Discussion
After a recent episode of chest pain and borderline collapse, I’m now going through a few tests. Seems they’re going belt and braces as my family history for males is littered with sudden death at a relatively young age (my dad died at 44)
I’ve had a 24hr ecg, and an echo. Off for an angiogram tomorrow. What should I expect, as the literature for the appointment isn’t very enlightening if I’m honest.
Anyone who’s had one able to shed some light for me, as I’m not great with the unknown as starting to feel a little bit uneasy about it!
I’ve had a 24hr ecg, and an echo. Off for an angiogram tomorrow. What should I expect, as the literature for the appointment isn’t very enlightening if I’m honest.
Anyone who’s had one able to shed some light for me, as I’m not great with the unknown as starting to feel a little bit uneasy about it!
My experience...
Chest pains on exertion - hill walking in Scotland. No prior symptoms under normal circumstances. Diagnosed with angina.
1st visit, had to go home again as they didn't have bed availability and there is a chance you might have to stay overnight depending how it goes.
2nd visit, had the angiogram. Fairly painless experience. Lie on a table for 20 minutes. Entry via right wrist. Not sure you get the choice but I didn't fancy the 'through the groin' option anyway! Weird sensation of heat going up my arm for a moment and a couple of odd feelings in the chest but no pain at any point.
Recovery: They put a pressure cuff on the wound for a couple of hours. Transparent plastic with an inflatable bubble over the wound which they blow up to apply pressure. After an hour they start reducing the pressure and checking if any bleeding occurs. Repeat every 10-15 minutes and remove when fully deflated. Sent home. No overnight stay needed.
They didn't fit a stent due to position of blockage very near a junction meaning they had to consult with others before proceeding. If it was more straightforward, they would have done.
Went back a third time for the stent fitting. Pretty much a repeat of the above experience. Didn't take much longer and similarly pain free.
A year on tablets (blood thinners) thereafter. Nearly two years ago now.
I have no idea whether my experiences were typical. To be honest, I have had worse visits to the dentist. Hope this helps to reassure!
Chest pains on exertion - hill walking in Scotland. No prior symptoms under normal circumstances. Diagnosed with angina.
1st visit, had to go home again as they didn't have bed availability and there is a chance you might have to stay overnight depending how it goes.
2nd visit, had the angiogram. Fairly painless experience. Lie on a table for 20 minutes. Entry via right wrist. Not sure you get the choice but I didn't fancy the 'through the groin' option anyway! Weird sensation of heat going up my arm for a moment and a couple of odd feelings in the chest but no pain at any point.
Recovery: They put a pressure cuff on the wound for a couple of hours. Transparent plastic with an inflatable bubble over the wound which they blow up to apply pressure. After an hour they start reducing the pressure and checking if any bleeding occurs. Repeat every 10-15 minutes and remove when fully deflated. Sent home. No overnight stay needed.
They didn't fit a stent due to position of blockage very near a junction meaning they had to consult with others before proceeding. If it was more straightforward, they would have done.
Went back a third time for the stent fitting. Pretty much a repeat of the above experience. Didn't take much longer and similarly pain free.
A year on tablets (blood thinners) thereafter. Nearly two years ago now.
I have no idea whether my experiences were typical. To be honest, I have had worse visits to the dentist. Hope this helps to reassure!
Pretty much the same as JimPD.
I can assure you it is seriously nothing to worry about.
I had a mild heart attack four years ago - did not realise at the time. GP referred me to Ambulatory Care at the local general hospital and after doing all the tests announced 'You're not going anywhere mate, we are keeping you in and will be doing an op tomorrow. I do not like anything medical and was a complete nervous wreck.
Anyway, next day on the table in theatre, having been sedated, but still bouncing up and down on the table, Surgeon announces, ' we have a nervous patient here, best to give him a little something to calm him down' Apparently it was the equivalent to 5 G&T's
Totally painless operation and two stents fitted. Stayed in overnight and next day Surgeon says, 'I've fitted two stents, but you need to come back in six weeks and I will have a look at the other side - apparently they can only operate on one side of the heart at a time.
Six weeks later back in for second op. This time though, wife drops me off at the main door and I go skipping down the corridor to the heart centre. On the table by lunch time, no bouncing up and down this time - three more painless stents fitted - and back home in the evening.
Fairly long recovery, back to 'normal,' four pills a day for life and now feel very, very well.
