Angina pectoris is chest pain due to ischemia (a lack of blood and hence oxygen supply) to the heart muscle, generally due to obstruction or spasm of the coronary arteries (the hea...
|
Angiogram
|
Watch this |
| View More Posts |
I went to the doctor Thursday and was told to go straight to the hospital. My EKG, stress test and other stuff that they did all pointed to a blockage in the LDA, the one they called the 'widow maker'.
I had an Angiogram first thing Friday morning and they wheeled me directly into the O.R. where they put in 3 (count-em, 3) stints. The doctor kidded around with me afterward then turned to my wife and told her that I shouldn't be allowed to go out alone, maybe she should hire a sitter for me. That was because I had waited so long before going in for the tests. After the procedure everything looks great, they said that my EKG would be an example for the perfect EKG poster child and that the condition was caught soon enough to avoid damage. The stress test was absolutely the worst part of the procedure, definitely the most pain involved and probably the most risk for serious problems. After that it was all pretty simple stuff, for me anyway. A couple pain numbing shots before they started on the femoral artery then they were done before i knew that they had started. No pain, no discomfort and just a brief bout of LOW blood pressure that caused me to be a little light headed the morning after the procedure. Really, anyone who might feel nervous about this procedure, it's far less hazardous than ignoring the pain. It's about the most simple medical procedure I've been through. Seriously, don't be frightened by an Angiogram. Posted on 05/05/08, 02:05 pm |
| 37 Replies | Most Recent | Add Your Reply |
| View More Posts |
Thanks, I appreciate hearing your experience, getting cathed is one of the most traumatic things I can think of, short of an actual MI. Luckily my cardio was like your chest pains don't stop your life? Don't worry about it, you can exercise? Keep it up. If it does start to bother you, then we will cath you. I think that I will be okay with it at that point. All signs are pointing to my having anxiety chest pains and possible back pains. But thanks, it is reassuring to hear that yours went so well. 
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts |
I saw your comment elsewhere in which you thought the procedure would be easier to take if they could go through the wrist.
They need to use the femoral arty because it's bigger and because it gives them good positioning to get into the heart arteries. Second, make sure you are getting your information from a specialist.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts |
Another update:
A little bruising around the incision site and just a little tenderness, no swelling though. It really seems like everything has been routine. I see the DR again on Friday, I suspect I'll be released back to my internal medicine specialist. Monday I called my cardiologist to see if I could go for a bike ride. Fine so long as I don't lift over 10 pounds. So I pushed it, I wanted to see what it would take to get me out of breath like I was BEFORE the stents. I couldn't do it. My legs turned to rubber long before I got seriously out of breath. Don't get me wrong, I was breathing hard, but nothing like when I had the blockage. Now I have all this energy and the Dr is telling me that I can't do anything strenuous. Grrr.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts |
Your message is very timely and encouraging for me; I am due to have angioplasty in a couple of weeks and I am terrified! So thank you, thank you, thank you for putting it in perspective for me, and telling me how it is.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts |
Semicolon:
Are you going in for angioplasty or an angiogram and possibly a stent? Fortunately I was able to have the simple one even though you wouldn't know it from the price tag. I just received the hospital bill,now we have to fight with the insurance company.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts |
I am going for an angiogram, which will segue into angioplasty if they can reach the blockages. So I either come out of the hospital with the problem solved, or with a referral to a surgeon. I so much want it to be the former. The recovery time is so much faster, and the pain is so much less.
I am a Canadian, so it will cost me very, very little. Two years ago, I had to have surgery because of Crohn's, half my colon was removed, along with other bits of my intestine (hence my name). There were complications involving many tests and lots of specialists plus a three and a half week stay in hospital. Cost to me? Zilch. Well, not really, because all my working life I contributed to health insurance, but when the time comes, you are covered, and it is such a relief! I agree that the stress test was bad. I thought my heart would pound itself right out of my chest! Even though there was a cardiologist right there, I was terrified of dying. After that, the rest should be easier. The waiting is driving me nuts, but that's me. I am a terrible worrier. It changes nothing at all, except make me unhappy, so I should stop, right!
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts |
Sounds like you're hoping for the balloon angioplasty/stent version rather than the bypass surgery.
If that's what you're getting, the worst is over. I know you'll be worrying but there isn't any reason. The worst part of the procedure is when they poke around to numb the area before putting the Cath in the femoral artery. That just feels like getting poked with a hairbrush. When I was done the nurses made me stay down for a few hours. That part was annoying and I had to put up with a couple friends and relatives harassing me and I couldn't even fight back. I went home the next morning... with a big pile of pills.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts |
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts |
I just left the Dr's office, he released me, said I can do anything I want: lift, push, carry... he even said I can help my wife with the dishes and housework but I don't think I'll tell her that part.
Next he told me the WHY and that I'll probably never have the problem again... ever. His explanation was that I just need to control my cholesterol, not the totals, the ratio, and I need to keep my BP down. It's not REAL high right now but he wants me to use the meds until I lose the weight. I really am impressed with how much better I feel, more energy. Just don't let my wife know otherwise she'll be expecting me to get working on her list. I hope people won't be frightened by the procedure... ok, I know that's not rational, I was certainly frightened. But I hope this can make people feel better about it. It's good to have it over with and it's good to know the risk is gone or at least minimized.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts |
LOL LOL! No dishes for you, I promise I won't let on that you are now able to dust, vacuum,
clean the bathroom, do the laundry, all that stuff! But man I am happy for you that you are now so much better! How long was it from start to now? We are supposed to go to the cottage this summer, and I do want to go, so much. I just wonder how much summer will be left by the time all this is done!
|
|
|
|
||
| First | Previous | Page: 1 2 3 4 | Next | Most Recent | Add Your Reply |
i had 2 quite bad episodes of pains in the chest , once driving and once well doing what married couples do !! , this …
Hi everybody, I am a newcomer to this forum and would like to say hello from England to the circle of people coming to …
I believe I just discovered what a total lie the treadmill test is (in my opinion)there is a simple questionaire …
