In article <42lsbp$…@ixnews6.ix.netcom.com>,
Pat Barath <ol…@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>Recently two friends of mine had what they were told was a new
>procedure – angioplasty and the insertion of a stent to keep the artery
>open.
[details on two friends' situations omitted]
>Does anyone have any info on the long term effects of the stent? Does
>it work well? Any problems? How long has the procedure been used?
>Whatever info you can give would be appreciated.
Pat,
My son (3-1/2 years old) had a stent placed in his pulmonary artery
about two years ago. He was placed on Coumadin for a few months after
the stent insertion; this was to prevent clotting in the area of the
stent. I am happy to report that he has had no ill effects to date.
Regards,
Don
–
————————————————————————
Don Fredricks <fredr…@gdesystems.com>
GDE Systems, Inc — A Tracor Company http://www.gdesystems.com
————————————————————————
Recently two friends of mine had what they were told was a new
procedure – angioplasty and the insertion of a stent to keep the artery
open.
Patient One – female – 57 years old – one stent placed in artery. No
heart attack. History of hypertension, high cholesterol, overweight,
suffering with angina previous to angioplasty and placement of stent.
Thus far, doing well.
Patient Two – male – 72 years old. Emergency open heart surgery 10
years ago after problem during angioplasty procedure. No hypertension,
adult onset diabetes (no medication – controlling with diet), o/w very
good health, walks 3 miles each day, not overweight, no serious
cholesterol problem. Recently had angioplasty and placement of two
stents.
Does anyone have any info on the long term effects of the stent? Does
it work well? Any problems? How long has the procedure been used?
Whatever info you can give would be appreciated.
(They have asked me to post.)
Regards,
Pat
Regards.
b…@intac.com wrote:
: I’m interested in finding out if others have had similar problems. I
: understand that blood clotting is usually prevented by Coumadin
: which I was taking. I was told that my arteries are very thin and
: that this may have led to the problem. I’m also a smoker who is
: almost certain to continue even though I know there are risks.
: How much risk is there? All my doctors are opposed to smoking
: but some seem more zealous than others. I was told that I was
: certain to be in trouble again if continued to smoke. But I couldn’t
: quit and I went back to smoking. I’ve noticed almost no bad
: symptoms from it. I get more angina pain when I climb stairs than
: I do when I smoke. Thus, I assume the risk of climing stairs is
: about the same as smoking. I’m probably wrong.
You’re wrong. And likely you’re going to be dead wrong.
The issue is not whether you have angina pain during the actual moments
you are smoking. The issue is what the chemicals in the cigarettes are
doing to your arteries while they circulate through your blood. They are
INJURING your arteries, and that is causing more plaque to be laid down,
increasing the number of locations where you will be prone to clots that
cut off blood to the heart and cause heart attacks (and strokes and
various other bad effects caused by lack of blood to an organ or a limb!).
Whereas the angina you feel when you climb stairs is just because the
arteries are already narrowed, and the heart is complaining because it’s
not getting enough oxygen. But that angina is not increasing the plaque
in your arteries like the cigarette does. The whole purpose of the
surgery was to open up the clogged places, but you’re cheerfully working
as hard as you can to clog them up again.
I’ve even heard people advocate NOT giving bypass surgery or angioplasty
to smokers, because they’re so expensive, and the smokers are just going
to undo the surgery as quickly as they can. I DON’T advocate that,
myself, but I DO advocate your going to an substance abuse program, and
getting rid of that addiction!!!!!
Sorry I couldn’t let your statement go by — I think you’re in a state of
DEEP denial, and I’m confronting you with it. Please take this as a
caring action, not an attack.
Sincerely, and with best wishes for your future health,
._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c-
Natalie A. Sera, with all her ducks in a row!!!!
Coronary artery spasm, 8-19-92. Still alive — lucky ducky!!!
Proud mother of Josh, age 21
._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._(` ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c- ._c-
Can YOU find the Ugly Duckling?