can the widow maker artery be stented

1996-2023 MedicineNet, Inc. An Internet Brands company. my husband didnt visit the doctor for 12 years. well, lets just say that my attitude has changed. A day after, my echo cardiogram, indicated it had increased to 45%. Was rushed to another hospital 30 mins away where they placed a stent. I honestly thought though that I had over done it by eating dessert since we had been on the Whole 30 program the past two months. Had a quadruple bypass 12 years ago actually had 100 per cent LAD blockage. If you are on Plavix, hang in there. He mentioned it bothering him again the next week or so later. HIS HEART dr. Has him on all kinds of meds of course. I had surgery to place a stent early the next morning. All rights reserved. As an interventional cardiologist, a large part of my job is dealing with heart attacks and fixing the blocked arteries that cause them. I had two cardiologist in the cath lab working with me and placed two stents. Learn what to do. If heart attacks run in your family, youre more likely to have one. My wife in a panic wanted to call for an ambulance but I said to just let me rest. I need to change my lifestyle and eating habits but life is good. Within minutes, he was in the cath lab. A long-term Korean study found stents as safe as open heart surgery in treating blockages of a coronary artery known as the widowmaker, showing that stented patients did not run a. Even after the PCI has opened up the artery, the heart is at risk of electrical complications for the first few days afterward. The graft diverts blood around -- bypasses -- the blocked LAD artery. Symptoms of an intestinal blockage include severe belly pain or cramping, vomiting, not being able to pass stool or gas, and other signs of belly distress. He said that was when he ran the catheter up the arteries. Things were so bad, they had to go up both legs to put the stints in. Thats almost always better than having someone drive you to the ER. I have always been a swimmer, But I recently lost 60 lbs, went from being pre-diabetic to perfect blood sugar levels. At the age of 57 I had a heart attack with 100% blockage. You feel like you cant catch your breath. They did get a heart beat eventually but the cardiologist said that he couldnt be saved and the damage was done. Thanks Mark. I understand at my age I should expect some health issues, but I surely am entitled to pursue treatment if I believe it will help. What are the symptoms of a blocked to the circumflex artery? Well I had my incident on July7th of 2016, I am an active runner and swimmer, eat well and do all I can to take care of myself- I was only 47 years old when this happened and had a lot of stress before this happened, my wife had just finished a yearlong fight with breast cancer. On the left side, which is the main side, we have the left anterior descending (LAD) that runs down the front of the heart and supplies the front and main wall, and then the left circumflex that supplies the side wall. Things came out real good so far. Delayed treatment for a heart attack can lead to significant tissue damage and scarring. so i left work and felt better when I got home. Im writing this to give my scenario and maybe it will help another stubborn person to make better decisions that I did! The blockage was right at the Y. His cholesterol is under 200. Outside temperature was near 100 and no breeze. Some people may not even realize that they have had a heart attack. I was told for years that I couldnt have CABG because my arteries were to small and weak then came the day they had no choice.. the bypass was done. On top of that plaque theres something we call a fibrous cap, which is like a tarpaulin that covers the buildup. Shortness of breath. Here are eight of the items on their lists: Heaviness, tightness, pressure, or pain in the chest behind the breastbone. And act in your own best interest. Prior to that, I had minor pressure in my chest occasionally, but thought it was heartburn. While its important to take that kind of blockage very seriously, I dont typically like to use that term as its too gender-specific, he says. I told my husband I didnt feel good and was going to the restroom. ATL offers outsourced design, development and manufacturing services. His job was done here on earth so God created another angel. Im 47 and had a heart attack almost a year ago, but I was lucky to only have a 100% occlusion of the RCA. On July 15th I went with my husband to his work related conference for the weekend, 3 hours from home. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Warning signs when an artery is blocked, and how to fix it. All my other arteries were smooth and clear. It is all in Gods hands. At the emergency room, people may receive one or more of the following treatments: A doctor can treat a total LAD artery blockage with a procedure called a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A widow maker is when you get a big blockage at the beginning of the left main artery or the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Then, they insert a mesh tube called a stent into the artery. The LAD most commonly gets blocked up with plaque from cholesterol. Surviving the widowmaker is dependent on many factors, including: If you experience shock, your survival chances are around 40 percent. It can be life threatening or lead to permanent disability. I am a 53 year old female. They got me to the E.R. He had weakness and flu like symptoms for 2 weeks leading up to his heart attack on January 1, 2015. It Took till the next day for the surgery. Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack, according to the American Heart Association. So, if somebody needs to cope by getting assurance from their invisible sky god, who are we to question the benefit they get from that? Jack. Sorry to be long-winded but it is hard to describe my situation without going into detail. Paramedics can start treating you while youre on the way to the hospital, so call 911 instead of having a friend or relative drive you to the hospital. Pain in other parts of your upper body (arms, shoulders, neck, jaw or back). As someone told me, you have 2 lungs but only 1 heartmake the best of it. Here, learn how to tell, Some people take a blood pressure change without other symptoms to mean that a heart attack is occurring. But they gave me nitroglycerin, and I remember eating a bunch of aspirin, they gave me an IV and withdrew blood. "I got kinda lucky that we found it . He was on duty at fire station and thought he ate something that didnt agree with him and sat down. Thank you very much!! I was having discomfort off an on for a good while shortness of breath, chest discomfort, arm pain, neck and shoulder pain and middle of the back pain. Had an angiogram the next day. Doctors can minimize damage to the heart and even stop a heart attack entirely if they administer treatment early on. Maybe I need to join a support group. Very informative Dr. Ahmed, an excellent resource. Does this mean I am looking at a widowmaker? Mayo Clinic Staff. Scientists are now investigating if this damage can be reversed by injecting stem cells into the area. I suggest to buy a blood pressure machine to have peace of mind and check with your dc if you can do cardio rehab excercicig with monitoring. Register for DeviceTalks Boston, May 1011. However. Acting quickly when you suspect a heart attack is coming on can greatly improve your chances for survival. being active, eating a heart-healthy diet and maintaining good sleep habits. Like someone put a rubber band around it or a blood pressure cuff was pumped too tight. We take pictures to make the diagnosis, then based on the diagnosis we may decide to perform an angioplasty procedure to open the blockage and a stent to keep the artery open. I exercised 2-3 times a week cardio and weights. He went to bed that night, but got up later complaining of chest pains that wouldnt go away. MedTerms medical dictionary is the medical terminology for MedicineNet.com. Sure enough, they took an ECG, found high BP, high cholesterol, and high triponin levels. Stent worked very well. If your doctor needs to perform heart surgery, you may need to spend three to seven days in the hospital before youre cleared to go home. If youve had a heart attack, you may need to make some changes in your life to prevent another one. Then the doctor came in and said my troponin levels were high. As soon as we arrived, he was checked in, rushed to a room, ekg, some questions and we were told it was a heart attack. I was taken off the vent about a hour after I woke up. It was all blur. Why cant I have another test to see how far its progressed in 4 years . Each year, about 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack, which happens when a portion of the heart does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. No surgery. This Dr said the tests on my legs looked good. Three days later I was released. Then on march 15 had a 2nd stint put in. I have been swimming about a mile a day for years, but I noticed one night that after a short warmup, I felt like I had a weight on my chest. My only regret is that I cant really enjoy fried chicken the way I used to , my nephew just had a heart attack 100% Lad artery blocked, wont know until tomorrow to see damage. You may need angioplasty and stenting to open the artery and lower your risk of heart attack. Saturday morning it happened again. Based on your recovery from the heart attack, your doctor may suggest heart surgery. Which artery is the widow maker? Talk with your doctor about quitting smoking, eating better, beginning an exercise program, and any other treatment you may need. I knew if I stayed in the back yard, no one would find me. Whole bottom front quarter of heart is dead. I finally called a ambulance and when they cam it got better. My second heart attack was 6/2/15 which was my right coronary artery, that was only 35% clogged up. EKG was abnormal and after blood test they did say I had a heart attack. My doctor put me on Brilinta for the first month and then changed it to Plavix along with the Carvedilol (generic Coreg). Bless you all; it is an extremely difficult thing to deal with as the patient, AND the patients family. Those at risk for a heart attack include people with: What are symptoms of a heart attack? There were times that were really bad, physically and mentally, and it took a long stay in a Transitional Care Unit and daily physical rehab before I could finally