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Am I the only 36 yr old with stents????

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Posted 8/1/2006 3:54 PM (GMT -6)

Had some shortness of breath with a few dizzy spells...a week later I awoke from an angiogram to be told by my husband I was the proud owner of two new stents!  I'm not overweight, don't smoke, eat well and exercise.  I'm still in shock, and afraid too.  Just checking to see if I have any company out there...

Posted 8/1/2006 4:41 PM (GMT -6)
:-)  Hi juliet, i am not 36, but i was just as shocked a year and a half ago to have to have two stents also.  i am and have always been in good shape, none of those vices you discussed, and just like you shortness of breath walking up a hill that ususally gives me not trouble made me go and ask for an angiogram. everyone was surprised. i think it is lucky your doctor knew enough to do it. at your age they wouldn't ever suspect it, but there are a few young people in your age group on this site and i am sure they will chime in.  i want to say that i personally was terrified and stayed that way for over a year til i came to this site and realized how truly bad many others have it and that i will probably survive a bit longer.  did they put you on meds? which ones? it soounds like it is hereditery,  did you have high cholesteral? fill us in.
Posted 8/1/2006 7:53 PM (GMT -6)

Thanks for the response.  No cholesterol problems either.  Just two grandfathers with heart disease, both of whom died at 60 yrs. old.   I am VERY lucky for the doctor I have.  He did not hesitate.  Luckily, I was already seeing a cardiologist for minor high blood pressure (it has been normal for 1 year with a low dose of med.)  that didn't resolve itself after a bout of preeclampsia.  He ordered all the tests quickly, and honestly, was as stunned as I was. 

Yep, I"m on meds, but I'm having a reaction to something and we're not sure what yet.  I take 325mg aspirin, Plavix, Atenolol and was on Lipitor.  However, about a week ago, I started having itchy palms and feet.  Then, wherever I'd scratch, huge welts would develop.  The doc thought it was the Plavix, so we stopped that and went to Ticlid.    After three days, no difference in the rash.  He then thought it was the Lipitor, so we stopped that, and I"m back on the Plavix with a nice dose of Prednisone to control the rash.  I just hope that this will resolve everything...I have no desire to go back on the Ticlid.  The side effects of that are just scary...

Thanks for the support.  I'm trying to deal with this and still do my wife and mommy and work thing too, and it is difficult! 

Posted 8/1/2006 8:40 PM (GMT -6)
:-)  wow juliette, i know that list of drugs pretty well, i will be happy to discuss them anytime.  i could not wait to get off the plavix, i stopped it right at 9 months(which is what they demanded ) my understanding is it helps to protect your stents for the first few months then after that you should be able to just be on 81 mgs of aspirin.  i tryed the lipitor and all the other statins and just could not handle them. i am surprised if you do not have high cholesteral they are making you take that.  i have finally widdled my meds down to three, i felt like i was 80 years old and figured i would go for quality of life rather than quantity, you are still too young to think like me however. good luck and please stay in touch, we are happy to share.  Also i go on hte chat site pretty often about 5to 6 pacific time daily, so if you need a private chat, please look for me. bye for now.(thats P.M.)
Posted 8/2/2006 6:04 AM (GMT -6)
Good morning.

I am curious about the Plavix.  I have coated stents (not bare metal) and told I must be on them for life.  The latest research has something to do with the coating in these stents and taking Plavix will keep them open. They are advising doctors to inform current coated stent pateints and future coated stent patients of this new finding...Plavix indefinatley now for those with coated stents.  I have been on Plavix for almost 2 years now.  I wish I could get off.

My sister has bare metal stents and got off the Plavix after 16 months and has not had an incident in over 2 years.  I wish now I had the bare metal stents.

Would you share your side effects of Plavix?   Did you have low Ferritin levels?  I am in dire need of knee surgery and Cardio will not allow this as he will not take me off Plavix for more than 4 days and I need to be off Plavix 7 days before the Orthopedic doctor will do knee surgery.  sad

Posted 8/2/2006 8:00 AM (GMT -6)
The only side effect I've noticed is the wierd rash, but I'm not sure if it's the Plavix or Lipitor.

So far, (knock on wood), I've been fine with it. Honestly, I'll take whatever medicine they want me to for as long as they want (except maybe the Ticlid) if it will keep me around to see my son grow up. I'll deal with the side effects.

