Right artery blockage
I found a a year ago I had a 60% blockage in my heart, they told me to take 1 aspirin a day and take metropolol to open my arteries, I see a new cardiologist this week, I am just wondering why this previous doctor did not push for a Stent
Also I have been experiencing light headed feeling on and off and headaches on and off, I'm wondering if it's heart related or my artery has blocked up more?
Just looking fir some feedback
Hi.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience with us and for your question -- it is a good one. I know that cardiologists have specific guidelines that they follow that help them determine what treatment to recommend for heart blockage. I think the guidelines, if I am remembering correctly, says that a stent is recommended for a blockage of 70% or greater. For blockages of less than 70 percent, the first course of action is to try other treatments, such as what your doctor has prescribed for you. It also may be a good idea to run this question past your physician, who may be able to give you a more specific explanation as it pertains to you. Now, I also have a comment about your second question. If you are experiencing symptoms that you are concerned about, it is best to contact your physician for further guidance. It has been a few days since you have posted here. I am curious how you are doing today? Have you talked to a doctor? John. heart-failure.net community moderator I am.seeing a new cardiologist this week, my primary is sending me for a head scan to rule out ant problems I brain, I also wonder if some of my symptoms could be post covid, I have not been the same since covid Thank you for the update. Glad to hear you are seeing a new cardiologist. It will be nice to get the opinion of a second doctor and perhaps this second doctor will do a better job of explaining the best course of action moving forward. It may be a good idea to make a list of questions that you have thought of since your past visits. This can help assure that you are getting the most out of your visit. Glad to see that your doctor is ordering this test to check out your brain, especially given the symptoms you noted above (light headed, headaches). Please do keep us posted how this test turns out. And, also, please do keep us posted how your visit with the new cardiologist goes. Wishing you all the best. John. heart-failure.net community moderator
It is sometimes maddening to know if the symptoms you are feeling are the heart failure -- or something else, such as the medicines. In your case case it might be one or the other -- or both. This is best teased out by your doctor of course. I have found that eating smaller amounts and eating more frequently helps. As for lightheadedness, I try to stand slowly from a sitting or prone position as getting up too fast can leave me lightheaded too. Hope to hear back how you are doing. I can definitely relate to your comment about not knowing whether the symptoms are heart failure or something else. Following my stenting and code they broke a number of my ribs. It was maddening trying to figure if it was heart pain or bruised chest pain that I was feeling. At one point I was convinced it was angina and I took a nitro. Good thing I was sitting down. Pain did not go away. I almost passed out. But at least I know it was my ribs.
Don't try this at home..
