SCARED OF CATHERIZATION

[DEB1960]

I AM A 43 YEAR OLD WOMAN ,I HAVE MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE. A FEW WEEKS AGO I WENT TO MY DOCTOR ABOUT AN IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT ,HE OREDERED A THALIUM STRESS TEST .THE RESULTS OF THE STRESS TEST WERE SOMETHING CALLED REVERSE ISCHEMIA.I WAS THEN SENT TO A CARDIOLOGIST.THE CARDIOLGIST  ORDERED BLOODWORK AND DID A FAMILY HISTORY AND LOOKED AT MY GENERAL HEALTH. HE DETERMINED THAT I AM NOT IN THE HIGH RISK CATEGORY FOR HEART DISEASE AND FELT LIKE MY STRESS TEST WAS A FALSE POSITIVE,BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE RECCOMENDED THAT I HAVE A CATHERIZATION DONE ,FOR MY OWN PIECE OF MIND. HE LEFT THE DECISION UP TO ME,AND I AM VERY CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT I SHOULD DO. I AM AFRAID TO HAVE THE CATHERIZATION DONE BECAUSE IT IS A RISKY PROCEDURE.IF I CHOOSE NOT TO DO THE CATHERIZATION ,WHAT OTHER OPTIONS DO I HAVE ? IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO MONITOR MY CONDITION?

[CCF-M.D.-KE]

Dear Deb1960,

It is normal to feel some degree of anxiety prior to having a cardiac catheterization performed. I agree with your doctor and think that you should have the heart catheterization. A cardiac catheterization is a routine procedure, however I would recommend having it done at center that is considered high volume. The risk of major complications associated with a heart catheterization are low. The risk of death is approximately 1 in 1000 cases, the risk stroke and heart attack are  about 1 in 2000 cases. Keep in mind there maybe  risk associated with doing nothing.
The other option would be to place you on medical therapy which would consist of an aspirin, beta blocker and a statin (cholesterol medication).
Discuss this further with your cardiologist.

Thanks for your question,


CCF-MD-KE

[bryan56]

I have had four Heart Cath's, and while they are sort of intimidating, they are nothing you can't handle. They make a small puncture into your groin area and feed the catherter into the big artery that goes to your heart. The entire procedure takes less than an hour and you can be awake to have it done. (I have this fear of going under, so I stay awake.) There is no pain involved while the test is being done and only minimal pain afterwards. To close the puncture, they press this sealant type stuff in it and hold pressure on it for about 10 minutes or they put a sandbag over it to put pressure it. I am making it sound simpler than it really is, but I assure you that it is no big deal. When you go into the cath lab and see all of the people either getting ready to have this procedure or just completing the procedure, you realize how many are done in a day and how little problems they really have with them. Hope this helps!
Bryan

[catmom523]

Dear Scared:  I am the original "Scared of Catheterization."  After 20 years of valve problems I finally had to have one.  I (a) told my doc that I was terrified and couldn't face it without help. I got tranquillizers; and (b) found out that I'd made a mountain out of a molehill.  I subsequently had open heart surgery and valve replacement and wasn't nearly as frightened of it as of the cath.  Silly me!

In my case I didn't want anything to do with it, so I was put out; all was done when I woke up.  Believe me, this is a walk in the park.  This was easier than having bloodwork.

If your doctor recommends it, have it done; it answers a lot of questions.  Best of luck.

[heartbeat]

Is catherization the same as an Ablation?

[BD99]

I had a Cath done 3/17/03 and I am still have excessive groin pain that radiates out into my thigh and stomach muscles and I can no longer do any abdominal excercise because it feels like it is ripping my lower abs everytime I try to do situps. The incision has healed fine and there is no pain from the incision anymore but that also took 3 to 4 weeks to subside as well. I wish I never had this done. I had previously had a stress test done with Cardiolite instead of thallium and I only wish I accepted the results of that ( which showed no blockages) and not listen to my doctor's advice to go for the cath. I also now have a problem with my heart rate staying elevated after doing a cardio workout such as a treadmill. I am 50 and in good shape, I get my heart rate up to 140 to 145 and it now will not go down below 120 for 4 to 6 hours then it comes down in the high 70's or 80's slowly thereafter. This was not the case before the Cath procedure.

I would not do it unless you feel it is really, really nessasary.
This is a risky procedure as I have discovered the hard way.

[nmc]

I also had a cath (Oct. 03) and like most of the posters, suffered no ill effects. I elected to stay awake through the procedure (in case the cardiologist asked for pointers - he didn't) and then slept through the 6-hour "compression" stage (I wondered why I didn't roll over - sandbag, you say?). Was home the next morning. The procedure does have risks (so does opening a can of tuna) - doing nothing may pose greater risks. This may be the only way to get a definitive answer (and solution) to whatever prompted you to go through with the stress test in the first place. Ultimately, the decision is yours - try not to let the fear of the unknown dictate your future state of health.
Best of luck
Nancy

[tmad6]

I had the cath done yesterday and I feel fine today. My leg is a little sore where they put in the plug. The procedure really was painless.
My doctor recommended it after a stress and EKG. It said that the EKG was probably a false positive but we did it just to make. Good thing that we did! Hefound far more serious things than he expected. I suggest that you do, for your own sake.

