I had my first heart attack 3/31/1990 followed by 3 in 1997 2/26-5/30-9/23. Glad that year was over.
Got my first Stints 9/4/2003 (they finaly made some small enough for me.) They are 2.25mm
More stints in 1/24/2007, 4/3/2007 and finally a quad by-pass 7/17/2007. Feel great now and we are still on the road.
Please keep in mind that Plavix and medicated stints is not fool proof. I took PlAVIX AND HAD MEDICATED STINTS that pluged up in 6 months. Size of the stints can make a lot of difference. mine are 2.25mm. Most stints are much larger than that.
Also keep in mind that stress tests and magnetic immagerie also are not fool proof. Over the years since 3/31/1990 I have had 10 angio plasties, 6 stints and a quad by-pass along with many tests that were to determine if their was any thing wrong. None of the tests showed any thing wrong but acutal procedures (angiograms) found the problem.
Don't always trust the tests.
I carry a letter from my doctor that states "If Mr Brandt presents himself with chest discomfort, do not do any tests, just procede to the cath lab."
That has saved my life twice now.
Wont leave home with out it.
Since 1990 (age 54) I have had an Aortic valve replaced (was leaking),both hips and one knee replaced. I am now 72 and looking at having the valve replaced again as this one is leaking slightly.
I still get to the gym 3 days a week as I have done for the past 50 years. I think being in good shape help me breeze through all these surgeries.
I figure with all these replacement parts I should be under warranty for another 10 or 15 years..!!
I’m a Heart Transplant Patient, Transplant May 2004. Before this I have had several Heart Caths. Had Pace Maker/Defibrillator, yes my Defibrillator went off, I lost count how many times that it went off. Since Transplant been doing fine. I did need a Pace Maker after Transplant, May 2004. Still have Pace Maker. It’s been a little over four since my pace maker was installed, what’s the battery life for my Pace Maker? I’m at work know, so I don’t know (remember) what Brand it is. Don’t want to ask Doctor, I’m scared that he might think that I’m worrying about it to much and want to replace with a new Pace Maker.
Never had a Heart Attack, everybody still think you have to have a Heart Attack before you have a Transplant. Not so. BTW I’m 59 years young this year, and still working almost full time.
Have many of you have Pace makers?
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BREWCO wrote: I’m a Heart Transplant Patient, Transplant May 2004. Before this I have had several Heart Caths. Had Pace Maker/Defibrillator, yes my Defibrillator went off, I lost count how many times that it went off. Since Transplant been doing fine. I did need a Pace Maker after Transplant, May 2004. Still have Pace Maker. It’s been a little over four since my pace maker was installed, what’s the battery life for my Pace Maker? I’m at work know, so I don’t know (remember) what Brand it is. Don’t want to ask Doctor, I’m scared that he might think that I’m worrying about it to much and want to replace with a new Pace Maker.
Never had a Heart Attack, everybody still think you have to have a Heart Attack before you have a Transplant. Not so. BTW I’m 59 years young this year, and still working almost full time.
Have many of you have Pace makers?
Battery life in a pacemaker depends on how much it is used and at what power it is set. Not every person with a pacemaker is being paced 100% of the time. Some pacemakers are dual chamber-with leads in both the atria (the smaller top chambers) and the ventricles (the larger bottom chambers). This would require more juice from the pacer. Some are Biventricular-pacing both lower chambers.
I hope you are following up with a pacemaker clinic of some sort. Regular checks that can be performed over the phone can check battery life. Usually you transmit to the clinic with a device you press against your chest while holding the telephone over the device. The first "strip" they record is your heart's rhythm at that moment, then they would have you place a magnet over the pacemaker and transmit the strip. The "magnet rate" for your pacer should match the manufacturers stated rate. A decrease in your magnet rate indicates your battery is approaching end of life. Finally another strip is recorded to assure the pacer returned to your original rhythm for that day. Thses checks are usually scheduled for every 30 to 90 days, just depends on how old your device and/or battery is, and what your magnet rate showed last check.
You should also have to visit the clinic once or twice each year. A more thorough check of pacer function is performed at this visit. Your pacer can be adjusted to maximize battery life and assure the "power" is adequate to pace your heart appropriately. This visit may involve a specialist from the manufacturer or just clinic staff.
All of these checks should be reviewed by a cardiologist.
Good to see you are doing so well after your transplant.
I had my first heart attack back in 1985, and after a cath was put on medication, but its in my genes.
So by now at 65 I have had 3 slight attacks, 2 bypass surgeries, and last month, they installed two stints, one in each leg.
So I guess I have heart disease, and have learned to live with it. At first my cholesterol was high, 270+, and the HDL and LDL were reversed, and still are, but my total Cholesterol is now well under 200, like 175 or so, but my disease continues, and I exercise and do, and take every thing Im told.
I guess this is as good as it gets for me. And some are not so lucky. My father wasn't, he died at 58.
Mike.
2001 27' Four Winds Class-C E-450 V-10.
Buick Park Ave Ultra, Ford Ranger PU, JD 500 backhoe.
1941 Farm All "A"
I had my first heart attack in December 1991 followed one week later with triple bypass surgery. Everything went well until January 2005 when I had a second minor attack followed by two coated stents. Starting to get some chest pain so probably time for more stents, hopefully that is all.
Jerry
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