I suppose that is a matter of choice . I had no choice it was do (angioplasty 2 stents) or die. I spent thirteen hours with emergency department doing everything possible to prevent a massive heart failure ...GOD ! what a horrible experince those 13 hours were. 20 minutes before the operation I realized I was beginning to check out and my suffering was coming to its final stages .Okay NOW YOU"RE GOING TO HAVE LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THIS AND PLEASE LET IT SINK IN ...When the surgeon opened up the blocked vessel in my heart with that tiny balloon I suddenly felt the blood flow out and within an instant all bloating , chest pain , pain running down my sides and through both arms disappeared as quickly as you can snap your fingers...I WAS STUNNED ! I was actually wondering why the heck I was even there it felt sooooo good and releiving tears of happiness and joy flowed I felt so good . I got to watch the whole thing on their TV monitor while it was happening . Getting the catheter into my arm hurt a bit and my wrist was very sore for a few days . Its a complicated thing to look into the eyes of the surgeon knowing full well he didn't have to do this for me but he did and for it I am alive and get to continue to spend whatever years I have with my very young children and wife of 8 years now . For me angioplasty helped me I hope that helps you in your decision . I do have angina in the jaw and teeth but nothing to speak of in the chest. A little more than 30% of my heart died and combine that with the meds I take I am no longer capable of what I used to do . I can ride bike very quickly but if I push it to hard limbs start to fall asleep and I have to coast for about 10 seconds and I also shoot basketball lasting for a maximum of 20 minutes ...I can't run for more than 10 seconds and any one of the above mentioned exercises will cause me to nap for up to 2 hours twice a day at most . I have a bugger of a time trying to keep my weight down . I went from 205 lbs pre MI to 230 lbs now . I'm 6"1 tall . Angioplasty without heart attack is much better than with ...the out come is much better .

Many thanks for your communication Banff. Your health over the last months has changed your life I'm sure. You seem to be dealing with it though and as you said it was a matter of life or death. I have not actually had an MI and my cardiologist has stated that intervention would be a last resort as some collateral damage is a consequence of angioplasty and the narrowing is in a branch artery that joins the main coronary artery. The main coronary is clear at this present time. I should not suffer the angina that I do from a small singular vessel, but I do. So the dilema has been, do I put up with what I have or risk the unknown? In a life or death situation the answer would be an easy one. I am fully aware that I am in an enviable position compared to some/most but whatever the decision I need to live with it. I have found that improving my fitness is a must and also a balancing act. I am going to the doctors today to see if I can stop the medication for a time to see if my pains get better or worse. Watch this space????

there is also a form of heart health support which main stream medicine disagrees with only because they say it hasn't been proven "Kelation therapy" google it .Drug companies are likely the main opposition too Kelation therapy ...its competition.

Thanks for the info, I did look into this a year ago but my doctor had not heard of it and information from users was vague. So I have posted a topic and hope for some replies before entering into the unknown. I have ceased taking Atorvastatin but now have imense gripping pain across my back, like a spasm, on a daily basis.

Tiggerpj

Did you self cease your Atorvastatin or was it removed by your Doctor ? I personally have noticed that when my meds are dropped or changed my body freaks out in one way or another . I hope there are people here who can give you info on personal experience with Chelation treatment.

I first heard about it at the clinic when a couple of guys were discussing it and one of them has taken the treatment for an impessive number of yearts and looked in great shape so I got in on the conversation . The doctor overheard the whole conversation and later thanked me for questioning it and its cost . She said it is an unproven therapy and expensive but when you look at the info and how popular it has become it looks like it really may work . The results look awfully good in the long term . I hope you find someone who has taken Chelation Therapy .