Questions and Answers
My 67 year old husband had a minor attack of chest pain last summer, then when he went for a checkup in November, he mentioned it to his doctor, who had him do two separate stress tests two months apart. Both times, he went over 7 minutes with no major problems, but the doctor said the tests showed something and did an echocardiogram during the second test. That showed multiple heart blockages, so yesterday my husband had a cardiac catheter.
The doctor (the first one's partner) said he could not do angioplasty and would try to control it with drugs or if that didn't work, my husband could have bypass surgery. We are meeting with this doctor's partner next week as a recommended followup, but my concern is with the medicine.
He has been on tenormin for two weeks now, and has never had high blood pressure. With the tenormin, his pulse rate is quite low (under 40 at one point yesterday), but his blood pressure is around 130 over 60. The doctor also gave him a skin patch of nitroglycerin to wear. I am concerned that so much medicine will be harmful to him, considering he has very few symptoms of heart trouble, although he does tire easily (but he has a hernia).
He is 6'4" and 185 pounds and is on Lipitor for cholesterol. I cherish him and worry that so much heart medicine may be doing more harm than good, and feel the doctor was very quick to prescribe very strong medicine with few symptoms.
Also, what percentage of closure in the heart blockages is common for by pass surgery to be needed?
Hi Penelope ... sorry to hear of your husband's problems.
From your account, your husband is receiving first class attention. His cardiac catheterization would have provided much data on the heart and its blood supply, and more precise definition of the extent and severity of cardiac lesions. It would also provide evidence for the suitability of angioplasty, which is indicated only in patients with suitable anatomic lesions - obviously not your husband's case.
His drug treatment is straightforward; Tenormin (atenolol,a beta-blocker) is used to control haemodynamics and stabilize patients with suspected or defined myocardial infarction and decrease cardiovascular mortality.The nitroglycerin is to suppress anginal pain which may already have occurred or be anticipated. The fact that he was/is hyperlipidemic is another factor in deciding the therapy. His previous lack of symptoms should not be of any great surprise. Many may experience a major cardiovascular accident with little or no previous warning.
You shouldn't be concerned about 'so much medicine'. Rather you should be relieved that he is receiving excellent medical care.
Best wishes to you and your husband.