I am afraid of the angiogram..

[mrsboston3122]

I am 28 years old, I have been having mostly constant left arm pain for about 3 weeks, some in my right arm and on both sides of jaws at times. I have a negative stress test and my echo, blood and EKG are fine also but my cardio set me up for an angiogram for this Friday and I am so afraid. I am a female, have heart disease on my fathers side and a few risk factors myself.

Is there a test that is just as good? He says he does not suspect he will find anything blocked but maybe something like bands around my heart? I have no idea what that means, is it life threating?

I am so scared to have this done but since I have been having these pains I have been doing nothing but laying in bed and crying, I am getting very anxious it could be because I had a very bad bout of PVCS too and that just makes it all worse.

I went to the regular doc today and they did an xray of my spine and said they seen something there and is having me go in for an MRI but I did nothing to hurt myself, never any accidents either. Can something like that cause these pains I am having or do they only come from the heart?

Please help me I am a mess!

[ChatterAlly]

I sent you a note and answered your email.  Hope to hear from you soon.  Ally

[LivingInHope]

C 7 is the lowest cervical (neck) vertabrae.  It is the cervical vertabrae nearest to the thoracic region (ribcage/chest).  I hope you do not have spinal meningitis now, with the headache and fever.  

I would get another cardiologist who is willing to order a holtor monitor- that's a pretty basic test.  You might look at medhelp's dysautonomia forum, where people's hearts do crazy things due to a dysfunction with the autonomic nervous system.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Dysautonomia-Autonomic-Dysfunction/show/266

[mrsboston3122]

While I am thinking of it, what are the risks of something going wrong 48 hours after the angiogram? I am honestly not crazy. Just been having strange things happen to me, like last night I woke up so hot I felt like I was being smothered with this constant pain in my back on the right side to left of the shoulder bone that went all the way through to my chest and my heart was beating so hard and fast. I almost went to the ER but I am tired of going there because I know they think I am nuts. I have also had an on and off headache pretty bad one since that procedure only I thought it was from the drugs she gave me, I was so anxious she said she gave me a lot of it but should I still have this headache 48 hours later? It was my whole head and now its just parts of it like shooting pain every now and again. My poor husband is trying to deal with me but its my body and I know how I feel. I know what anxiety feels like because when I was 22 and found out I had SVT I had anxiety all the time but in time I learned to deal with it and the anxiety went away. This is different and I keep trying to tell the doctor that there is a change in my palpations because my heart is not going fast and it flutters like 4 times a minute for hours. One night I though my heart was going to give out. I get the flutters every now and then like maybe once a month if that and it does it once an its gone and now its happening all the time for hours? I asked for a monitor and he gave me Toprol instead. Why would I want to take that if my heart rate is already in low 60s and sometimes low 50s. Its not normal for me. I am use to a fast heart rate all the time even while laying down. Its been all over the place. I have watched it on the monitors. It goes to like 75 to 53 to 90 to 60 constantly. It bounces around. The day of the procedure it was going from 60 to 140 and down to 70 in just seconds. I dont get it.

[mrsboston3122]

I am not sure, she just said they seen something on the xrays they did not like and set me up for an MRI. It was a C7 Xray and I think it was something in my neck but I dont know she said I need to see an Orthapedic doctor and sent me off for blood work.

I have been having pains and really not feeling myself lately at all. Now I am running a fever. I am so frustrated. They told me to report a fever so I am awaiting a call back.

[LivingInHope]

With the weakness experienced in the hand, I suggest a call an advice nurse to make sure you don't need to go in right away.  As for the pain- the area you describe under the left breast can be a frequent location for costochondritis, which can be extremely painful- you might try doing a search and see if that sounds like a possibility.  It usually can be pinpointed on physical exam and when I've had costochondritis before, a doctor has prescribed nsaids for a few days to knock down the inflammation.  Also, has your doc ruled out esophageal spasms, which can feel like heart pain?

What did they see on the x-ray of your spine?

[mrsboston3122]

I did not get any stent, My heart was cleared good:)

[ed34]

After my last stents I had sharp stabbing pains for about three weeks. It felt similar to a stitch but behind the ribs on the left side. I also had similar symptoms when put onto beta blockers but they seemed to settle down after a few weeks. You should have a follow up appointment with the cardiologist, so if the discomforts still exist in that time,  you should mention them. Nearly everyone gets some discomfort after stenting but the causes in most people are unknown. The odds that something is wrong with your stent is very low indeed.

