Surviving a Widowmaker and the cardiac arrest is definitely dodging the bullet.
To date I have had 7 angiograms and 4 stents or angioplasty. The spasms are called Variant Angina or Prinzmetal's Angina. Because the spasms work on the tight areas then stop with Nitro the troponins levels show there has been a heart episode, but the flow could be there when they are in.
There is a provocative test they can do when they are in that will cause the spasms to happen so they can see which ones are the issue ( I also have an additional coronary artery) but it's fairly rare in the US because they may not be able to stop the spasms and it's an immediate cardiac arrest. This test is very prevalent in Europe but the % of good outcomes are scary. There is a local cardiac nurse that had it done, she did have a cardiac arrest but did survive.
I am all ready for and pushing the angiogram in hopes that it will require angioplasty, but we won't know until the procedure. With the spasms there are underlying issues that could cause problems during the procedure with the balloon and a stent as you could imagine.
What is the most worrisome is that there is no stent needed and my body has gotten used to the Emdur and support medications.
Sorry for the long-winded reply.
Yes.
KTQ
