow, but I have first hand knowledge that it can improve your coronary health, and it is well documented in the medical community that following this regimen does increase blood flow to the heart, and can actually start to slowly reverse coronary artery disease. I believe it is not a commonly prescribed course of action because doctors have the mindset to cure everything with a pill and justly believe that most people don't have the will power to make such dynamic changes in there lives. Although medication can certainly help in some situations, in many cases diet and lifestyle changes can make an even more significant improvement.

I do not know for certain if you can build up an immunity to the drugs that you are taking. My history with other medications taken long term tells me that we don't build an immunity to them, our body just gets more efficient at processing the substances within the pills and excreting them. The ingredients in these prescription medications are not natuaral to our bodies, so our remarkably adaptive bodies attempt to rid our bodies of these substances, and it apparently becomes more efficient at it. Hopefully you will get other posts that can give you some information on it. There is someone who goes by "Jeff the nurse in Nashville" whoes answers in this section I have seen frequently. He is a cardiac nurse in a hospital and has had some very informative posts. Can someone out there forward Tammys question to Jeff if they know how to find him?

I used to work in a clinic where we did diagnostic testing for coronary artery disease. It really is true that heredity and lifestyle are strong predictors of coronary artery disease. It is also true that all of us are empowered to improve our health through lifestyle changes. Although your condition is due to heredity, making changes in your life can still improve your health, extend your life, potentially slowly begin to reverse this disease, and at the very least slow it's progression. Don't get down, the mental aspect of dealing with heart disease is just as difficult as dealing with the physical aspect. I sincerely hope that you found this information useful. If you ever want to chat please email me. Take care & God Bless & you are in my prayers.

PS.... I read DOC8s post below and it just infuriates me. I don't know if he is a doctor or not, but his lack of emathy and demeanor are certainly characteristics that are typical amongst doctors. He bascially insinuated that there was nothing that can be done to improve or stop the progression of your condition. It is true that measures you take do not assure that you will get the desired results. However, conciously choosing to pursue courses of action that can potentially improve one's health will in many cases do so. I firmly believe that a big part of the battle when combatting illness, including heart disease, is knowing and believing that you are empowered through life style changes and proper medications to beat the disease, and to believe that there can be light at the end of the tunnel, and to firmly believe that your research and efforts put into improving your health are not an exercise in futility, but a constructive and logical way to improve ones heath and overall quality of life. To me his post was like he is telling you to resign yourself to imminent death and that you are powerless to achieve an improvement in your condition. Well DOC8, you're wrong! Please put some thought into your future posts that can actually contribute to giving the one asking the question not just information, but realistic alternatives to improving ones health.

Answer 2

Have heart (pun intended), there are new and better approaches to this problem being found every day in medical research. Hopefully you can stay in good enough shape to benefit from those.

Human veins are harvested to be used in that sort of situation, also. I might be more inclined to want at least some parts from the same species, if possible. I think your other concerns have been adequately answered above.

Lastly, if you are a compliant patient, I would think you could qualify for the transplant list, should it ever get that dire.

Best wishes in this challenge.

Answer 3

Lisinopril and Toprol and used to lower your blood pressure. It is not uncommon for dosages to need to be adjusted for either of these drugs. Isosorbide is used to treat angina. Plavix is a statin type drug to help reduce the level of bad cholestorol in your blood. Your doctors can easily tell when and how all these medications need to be adjusted by checking your BP and blood work.

Yes, porcine (pig) tissue has been used for vein bypass graphing. The major problem with that is that you will have to take a whole new set of medication to keep your immune system from reacting/attacking the foreign tissue. These immunosuppressant medication do just that... suppress your immune system. This will make you susceptable to MANY illnesses.

I'm truly sorry to hear that a person as yourself has to deal with such medical problems. I hope you have many friends and family to offer support! Please follow you doctor's advice and continue to keep appointments and take your perscribed medication.

Best of health and luck to you!

Answer 4

Hope may be in taking glyconutrients. Read the testimonials on my page and here: glycoresource.com and also listen to our doctors call monday night 9pm EST 877-626-6246

Answer 5

Anticoagulants, cholesterol reducers, and vasodilators. The anticoagulants and cholesterol drugs will continue to work. You cannot dilate a piece of iron pipe and that is the condition of your arteries. I think a progression of your condition is to be expected.

Answer 6

hey go look i answered your questions.