Katsmeow I don't want to sound nosy but I don't see where you checked back in after this. Hope all is well.
Thanks for asking. I was actually really tired (more than I expected) for a couple of days after the angiogram. And, then my wrist ached for several days (they went in through the wrist artery) so I didn't use the computer much.
Good News - I did not need any stents. Also, I did not have an allergic reaction to the contrast media.
Bad News - I do have 4 blockages!
I have a 60% blockage in the LAD. It is in the upper part but not right at the top. I have a 60% blockage in the left circumflex artery -- similar upper area but not at the top.
I have two blockages in the right coronary artery. One is in the upper part and was 30 to 40%. The other was lower down and was 40%.
While the procedure was going on someone came out and told DH that the angiogram was taking longer than usual. At one point, DH said that they said they were going to get another "tool" to use. At another point, DH told me that they instead said they were going to do another pressure to check something. He doesn't actually recall exactly what they said. Basically they were going to do something additional to find out more information.
I didn't know about this until after we left so I couldn't ask doctor about it. He did speak to me but given I had been under the medication for the procedure he kept it short and basically told me about the blockages and told me when to see him again (I have an appoint next week).
From researching on the internet, I think it is possible that they might have been measuring the blood flow to see if the larger blockages were impeding any of my blood flow. Anyway, will find out next week.
Rationally, I know that if blockages are like that and not impeding blood flow that medical treatment is fine and generally preferable to a stent. At the other hand, it definitely feels weird to know that these blockages (especially the two at 60%) are just sitting there. On the third hand, I realize I could have a plaque rupture anywhere that could cause a heart attack and that it could well not be at the site of any of the blockages. So the best thing is to reduce the chance of that happening.
I've definitely had a crash course in researching heart disease and LDL and medication, etc. In a way, I do feel better now. I recognize that the modern combinations of meds can do amazing things to reduce risk. So I do feel that between medication and lifestyle stuff that there is a lot to be done here to reduce my risk of an adverse event. In the past, I did do well on the lifestyle stuff and kind of slacked off the last 3 years. So, it is not that hard to get back in that mindset.
I do feel that I have genetic factors that impact this and it isn't just lifestyle. I am adopted and some of those genetic factors I only learned about 6 years ago though.
The other thing is sort of a hard thing to wrap my head around. I've always thought of myself as healthy. Until 3 years ago, I took no regular medications of any kind. I went to a doctor's office once and saw I didn't fill any medications and said I needed to bring a list of them. I told her I had none which surprised her. Then I got the osteoporosis diagnosis and I do Prolia for that. And, now this. It reminds me somewhat of so many people here talking about being healthy in terms of their plans for the future. I sort of feel like I was "healthy" and now, suddenly, I'm not. Just an odd feeling....
Anyway -- I have lots of questions for the doctor that I will look forward to asking him next week.