go home with my brother, as I cannot live alone now. Here are some of the medtech engineering and innovation opportunities well explore. A widowmaker is even more serious because it's a total blockage of the artery that supplies blood to the front of your heart -- the largest part. Despite its name, the widow maker strikes women, too. My heart is fine and I didnt suffer an attack or stroke. Sunday morning I went grocery shopping and at checkout felt weak suddenly, nauseated, and had clammy skin. When women have these heart attacks, they're more likely to have unusual symptoms like: Because any type of heart attack is serious, go to an emergency room or call 911 right away if you have symptoms. Theyll make a small cut through your skin, maybe in your leg or wrist. Stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending artery is regarded with considerable anxiety by patients, physicians, and surgeons alike. Anatomy, Thorax, Heart Left Anterior Descending (LAD) Artery. Im 6ft and 190lbs, not overweight, nor did I eat poorly, just dont get why this happened. Going back to your heart being a house, the idea is to prevent plaque buildup everywhere to minimize the risk of occurrence in any one place. However, my dad listened to his manager. Now My husband wanted me to go with hima nd get Calcium score recommended by his employer as part of an incentive for insurance reduction. So, I napped all day. The good news is that if done in time, we can treat these lesions to good effect with the use of minimally invasive techniques such as stent placement (see the diagram below). That is a stable B/P. Please listen to your body, if I had waited for chest pain, Id probably be dead. Your risk of a heart attack is low. He has the death rattle, and foam. But fortunately because of my wife, and the Cardiologist. Im 59, dont drink or smoke in good shape but Im not running 5ks or really doing what I did on the treadmill. If we would have waited for the ambulance he would have died. It was my LAD which was 99% blocked as I was told by the great cardiologist who saved my life that day along with 2 paramedics that I will refer to as My Two Angels. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. He recommended me to a Cardiologist. Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours. Your risk of a heart attack is very low. He said a third option is to have a single bypass that replaces the LAD with the right mamary artery which would be a lifelong option. . Good luck to you, hope it continues! We went to bed around 12:00 and my husband dozed off. So I schedualed an appoint with a cardio vascular Dr, went straight to him instead of my family care Dr who has ignored earlier chest pains , which went into the face. They worked on him and it took 3 minutes to hospital. Does make me feel a little bit better. He said we have to go!!! They tried to open the blockage but during the process it actually caused the artery to start leaking. Dangers of a Widowmaker Heart Attack - Cleveland Clinic I was approaching 50 and wanted to be in good shape. a steak now and then? I remember that is was a Thursday night because I had an important business meeting scheduled for Friday. I just got 4 stents put into the artery they call the widow maker. Just make the most of it. Tried calling dr office since they normally have 1/2 day hrs on Saturday, but not Christmas week. Would appreciate any and all opinions. The doctors told me that had I remained at home I wouldnt have survived. I was diagnosed in 2014 of type 2 diabetes.So, my blood sugar was about 170 with medication. You can also have blockages in multiple vessels. Call 911. I eat lots of veggies fruits and fiber-grains. If you are feeling these things, I think it's important to re-frame your experience. This happened april 4 2016,i had no clue thought it was indegestion. I walked in, woke up and had stints, and was told, You are the luckiest man alive. She had to continue to tell them that it was my heart. Turns out that I had 3 blockages In my LAD ranging from 70 to 99 percent. I had 98% blockage of my widowmaker. Can the widow maker artery be stented? 28 Apr 2023 22:49:07 The stent was actually 99% blocked. No, Ive read all these articles and people under 40 have been 100% healthy and then get hit with the widowmaker,,!! When the main artery down the front of the heart (LAD) is totally blocked or has a critical blockage, right at the beginning of the vessel, it is known as the Widow Maker. He said I was very, very fortunate to be alive. If he had been one or two minutes later, they couldnt have saved him. Have certain other medical conditions, such as. The first should read: 99.999 blockage of the left main artery of the left ventricle of my heart.. I had the LAD by-passed last Monday. We are so lucky to still have him with us. There is a history of heart disease in the family on both sides. The ambulance arrived in 8 minutes. Years old. These factors are the best we have. My wife also brought me to the hospital with my two young kids in the back seat of the car.. Terrifying.. you will be fine.. It was so narrow it looked like the thickness of a single hair. a Brother with a heart attack at 29, my Father had his first heart attack at 34 and died at age 50 from a geart