I have a heart Cath set up for May 22. This will be done at the St. Louis VA. The cardiologist and RN both are former BJH folks and Dr. Moon know and trusts them. This will make it flow smoother for me to have My surgery at BJH with Dr, Moon as the surgeon. My guess is that the surgery will be within 2 weeks of the cath. I will post the surgery date when I get it. We are going up the night before because I have to be there at 6:30 AM. We will stay a few blocks away. We plan to stay the night of the 22nd also so my wife does not have to drive in friday rush hour traffic.
Heart Cath set
- Thread starter john79t
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Tbone
Well-known member
I wish you the best of luck with your Cath. I had mine on the 23 last month. I hope your news is good, or at least what you & your doctor expect. Good luck & God Bless.
bugchucker
Well-known member
Best wishes! I had mine on 4.20 with surgery scheduled for the following day. Don't be worried, it was a smooth as a colonoscopy. They could not get me out and I talked to the doctor the entire time...Let us know how you do! Our thoughts are with you.
John, it sounds as if you have made good plans.
M
Mary
Not fighting Friday morning rush hour traffic is a great idea, John. Do you take I-55 when you make the trip?
Good luck, and let us know when you schedule the replacement date.
Good luck, and let us know when you schedule the replacement date.
Mary
We go up 67 and catch 55 at Festus. It is not the morning traffic we were worried about. I will be driving up. We lived in St Louis area several times so I deal with the traffic OK. It is the Friday afternoon traffic we were worried about. My wife dos not do good in big city traffic. We are going up the might before because we have to be there at 6:30 AM but we are also goin to stay frday night.
I guess I will know for sure what I am facing after the cath. Don't think I will be facing blockage. I just hope the aorta is ok to just be wrapped and not a Betnall.
We go up 67 and catch 55 at Festus. It is not the morning traffic we were worried about. I will be driving up. We lived in St Louis area several times so I deal with the traffic OK. It is the Friday afternoon traffic we were worried about. My wife dos not do good in big city traffic. We are going up the might before because we have to be there at 6:30 AM but we are also goin to stay frday night.
I guess I will know for sure what I am facing after the cath. Don't think I will be facing blockage. I just hope the aorta is ok to just be wrapped and not a Betnall.
It seems scarier than it is, John. If you've never had it before, it feels like a much bigger deal than it turns out to be when you actually go through it.
It's a lot of stress, when you know you're being "measured for a valve," as it were (not really - just a figure of speech). My desire was to keep it to only once, and ensure I didn't go through it until they were sure I needed the valve anyway.
I asked for the light anesthetic, as I was very curious, and I wanted to be able to ask questions as it went along. However, they can dial you down to be almost asleep, if you choose. It's a mix that includes one of those "I-don't-care" drugs, which makes it easier not to panic. They said you wouldn't feel anything, but I could feel the catheter bumping into things, especially in my heart. It wasn't really painful, just a little unearthly.
The only thing bad about the light anesthesia was that when he put pressure to close the artery at the end, it was like someone was pressing continuously on my "funny bone," except it was at my groin instead. For a bit, I felt like a butterfly on a pin, because he certainly did have to put pressure on it, like as not. I understand this doesn't happen to most people, apparently just my luck. It might happen more often to women, because the Interventional Cardiologist said at the time that I had "gotten in touch with my feminine side."
Good luck with your cath: may it go quickly and smoothly.
Best wishes,
It's a lot of stress, when you know you're being "measured for a valve," as it were (not really - just a figure of speech). My desire was to keep it to only once, and ensure I didn't go through it until they were sure I needed the valve anyway.
I asked for the light anesthetic, as I was very curious, and I wanted to be able to ask questions as it went along. However, they can dial you down to be almost asleep, if you choose. It's a mix that includes one of those "I-don't-care" drugs, which makes it easier not to panic. They said you wouldn't feel anything, but I could feel the catheter bumping into things, especially in my heart. It wasn't really painful, just a little unearthly.
The only thing bad about the light anesthesia was that when he put pressure to close the artery at the end, it was like someone was pressing continuously on my "funny bone," except it was at my groin instead. For a bit, I felt like a butterfly on a pin, because he certainly did have to put pressure on it, like as not. I understand this doesn't happen to most people, apparently just my luck. It might happen more often to women, because the Interventional Cardiologist said at the time that I had "gotten in touch with my feminine side."
Good luck with your cath: may it go quickly and smoothly.
Best wishes,
ponytaila1a
Well-known member
I was told I would be give a drug to relax......I watched the clock during the cath and kept wondering when the Ativan would "kick in".....as the hour passed and they finished and sent me back to "post op"...I realized I was "awake and alert" through the entire procedure. I questioned the nurse in the recovery area...she checked the chart and replied "it says 'no meds given'".......I talked with the cardio the entire time as well....I guess they thought I was relaxed enough on my own....strange as I was terrified for days before and when entering the unit that AM!! I had a "clip" for closure so I did not notice any unusual pressure.
Ross
Well-known member
John if you can stay awake for it, do. It really is neat to watch on the monitor. They gave me enough juice to keep me stupid, but not out, and it was amazing.
I was nervous about it and didn't want to be knocked out, so I was given .5mg of Ativan.
That was a good med for me, I was able to converse and comprehend what was going on, but I was a bit floaty.(?)
That was a good med for me, I was able to converse and comprehend what was going on, but I was a bit floaty.(?)
