People with autoimmune disorders can have spleens that eat up
platelets. This happened with a friend of mine whose husband became
Diabetic type I after a severe bout of flu.

Unbeknownst to him his spleen was damaged too. They discovered it
when he had angina attacks and they found he needed a quintuple bypass..
they could not do the operation, too risky. So they removed the spleen.
His platelets were lower than Alan's and incompatible with life. He survived both procedures.

What is at issue here are the lipids.
All that honey that Alan eats has got to go.Sugars are bad for triglycerides.
Also his HDLs are low...and that can be changed too.
Fish oil will fix both of those, and improve the cholesterol ratio.
There is an RX one called Lovasa which may be covered on your insurance.
Otherwise you pay over the counter. Fish oil does not help LDLs much, but keeping them from oxidizing helps too. Antioxidants would be called for.

The stents have a bad prognosis... this procedure is not working out in the long run. So doctor's are worried they will clog up.
That is why Alan's doctor is pushing the Crestor. Besides, Crestor and Lipitor are going neck and neck and the sales force will reflect that race.

It is a tough decision to make.