debster913
Well-known member
Hi, all--
I thought I was procedure-free for at least a year, but last week my cardio's nurse called me and wanted me to report to the hospital for an angiogram. My doctor wanted to make sure the scar tissue inside my right femoral artery was OK and not interrupting the flow in my leg.
I went in Monday the hospital for my procedure, and if I got a dollar for every time someone commented on how young I am, I'd be a millionaire!!! Anyway, I had the procedure, was completely and utterly stoned, and Dr. V told me my artery looks great! I won't need any more ABI/dopplers of that leg probably ever!!!
The only thing is that I have poor blood flow in my right leg from the knee down. Doc says it's because I have arterial spasms (normal for my age). I was released from the hospital around 3:30 and got to my dad's house around 4.
As soon as I sat down in the kitchen, I began feeling really hot and lightheaded, and I passed out cold. My husband tried to rouse me, but I was out for at least a minute. As soon as I came to, (I don't remember anything) I was very lethargic, and barely responsive, so my husband called the cardio's office and spoke with the nurse, and then called 911. Soon I was rushed back to the hospital and the paramedics stabilized my blood pressure (it was in the 70s) and heart rate (30s). After four hours of not being attended to (I know how busy ERs are), my husband called my cardio, who promptly ordered a CT scan of my lower extremities and I ended up back in the hospital overnight. I was eventually moved to a room on the cardiac floor and the next morning my cardio's student doctor came in to check on me. He said the CT scan was fine, but Dr. V wanted me to have an ultrasound of my left femoral artery since it looked enlarged. Well, he did go in on that side...
Around 2:45 yesterday afternoon, I ran into my cardio in the hall as Hubster was taking me for a walk, and Dr. V checked my groin and said I could go after the ultrasound, but not before giving Mike a bad time about worrying him half to death the night before.
I had my ultrasound around 3, then waited three hours for the test results which never came. Finally, my kind nurse called Dr. V around 6 and he let me go home.
Turns out I had a vasal-vagal episode from so many drugs (I really was stoned beyond belief), and I saw Dr. V for my all-clear this afternoon. He put me on a new medication to open up my blood vessels, so we'll see how that goes.
But at least my artery is OK for now. Doc says my artery is "wide open," so unless my foot turns super cold again and/or turns blue, I'm OK! I'll only need med checkups and valve echoes from now on.
Just thought I'd share. I scared my family and friends when they didn't hear from me for 2 days after my procedure!
Debi (debster913)
I thought I was procedure-free for at least a year, but last week my cardio's nurse called me and wanted me to report to the hospital for an angiogram. My doctor wanted to make sure the scar tissue inside my right femoral artery was OK and not interrupting the flow in my leg.
I went in Monday the hospital for my procedure, and if I got a dollar for every time someone commented on how young I am, I'd be a millionaire!!! Anyway, I had the procedure, was completely and utterly stoned, and Dr. V told me my artery looks great! I won't need any more ABI/dopplers of that leg probably ever!!!
The only thing is that I have poor blood flow in my right leg from the knee down. Doc says it's because I have arterial spasms (normal for my age). I was released from the hospital around 3:30 and got to my dad's house around 4.As soon as I sat down in the kitchen, I began feeling really hot and lightheaded, and I passed out cold. My husband tried to rouse me, but I was out for at least a minute. As soon as I came to, (I don't remember anything) I was very lethargic, and barely responsive, so my husband called the cardio's office and spoke with the nurse, and then called 911. Soon I was rushed back to the hospital and the paramedics stabilized my blood pressure (it was in the 70s) and heart rate (30s). After four hours of not being attended to (I know how busy ERs are), my husband called my cardio, who promptly ordered a CT scan of my lower extremities and I ended up back in the hospital overnight. I was eventually moved to a room on the cardiac floor and the next morning my cardio's student doctor came in to check on me. He said the CT scan was fine, but Dr. V wanted me to have an ultrasound of my left femoral artery since it looked enlarged. Well, he did go in on that side...
Around 2:45 yesterday afternoon, I ran into my cardio in the hall as Hubster was taking me for a walk, and Dr. V checked my groin and said I could go after the ultrasound, but not before giving Mike a bad time about worrying him half to death the night before.
I had my ultrasound around 3, then waited three hours for the test results which never came. Finally, my kind nurse called Dr. V around 6 and he let me go home.
Turns out I had a vasal-vagal episode from so many drugs (I really was stoned beyond belief), and I saw Dr. V for my all-clear this afternoon. He put me on a new medication to open up my blood vessels, so we'll see how that goes.
But at least my artery is OK for now. Doc says my artery is "wide open," so unless my foot turns super cold again and/or turns blue, I'm OK! I'll only need med checkups and valve echoes from now on.
Just thought I'd share. I scared my family and friends when they didn't hear from me for 2 days after my procedure!
Debi (debster913)
