Angiogram next step now

[Rick W]

Hello to all my friends at VR forum.

Me and two close friends saw a cardiologist at UCLA last Friday and the news is what I expected. He suggests I make an appointment to get an angiogram to see where my heart really stands and handle this while am still healthy. He is a likeable doctor and answered most all of my questions in terms I and my friends could understand. I can then meet with the surgeon to discuss ALL my concerns. Arlys on this forum scared me about having an angiogram although the doctor doesn't seem concerned and he did not remark on Dr. Raissi at Cedars. I do not like the risks listed with the procedure. Alot of folks on this forum have described their experiences with the procedure and the results seem mixed to me at best, between not bad and horrible.
These people at UCLA are some of the best in California in cardiology. Anyone out there able to calm my nerves? I want more reassurance before agreeing to the angiogram.

Rick

 

[Ross]

Rick I can tell you mine went just fine. I asked for a little Versed before the procedure to help calm my nerves. I got it, not enough to knock me silly but enough to calm me. The insertion of the catheter itself, I never felt. The worst part of the whole thing for me was lying still on my back for 6 hours and being hungry from fasting. I had major bruising at the insertion site which lasted for about 3 weeks after, but that is all. I too, was worried about some of the possible complications, but they tell you that more for a warning of possibility then in reality.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Rick-

My husband has had a few caths. (angiograms). He's never complained about them, or even had a bad reaction. Depending on how they do the test, some people have to lie still for a few hours afterwards to make sure the place where they insert the cath doesn't bleed. And you will have to take it a little easy for a day or two, but it's kind of a neat procedure, and sometimes they will let you see the screen. You can watch while they thread the cath to your heart, if you're into that kind of stuff.

They'll give you something to take the edge off, so you won't be feeling much at all.

You'll do just fine.

Tell us how it went.

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Rick

My husband, Tyce's, cath was absolutely a-ok. No problem, he even enjoyed watching it on the monitor. He went in about 8:00, was back in the cath holding room by 11:30, but couldn't get up out of bed till about 4.....everything went well and he went back to work the next day. Hope that helps.

Evelyn

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Rick

Hi Rick

My cath was no problem either..Went into a VERY cold room with my Card. behind a glass window with Music playing...They must have given me something? Because I was teasing them that there were no women around Did have to lay still for 4 hrs. Had the brusing around thigh for a few weeks. But NO pain. Bonnie

 

[Scottie]

Hi Rick !

Hi Rick !

I was terrified before my angio ..I had such an awful experience twenty yrs ago as a child but to my relief it was not that bad ...the worst was the dreading it before hand. It was cold and slightly uncomfortable and boring ..but that's about it ....to tell the truth I was embarrassed to go back to work and tell folks about it ...I wanted to give them a much more dramatic account than the truth....Boring boring boring !
It rated about 1 on a scale of 1-10 on the pain scale and about the same on the drama scale for me ...don't waste time dreading it ....I did and felt a tad stupid after wards !
Take care
Scottie

 

[Johnny Stephens]

You'll be fine

You'll be fine

Hello, Rick, as the others have mentioned this procedure is more uncomfortable than painful. You will be sedated..if you're not, I'd call time-out until they give you something just so you can relax afterward (when you have to lie still for a long time).

One point you shouldn't lose track of is that this procedure will yield another set of information to give your surgeon the full picture of your heart's status. Imagine my surprise to find out that my coronary arteries were wide-open, even after years of poor eating habits. I was really glad to find that out, and my surgeon was able to cross "simultaneous bypass" off the list and concentrate on my valve problems.

No, the risk is not zero, but the risk of not knowing about a condition the catheterization would expose may be greater.

You'll do fine

YMMV

 

[ccrawford]

Assurance from a real wuss

Assurance from a real wuss

Rick - relax, buddie, this one is nothing. I had an angio to try to find a blood clot in my brain (they found it), and this procedure was slightly more invasive than yours will be. I told them I get knocked out easy so they very lightly sedated me. The dye in the brain is pretty uncomfortable, but you won't be doing that. In my case they used a technique called perclose which is a way to put small stitches in the femoral artery where they go in. I only had to wait around for a couple of hours to insure no bleeding. Several hours later, my daughter, my cardio, and I went to the symphony - no kidding. The rest of the folks on this site know I'm a real wuss, so you can beleive that this is no big deal. Good luck anyway, even though you won't nned it. Chris

 

[Rain]

Very interesting and painless.