[Sarah Puglisi]

Hello, I am a 43 year old woman too. I just had this test and I've had quite a few over the years. I mean tests-not this test. I had notice and went in a day but was scared. Mostly of the results. I have Prinzmetal's angina apparently meaning the vessels spasm. Anyway it was not falling off a log but it wasn't horrible. I took awhile after it to just recover from doing this and think. Some people like to run right back to work or their life as that is how they find their rhytmn again but I am different. I really need time to be on my own, think and recover my sense of security and well-being. I resent highly they tell whomever you bring with you the results when you are looped on Versed. I wasn't that out of it but I would like info. not second hand. My husband has a habit of not giving a darn if he gets it right or not. Anyway I suggest you have the person write it down for you. That kind of thing is nice-perhaps you will get a better doctor than the HMO one I was "assigned" and actually be talked to. I think because it is such a good tool the test is important if it is recommended. I had lots of tests once but until the gold standard-a colonoscopy it was impossible to tell I had a polyp which turned out to be a serious issue saving me cancer. I was 30 and such a test would normally be unwarrented. So perhaps it is better to just plow on. My leg took a few days-well week to feel itself , my heart rate increased as someone noted. That happens to me after anethsetics-sorry spelling-and things like Versed and just the darn tension. Perhaps also it is a stress on some level and my system reacts this way. Ease out of it....good luck..I did not spell check and I type with one finger sorry if I look like an inarticulate boob..

[Pacemaker6]

Since my Bypass in 1983 I have had 8 Heart Caths. I have gotten to the point whereI dread them. It's not the pain, it's that feeling when they shoot the dye into the heart. I have tried to convey my feelings to my cardiologist more than once but he just gives me some more valium and shrugs it off.As I said, It's not painful just tha weird feeling. I certainly have had my share of pain (Quad. By-Pass, Angioplasty with stent, pacemaker etc.) so I'm sure some of this dread is Physological (sp) but I have gotten to the point where I vomit before just thinking about it. When they did my Angioplasty I didn't even know it and I found out later they used VERSET. Also recently I had to have my stomach scoped and he also used VERSET..I didn't even know he had done anything.This is a great drug. I am gong to ask my doctor if he can't use it the next time I havea cath. Is there any reason they CAN'T? I understand the patient is awake during proceedure, but can't recall anything later, I wonder what the doctors objections would be.
Pacemaker 6

[lhasalover]

I had my cath yesterday and I was extremely nervous about having it done.  My mother had one five years ago and she had a very difficult time with it and experienced some serious complications.  I explained my fears to the cath lab staff and I was treated with respect and dignity.  I was offered whatever I wanted in the way of drugs to help relieve stress.  Started with a valium and received verced during the procedure.  I was awake and was able to answer questions but I just "didn't care".  I love that Verced!  I have been having chest pain for weeks now and getting pretty uncomfortable.  EEG's have been normal and I then had a stress test using Adenacine.  They injected the drug when they started the treaadmill.  I felt major chest pain and passed out at 1 min 50 seconds.  The eeg showed no abnormalities with my heart at the time I crashed.  Next step was the scary cath.  Seems I have a 70% blockage in an artery on the left side.  Now scheduled for stent placement in a few days.  I'm glad I did the cath, I used the drugs offered and got thru just fine. Just feeling a little pain at the puncture site and have to start blood thinners which didn't feel real good today. But I've had worse procedures - just love that colonoscopy!

[catmare]

I'm a 50-year old woman and I had a heart cath on May 2 and I was TERRIFIED!  Spent the night before in the hospital writing out my final wishes. I had never had to have any test like this before. As it turned out, the worst part--other than having my groin shaved by some cute young fellow in cool glasses (where are the old battleaxe nurses when you need them?)--was the incredibly "uncomfortable" (their word, I'd have just said "painful") administration of pressure after the sheath is removed following the procedure.  The nurse had to apply direct pressure for 15 minutes and it did really hurt.  But I've had no real pain since that, maybe a bit of an ache in the groin area a few days later, but no big deal.  The cath procedure itself took almost no time at all.  I never felt the sheath or catheter go in, nor did I feel the dye, although I did experience that warm body flush at the end--I think they must flush the dye with something, but I'm not sure.  At any rate, it wasn't unpleasant at all.  I had asked before hand if I could watch too and they said sure, so I got to see the arteries and all; it was just over so quick that there wasn't even much to see.  Surprisingly, I had a normal heart and no blockages at all.  The cardiologist had guaranteed me that with my risk factors (overweight, diabetic, abnormal ekg, extensive family history, and chest discomfort) he was certain there would be a need for stents at the very least, but he was wrong.  Lucky me.  However, in retrospect, I am very glad I had the test anyway, just because of all the risk factors I have.  It's nice to know that everything is ok.  Like having a second chance to do things right! Hope yours turns out as well.

[sheryl1945]

I had a catheterization and found it to be painless and not at all uncomfortable.  Don't fear it!  Simple procedure!