attack. Got up and walked around the house and up my driveway to a covered swing in my front yard. Toni Braxton: What is a 'widow-maker' heart attack? Signs and symptoms Preventative care is essential. The LAD transports a large amount of blood into your heart, so without blood passing through the LAD, your heart can quickly run out of oxygen and stop beating. I was 42 at the time and had just left e hospital where my husband had an MRI on his back. There is a narrow gap, big enough to drive through. God so Blessed me giving me these extra years with family. After reviewing the pictures I was transported to the hospital thirty miles away where the cardiologist did the Heart Catherization and advised me because of the blockages and the location he could not stent. The appellation widow maker, which has been applied to this lesion (in part because of the large amount of myocardium that the left anterior descending artery supplies and its proximity to the distal A heart attack is caused by a blockage in an artery due to atherosclerosis, the process by which fatty deposits called plaque build up inside your pipes. Not all heart attacks start with crushing chest pain or arm numbness. He was an avid runner, a former smoker and a vegetarian. I walked up to the counter, said I think I am having a bad case of heart burn or a heart Then collapsed on the floor, pulseless and breathless. I was just told that I have 100% blockage in the left main artery. My husband had a heart attack on Saturday. Sigh. However, he tried anyway given his young age. Then more pressure and a heavy feeling so I told my nurse that something felt odd? Who is at risk? The name sounds like a widowmaker heart attack only affects men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB). Endurance is very poor. He then laid down and vomited. He said its very dangerous too. Last medically reviewed on December 17, 2019, When someone is having a heart attack, they will have raised cardiac enzymes, in addition to other symptoms. Sometimes, they may do both. Im 41 Years old. hELL I HAD THE mAKER ON A SUNDAY BEACH TRIP AND MY WIFE IS A NURSE!!! Your wife is a brave womanI told my wife NEVER try to drive me to the ERcall 911 and have an ambulance take meyour brave and loving wife could have caused more harm to you and herself and others by driving so fastmy hats off to her BUT she did no one any favor by driving you to the ER. Do Stents Ever Need to be Replaced? - Healthline I would like to see hospitals offer more videos such as this so patients can early on begin to comprehend what is going on with them (we dont retain all information in the early days). Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Sorry about the spelling this auto check kills me. We avoid using tertiary references. I actually felt pretty good enroute, never experiencing anything other than the memory of the earlier brief discomfort. They said if it keeps rising , it is bad. I told them it was better and sent them away. I was determined that I had perforated my colon. But, you cant tell that someone is having a widowmaker heart attack from the outside. He was unable to have a stent fitted as the artery was far too small to fit a stint He is now on 5 different medication including a spray for under his tongue Sounds sill y I know but would it have been better if he could have had a stent fitted Is he likely to survive So worried. A widowmaker heart attack occurs when a blood clot or plaque completely blocks the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, one of the arteries around the heart. But today and for the last couple weeks I get dizzy when I get out of bed at night and even when I lie back down seem to be lighted headed quite a bit. I was given a few minutes to choose between open heart bypass or stents. Has anyone ever had one of those calcium scans?.While I dont think they can tell if you have blockage, a high calcium score could mean that there is much higher probability of it. Theyre a major pipeline for blood. Stent placement should be performed at hospitals where emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is accessible. He passes urine every 1/2 hour 24/7! However, you may want to quit smoking, eat better, and exercise more. I felt like I did not have sleep for days. The cardiologist was quite adamant about looking instead of just putting me on a treadmill. Medicines to treat pain, blood clots and/or abnormal heart rhythms. I didnt have any symptoms on the treadmill but they said the EKG showed heart tissue in slight distress. A quick pull on a little string to pull it out of the urethra, or by using a flexible scop First, a urethral stent (urolume) is in the urethra and usually placed in men with enlarged prostates and urinary obstruction who cannot have surgery. Ptca w stenting has come a long way in recent years with better equipment and easier to place devices (smaller caliber stents). I had my widow maker 9 days after you. The medical term for a widowmaker heart attack is an anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). I had a recently started increasing my cardio exercise after suffering a leg fracture earlier in the year. Dr. Pareena Bilkoo answered Internal Medicine - Cardiology 24 years experience I remember