Angiogram Bad?

[Randburg]

Hi,
Had my annual check up with my Cardiologist this morning, and after the stress test on the Tread Mill, that almost took me out, was told he was not happy with the results and wants to do a Angiogram.
Whilst I don't really have and major issues, as they appear not to have to many risks, and I have great faith in the Doctor I am pretty worried
I believe you are awake the entire time that they cut your leg half off, and then proceed to stick all sorts of things up your blood vessels and into your heart and squirt dye around.
He also said I can watch it all !!!.
I then believe someone stands on your leg, (Joking) ok squeezes your leg, to stop clotting, and you then have to lie without moving for 5-7 hours ?
Then you go home, unless they do something major like stents

Anyone had one and how bad are they actually ?
Its booked for next week

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi @Randburg,

Notjhing at all to worry about.
It is a bit surreal as you watch the procedure on a television screen but rest assured there is no pain. The area in your groin where the insertion takes place is numbed.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Angiography/Pages/How-is-it-performed.aspx

 

[robert72]

I had an angiogram where they went in via my wrist. Yes you are awake and can watch the x-ray/video on the screens beside you. It looks a bit like a jellyfish Anyway, they put a strap on my wrist to stem the bleeding after taking the catheter out and they carefully released a precise amount of pressure on this at timed intervals when I was back in the recovery ward. I didn't find any of the procedure traumatic - so much less that I had imagined it to be.

 

[Randburg]

Hi @catherinecherub
Thank you, given me an idea of what to expect,
Does not sound to bad, I guess ill watch, should be interesting
I don't think its serous, more a look and see

 

[bookmite]

I had one 15 years ago, via the femoral artery in my leg, easy peasy , the worst part of it all was having to lie flat for 4 hours after. Tip :Take your iPod:Tip 2, take it easy for a day or 2 afterwards.

Good luck

 

[Pilgrim22]

I have had quite a few over the years, including stents. They either go in through your groin or wrist. They always went in through my wrist, as I have bad arthritis and can't lie still for two hours afterwards. They numb the entry site, and you don't feel anything as arteries don't have nerves. Don't worry about it. Cath lab staff are great.

 

[mo53]

@Randburg hello. I agree with the other posters it is nothing to worry about. I was really nervous before mine but was amazed at how painless it was and actually what an amazing procedure it was. there were between 8 and 10 people in the theatre and each member of the team had their specific job but it was all incredibly clever. Like peace train they went into my wrist. You will be fine.

 

[desidiabulum]

I had two angioplasties with stents fitted in 10 months. No need to look at the TV screen if you don't want to. Both times they inserted in the wrist, which means you can be up and about far sooner.
I don't want to rain on the parade but will give a slight warning. The vast majority of people find the procedure doesn't hurt at all, so the odds are good that you will hardly feel a thing. But both times I had the procedure the pain was prolonged and pretty awful, to put it mildly --and it was a shock because I expected not to feel a thing. Fingers crossed you will feel nothing-- and the procedure itself is pretty routine really.

 

[Alanp35]

I had my 4th plasty on 3 November, no pain, no bruising only a pinprick where they injected the local anaesthetic in my groin. Two hours on the table. Have to go back for another on 3 December as they ran out of time and couldn't complete all that was needed. Such is life.

 

[noblehead]

Had this done around 3 years ago, they went in through my groin and I was awake throughout, you feel the camera going into your chest area but it's nothing too uncomfortable, more of a strange feeling if anything.

If you watch it on the screen its quite surreal, but the whole procedure isn't as bad as you think and once the entry wound has stopped bleeding (and they are happy with your progress) your allowed home, I'd been in at the time as an in-patient, but from going into theatre to going home was around 3-4 hours.

 

[Enclave]

They went through my arm .. Crease of my elbow .. But it was years ago before stents were common .. I had a full by pass op after !

 

[robert72]

They went through my arm .. Crease of my elbow .. But it was years ago before stents were common .. I had a full by pass op after !

Me too... wasn't expecting anything so serious, so a bit of a shock

 

[borderter]

Had one in my groin and another last year in my wrist neither painful but having to go straight to cardio ward after to await bypass and that was a shock

 

[Randburg]

Thanks to all for the replies and info, ill let you know how it goes at the end of the coming week

 

[noblehead]

Thanks to all for the replies and info, ill let you know how it goes at the end of the coming week

Good luck and hope it all works out well Randburg.

 

[Enclave]

Sending you positive thoughts

 

[Randburg]

Hi all, thanks again for all the advise and wishes, I said I would give feedback so here goes..

Well yesterday was the big day, and really it was not to bad.
Had to be in Hospital early, and was number 3 in the queue. Very state of the are theatre, and I was waiting for the cut after getting the local , when I was asked if I wanted to see the catheter, entering the heart area.
The entire process took about 30 minutes, and was a little bit uncomfortable, and hot feelings with the dye.
Luckily the Surgeon, said he was happy that there was nothing major wrong, some furring of the very ends of the heart vessels, but he could treat them medically, Statins I guess, but have to contact him next week, when he will have test results Blood etc.
He used a internal Angio seal device for closing the artery, this apparently has a collagen plug to stop Bleeding.
The devise dissolves over the next 90 days
I had to lie without moving on my back for 2 hours, and was then able to go home after they checked all was ok
Told to take it easy for a day or 2.
Pleased it is over and not to bad news

An interesting thing, in the Hospital,( Im a Type 2) My blood Glucose, at 5 am was 4.9, in hospital it was 5.6.
They put up a drip, before going to theatre, and Glucose was 10.1, and then 14.6. before I went in.( they tested every hour)
I freaked as I have not had a reading like that for 18 months.
I thought it may be due to stress, as I was Kra%#(^g, myself before going in.
I mentioned it to the Doctor, and he checked my drip.
He then told me that the Hospital give all diabetics a drip with a 5% Glucose content as " They were not to worried on High Glucose, and did not want Hypo's and low sugar in theatre"
Guess it makes sense?
As I got back to the ward they changed the drip to a normal Saline drip, and about half way through the 2 hour lie in, my glucose was back to 5.8
So im still around, and not quite kicking yet, im getting there

 

[Enclave]

Sooooo pleased it went ok for you .... It was the second most scary thing I have had done .. Pip to the scary post by the bypass it self ... At least they have stents now

 

[borderter]

Great news on the result and guess it will be statins as you said but taking a pill daily is a whole lot better than a bypass.Take care and let us know what treatment you have

 

[noblehead]

Pleased you've got it all over with Randburg.