I also have the drug eluting stents. I can see why your doctor wants to keep you on the keep you on the Plavix. Maybe you should have your knee doc and cardiologist talk. Perhaps they could come up with a solution. Medicine is so compartmentalized nowadays that sometimes you have to force them to talk to one another. Good luck with your knee.
Posted 8/2/2006 2:04 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks Juliet for your information  Dreamgirl, would you share your experience with Plavix and do you have drug eluting stents?   Thanks.

Posted 8/2/2006 5:22 PM (GMT -6)
:-)  hi, yes i have the drug eluding stents, and i just wanted off the plavix. from everything i have read an 81mg aspirin will do the same thing. i have a book called best pills worst pills and it says that they do virtually the same thing.  i had my stents put in in oct 2004 and so far i am doing fine. going in for a chemical stress test on the 10th i will find out if there are any new abnormalities or blockages, hopefully. i was unable to tolerate alot of the meds and just chose to go off. i met a women who had stents for over 10 years(she was older) and she only had aspirin to help.  i also take lisinopril in a small dose to keep my arteries dialated. i hope this is a little helpful.
Posted 8/2/2006 5:34 PM (GMT -6)
:-)  one other thing, i would like to know where you read about the plavix, the latest on them, forgive me, but i am rather cynical because i think drug companies sometimes sell the doctors on the necessity of these meds. do you realize that in order to get your cholesteral numbers where they say they should be(under 100 for ldl) that can only be done with medication. now there are always exceptions, but for the majority that is the only way.  what a nice little permanent profit for those drug companies. i am not anti meds, but i just try to control them to an acceptable level. i am sure this is more than you wanted to know  just couldn't resist giving my 10 cents, someone will come along with a different opinion i am sure
Posted 8/3/2006 5:42 AM (GMT -6)
Hi DG.   I was all hep to get off my Plavix this past May as it would be one year for a May 05 stent, 20 months for the 8/04 stents.   B ut, this past March at the National Cardio convention in Atlanta, the lead cardio's have discovered that people with drug eluding stents who have gotten off Plavix can suffer up to a year of getting off the Plavix, an Acute Coronary Event and or a Fatal MI.  It has something to do with the "drug eluding stents".  Bare metal stents are not affected as they do not harbor this drug.   I saw this on line and then in USA today and then my cardio notified me and then I saw another forum talking about it....Aspirin is great but Plavix has something that aspirin does not...At least this is what the Lead Cardio doctors are saying and Plavix did not sponsor this research.  One of the forums on line was in about.com (if I can mention that) under Heart Disease.  I also saw the article I believe, in Newsweek, while sitting in my dentist office. Was not happy to see this article. My knee is killing me and I cannot have surgery until I am off Plavix for 7 days and Cardio says no.  He said I have too many stents that could  close up.... sad    Thanks for writing, DG.
Posted 8/3/2006 8:40 AM (GMT -6)
Welcome to the forum Juliet!  We are happy to have you.  I dont have stents so for that I cant relate but I am the only 32 year old member here with a pacemaker.  So, you are in great company!    I hope you continue to post here this is a great site for information and support as you can well see from all the super responses you have gotten.  Hope to hear more from you.  Take care
Posted 8/3/2006 5:13 PM (GMT -6)
:-)  i will read up on it all ellie, but i have been off thhe plavis for over a year and so far okay. i will let you know how my chemical stress goes. thanks for the info, i will read for myself, then iwill talk to my cardio later this month. thanks
Posted 8/3/2006 8:40 PM (GMT -6)

Hi everyone I'm  new to the board. I've been lurking for weeks now thought I would finally post.

Sorry to hear about everyone's misfortunes!!!! I'm a little older than 36 but can relate!!!!

I was 39 when I had my heart attack I ended up with 1 non-medicated stent in the LAD. I was put on plavix for 11 months.

I thought I was doing ok, but 3 yrs. later I start having shortness of breath and chest pain ended up with 3 more stents in the RCA medicated-stents this time this was 4 months ago I'm currently taking plavix again will probably take it for 11 months or so like before or my cardio may want me to take it longer. don't know until my next appointment. 

I didn't have any problems taking plavix before and it seems to be doing ok now with no problems!!!

After the heart attack I had to take that terrible ole coumadin for 3 months ARGHH  mad   hated taking that poison stuff!!!  skull  

I also take Lipitor, Aspirin, Coreg & Altace along with the Plavix

Thanks everyone for the informative information on plavix!!!

