Catherization Question

[KimC]

Hi,

Is it "routine" to have a left AND right heart catherization? I'm asking because when I talked to the CCF today, the assistant said that Dr. Heupler was planning on performing both on June 29.

I have aortic and tricuspid insufficiency.

Thanks,

 

[KimC]

P.S. The avatar is Coulson at almost a year old!

 

[Mary]

Kim,
I had both right and left done.
Mary

 

[tobagotwo]

It's fairly ordinary. I've heard it discussed a lot, and my cardio does them frequently. I didn't have it done, however.

He probably wants to check on both of your valves, which are inconveniently placed with respect to each other.

I can't blame you for not being thrilled. The cath isn't one of the highlights of my life, either.

Coulson is beautiful!

Best wishes,

 

[KimC]

Thanks, Mary.

Bob, thank you, too. Thrilling isn't the word to describe how I'm feeling ...

-- confidence mixed with doubt (should I wait longer for an answer or have I already waited too long?);

-- fear mixed with resolution (am I taking too big a risk or the benefits are absolutely justified, especially given my age); and

-- peace mixed with anxiety (I'm at the best center in the world for invasive heart procedures but anything can go wrong anywhere).

Meanwhile, my husband's planning a tour of the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame! Cleveland rocks!

I know what I'm about to experience pales in comparsion to what others in our community have had to face.

Best,

 

[tobagotwo]

Not to you, it doesn't. With all the support we feel for each other here, we know that there are always those moments when you feel absolutely alone and terrified. That's when you should think of the forums and smile.

Risk is always there for all of these procedures. We bull our way through it, ignore it, try to run around it, but we know it's there. See yourself as a small, flat stone through the procedures, just skipping across the surface of the waters of mortality to the safety of the other shore.

You are doing the best thing you know to do, in the best place you know to have it done. That's honestly as good as it gets.

Best wishes,

 

[Mary]

Kim

Kim

Kim,
As the mother of five, I well remember how scary any health issue was as our kids were growing up. It is normal. We are suppose to be protecting them, and any threat to our health, is a threat to their well being.
I have had two heart caths, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it went. I am not trying to minimize the anxiety I felt, but it wasn't nearly as bad as what I expected.
Compared to childbirth, it was a piece of cake!
Please let me know how you fare.
Mary

 

[Les]

Kim,
The best to you on your procedure. Yeah...no fun at all but you'll do great!

 

[KimC]

"Risk is always there for all of these procedures. We bull our way through it, ignore it, try to run around it, but we know it's there. See yourself as a small, flat stone through the procedures, just skipping across the surface of the waters of mortality to the safety of the other shore."

I am copying and printing this beautiful quote, then taping it to my desk.

Thank you.

 

[Ross]

"Risk is always there for all of these procedures. We bull our way through it, ignore it, try to run around it, but we know it's there. See yourself as a small, flat stone through the procedures, just skipping across the surface of the waters of mortality to the safety of the other shore."

I am copying and printing this beautiful quote, then taping it to my desk.

Thank you.

You will do fine young grasshopper. When your done, you will walk on rice paper and never leave a trail.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Hello Kim,

I'm sure the reason your doc wants to do both sides is so that he will know EVERYTHING about your heart and what needs to be 'fixed' while he is 'in there'.

"Fear NOT" is easier said than done. I remember being scared out of my mind before my first cath. After it was over, I had one of those "Is that all there is?" kind of reactions. I lost count after 10 caths (I didn't want to know which one was #13 and had only one minor inconvenience, a hematoma (bleeding under the skin) that developed when I went back to work after only 2 days and overdid it. Bottom Line: Piece of Cake 999 times out of 1000 when done by people who do them all the time.

Keep the faith,

'AL'

 

[KimC]

Les, AL, Ross, Mary ... muchas gracias. I'll give an update when I have one.

Keeping the faith,

 

[John & Joann]

Tell the good Dr. "Hello" from Joann. Still clicking after 32.6 years. He did the cath in 1971 and in 1999. HE IS THE BEST! His vocabulary was increased during the 71 procedure.

The left and right survey is normal for Cleveland Clinic. They want the entire picture before the surgery.

