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Avatar universal

Terrified of angio but.....

Hi everyone:  I did have a 64 slice 3 D scan.  I am convinced that the contrast dye used gave me unstable angina.

Anyway, I am terrified of an angiogram but was offered to have this procedure.  the cardio did warn that 1 in 1000 die during this procedure but he did not explain why?  

Would appreciate your comments.  Incidentally, I do have a saphena varix in the right groin and have vascular problems in both legs.

I have angina frequently but am too scared for the angiogram.  I have had ST elevation and poor R-wave progression and also diagnosed with hypokinesia of the septal wall.  I also have heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, Mitral and triscupid regurgitation according to BNP and an echo in April, but an echo 8 weeks later showed everything aforementioned but no left ventricular dysfunction which the previous echo and others since 2001 showed.

I get angina when I am tired, not enough sleep and refused to climb stairs or walk uphill because the last time I did, I got angina and was really SCARED.

there are other health issues and I am very ill due to an untreated chronic lyme disease.

Advice would be appreciated as I am getting worse by day.

Thank you
Kooky
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Avatar universal
Anything that is either taken intravenously or orally can cause side effects and/or adverse reactions.  

Do you know if the doctor is being sued because of incompetence or because patients had an undiagnosed underlying condition?

It might be interesting to compare the number of fatalities with those choosing angiograms and stents and those choosing EDTA with a follow up of at least 12 months?

Concerning a condition I may or may not have, well, I do have angina pains as shown on previous EKGs, twice admitted to the coronary care unit for a week each time, an EBT, and echo which showed changes after the most recent bout of angina attack and query MI, three plaques on the circumflex as shown by a previous scan one which at the time is shown as being calcified.  + heart failure, etc....  So, yeah, there is definitely signs of atherosclerosis as reported by the cardio but how serious, we have no idea.

What about yourself?



Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Awwww.........He wants to be sick soooo bad.  Maybe if he keeps after the docs they will finally cave in and diagnose something.  I bet if he does the chelation thing he'll be miraculously cured, no matter that it's been proven ineffective and dangerous.
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63984 tn?1385437939
Locally we have a 'medical practitioner' being sued because of patients who have died using the chelation procedure.  Why would you take a risk with a drug that is not approved for the condition you may or may not have?

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Avatar universal
As I said previously not only did I have a life threatening ADR with long term consequences and as a result also suffer from arrythmias thus cannot and advised not take any drugs which can alter cardiac eletrical conductivity even something such as erythromycin (yes, it can cause arrythmias and sudden cardiac death), antihistamines, beta blockers etc... This was advised by a well known pharmacist who used to work at GWU.  He has an excellent website about pharmaceutical products and the dammage it can cause to the cytochrome pathways and more info.  

My father was in ICU for three months because he had an ADR to Diclofenac, my brother was in ICU developing atrial febrillation triggered by a muscle relaxant, a well known journalist (friend of a friend) developed serious suicidal thoughts after taking a fluorquinolones med and some other serious symptoms and yes the list goes on and on.

I would only advise to be vigilant and certainly would not advise anyone not to take any meds.  All I can say is that my doctors over here are very concerned of the reactions I have to meds and prefer  to avoid them unless given first in very small doses in a controlled environment then may be increase the dosage.  I have had to do this with Amoxycillin antibiotics.

By the way there are alternative which I am looking into such as EDTA chelation either intravenously or oral which may be easier to tolerate.  It needs further research.

Meanwhile, on Monday, I have to be hospitalised for the extraction of a reveal device.  I will have lidnocaine and 2% epinephrine but have refused pain killers and anything else such as Medozalam as a relaxant.  The doctors are very cautious and aware.

To be honest, I am having all these tests, whilst knowing that really, an angiogram is the most accurate although not quite if you suffer from vasospasm of the coronary arteries or syndrome X or microvavular (may be wrong with spelling here) and other problems.

As mentioned previously it is up to the individual and the medical professionals to look at each case and its merits, weighing all risks, benefits, and looking at variables.  

I am glad it worked for you and hope that you benefit from it.  Keep us posted of your progress.

Helpful - 0
214864 tn?1229715239
I am also very sensitive to drugs. It seems to get worse with age. It started about 10 years ago. Antibiotics that I once tolerated, suddenly would attack all of my joints. I took an ACE inhibitor for 3 years and then had to stop due to adverse reactions. I believe statins started this drug sensivity.....
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Avatar universal
Oh.  I didn't notice that the docs were "tip-toeing around".  You said you were refusing, terrified, etc..

You're probably right.  If I had a reaction to a "particular pharmaceutical drug", I'd never touch another pharmaceutical drug, either.  By the same token, I probably wouldn't go through any more tests either.