Posted 8/3/2006 9:21 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Blue Angel.  I am new here also.  Question:  After your heart attack you mentioned they placed you on Coumadin for 3 months.  Were you also taking Plavix at the same time as the Coumadin?  Thanks

Posted 8/4/2006 5:27 AM (GMT -6)

Hi Ellie2,

Yep, I was taking the coumadin, plavix and aspirin all of these together for 3 months and they still couldn't get my blood with in the normal (thinning) range it needed to be! I was so glad to be off of the coumadin.  Plavix didn't bother so much as the coumadin did.

Sorry to hear you have to post-pone your knee surgery, What kind of knee surgery do you have to have?

Posted 8/4/2006 2:38 PM (GMT -6)
Oh, Juliet, I feel for you....What a shock this must be. How long ago did this happen?

I was so upset when I got a stent for my 54th birthday present. I thought I was too young!!!! Started having chest pain a few days before my birthday; in retrospect I kinda knew it was angina the first time I felt it (my Dad had heart disease with angina for at least 10 years before he died at age 64 of a heart attack).

Long story short, I ignored it for about 10 days, then called the doctor late on a Friday afternoon. He got me in first thing Monday morning...told me it was probably heartburn, I was too young, but let's do some tests to make sure....EKG was okay, chest x-ray okay, but I failed the stress test...they put me in an ambulance and took me to the hospital, did an angiogram, and put a drug eluting stent in my LAD. It was 99% blocked, and I was very, very lucky not to have a heart attack else I would probably be dead per the cardiologists. That was early October, 04 and it has been a wild ride adjusting to it emotionally and mentally. I'm still adjusting; every little twinge in my chest tends to freak me out.

I do know several women in their 40s and early 50s who have had heart attacks; a couple unfortunately did not make it. I know it doesn't help much to say this, but it is a good thing this has been discovered now (sounds like before you actually had a heart attack?). If you do what the doctor's say, you WILL get through this. Medicine is constantly learning new things and can keep us alive for a long, long time.

I've been looking unsuccessfully for a support network for young(er) women who have CAD for almost two years....here's hoping I/we have finally found it here.
Posted 8/4/2006 2:44 PM (GMT -6)
Just wanted to comment on the Plavix issue. From the reading I've done, including many actual studies, it is a safe medication (perhaps safer than aspirin as it does not have the GI side effects) that works differently than aspirin to keep the platelets from sticking together and causing a blockage that in turn can cause a heart attack. The last I knew the jury was still out on whether folks with stents should take both indefinitely, but was leaning in that direction. My cardiologist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona sure is in no hurry to take me off it. I've had no issues with it, except of course I bleed and bruise easily.
Posted 8/4/2006 5:43 PM (GMT -6)
Thank you to all for your support. Yes, I was lucky for the doctors to catch this before a heart attack. Good news! My crazy rash seems to be going away...thanks to a five day course of predisolone. Now my doc will just have to figure out a replacement for the Lipitor.

I know what you mean, ConnieS, about every little twinge worrying you...I am really paranoid. All of my fun began the last week of June (luckily, I'm a schoolteacher, to I was able to relax for the rest of the summer).

This forum is really comforting. Is it just that "Misery loves company", or is it "safety in numbers"!
Posted 8/4/2006 6:05 PM (GMT -6)

:-)  Hi Connie and ellie, aren't we a threesome.  connie i had my tow stents at 57 and felt that was way out of line as i am in excellent condition. my stents will be in 2 years late in october this year, i am actually going for another test next week, i pray i do not have any more blocages, you both make me want to start the plavix again, i will after i see my cardiologist if he agrees with the info i am hearing.  i wanted to say that for the first year i was a total basket case, no where to go for info, i thopught i was going to die, i fianlly started on a small dose of zoloft to help with the anxiety, this foroum really helped, also, the chat line.  we will be having a chat next week i will give you the date later, need to check it for sure. connie, was it your cholesteral in your case? i know ellie said no in her case. i am not taking alot of meds, so i guess i am the other end of this deal, you all can measure what happens to me, is it the same as those who take all the stuff you are told you must take. or will i get worse. ineed to go back to your note connie, i cannot remember if you were on the plavix for a year and still had the other stents become necessary. bye for now

Posted 8/4/2006 6:09 PM (GMT -6)
sad  sorry it was blue angel who had the second set of stents. blue, where you on any statins like lipitor for cholesteral?
Posted 8/4/2006 7:14 PM (GMT -6)
Hello all,

Blue Angel,  I fell off the threadmill in cardiac rehab and developed a staph infection and tore a cartilage in my knee.  This almost 15 months ago and am unable to have surgery as I have had stents placed three times now and each time it prolongs the Plavix until the lastest information came out in April about those with drug eluting stents should be on Plavix indefinately.  I was not happy when I read and was told this.  My Orthopedic wants me off Plavix for 7 days before surgery and 5 days after surgery thus making it 12 days with no Plavix and one of the cardio's is having a come apart to the length of time I would have to be off Plavix.  I have 5 stents and he said it is too many to close up.  I think perhaps if I had one stent he would rethink this.