Our prayers are with you.

 

[KimC]

John & Joann --

I look forward to meeting Dr. Heupler and mentioning your names to him. Thanks for making me feel more at peace about his qualifications, etc. I am honored that you shared your story with me.

God bless,

 

[Harpoon]

I wonder how many cath labs CCF has...

Who knows, maybe you'll be on the same table I was on... Hmmmm....


I had Dr. Prieto do my cath, she's a peds card who specializes in caths.

Having both done at once isn't all that uncommon. They'll prep both of your legs anyways in case they need it.

The sensation of having a cath inside your heart is rather strange, but they'll talk you right through it and they're ready for anything that might happen, but probably won't. =)

Ask ahead about bringing a portable CD player with some of your favorite CD's. It shouldn't be a problem and there will be at least two techs/nurses who will cater to just about any need you have while the procedure is going on.


The "downside" on caths from when I had it was the 8 hours of bedrest afterwards. That's a pain in the ass that takes a fair amount of personal will to get through. They brought dinner to me and my wife fed me which was fine. I had a TV of course and the nurses were very helpful in keeping me comfortable. After about 4 hours or so they'd let me elevate my upper torso a bit, to something like a 15+ degree angle... That was helpful.

I didn't have the CD player and I wish I had thought of that going in.

It's uncomfortable at times, but not painful by any means with the possible exception of the initial "novacaine" injections they put into your legs where the incisions will be.

You know, I had a thought. You can get books on tape just like CD's or whatever, might be nice to pick out a book you've been dying to read but haven't had the time just for the day of the cath. It's kinda hard to read laying flat on your back (at least it is for me) and audiobooks are nice for that kind of thing....

 

[Ross]

Kim by far your worrying about the wrong thing here. Your biggest fear should be of me calling you!

 

[Nan]

Hi Kim, I have had two caths, and I believe that they were of only one side of the heart BUT, on the second cath I did NOT have to lay flat for 8 hours. They used a plastic device ( a Femseal?) that put graduated pressure on the site where they introduced the catheter to help seal it much more quickly. It made a huge difference. Hopefully you will be given that rather than having a nurse press on the site for 15 minutes and then 8 hours. Best to be prepared for the 8 hours....tapes are a good idea.

best of luck

 

[Lisa in Katy]

I had both as well. It's really not bad. The shots in the groin to deaden the area are probably the worst. I remember some warmth from the dye and some other weird things - heart rhythm changed for awhile during the procedure.

The flat on the back part was not great. I'm swaybacked and it starts hurting after a while. They kept having to remind me to not bring my knees up. I also remember listening to the beep of the heart monitor. The guy next to me had a really slow beat and mine was about 90-100 at the time, so it was annoying for awhile until I tuned it out.

The real worst part is being hungry and then they bring you a rather dry sandwich to choke down while flat on your back!

Someone said something about going back to work too soon. My doctor said I could return to normal routine as soon as I left the hospital, and I didn't have any problems. I had my procedure on Friday and went to a Pampered Chef party on Saturday (with the uncomfortable bandages still on). I went back to work on Monday.

You'll do fine I'm sure.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

There are SEVERAL different methods of handling post-cath recovery and sealing the insertion site which may range from almost instant mobility (stitches) to 8 hours of applied pressure and / or bandages. Best to ASK your Cardiologist what technique he / his hospital uses and how long the recovery will take. Also ask about activity and risks following recovery.

Regarding the HARD FLAT table, I always ask the support staff to fold up a hand towel lengthwise to place under the small of my back and to place a pillow under my knees. That is MUCH more comfortable and I have never been denied. Frankly, I don't understand why this is not standard procedure.

'AL'

 

[RayinSF]

~ I had only my right side done. Afterwards I was plugged up with an "angioseal". Then they wheeled me to the recovery room, where I got into some really bad daytime t.v. for a couple of hours. I then got up, got dressed and went home. My docs would kill me if they read this, but I actually went to work the next day. 10 days later, Im a bit sore and a bit black and blue, but it was no big deal. The worse part of the whole experiance was being stuck in the hands 8 times so they could find a place to "thread up " the IV.

~Ray