Very interesting and painless.

Rick,

I had one two days before my heart surgery. It was way cool! The cardio doing it was teaching another guy how to do this new way of closing the wound. He explained the whole procedure to me as it was happening. I think it really helps to have a doctor who is talking to you and explaining what?s going on. The warm sensation was very interesting, and watching it on the tv screen was really, really cool too. And you know what?! They were playing great music in the room too! Hmm.... Interesting. I didn?t have to lay still that long..... seems like maybe an hour or so. They said the time was much shorter than it used to be because of this new way of closing the wound.

I

 

[FredH]

Angiogram

Angiogram

HI Rick,
Had two angiograms one 7 years ago and one 3 years ago and had no problem with either. I was up in 4 hours and feeling fine. They don't put you out completely only relax you. The worst thing was the cold air while they were doing it. A good cardio doc can tell a lot from the angiogram so it is worth the small risk. You will feel much better after it's done because you will know exactly where you stand. Keep us informed on the results.

Good luck

Fred

 

[Arlyss]

Just to clarify for those on this forum my thoughts regarding angiograms. Anything shared is not with the intent to scare or frighten, which is not helpful, but to share what can be a positive thought regarding diagnostic alternatives for those with abnormal tissue in their aorta. These are certainly merely my own thoughts.

Angiograms are standard practice in cardiology and certainly many of them are done at all major heart centers every day. The thoughts I shared regarding angiograms were in reference to those who have abnormal aortic tissue associated with connective tissue disorders such as Marfan Syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos, bicuspid aortic valves etc. There are non-invasive diagnostic techniques which may be used as an alternative when fragile aortas are present. Of course, this concern would not be the same for those not having aortic disease. So to me it makes sense to have some understanding about the health of the aorta when considering diagnostic testing.
I found this link regarding aortic dissection interesting. http://www.emedicine.com/emerg//topic28.htm Under causes it lists a number of the conditions I have previously mentioned. Also listed as a cause is "Iatrogenic causes (eg, cardiac catheterization)". Cardiac catheterization is another name for angiogram. It seems reasonable to me that anyone already at risk of aortic dissection due to an underlying aortic pathology may be wise to avoid additional potential risks whenever possible. I hope that it is good news that for those whose aortas are diseased there are alternative diagnostic tests as an option.
Arlyss

 

[richie rich]

hey rick

i had my angiogram done back in dec. 02. the whole process was pretty simple. they sedated me took their pictures and wheeled me back in to the recover room. the actually angio took about an hour or so. it is the sitting around that is longer. you have to get there earlier and wait for your turn. they will then monitor you for a few hours afterward. nothing really hurts. you don't feel them sticking the wire in you.

ps....... i had a bicuspid aortic valve and did not have any problem with the catherzation. they also did a cather. during my surgery since i had the minimal invasive surgery.

rich

 

[pegne]

Angiograms

Angiograms

I have 8 or 9 caths. There's been so many I lose track. They never bothered me. The most difficult part is laying still after but I do believe they have a plug now where the laying still part is reduced dramatically. I had my first cath when I was 12 some 30 years ago. Then you were admitted to the hospital for 3 days. Things have certainly changed since then. One part that is uncomfortable is when they put the dye through. It is a hot sensation that runs through your body. It really feels kind of weird but does not hurt. Good luck Peggy

 

[Rick W]

Hello and Thank You to everyone for sharing their experiences concerning angiograms. I feel better now about having it done. This is a great forum.

I attended a seminar last night at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach where the topic was Heart valve replacement versus Valve repair. It was very interesting and in the end left me with the understanding that there may be additional options for valve choice other than a St. Jude mechanical for AVR, and that repairs are usually limited to the mitral valve. This surgeon has a much more conservative yet progressive approach to heart surgery than anyone I have seen yet. I may get a consult with him before proceeding any further.

Rick