Cath scheduled

[Trish]

The ins. co. finally agreed that a cath is necessary before surgery. What a surprise!

I go Monday. They're going to call Sunday with the details. I have some idea what to expect but have some questions.

You have to lie on your back for hours after. How many?

Shall I bring a book? Or is it FLAT on your back?

Doc says no patch so I have restrictions afterward, like no driving and no work. Anything else?

Does it hurt? OK, I'm chicken. I want to save all my bravery for post-op.

Can my brat who's driving me in sit with me? I was planning on one driver to get me to Beth Israel and one to pick me up but she's being a hen.

Anything else I should know?

Thanks in advance. I know you'll take care of me.

Trish

 

[MikeHeim]

I can hit a couple of these:

1. I had the plug put in, so someone else will have to come along and comment on how long you have to lie down w/o it.

2. I was propped up at about a 20-30 degree angle. A book would be fine.

3. Only other restrictions I had were with exercise.

4. Does it hurt? For me, not really any more than getting an IV. The biggest thing is the strange sensations. Take you feel when you get really embarrassed - basically the flushed wave of heat over your face - and imagine a similar sensation inside your chest. Also, you'll think you peed yourself.

5. I don't think your kid will be able to sit with you. The environment for mine was very much like an operating room and the preparations are very similar. My wife was able to sit with me for the TEE, but not the cath.

6. Anything else? The procedure lasts 30-40 minutes, but they should allow you to see what's happening on the screen the whole time. That kept me interested and made the time go by pretty fast.

Best wishes.

 

[Adrienne]

I agree that it didn't really hurt. I don't remember a flushed feeling, but I was sedated, so who knows. The worst part for me about the lying still for 6 hours (I wish I had had a plug) was the fact that I have a weak bladder and am totally unable to use a bedpan. I won't get into the details!!

 

[Curtsmum]

My son as always been able to sit up and play on the playstation, just not allowed to get off the bed. He as a real problem, it is murder trying to get him to use a bedpan. Good luck with everything.

 

[Cooker]

He as a real problem, it is murder trying to get him to use a bedpan.........

Me too.....

It does not hurt, or at least mine did not. The only uncomfortable part was the 110 lb nurse who did a handstand on the incision to keep it from bleeding

 

[WayneGM]

I pretty much echo what's been said. Unfortunately, they had a hard time stopping the bleeding so they had to put considerable pressure on which did hurt a bit. Because of this, I got a considerable bruise on my groin/thigh area. I could walk but I limped for about a week. That was the only bad experience, and the nurse said this rarely happens (lucky me!). The rest of it was a piece of cake. Best wishes and good luck.

 

[Bina]

I had the same experience as Wayne. My hubby drove me and stayed around. Don't be shy to ask for a mild sedative, it made me kind of happy and dreamy. I lay down for 6 hours, then I tried to get up very slowly and still got really dizzy, low BP, so they kept me overnight. Anesthetics don't agree with me.

 

[marie]

I had to lay down for 4 hours and I was able to read a book. I didn't have a plug so had the 110 lb person putting pressure on my leg. I ditto the bed pan as soon as I was able the first place I went to was the bathroom. No driving stuff like that. I was sedated so I was in La La land but I could hear them talking. Earline

 

[ALCapshaw2]

The length of time you must lay on your back varies depending on the type of closing protocol they use.

The old 'tried and true' method involves placing a sandbag weighing several pounds over the insertion site and laying flat for many hours (5 or 6?). This after about 30 minutes of 'hand pressure' in the lab.

At one time, our local cath lab used what amounted to a large C-Clamp (OUCH!) to pinch off the femoral artery.

On my last cath, there was a technician applying just enough hand pressure to prevent 'leakage' with a nurse monitoring vital signs. This lasts about 30 minutes, a bit more if there are still signs of leakage. After that they applied a Pressure Bandage and I was returned to a room and bed for a 'few hours' (I had been admitted so this one was not as an out-patient). You will want to take it easy for a few days (no lifting or deep bending) to prevent a hematoma (bleeding under the skin) from forming.

Your groin will be numbed with something similar to what your Dentist uses and a very small needle. Other than that, I only feel a little 'pressure' as they insert the catheter sheath. I confess, I was freaked out the first time but came out of it with an "is that all there is" reaction. NO BIG DEAL and it is pretty interesting watching the catheter being moved around inside your coronary arteries on the monitor.

The 'event' rate at my hospital (which has an EXCELLENT Cath Lab) is 1 in 1000 so it is a very safe procedure when done by Cardiologists who perform them routinely.

'AL Capshaw' (Been There, Done That, Umpteen Times)

 

[KathyM]

Hi Trish,

I just had my third one done last week. The first was for my brain, and the second was where they put coils into my brain aneursym. This last one was a heart cath.

I had no problems with any of them. The second one he put a plug (seal) in the groin so I did not have to keep the leg still. This time since is was a short time since my seal he had to go around it or something so he did not put a plug in. They also had to apply a lot of pressure because I am on asprin. So the leg was sore for a day or two. That was it. No lifting anything more than a quart of milk for 3 days...stairs only once a day, and watch for swelling that was it. I was at a party 2 days later. Also they sedated me, but really just where you don't care, but you are aware of what is going on...

Good luck and really it is not bad at all.

xoxo
Kathy M

 

[Trish]

And done!

And done!

The good news is that I have absolutely nothing wrong with me other than the mitral valve. No blockages, nothing at all. There's an 80 % chance that it can be repaired but no promises until he's in there.

The cath is over and done. It was easy and uneventful. However, before I went in, I got a pain in my side, just below the ribs on the left side. It got worse during the cath procedure in spite of the drugs they were giving me. Afterwards, the nurse put the pressure on my leg and commiserated with me on the pain which grew worse as time went on. I do not have back problems. A dozen or more doctors etc. came in and poked me but no one came up with an answer. Three hours of this while being unable to move was horrible. Suddenly it was gone. No idea why. Then I fell asleep for the rest of my time there. Doctors came in to see why the pain was gone. No answers. My son came up with the best solution: gas pain. An empty stomach and nerves could have done that to me. It was just an odd place for pain.

Next Monday is surgery and I'll be on here reading until then.
Thanks to everyone who shares.
Trish

 

[Guest]

Trish,

I'd be willing to bet that pain WAS gas and stress related.

Glad the cath is over for you. Good luck as you continue through this journey. Thoughts/prayers coming your way, of course.



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"An open road and a road that's hidden" ... Steve Wariner ... 'Brand New Life'

 

[harleygirl528]

Trish, So happy to hear that your Cath is over and done with and you have no blockages! That's great news....and an 80% chance of a repair is an excellent statistic! I just had an aortic valve repair, which is less likely to occur than the mitral valve repair, and I am thrilled to still have my native valve. I almost said to have all my parts but my entire ascending aorta was replaced with a dacron graft so guess I can't say I have all my parts! At any rate, glad to hear that you arteries were clear and that you had a bit of good news, which is nice at a time like this! I'll be praying for you! Take care and continue to ask questions...I spent countless hours on this site before surgery and the comfort and reassurance I received was invaluable! We're here for you!

 

[Curtsmum]

Glad it went well, good luck with the surgey.