[mrsboston3122]

Ok, so I dont want to seem anxious but I am now worried. I have different chest pain it feel different and its under my left breast. I went to the grocery store and almost could not make it out it was hurting so bad. I had it a 3 this morning, at 9 this morning and just now at the grocery store. I am trying so hard to put this behind me and deal with it but I am so confused. Is this normal after the procedure? What are the odds that something is wrong from the procedure itself? My left hand went really weak also about 10 minutes ago but seems better now just the same pain in my left arm thats been there for the last 3 weeks. Thank you so much in advance. I am afraid people are going to start to think I am crazy, I know my husband does.

[ed34]

Now you have peace of mind that your coronary arteries are in good shape. This will help a lot towards anxiety and perhaps the pvc's etc will reduce in occurrence. As soon as you experience such things, you immediately think there's a heart problem, anxiety kicks in, symptoms get worse and the cycle goes on.
I'm pleased to hear your arteries were clear.

[ChatterAlly]

Good news for you, but still doesn't offer any explanation, I know, for the chest pains and PVCs.  Take care and keep me posted, Ally

[mrsboston3122]

I had it done yesterday and they say my heart looks good:) There is nothing blocked. I am havinf a little pain in my leg but its not so bad.

Thank you all for your kind words.

[kenkeith]

QUOTE: "Is there a test that is just as good? He says he does not suspect he will find anything blocked but maybe something like bands around my heart? I have no idea what that means, is it life threating?

>>>>The moderator (septomarginal trabecula) is a musclular band of heart tissue found in the right ventricle. It is  a normal finding in the right ventricle of the heart. The moderator contains the right bundle branch (electrical impulse pathway) and part of septum (wall that separates right and left chambers).  There can be a congenital abnormality that effects the normal anatomy of septum (wall that separates left and right chambers) and cause arrhythmia (PVC's) so anxiety may add to the problem.

Outgrowth of the right ventricular inflow tracts further pulls the primary fold tissue around the right side of the AV canal. Moderator band connects medially to the trabecula septomarginalis, which contains the right bundle branch (RBB). That could be the underlying cause of your PVC's. If the doctor doesn't suspect blockages, then it appears the negative stess test has another aspect other than occlusions, and it is not clear how the spinal X-ray relates to the septomarginal trabecula anatomy, or if there is a connection?"

If there is an anatomy defect, it seems a ct scan or mri scan can provide an image of any abnormality!  But if a cath is necessary for some reason, it doesn't provide much of risk, and there is no pain.  In fact it may make you feel very well at the time of the test due to the medication given. At least it did for me.  Don't worry and thanks for sharing.

[ChatterAlly]

Good morning, dear friend.  I looked for an email from you but didn't see one this morning.  I have had 9 caths now, and I have never had any bad experiences with them. The worst part of it is having to lie flat for a time.  My back coudn't hold up for long.  I will write you in a bit and see how you are doing. How are the kids and hubby? Take care!

[erijon]

These two individuals have been through it all, I would believe them! Nothing like getting it straight from those that have been there.

Good luck and keep us posted,

Jon

[ed34]

I have had 6 angio procedures now and as flycaster says, there's nothing to worry about.
They inject you with medication to calm your nerves anyway and you can ask for a bit extra if you want to count sheep during the procedure. It really doesn't hurt in any way and it's surprising how quickly the 20-30 minutes passes. A good book is good advice, but to add to it, make sure you empty your bladder before going in for the procedure. The contrast they inject in you to provide the images makes the kidneys work overtime. Also, the Angio suite is a cold place, it has to be cold for the equipment. I ask for lots of blankets so I'm as snug as a bug in a rug.
With regards to spine problems, yes they can make pains seem to appear from anywhere in the body. However, it is still a good thing to have the angiogram to be on the safe side.

[Flycaster305]

I'm not at all familiar with the 'bands around the heart' discussions unless he means heart spasms.  Regarding the angiogram, they are very safe, there is little chance of any pain and a whole lot of information will be revealed.  I've had probably ten of them.  This will be one of those events that afterward you will wonder why you invested so much angst into prior to the event.  After the procedure, you will have to lie still for several hours, so be sure and bring a good book.  During the procedure, you will be given drugs that erase any memory of it, and will be given drugs going in that will take away any worry whatsoever.

You have had several good news tests, let's believe that this will be another one.  Keep us informed.