Question: I am an American who currently lives in Nanyang, Henan, China, where I teach English. On XXXXXXX 25 in Macau I had a
heart attack. Unfortunately, i continue to have problems associated with my heart attack, even though two stents were put in my LAD soon after the
myocardial infarction months ago. Last week I got out of the hospital in Nanyang where I was treated with
amiodarone medicine for a ventricular
premature beat. My doctor said that the medicine was proving to be successful. However, while in the hospital, an
ultrasound showed that I have a clot attached to the wall of my left ventricle (LVT). My doctor wants me to visit a hospital in Beijing for a
second opinion to make sure that the LVT diagnosis done in Nanyang was correct. Meanwhile, my doctor told me to continue to take my regular heart attack meds, which include ticagrelor (
Brilinta). My doctor also told me me that there is not a definitive treatment for my LVT problem. Is that correct? She also said that MOST people with LVT survive for many years just taking regular heart attack meds. Is that correct? She said that surgery is typically done only in an emergency situation and as a last result. Also, I fear that maybe the ticagrelor is not working and maybe I need to try a different blood thinner. In addition, I have read that anti-coagulants are often used to treat an LVT. My doctor thinks that anti-coagulants are too strong and risky for my situation. Is that correct? Your advice would be greatly appreciated.