Prior to knee surgery (if and when) I will be on injectible Lovenox for a few days and then the same for about 7-10 days after surgery.  Knee, Hip and Pelvic surgeries sprout blood clots so they are concerend about this also.

I think it is very common to be depressed when any one faces a life threatening illness.  There is a mini support group here for those 50 and older. (well actually anyone can attend but those attending are over 50) Over the hillers I call us.  confused but then again the majority of CAD patients are over 50. 

Connie, my former cardiologist  left Texas and went to Mayo Scottsdale.  I have e-mailed this doctor and would love to go to Mayo there.  I asked my doctor here who use to work with this doctor, to call and consult and he will not do it.  It is all about EGO and getting panties in a wad.  I would hop a plane tomorrow to go there and see my former doctor but then there is no one here to work  with this doctor.  Then there is another one at Mayo in Rochester that some ladies have told me about also.  Decisions Decisions.   My father died at 39 of heart disease so I have a genetic condition...Small Vessel disease and I have had 2 heart attacks.   If the Mayo, Scottsdale doctor was still here, I would not be in the condition, I am now.  

I have rambled long enough.  Have a pleasant week-end to all.

Post Edited (Ellie2) : 8/4/2006 8:48:23 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/4/2006 7:15 PM (GMT -6)

Hi Dreamgirl,

I did have cholesteral issues when I was 35 I was on Zocor for about a year then I went off of it.  I couldn't afford the meds any more was the reason I wasn't taking it. (now I have insurance thank goodness)

Then my dad pass away from a heart attack at 62.  That should have told me something!!!!! (Nooo not me) can't happen to someone in their 30's then 3 yrs. later I had my heart attack you talk about scared, depressed afterwards I was on ativan for 3 months to calm my nerves every little twinge I had I thought I might die. sad

 

My cardio told me I was lucky to have survive most people who have a heart attack in this part of the LAD (widowmaker) don't make it!!!

I had chest pain for 8 days thought it was indegestion and that was what they were treating me for in the ER when I finally had the heart attack!!!! sad

 

Sometimes I blame the hospital for letting the heart attack happen since I was there for over 3 hrs. (very small town hospital) then I thank god that it happen there instead of at home. I may not have survived or I could have had more damage to the heart.

 

 

Sorry for my long post didn't mean to ramble on!!!

Sorry Juliet didn't mean to hijack your post either!!

 

Posted 8/4/2006 7:35 PM (GMT -6)

Hi Ellie2,

I'm really sorry to hear that you can't have the surgery right now I know it has to be painful.  I had a torn tendon in my heel, I went for 2 yrs. before I had surgery on it that was in my early 30's gosh was that a long summer!!!!

Looks like we all has something in common here on the board!! yeah

I hope to be posting often if you all don't mind me ramblin' on tongue LOL

Posted 8/4/2006 9:14 PM (GMT -6)
:-)  this is great, i have been on this forum for quite awhile and it has been very slow, so this is nice. when the posts get to be alot then someone start a new one. i am very glad to have 3 new memebers who i can totally relate to. well. listeneing to you talk i wonder if i have a good doctor. i just love him to death, but he doesn't scare me into trying anything. i have had a low tolerance to everything to help lower my cholesteral, i think he is pretty frustrated with me. do you ladies know how to go over to the chat? we could all schedule a time and visit live at the same time. if i have another blockage i think that will change me alot.
Posted 8/6/2006 2:05 AM (GMT -6)
As a EMT the youngest heart attack victim i have seen was 24 years old
i have one stent and that was to hold me till they could go in and do the bypass (cabg x 5) my surgery was done at the VA by Docs from UCLA. I was told that i would have to take plavix for a year. the UCLA docs do not like to use more then 4 stent on any one. over 4 stents and they will do a bypass.
if you need surgery on your knee you my be able to have it done if the doc can do it laproscopic as the blood loss can be controlled bettered. the problem i had when i had my heart attack was they gave me plavix when they put the stent in then found that they needed to do the bypass and i had to stay in the hospital for two weeks till it wore off and i could have the bypass as there no counter agent for plavix.
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