catherization qustions?

[john m]

because of on going L. arm pain , and chest pain i will be
having a cath done.( all other tests ekgs,stress,stress thallium,
echos,exept for L.vent./L atrium dialation, endoscopy)are good.
have had chronic chest pain for years,but arm pain just started
last month , sometimes both arms,these are just such weird symtoms,not to mention scary. I'm in my upper 30s don't smoke,
don't drink,good b.p. ,choles.good,mom had stents at 61 but smoked,dad good.as i metioned in a past post. my qustions are:

Are there other disorders that can cause angina?
Does the cath go into the ventricles,or just to top of heart?
I am comfotable with my cardiac doc. but was wondering,do doctors
have to do so many hands on tests,such as catherizations,to get
board certified,and what is the difference between an M.D.and
D.O.?
I do know the risks of the cath,but with my ongoing symtoms and
new arm pains ,sometimes weakness,i feel like i'm doing the right
thing, i hope.  IF this is just muscular i will learn to live with this,living every other day with chest pain and not knowing
what it is can't be very healty either!
      Thank you very much for the time you spend answering everybody's qustions!

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Q: Are there other disorders that can cause angina?
A: Not angina per se - this is a term used to describe pain due to blockages, but there are many other causes of chest pain.  You can find many of these by browsing other questions on this site.


Q: Does the cath go into the ventricles,or just to top of heart?
A: If you doctor is planning on doing a ventriculogram then the catheter will be inside the heart, otherwise it will remain outside.


Q: I am comfotable with my cardiac doc. but was wondering,do doctors have to do so many hands on tests,such as catherizations,to get board certified,and what is the difference between an M.D.and D.O.?
A: Yes there is a minimum number required prior to certification.  There is for all practical purposes no difference between MD and DO.

Q: IF this is just muscular i will learn to live with this,living every other day with chest pain and not knowing
A: I would wait until you have a diagnosis and then the pathway to take will be clearer.

[Lai S N]

Hi John, I do have chest pain on and off, some time it run to arm too.Two months back, I had cat ablation for attrial fib.. My doc said my chest pain may due to muscle and  I avoided sleep in airconditioned room and my chest pain is much more better now.
Regards,. Mr. Lai email: ***@****

[owen]

I would love to know your what they find out. I too have the same symtoms and have had all of the test done except the last big one. I am 37 male, and have had this type of pain for over five years.  The very best of luck to you.......

[john m]

i finally had the heart cath,no blockage at all shown.still have
some chest discomfort,witch i know beleive is costocondritis,
which sometimes never heals. the added stress of always thinking
this was heart related for 10 years made my chest pain worse.
stress can give you some big time chest pain,but you do really
need to find out for sure!my arm pain still needs to be addressed. if i can be of any help just post a reply.
GOOD LUCK! JOHN F.

[Paul P.]

Hi,
I had a Cardiac Cath 3 month ago for an abnormal stress test, bad family hx and I suffer from an arrythmia. The cath was a piece of cake. There is some discomfort when the numb your entry site(usally the groin)but after that you don't feel much. You may feel some palpatations as they move the cathetor in and out of your heart, but that is normal and only lasts a short time. Sometimes people feel a little flushed when the contrast is injected into the coronary arteries, but this is normal and only lasts a short time. dont worry about the procedure. very routine these days with minimal complications.
  Good luck, hope everything is fine.

Paul