My husband's Angiogram this Friday!

[vero1]

Hi all, My husband our son, and me went on vacation last week to Mexico and when we got back yesterday we had a message from Kaiser Hospital, saying my husband's angiogram is set for this friday the 14th at 8 am in the morning. I guess I'm wondering what to expect, I wonder if we will get a surgery date on Friday. I think this website has given me a very positive insight and I am less scared thanks to all of your replies.

 

[Ross]

Expect a long day. The test itself doesn't take long, but depending on how they seal the wound, he may have to lay still for 6 hours afterwards. It's really not a big deal at all. You will not get a date for surgery until all of the pictures and other evidence have been viewed.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Hello Vero1

Is this his first angiogram?

I remember being scared out of my mind before my first one. I watched the hospital video 3 times beforehand.

After it was over, I had one of those "Is that all there is" kind of experiences. I felt no pain whatsoever and actually enjoyed watching the wire advance through my coronary arteries on the monitor. The cardiologist will numb the insertion site with something similar to what dentists use and a very small needle that may feel like a mosquito bite at first.

The recuperation time depends on how they seal the insertion site as Ross said. Some hospitals still use the hand pressure (very hard on the nurse) followed by a sand bag for several hours. Others use a large C-clamp applied to the femoral artery (this can be 'uncomfortable' for a while...just grin and bear it...you DO NOT want to have any complications after being punctured!) followed by a pressure bandage. It is best to take it easy for the next few days and to not sit crouched over a desk for too long at a time.

'AL Capshaw' (lost count of my angiograms after 12)

 

[Bionic Valve Tim]

Ditto AL's sentiments. I was a little nervous, but my curiousity took over immediately once the procedure started. There's something about the whole process that's pretty amazing.

Incidentally, I've only had one cath, but my "healing time" in the hospital bed was shorter than the checkout time from the hospital. That speaks to the efficacy of the angioseal they used as well as the inefficiency of the hospital paper-flow

 

[vero1]

Can I go in with him?

Can I go in with him?

Pam, Thanks for the reply. Is it usual that they let someone in with the patient or was it a special request? Just wondering. Thanks again all of you for your support!!!

 

[Mary]

Vero,
I'd say Pam's experience was the exception rather than the norm. My husband works in CC at the hospital where I had my right/left caths, and he didn't go in. He was with me for my MRI, but nothing else.