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. 
but then again the majority of CAD patients are over 50.
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)
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. 
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!!!!
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!!
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!! 
I hope to be posting often if you all don't mind me ramblin' on 
LOL
LOL
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.
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.
SECONDARY FIBROMYALGIA AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE APRIL 2002
AUTOIMMUNE CASTLEMAN'S DISEASE JULY 2003
HEART ATTACK MARCH 1 2006
HEART BYPASS CABG x 5 MARCH 13 2006
DOCTORS VA. WEST LA CALIF
US NAVY 1970-74
VIETNAM VETERAN
EXPOSED TO DIOXIN IN THE WORKPLACE 1978-82
EX EMT FIREFIGHTER
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.
SECONDARY FIBROMYALGIA AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE APRIL 2002
AUTOIMMUNE CASTLEMAN'S DISEASE JULY 2003
HEART ATTACK MARCH 1 2006
HEART BYPASS CABG x 5 MARCH 13 2006
DOCTORS VA. WEST LA CALIF
US NAVY 1970-74
VIETNAM VETERAN
EXPOSED TO DIOXIN IN THE WORKPLACE 1978-82
EX EMT FIREFIGHTER
Thanks for the replies, everyone. The recent e-mail, I received from the Knee Doctor is this..
Off Plavix for 7 days pre-surgery and 5 days post surgery. Lovenox injectibles 3 days pre-op and 7 days post-op. But, I also have something wrong with a deep calf vein perforator, right below the area of the knee that was injured. ORthopedic wants me to get this checked out with a vascular surgeon. When it rains it pours. I e-mailed one vascular surgeon and his secretary intercepted it and bascially told me how the cow ate the cabbage. Like, how dare you ask about this deep vein problem... So I e-mailed 2 more vascular surgeons with this information. I do not want to waste their time and my time if it means nothing.
So I e-mailed 2 more vascular surgeons with this information. I do not want to waste their time and my time if it means nothing. I have 5 stents. No mention of by-pass to me although by-pass people do not need to be on Plavix. I had a 99% blockage in the Mid Lad and 70, 60 and 50% in the RCA. The whole RCA is stented. The distal LAD cannot be stented or by-passed as it is too scarred from them missing a heart attack in that area. (distal to the mid LAD Blockage) I have also developed an Obstruction in the Mitral leaflet...(have no idea what all this means and I do not think my doctor does either 
)
)Edited for spell errors. Is there a Spell Check on this site? 
Post Edited (Ellie2) : 8/6/2006 4:01:10 PM (GMT-6)
i wouldn't worry about a spell check, we all make typing errors, some of mine are real doozies, but hopfully translateable. boy, you sure have alot going on there, i think it horrible that you cannot get nurses and drs. for that matter with patience. we belong to group health, and we have the choice of switching to regence whenever we want. i have heard so many bad things about group health, i was very leary at first,but after 18months i just cannot pry myself away, i get the best service there. they have all kinds of cool perks, i can e-mail my doctor all i want, and they have to respond quiclkly. i have a free consulting nurse at my finger tips and if i need urgent care, no more waithing in the ER i just go to their clinic 7 days a week from 5pm to 11pm. sorry i do not mean to sound like an advertisement, they are worth checking into, very efficiently run.