heart catherization

[chttyone]

I had an ekg in January and my doctor told me it was abnormal but not enough to be overly concerned.. she told me that she would refer me to a Cardiologist .. and I had to go and have a stress test .. ( I also have been having high blood pressure.. 159/90.. was the highest . my doctor started me on Diovan in Jan .. and my cholesterol was high 236 ... I had the stress test on Monday .. they decided to do it chemically .. they said the first pictures taken were fine .. but after the chemicals the second pictures showed that I may have a blockage.. so now the cardiologist wants me to have a catherization this friday .. he said if they find a blockage than they will do angiplasty? also he wont do it he is sending me to a hospital in Balto and one of his associates will do it .. I am a big chicken .. is there anyone here that can tell me what to expect and is this something I should be scared of .. thank u

[Pointman]

Hi chattyone,  looks like you have gooto plent info  am glad yuo have, hey dont wory
about being  a  so called chicken, i ahev had surgery on my arm with a local watched him cut into it it was to repair nerve damage, from  wound while in the Army and wheni  go to the Denist am in all most panic mode some times  lol,so we all have our fears.
Hope all goes well.

[Dawn1951]

Hi, I'm glad it helped to hear from us about what it is like. That's what these forums are for...to support one another!  I wish i hadn't worried like i did about the TEE i had...it was so simple and painless that i shouldn't have worried at all.  The catheterization is the same...basically all you will feel is a little sting like when you get a novacaine shot at the dentist's office...actually, it didn't even hurt as much as when they give you the shot in your mouth.  I hope the cath shows you don't have any problem too.  Yes, please do let us know how you do.   Hugs,  Dawn

[Flycaster305]

You need to keep leg still because they use the leg artery as the entry point for the cath wire that goes to your heart, and it needs to form a good clot before you are up beebopping about.  I think everyone is pretty nervous prior to the first heart cath.  Google ANGIOGRAM and you will find all kinds of information that will re-assure you how safe it is.  
Usually you stay over if they need to do a procedure to remove a clot in your heart artery.  If nothing is found, you usually can go home after the leg artery forms the clot.
  

[chttyone]

Hi.. I wanted to thank you all who tried to make me feel better about this procedure.. I am the biggest chicken.. they told me to be at the hospital 2 hrs before the procedure.. they said they would prep me and they said to bring another set of clothing in case I stay .. I dont understand the lying still for 8 hrs?? they even said I may go home afterwards but to bring extra things in case.. I am so nervous I think I will need something to help me get to the hospital .. see I told you I was chicken .. they can do anything if I am knocked out .. I have had problems with gerd and reflux for several years ever since I had my gall bladder out and I usually have to have them go down my throat from time to time .. you would think I would be used to it by now.. no .. not me .. the last one was last spring and the DR said .. you are more nervous now than any other time .. my blood pressure was way up there.. but the nurse gave me something in my iv and I was totally out .. maybe I will call the dr this week and tell him how upset I am over this.. I will let you all know how I make out .. and thanks again...

[Dawn1951]

Hi...You have nothing to be scared of.  I had one done the beginning of November of last year (and one done several years ago).   Flycaster described it accurately.  I don't even remember most of my caths because they gave me medicine that made me out of it for most of the procedures.  About all i can add is that they will tell you that you will feel a warm flush throughout your body when they put the dye in and i did...but i only felt warmth throughout my body for a few seconds and then it was over.  I, too, was scared beforehand...it's normal.  I just had my first TEE done (which i was scared of too because i didn't like the thought of a tube being put down my throat), but that was a piece of cake!!  They numbed my throat, said they were giving me "some happy juice" and then i remember nothing until i woke up.  I don't even remember the tube going down.  

Best of luck to you....i hope everything turns out fine!  Dawn

[Pointman]

Hello , my wife ahs had the cath, one before heart  surgey, one same moring she ahd heart surgery, and one about a year later, she ddint even kow on two of them she had had a cath.I would ask if will be tlaking with the cardologist before the prcdure,and besure he si board certfied. Ask around heck him or her out.There are sites on the internet where yuo can get info on just about any DR.

Hope yuo do well

[Flycaster305]

I've had eight of them.  I'm guessing you will be admitted, prepped and you will receive medication that will calm you down.  The room will be very cold, but usually you will get a very warm blanket, and another medication will allow you to be awake, but you simply won't care one way or another what is taking place.  An almost painless entry to your artery in your groin area will made and that will be the avenue to the heart, a wire will be snaked up and any blockage will be dealt with, either a stent to keep open the artery in the heart or sometimes they treat it chemically and open it up with a very small inflatable balloon.  You might be able to see what's going on, as your heart is visible on a large screen.  I tend to lose interest, I'm that goofed up.  It's very easy and there is very little risk and they will learn so much about your heart.  The hardest part is staying quiet and not moving the leg where the artery was penetrated for eight hours, I'd strongly urge asking for a tranquilizer to make that waiting easier.   You will be fine.  Certainly, it is frightening but problems occur in less than 1% of the million or so people in this country that have the procedure every year.  Good luck to you, I hope they find your arteries clean as a whistle.  I'll suggest that given your high blood pressure and your high cholesterol certainly puts you in the higher risk area, and because you had a chemical stress suggests that you don't exercise easily, another risk.  I have a hunch some lifestyle changes are going to be suggested to you regardless of what is found!
Best wishes and let us know what happens, I'll look for your post!