Yreka, CAJust weeks after Charles Martinie had Eluted Drug Stents inserted into his legs, he suffered a massive stroke. "I told the doctors I was having a hard time breathing but they didn't take it too seriously," says Martinie. "By the time the helicopter picked me up, I barely made it out alive."
"This whole mess started in early 2005," he says. "I had difficulty walking and was getting tired and I'm only 64 years old, in relatively good health. My doctor thought I might have clogged arteries in my legs and sure enough, after tests for peripheral artery disease, he sent me to a vascular doctor in Redding, CA to have Drug Eluting Stents put in. Then I had a follow-up visit with Doctors Nelson and Brenner here in Yreka.
It was during this visit that I told Dr. Nelson that I had a hard time breathing and felt even more tired than I did before the stents. And I had chest pains. 'Maybe there's something wrong with me above the waist,' I said, and suggested that maybe the rest of my arteries should be looked at. Instead, I was more or less dismissed with a prescription for Plavix, Lipitor and a few other drugs. I guess my blood was like water at this point.
Being naïve, I just did and took what I was told. What a coincidence that, just a few weeks after having the stents inserted, I suffered a massive stroke. Luckily my friend was over at my house and he called 911. All I remember saying to him was, 'I know this sounds strange, but I think I'm dying.' Next thing I remember was being in the helicopter. It flew me to Medford Medical Center in Oregon and I had a six-artery bypass. I barely made it to the hospital, in fact they almost lost me twice. I live about 60 miles outside Yreka, about as rural as you can get, so I was really lucky to get outa there alive.
I stayed in ICU for six days but I only have flashes of memory about my time there. I remember getting out of the helicopter, being wheeled through the hospital, then waking up.
When I was well enough to see my primary care doctor, he more or less agreed with me about the connection between the stents and my stroke. Then I read on the Internet that, right after people have stents put in, there is a very high incidence of heart attack and stroke.
After the bypass I was on numerous other medications. It has been very difficult to get the right medications and I can't even afford to buy some of them. Social security won't give me Medicare until I am 65, so I'm just holding on, hanging out and hoping I can get through this.
The whole thing escalated right after I had these stents put in. I want someone to know that my stroke could have been prevented. It was cause and affect, one thing led to the other. And I still have the same problem with my legs.
If you or a loved one has suffered thrombosis, blood clots or a heart attack, please contact a [Drug Eluting Stents] lawyer who will evaluate your claim at no charge.