Surgery postponed! & more questions, of course!

[KristiinSD]

I've got a sore throat and am changing surgeons, so I am not going in on Thursaday. It looks, however, if I will need a cardiac catherization prior to surgery by this new guy...Why? What can it tell him that the TEE can't? How painful is it? Why don't they do that right before surgery, after i am out?

Kristi
mr
surgery some time soon...

 

[Christina L]

All I know is that a

All I know is that a

cardiac catheterization would show a LOT more than a TEE. I did not have one as my doctor thought my risk of blocked arteries was small and I guess they thought they had enough info from the TEE. They did consider a cath, though and I was very relieved that I didn't have to have one. I hear a cath is not bad at all. If it makes you nervous, ask for Ativan to calm you.

I have no idea why they don't do the cath right before/during the surgery - I am only thinking that it is because if you do have a blocked artery or something else that would complicate things, they don't want to be surprised during your valve surgery.

Doctors and surgeons are mysterious creatures - we can't second guess them most of the time.

Trust the process - it is all being done to make sure you get the BEST surgery possible, which you will.

Christina L.

 

[Ross]

Kristi if the Cath is done properly by a very experienced person, it is no big deal at all. I was all hyped up for mine, so they gave me a little versed to calm me down. I never even felt the numbing medication injection, which should feel like a bee sting for a moment, but after that, you feel nothing. The only other thing that you will feel is the dye when they inject it. It's cool really, makes your feel all warm and fuzzy for a moment and does make you feel like you have to pee, but the way it travels through your body so fast is simply a rush. You might get to watch on the monitor like I did and the tech crew asked me what kind of music I liked and put it on during the procedure. Nothing to worry about! Relax dear.

 

[Georgia]

I was terrified of the cath and we (cardio and I) agreed to put me out for it. Except for bruising on my leg I had NO after-effects. I also took a big load of tranquillizers for a couple days leading up to it (I'm telling you - I was really scared of it).

I doubt that you'd have ohs without a cardiac cath - they like to get a good look at what they need to do. Altho it seems to make sense that they'd do it at the same time as the ohs, the prep for ohs is substantially greater than for a cath; and I'm sure the surgeon doesn't want any surprises when s/he goes in.

Don't worry about it; and if you do, tell them that you want to be knocked out.

 

[KristiinSD]

Interestingly, my first surgeon

Interestingly, my first surgeon

was not going to do a cardiac cath...Never mentioned it at all...Sounds more and more like I made the right choice to go with Dr. Dembitsky.

Kristi
mr

 

[Dennis S]

Cardiac Cath

Cardiac Cath

The cardiac cath was completely painless for me. I was amazed that it was over before I thought it had gotten started.

Having it done the day before surgery allowed them to assure me that my valve replacementsurgery wasn't going to be complicated with by-pass issues. It was nice to have something to celebrate the night before surgery.

 

[Soilman]

Kristi,

I just went through both a catherization and a TEE within the last 2 weeks. As far as discomfort, etc. the catherization was much less so. All I felt with the catherization was a slight sting for the local and later a momentary "hot flash" as the dye was injected. No biggy at all.

As for the TEE, although I wouldn' t call the experience pleasant, it wasn't as bad as I expected. Of the two, however, the catherization held much less discomfort.

Barry

 

[Kate]

Kristi,
I'm scheduled for surgery next Monday and just had my cath done last week. Like you, I was very nervous about it (perhaps more than about the surgery, which sounds silly, but I the idea of being awake was really freaking me out.) As others have said, it really wasn't bad at all - the actual procedure lasted about 30 minutes and it only hurt for a second (like when you get Novacaine at the dentist). Although you didn't mention this, I was also very nervous about the blush factor (the idea of a group of people working on my groin made me very uncomfortable) and these fears turned out to be unfounded as well - everything was all covered with sterile cloth except a small hole (about the size of a 45 record or even smaller) on my right hip.

I know that it is pointless to tell you not to worry, but try to focus your energy on other things because this probably won't be as bad as you think. Best of luck to you - I hope your throat feels better soon! Kate

 

[KAJ]

Kristi,

Here is my perspective. I would rather have 100 heart caths than 1 TEE. That is the truth. I still want to strangle the doctor who recommended the TEE and the one who performed the TEE.

Karl

 

[samiam]

I'm a real wimp. But both my cath and TEE were non-events. I barely remember the warm flush and I certainly wasn't as awake as Ross and the others were. I LOVE Versed! Fantastic stuff!!!

Good Luck

 

[Lisa]

Ditto! I love versed!

Ditto! I love versed!

I LOVE Versed! Fantastic stuff!!!

I had the cath done a long time before my surgery ( waited a bit too long before deciding to have the op- av was .5cm2). I think it was about 18 mos or two years before the surgery. I got to watch the monitor. I didn't want the versed but my cardio was insistent and personally gave me a dose after I told the nurse I didn't want it. I told him I wanted to watch and he said I would still be able to. He was right. The versed makes you feel just like Ross described it...warm and fuzzy and you get this sensation that you need to pee...but what a feeling.

 

[Natanni]

postponed

postponed

My husband's was delayed from Sept 12 until Sept 29th due to surgeon's vacation so we are waiting out the last couple of weeks too. Hubby had a cardiac cath back in June, and we are hoping they can get all necessary info from then. Take care!