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Stents

(8 Posts)
Anniebach Mon 07-Dec-15 11:55:06

Hoping for words of assurance. My darling sister had a heart attack eight years ago, had stents inserted - I don't understand the treatment - she has been so well since. Last Saturday she had a heart attack, rushed to hospital , had another heart attack there,was rushed to a Cardiff hospital, in theatre immediately, the stents had dissolved - something like that - more inserted .
The consultant has said she can carry on as usual when she leaves hospital, her usual involves five mile strolls in the hills with her dog!

I admit I am fearful and distressed ,I love we her deeply. Anyone had a family member who had this and was there a good recovery please?

TriciaF Mon 07-Dec-15 14:23:58

Sorry to hear about your sister Anniebach. Also slightly alarmed as I had stents inserted in an artery near the heart 9 years ago, following a very mild heart attack. They found I had an artery blocked by built up cholesterol near the heart (probably due to smoking in my misspent youth.)
I can't say what your sister's prognosis is now but I do know about the operation. In my case it was done under local anaesthetic, I was fully conscious and watched it on a screen. They insert the stent, a sort of tiny ?plastic bridge, on some sort of very fine tube via the wrist or groin and direct it to the blocked artery where it's left to open the blockage.
I remember being amazed at the picture of all the blood vessels feeding my heart, like a spider's web.
So I hope all goes well, placing stents is a relatively minor operation when it comes to heart surgery.

Anniebach Mon 07-Dec-15 14:32:16

Thank you Tricia, I am so sorry I caused you alarm, my sister had the first stents insertions eight years ago and has been so well , I am waiting to hear news from the hospital today , tests to see if any further damage

Luckygirl Mon 07-Dec-15 15:38:40

Thank heaven for stents - they truly are a wonderful lifesaver! I am sure they will keep a close eye on the new one.

Anniebach Mon 07-Dec-15 23:07:38

My sister is home , I made an error she was taken ill on Friday , now we wait for her to get stronger. She told me twenty minutes before the attack she was walking up the reservoir with her dog, so frightening to think she could have been alone in a very isolated place and taken ill. Now we all have to be positive and make her stop wandering alone in the hills too

Thank you for replying

Bellanonna Mon 07-Dec-15 23:20:29

All the best Anniebach. How worrying for you. Modern stents apparently are much improved. DH has 3, the last one fitted under a local this time last year. He was on Clopidogrel for a year, reecently stooped. This thins the blood and causes you to bleed quite a bit if you cut yourself, but that's a small price to pay. I wish her well and hope she can continue her walks in more accessible places and in particular where there's a mobile signal. flowers

Bellanonna Mon 07-Dec-15 23:22:10

Stopped

Anniebach Tue 08-Dec-15 11:39:33

Thank you Belladonna, she really must be more sensible , her poor husband is so stressed , I told her she must accept doing her own thing is causing us stress , we love her