Stint

First statement: I am not a doctor and therefore not academically qualified to answer your question. By the way it is stent not stint.

However, doctors have had my heart out on the table and patched it up, replaced the high pressure 1" schedule 600 discharge NRV and fitted and removed stents so I do have some experience.

If this was an engineering question, you would get a second opinion, so treat it as one.

If you took your car to the garage and were questioning the mechanics diagnosis you would go for a second quotation or a third or a fourth until you got the answer that you agreed with or came from the person you trusted the most.

So why not do the same for you own body?

First step - your heart Dr (assume this reads cardiologist) is imminently better qualified to recommend medication for a stent patient than a GP. Score 1 for the cardiologist.

Aspirin lowers the bloods clotting tendency and appears to have very good statistical evidence in its favour for the prevention of heart attack or stroke. Score 2 for the cardiologist.

Plavix is a pretty well known and proven drug that helps to prevent clotting and helps prevent future stroke or heart attack. (No recommendation intended, I have never used the stuff.) Score 3 for the cardiologist.

What is your doctors reasoning? No score for him so far in my book.

I have to take Warfarin (read rat poison) to help prevent clotting on my aortic valve. There is a school of thought that believes that with the type of valve I have fitted that this is not necessary and that I should stop taking it. Only problem is, nobody can get anyone to join the trial studies to see if they are right or not. I sure as hell am not giving it a whirl.

If you are unsure, or think that your GP may be correct I would suggest that you see at least one more cardiologist or Specialist Physician for another opinion. Until then, believe the most educated advice that you have so far.

Please bear in mind that this is an Engineering forum, and that whatever well-meaning advice is offered, it is no substitute for consulting the appropriate healthcare specialist.

I understand, but you guys have Heart trouble as well. I was just hoping for a little more light on the matter.

Many guys on this site are a bit anal when it comes to questions of health (PWS this comment is not aimed at you, your advice is perfectly valid). Some of the engineering advice given is so technically poor that it is dangerous and yet comments on health issues based on personal experience (such as poster 1) are frowned upon. Strange.

Some years ago, I had 2 stents inserted.

It was remarkable to be free of pain and able to move around freely - for 2 weeks. It then blocked up.

I suspect your specialist has prescribed Plavix to try and prevent this happening to you.

As others have advised, if your Dr disagrees, get a second opinion, but I would be inclined to stick with the specialists opinion anyway.

It is not much fun when the stent blocks up.