Probably just curl up in a cozy corner and die.
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Avatar universal
the reason the docs are sympathetic and helpful is because I have had life threatening and severe adverse reaction to a particular pharmaceutic drug which has caused CNS dammage, cardiac, neurological, and multisystemic including causing a lot of dysfunction with the cytochrome pathways hence making it very difficult because of high sensitivities to chemicals and pharma products (ON GOING) etc...  this is why the doctors are being very patient, and understanding and careful and accommodating.  They are taking into account my previous and present history and tip toeing around.  

By the way, I do not suffer from phobias, or anxiety, I am just a vulnerable very ill person who posted here hoping to read some replies with others sharing similar misgivings.  I am not loosing any sleep and thinking incessantly about this either.

Bear in mind that the third leading cause of death in the western world is iatrogenic illnesses and ADRs to pharma products.  

Please feel free to research and you will see that there is quite a lot written about the reaction to contract dye (not including anaphylaxis) here.  Read up about Gadolinium and the others...

I am worried and concerned about the nodules and did smoke but not heavily.  I live in a very polluted area where thousands of people are dying and falling ill with lung and respiratory diseases without having ever smoked.  

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Avatar universal
I'd be freaking out over the nodules in the lungs!  Did you smoke?
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Avatar universal
I find it rather interesting that you have apparently spent a great deal of time and money having tests run, yet you are not willing to do anything of benefit to help yourself.  Too "terrified of the risks" to have an angiogram?  "Patient refused to take a beta blocker"?  What's up with all that?  Generally, if you do not cooperate with the health professionals, they'll dump you as a patient, as you are wasting their time and efforts on a person that has no real interest in getting well (or better).

There is an anxiety board as part of this site.  I think that would probably be the place for you to start  Try obsessing for a while on anxiety rather than heart problems.  This may lessen your heart symptoms considerably.  And then, return to the heart problems when you're ready to take a meaningful part in your treatment (if any).

The 64 slice scan showed "probably no significant coronary disease"  I'd guess the probably is due to your lack of cooperation.  And, yes, the study is conclusive.  

I would heartily recommend getting an angiogram done.  Maybe you'll be one of the lucky few who don't die on the cath table.
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Avatar universal
thanks for your replies.

The 64 slice 3 D  Scan showed:  Images were degraded (because I refused beta blockers Prednisolone).  

Left main Trunk (LM):  ..the LM, the left coronary ostium and left main stem look normal.

Left Anterior Descending Artery (LAD):  The LAD images are degraded by a fast heart rate.  It should be noted that patient refused to take a  beta blocker and understood that the fast heart rate might degrade the images.  The LAD is probably normal.  Its first diagonal branch looks normal.

Left Circumflex (LCX):  there is an isolated eccentric calcified plaque in the mid part of the left circumflex.  It is not associated with significant narrowing.

Right coronary Artery (RCA)  the right coronary is a dominant vessel.  Its mid segment is degrated by motion aritifact but it is probably a normal vessel.

Summary:  Poor quality study.  However, probably no significant coronary disease.

There were well defined nodules in the lung fields.  Probably granulomas.....


As you see the study is conclusive.  The one thing that did worry me is the calcified plqaque in the left circumflex, although it does not mean that there is a blockage.  

I am not taking nitro because I already suffer from crushing headaches lasting for up to three months and along with all other symptoms, I am totally debilitated and bedridden.

It appears after all the 64 slice 3 D scan is not reliable as a diagnostic tool....
Well defined nodules were noted in lung fields....... probably granulomas and their behaviour is begnin."

Helpful - 0
63984 tn?1385437939
Angiograms are a piece of cake, especially with the goofball meds you will receive before hand to relax you.  I've had quite a number of them, I'm alive because of them.  Fatalities during the process usually occur with really ill patients, perhaps people who are in the midst of a heart attack when the process is started.  Your fears are unreasonable given the serious nature of your symptoms.  If you want to know what real fear is, wait until the heart attack.  My suggestion would be to get some professional help to put your fears in proper perspective.
Helpful - 0
214864 tn?1229715239
The most obvious question for you is WHAT DID THE SCAN SHOW? If you have blockages then...If you don't have blockages then....You said "I have angina frequently but am too scared for the angiogram". So you had a scan but give no results other than the dye causing you angina. This is called heart disease. Some risks must be taken to prevent death from a heart attack, and/or angina which some doctors believe is damaging to the heart, if not relieved by nitro. Do you use fast acting nitro?

One, one thousandth is not a bad percentage, but I believe it is closer to five one thousandths. Remember that many elderly and diabetic people are included in the statistics.
Helpful - 0
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