that stent placement was very uncomfortable. The answer starts with the particular artery that it affects. You should say thank Science for the Doctors. They say that months prior he had widow maker heart attacks and didn't . This is soooooooooo true!!! And true to its name, a widowmaker is especially deadly. Thank you for sharing your story. A few months ago I had my echo and was told that my heart had recovered with no damage. The moral of my story is if you experience chest pain, go to the hospital and always listen to your secretary! Was 20 mg with simvastatin. I only wish that he would have survived it, but now at least I know how serious this type of heart attack is and his one that took him suddenly. Healthcare providers call a heart attack a myocardial infarction, which means you dont have enough blood going to your heart muscle (myocardium). She saved your life. Thanks. Every minute matters when someones having a heart attack. I am 65 years old. Good luck to all, I know its been over a year, but I just wanted to say that I hope youre feeling better physically and emotionally. Im so very blessed to have had the medical professionals there at that moment. He told me we got there just in time or he wouldnt have been here tomorrow. Get checked out immediately. Your score suggests moderate risk, not high and not low, if you are not having symptoms no further testing would typically be suggested unless the location of the calcium and its pattern were particularly concerning. In this article, learn about the signs and symptoms of each type. All rights reserved. Praise be to God!!!! It can also lead to heart failure in which your heart muscle can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. What No One Tells You About Surviving a Widow Maker - WebMD I WAS GIVEN NITRO DRIP FOR 8 HOURS BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL HAD 5 MAJOR CASES BEFORE ME. Lost all feelings in my hands, could not move them. He kindly advised that he was taking my pulse immediately after the treadmill, and then again after 10 minutes, as the rate recovery was an important symptom. Yes, he was a heavy smoker for years & the last time he smoked was the day he had his heart attack at home. So We scheduled for the next day, and even though it cost me over $5,000 -I came so close to cancelling, just because of the cost Or at least putting it off til next year when I could use my medical credit card to offset some of the cost. Other than jaw pain, felt okay. The plaque becomes less stable over time and tends to clot off at a certain location. My cardiologist left it up to me; he said my EKG looked better than it ever had, but also said that my EKGs have always been abnormal.I recall him telling me years ago that I scared himnow Im the one whose scared! Why am I still here? Aug 3rd I passed out while driving, hit a utility pole. The sensitivity of smell was weird. God is love and I guess I got more love to spread in Gods name. If you order something through one of those links, you won't pay a penny more, but we'll get a small commission, which helps keep the lights on. Shortly before bedtime I experienced mild discomfort in my chest, nothing else. The only thing I have is family history, father and both younger brothers have had heart attacks. DrWhat are the significant effects(if any) of the vinegar+honey+garlic+ginger+lemon juice to the plaque formation in the coronary arteries as heralded on the netsome calimed that the juice could reduce the plaque in the arteries. My tennis buddies gave me CPR, saving my life, the EMTs used the paddles and inserted a breathing device, and a stent was placed in my LAD the same night. We are all so lucky my friends. 2 vessel bypass surgery 16 yrs ago. The LAD transports a large amount of blood into your heart, so without blood passing. Chest pain or discomfort. Know I had no energy at all. An EKG is a frequently used heart function test that can reveal important information about a current or past heart attack. No symptoms other than feeling anxious and tired. I just lost my father today to what they believe was a widowmaker. Look forward to your messages. This is because the LAD provides about 50% of your heart muscles blood supply. All rights reserved. Very concise and easy to understand. I have never smoked am a pescatarian. I have an amazing doctor that took care of me and saved my life. 100% blockage in LAD. A doctor may recommend surgery if they find blockages in other arteries. This is true & what you can be in for when you dont get the surgery. This man works everyday and these vague symptoms and family history and taking a nap every day were literally the only warning. Many people can go on to life relatively normally particularly if the heart function is preserved. He was the definition of healthy. Dr did a CAT scan and found 70 percentage and 40 percentage in the LAD. I went to ER last week and was kept overnight, the Cardiologist who attended mt did a CT without contrast but wanted me to come back and have a contrasting scan under supervision( I am allergic to Iodine) after he has spoken to my regular Cardiologist . No tests we have are perfect however and clinical judgement needs to be combined.

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