Good luck with the op and recovery, but please do not worry.
I can assure you it is seriously nothing to worry about.
I had a mild heart attack four years ago - did not realise at the time. GP referred me to Ambulatory Care at the local general hospital and after doing all the tests announced 'You're not going anywhere mate, we are keeping you in and will be doing an op tomorrow. I do not like anything medical and was a complete nervous wreck.
Anyway, next day on the table in theatre, having been sedated, but still bouncing up and down on the table, Surgeon announces, ' we have a nervous patient here, best to give him a little something to calm him down' Apparently it was the equivalent to 5 G&T's
Totally painless operation and two stents fitted. Stayed in overnight and next day Surgeon says, 'I've fitted two stents, but you need to come back in six weeks and I will have a look at the other side - apparently they can only operate on one side of the heart at a time.
Six weeks later back in for second op. This time though, wife drops me off at the main door and I go skipping down the corridor to the heart centre. On the table by lunch time, no bouncing up and down this time - three more painless stents fitted - and back home in the evening.
Fairly long recovery, back to 'normal,' four pills a day for life and now feel very, very well.
Good luck with the op and recovery, but please do not worry.
Angiogram, had three of these over the years, as previously stated nothing really to worry about. Mine have always been via the groin, procedure usually takes about 20 mins. The freighting bit for me was the unknown & no one to ask 30 years ago when I had my first.
You'll be OK, just relax and let them do their job.
Hope all goes well.
You'll be OK, just relax and let them do their job.
Hope all goes well.
I had one three years ago at age 44, as an emergency procedure because I’d had a heart attack, stent fitted at same time.
Small incision in the wrist, lots of pressure applied by a hefty nurse to stem the flow of blood. All done in 42 minutes, awake throughout chatting to the surgeon about sports cars.
Nothing to fear OP, main thing is that if they find any blockages they will hopefully stent them there and then. It’s a miracle of modern medical science if you ask me.
Small incision in the wrist, lots of pressure applied by a hefty nurse to stem the flow of blood. All done in 42 minutes, awake throughout chatting to the surgeon about sports cars.
Nothing to fear OP, main thing is that if they find any blockages they will hopefully stent them there and then. It’s a miracle of modern medical science if you ask me.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Monday 11th November 22:55
Glosphil - my kidney function is 8% and they did my angio. They consult with nephrology to ensure they use a less damaging dye. I thought they squirted the dye in via the wrist and then once it goes around a couple of times they get their images. WRONG! Apparently the insert a tube to just above the heart and then release the dye. This allows them to use a lot less dye. I had no idea.
No pain, no discomfort. You feel a bit of tugging. It is cold in the treatment room try and take a blanket in with you. Wore the pressure cuff for a couple hours and home the same day.
No pain, no discomfort. You feel a bit of tugging. It is cold in the treatment room try and take a blanket in with you. Wore the pressure cuff for a couple hours and home the same day.
elanfan said:
Glosphil - my kidney function is 8% and they did my angio. They consult with nephrology to ensure they use a less damaging dye. I thought they squirted the dye in via the wrist and then once it goes around a couple of times they get their images. WRONG! Apparently the insert a tube to just above the heart and then release the dye. This allows them to use a lot less dye. I had no idea.
No pain, no discomfort. You feel a bit of tugging. It is cold in the treatment room try and take a blanket in with you. Wore the pressure cuff for a couple hours and home the same day.
Thanks for that. No pain, no discomfort. You feel a bit of tugging. It is cold in the treatment room try and take a blanket in with you. Wore the pressure cuff for a couple hours and home the same day.
My renal consultant insisted I waited for the angiogram until my kidney function was over 40%. It had gone down from 56% to 17% due to a adverse reaction to a medication but has recovered to 42% over the past 8 months.
wiliferus said:
So, all done. Appears all is reasonably well.
The procedure went well at least, the recovery process not so much. My blood pressure dropped really low and struggled to get it back up. It all sorted now.
Thanks for the reassurance, it was a painless hassle free procedure.
Glad everything went well. A drop in blood pressure seems to be quite a regular occurrence - it happened to me.The procedure went well at least, the recovery process not so much. My blood pressure dropped really low and struggled to get it back up. It all sorted now.
Thanks for the reassurance, it was a painless hassle free procedure.
The important thing now is to follow Doctors orders and work on the recovery.
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