Made throught my Cath on Friday the 20th

[KristaDeAnn]

Well I made it through my Cath on Friday and I have to say it was a piece of cake. There was nothing to worry about when it came to that. My only complaint was.....What happened to the "twighlight" stuff??

I could of actually sat up and handed the doctor tools and stuff. The nurse said she was giving me some perco...??? (something or another) ..and then the doctor was getting ready to procede and I was like "Yo.....wait one second there...Im wide awake that stuff hasnt set in yet"...Im not even "fuzzy" or anything..." At which time the nurse gave me another dose of the perco..?? (stuff...) and Im wondering now if they just "said" they were giving me something because I felt as normal as the day is long.

Im not saying I felt anything during the procedure pain wise because they numbed the area they were working on...but I am saying that I was not at all "relaxed and not caring" as they said I was going to be. Now Im wondering if they are going to do this to me during the REAL surgery too. I know that is unreasonable thinking but sheeeeeesh I shouldnt have to keep asking for more and more "stuff"...if Im looking wide awake and normal you would think that would be the biggest clue that maybe I need more "stuff"...

Anyway....the results of the cath came out that my arteries are clean as whistles...heart is in excellent shape!!!! I have NO problems other than the damaged mitral valve and Im happy about that...

What if I have such a high tolerence for the "put you under" medicine that they dont successfully "put me under" during the real surgery and I can still feel everything yet cant get move or get anyones attention to tell them Im not under..

This is really worrying me.... Is this unreasonable??? What should I tell the doctor about the Cath...?? Because they said I would be twighlight and that I probably wouldnt even remember anything...heck I can tell you what song was playing on Jack FM 93.1 Radio during the procedure. The memory isnt even fuzzy..

But just so everyone knows that has this procedure coming up...even though I could of actually participated and assisted the doctor during it...there was not one ounce of pain...not a pinch, nothing!!!!....it was absolutely less painfull then getting my ears pierced. There is nothing to fear..and I even thought I was going to get grossed out watching it on one of the 15 tv screens....it was actually pretty cool to see... This was easy, really easy.

Anyway just wanted to let everyone know I lived through that and am somewhat less afraid of the actual REAL surgery now...the whole team there is just awesome toward the patients....and I GOT SOME OF THOSE WARM BLANKETS...OUT OF THE OVEN.... .THEY ARE A SMALL BIT OF HEAVEN....

Just wanted to share,
Oh and because it was outpatient I didnt have to eat off the Seventh Day Advantist menu (no meat) I got real food...it was even half way decent. My husband checked off ALL the deserts and we laughed when they actually brought ALL the deserts... I didnt eat my sandwich because he brought me a mc donalds hamburger and the nurse was nice enough to heat it up for me... it was a positive experience overall.. I just hope I really go under for the big surgery because im worried about that now...

 

[Karlynn]

I GOT SOME OF THOSE WARM BLANKETS...OUT OF THE OVEN.... .THEY ARE A SMALL BIT OF HEAVEN....
...

Amen sister! It almost makes being in the hospital worth it!

I had a similar experience during my EPS (cath with electrophysiologic mapping). The nurse told me to ask for more meds if I needed them during the procedure. I did, and did some more, and did some more after that. Finally she said, honey, with all the drugs I've given you, you should be out like a light, not talking constantly. (which I was )

Just mention your experience to the anesthesiologist and surgeon and they should be able to take that into consideration.

 

[T-Money]

Hi.
Can't speak from experience because I can go under real quickly especially if I am drowsy, but......

I would bet that the anesthesiologist has a much better way of knowing how 'under' you are than the nurse who shot you up in the cath. lab. I'm even realizing that I have some anesthesia amnesia (for lack of a better term) for the day of my surgery at the minimum. You'll have plenty of opportunities to talk to the nurses and docs. about the drug issues before surgery, so just emphasize it to them.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

NOT TO WORRY !

The cardiologists actually prefer that you are awake and reasonably alert during a cath, unless you are just freaked out about the procedure.

Our local hospital uses a combination of VERSED (for conscious sedation) and DEMEROL for pain, along with the local anesthetic at the insertion site. A low dose of VERSED is supposed to make you 'not care' and with higher doses, you should not be aware of what is happening and have no memory of the procedure.

ANESTHESIA for SURGERY is a whole different game. You will be TOTALLY out of it.

Thank God for those Heated Blankets !

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Ross]

Wish you could tell us exactly what they gave you. They gave me a little Versed. Just enough to take the edge off of my nerves. They let me pick what music to listen too and I watched the whole thing too.

Game day is a whole new ball of wax. You will no doubt be out.....way out! Don't even think for a moment that you won't. It'll take you a week of walking to get all of it out of your system when it's over!

Warm blankets? What, you didn't like the refridgerated OR?

 

[hensylee]

while getting me ready for surgery, the nurse said ' we know you are cold - we have warmed sheets in the next room for you'. The last thing I remember is the wrapping me in those warm blankets. It was like mother holding me in her arms.

I don't recall a thing about my cath. No music - no people - nothing.

Not to worry, you will be OUT when the time comes. And when you come back you will wonder about that truck - if it did or didn't get you.

 

[Sherry]

Before the surgery, I was given two valium (gosh only knows what dose), and I was out like a light within five minutes. I was not even cognizant of being wheeled into the OR. I would reiterate what all the others have said, you'll be in a different time zone on the big day.

 

[KristaDeAnn]

Ross,
I am going to try to get a copy of the report when I go for Pre-op Administration day..(that is if they have it finished by then) I will let you know then what it was as Im sure it is listed on the report. I have had to laugh a few times at some of the things doctors think are "important little tid bits of information" that they include in their reports. They pick up on or sometimes *think* they pick up on some of the strangest things..

My pre-op day is the 26th...cant wait to meet my "team"....

Krista