I am middle-age guy with normal cholesterol, no diabetes and normal chemistries. I had some blocked arteries for years now & yet I managed with really no chest pains or suffering. Last year - a car ran me over and I had much loss of blood and went into cardiac shock from the impact - & - had a MASSIVE heart attack which they said destroyed large areas of my heart muscle.
since the accident, I breathe with gasping if it's cold outside, or if I get anxiety. these symptoms are solely from the heart attack. I refuse to do bypass surgery - they admit it will only stay clear for some years and then later re-clog. I was told that there is no therapy, medicine or anything which will repair my severely DAMAGED heart muscle.- which give me symptoms. My ejection fraction is better than 50%. Prior to attack I had NO chest pains, I walked freely, climbed stairs. etc.etc. I also was told that my body created excellent COLLATERAL vessels to feed my heart,
What hopes do I have?
2006-12-12 17:23:52 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
to LOBSTER: the hospital refused to even inform me of my MI - they "mentioned" it casually to my brother- and I was put on respirator for several days. I was discharged with not the slightest referral or mention of cardio rehab, etc.
I saw a qualified cardiologist to get clearance for my surgery to fix broken tibia from the accident. They made me wait 3 months till they did it. the cardiologist utterly refused to consider angioplasties. He insisted on multiple bypass. yet even HE admitted that I've managed so far due to very good collateral vessels my body created to compensate for the clogged arteries. He said he knew of nothing for my damaged heart. NOTHING, short of transplant.
I don't take any chemical drugs, never will. Nitrates develop tolerance RAPIDLY- this negates their usefulness. I don't want withdrawal symptoms of nitrates. I know I felt quite OK before the MI. (even with the clogged arteries) So bypass is useless for my symptoms. & my labs are really normal.
2006-12-12 18:10:34 · update #1
The above answers are a bunch of crap. They are giving opinons without direct knowledge of the particular fact pertaining to you. I won't really give an opinion but I will just discuss the points which you mention.
No one but a qualified Cardiologist can give you the answers that you seek. And, they can't do that without seeing you and running a bunch of tests.
I had a friend who refuses to have bypass surgery because he had an uncle who had it and died anyway. This kind of reasoning is crap. Look, it is a numbers game. Bypass surgery improves a person’s chances, sure it won't help everyone.
When I had may heart procedure I was told that I had a 1 in 200 chance of dying on the table during surgery. If I didn't have it then I had a one in two chance of having a heart attack. I went with the procedure because I liked those odds. Sure bypass surgery isn't a 100% sure thing, but what in life is. So you calculate the odds as best you can and then take your chances.
When I went in for my heart procedure I had no fear at all. I figured that dying was better then living with as much pain as I had. I worked I haven't had angina since.
I don't know about the veins re-clogging I've know a lot of people with coronary bypasses and none has had them re-clog. Your best hope is to get with a well qualified and experienced cardiologist and undergo a bunch of serious tests. If your not satisfied with the opinion that the lst cardiologist gives you go see another for a second opinion.
A couple of things that you didn't mention was your weight and blood pressure.
If you had that much damage to your heart you wouldn't have normal chemistries in all areas.
If a damaged heart has enough blood flow usually it has a tremendous ability to repair itself. Cardiac rehabilitation after surgery or angioplasty is very effective.
What you are saying, in my experience doesn't add up. There seems to be something left out. I would get with a cardiologist and ask a lot of questions. Maybe you should go to a regional heart center.
You should take a more open mind about bypass surgery. I don't know, I wonder if angioplasty is a possibility.
Do you use nitro? Of course you don't want to unless you are using it in cooperation with a physician.
Even if you have congestive heart failure there is a lot they can do about it.
There may be hope for you but you must get with qualified medical personnel and cooperate and keep an open mind!
PS you got to find a cardiologist you can work with. You seem to have a very closed mind on several issues. I'm take seven prescription drugs a day and the side effects are very mild, they do me a lot of good. After surgery you will have to be on medication. Many of the new drugs are nothing short of miraculous. Maybe I was lucky, I had a great cardiac team. And a great cardiac rehab team. Of course I did have to change drugs and get the dosages adjusted several times. It was frustrating but it all worked out. I think that in your case you will have to make your own luck, sorry to hear you had such a bad time of it. You will make your own luck by getting with a cardiologist who is up on the latest stuff and you can work with.
Good luck and God bless!
2006-12-12 17:54:31 · answer #1 · answered by lobster37 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-20 00:25:36 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ejection fraction >50% is good. The trouble is that modern medical technology cannot regrow your damaged heart muscle. If your heart function deteriorates you could be considered for heart transplant surgery - there are also experimental devices being developed to help the cardiac output of patients awaiting transplant - but be aware that this is a big operation and will eventually require you to be on a whole stack of pills to prevent your body from rejecting the transplanted heart.
Stay away from cigarette smoke, eat well (watch the cholesterol), exercise to your tolerance ... you have a goodly amount of time left in you. The heart is a tough bit of the body - designed to keep pumping for decades.
2006-12-12 17:29:42 · answer #3 · answered by Orinoco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ideas:
how do you feel when you breath oxygen
Have you travelled to a place like Arizona
my perception is that an average or light BMI will give you more stamina ask a physician. just perhaps thirty pounds you slim is thirty pounds you can carry.
Not only do massive doses of vitamins create hours of research fun they may have an effect on your body. Just now I'd suggest you have fun doing research.
I've read a few of your items but doubt you will appreciate this idea. You might ask a physician about testosterone blocking medication but first do the research to find out if it will add years to your life.
2006-12-12 17:52:55 · answer #4 · answered by treonbarleyverdery 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope your gonna have that damaged muscle for ever but if you don't get your arteries cleared your standard of life is going to really suck so what if they clog again in 10 15 years get it done and you'll feel much better physically so live for now and when the plug or if they even do again have surgery again
2006-12-12 17:29:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