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Avatar universal

80% blockage of LAD

I am a 52 year old female with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol who had a heart attack 2 1/2 months ago.  When I had the heart attack they lost my pulse and the doctor said that I was very critical and they were not sure that I would make it.  They placed a stent but I had a complication.  They had wanted to leave the balloon pump in for a day but I moved my leg and caused it to come out and I had a very large hematoma requiring 4 units of blood.  When I went back to my doctor I found out that I had an 80% blockage of my LAD.  I am on Plavix, metoprolol, losartan and simvastatin along with insulin for my sugar.  I also have severe pain in my arms, hands, neck and head which is why I did not recognize the symptoms of the first heart attack.  My question is if I will be okay without any further intervention with the 80% blockage as long as I am on the medicine?  My doctor did not seem to want to place the stent in the LAD.
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255163 tn?1376869746
I agree with Brickhause. An 80% blockage should certainly not be ignored. The meds you are on are good but they will not make the blockage decrease any. Being a diabetic is all the more reason you should seek a second opinion and a third if need be.  Best of luck.
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Avatar universal
A stent was not placed in my LAD which is where the 80% blockage is.  The stent was only placed in my right coronary artery that had the 100% blockage.  Due to complications they were not able to place a stent in the LAD.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for the information and the well wishes.  I wish you good luck also in the future.
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Avatar universal
I still have the 80% blockage in my LAD.  I was not in well enough shape for the stent to be placed in it after I had the hematoma.  I feel like a walking time bomb.  The stent was placed in my right coronary artery.
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Avatar universal
The point is, did they treated your LAD and it is in there where you have the stent? If yes, Ed is rigth and your LAD no longer should be blockade but open by the stent.

If not, I will go for a second opinion.

BTW, I also when on cardiac shock during my stents placement, they had to stop and place the balloon pump... BUT they TIED my leg to the bed, so that I could not move it. 48 hours later I was again in and got more stents.

Jesus
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976897 tn?1379167602
Your LAD should be fine now. There are different techniques being used with angioplasty compared to years ago and outcomes are becoming more successful long term. For example, it is now known that pressure is more important during inflation of the stent, rather than the length of time. Just a short time ago it was believed the longer the stent was pressurised, the better.
Your medication is good. The Plavix will help a great deal in preventing the Stent from clotting. The Simvastatin will reduce your Cholesterol, but more importantly, reduce inflammation of your arteries which can start Atherosclerosis. Metroprolol is a Beta Blocker which will keep your heart from jumping into action each time you have a surge of Adrenaline due to anxiety/stress etc. It will give your heart a rest.
Lastly but by no means least, you are on blood pressure medication in addition to Beta Blockers. The closer your blood pressure to a normal range, the better.
I have now had 10 Stents, the first was in Feb 2007, and so far none have clogged up.
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Avatar universal
  I am not a professional. This comment is strictly from personal experience.
  I had an heart attack at 52 also. I had damage to one of my arteries which caused a complete shutdown. 20% of my heart muscle was destroyed, supposedly. I also had a blockage in my LAD, but had the stent in with no complications.
  An 80% blockage is not something that seems good to just ignore. None of the medications you listed does a thing to increase blood flow or make living easier for you. If I were you I would be asking for a second opinion at the very least.
  Good luck! I am 62 now and have had no further HA's even though I am grossly overweight and get no exercise.
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