Hi Mamas!
I am going in on Thursday for a Cardiac Catheterization/ Angiogram. I am wondering if any of you have ever had this done? While I hope no one else here has, if you did though I would like to know what to expect. We all know how the Drs can be more optimistic so you wil go ahead and do it!
Is there pain?
What is the recovery time?
Will I remember the procedure?
Basically any info would be wonderful!!!!!
I have been having some very bad chest pains since I had my daughter. While pregnant I swelled up so bad that my ankles looked like my knees and my toes were like little sausages that could not even wiggle. I gained 60 pounds in just water!!!! This caused Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (still trying to figure out what that is). Since having her I have had high blood pressure and was put on medications and also have been using a Nitro patch as needed. Lately I have been swelling up again and the chest pains so that is why they are doing this. Heart problems run in my family at a young age so I really do not have any choice here!
So any info would help put my mind at ease... I hope :) I hate surgery and I have had to have plenty of them over the last 10 years!!!!!!!!! The worst thing is when the anesthesiologist tells me he is going to put me to sleep- HELLO YOU PUT A DOG TO SLEEP NOT ME! lol I do always have a talk with them before this so they use different terms! I am just plain old scared here!!!!
Also, any prayers would be greatly appreciated as well. Thank you guys and many blessings to you all!
Well, I am home and I am all good!!!
I had the procedure on Thursday and they found absolutely nothing wrong with my heart (beside the hypertrophy but that is ok) I have a little plaque on the arteries but no more than any other 35 year old. So my heart is fine! WHEW!!!
BUT- they did find that everytime I fell asleep that I would snore and then stop breathing! I guess my hubby was telling the truth for years about me snoring! lol They had a Critical Care, Pulmonary specialist come in to see me. I do not remember much since I was still dopey but this could be the cause of my chest pains and that I will have to do a sleep study and get a CPap machine to sleep with.
The worst part of the whole thing was the not knowing before hand and saying goodbye to my daughter and not being sure if it was the last time!!! Otherwise it was not that bad- except for an EVIL nurse I had!! If any of you guys are nurses, please give your patients pain meds when the Drs say it is ok or you will have patients like me who will plot revenge! LOL Just kidding! But they were given permission to give me pain meds and she gave me the minimum amount.... it worked for 30 mins or so but that was it. I have a bad back so laying flat for 6 hours is not possible! Long story!! lol
Thank you all for the well wishes and prayers! It means a lot to me to know that I had people thinking and praying for me!
God bless you all!
- T.
I have never had this done, but I do have a heart problem also..My heart goes out to you and your family and i will pray for you..Good Luck..
Hi T.! I am a 30 year old mom that had a cardiac cath (not an angiogram) about 2 years ago ( I have previous heart issues that resulted in surgery when I was younger that needed to be replaced/fixed as an adult) Anyway...the cardiac cath is pretty painless (I got to choose how sedated I wanted to be..I started out light and began to watch the procedure (intersting), then felt slight burning and decided to be totally out...I gave in to the wuss in me) the hardest part is having to lay still for sometime after to avoid bleeding, slight tenderness/pain once up and walking, but really nothing you can't handle. I had lifting restrictions after for 3 days- no lifting my son
(he was 2 1/2 at the time) really, it's painless! No worries! I am more than willing to chat about any other questions you may have...been doing the heart thing for 30 years! Take care and best of luck to you...I know how hard it is to go through medical issues when you have a precious little one at home...they are all you can think about! If you don't mind me asking...where are you having it done at??
My mom had this procedure many times. It is a very common procedure. You will have some discomfort afterwards but nothing very painful.It usually takes under an hour so you will not be out for very long.Try not to worry you will fine:)I've been under a few times for other things and once they give you the IV of happy juice you will feel nothing and wake up later as if nothing happened. you can do it !I will pray for you! Take care and let us know how it went please.
Hi T.,
My mom has had atleast 10 angiograms and claims they are a piece of cake. When she has to go in for one, she doesn't even tell us anymore! She just goes in and calls the next day and tells us she's had one and she's fine. She has them at Loyola in Maywood. She is 76 and had her first one when she was 49.
I personally have not had one and probably would be terrified. The fear of the unknown is what makes this so scary. But, I just know in my heart you will be ok.
Isaiah 40:29-31 (New International Version)
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Father, We pray for T. and ask that You would renew her strength. May hope and healing abound. May Your love, peace, and presence wash over her and her family.
Amen.
Blessings, S.
Heavenly Father, I just ask you to come. Please put T.'s mind at ease as she faces this surgery. Father, I just ask you to put your holy angels around T. and give her peace of mind. Holy Father I ask that T. surgery be a complete success and your name be glorified in this. I ask that Your will be done, and that the physicians and hospital staff all be directed by You.
Sorry, no advise just prayers. I'm so sorry you are scared and rightfully so. I hope you recover quickly and feel like a million bucks very soon afterwards! I will keep you in my prayers!
