Chatypaty
03-29-2008, 07:30 PM
Hi.. I am new and maybe I shouldnt be on this board.. my problems seems trivial compared to the threads I have found.. I had a physical and a EKG .. my doctor told me the EKG was abnormal, not enough to be overly concerned about .. she referred me to a cardiologist .. so I went and had a stress test this past Monday .. he says I need to go in and have a catherization this coming Friday .. he said when they took the first pictures things looked okay .. than after giving me the chemical ( I ended up with a chemical stress test ) the last pictures showed what looked like a blockage and to be sure he has scheduled me to have a catherization this week.. I think I said that .. I am so scared .. I am the biggest chicken can someone tell me what happens.. he gave me a booklet but I need info from someone other than a booklet .. thank you in advance...
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Beefsteak
03-30-2008, 07:46 AM
Hi,
Sounds like you may have a partial blockage and they want to check it out.
A catherization is the most accurate way to investigate the blood vessels around the heart. It is a very common procedure and totally painless.
There is a very slight risk associated with the use of the dye and catheter, and with the x-ray dose. Nothing to worry about at all. You probably take a much greater risk just crossing the road. :D
(The way to look at it is the information they get from it far outweighs the slight risk in the treatment.)
You have not said whether you have any chest discomfort or other symptoms that led up to the testing. Typically, if there is a partial blockage you might have felt chest tightness of shortness of breath climbing stairs or with some other exertion. If not then they are still being thorough, following up the results from the ECG and chemical tests.
The situation might arise where they locate a partial blockage and they seek your advice to place a metal or plastic stent inside the blockage, to open it and improve blood flow. I suggest you discuss this possibility BEFORE you are in the operating room, so you know what to expect and they know how you feel. You could also discuss it with your GP, after reading the booklet. You should know what a metal stent is, and what a drug-eluding stent (DES) is, and how they work. (There are significant cost differences between metal and DES stents. If you have insurance check what they will cover.)
Again this is a common procedure. Your degree of discomfort in your everyday life will be a factor in this, as will the results they obtain. They will advise you what they think should be done and the probable outcome with your discomfort.
Hope this helps. ;)
Sounds like you may have a partial blockage and they want to check it out.
A catherization is the most accurate way to investigate the blood vessels around the heart. It is a very common procedure and totally painless.
There is a very slight risk associated with the use of the dye and catheter, and with the x-ray dose. Nothing to worry about at all. You probably take a much greater risk just crossing the road. :D
(The way to look at it is the information they get from it far outweighs the slight risk in the treatment.)
You have not said whether you have any chest discomfort or other symptoms that led up to the testing. Typically, if there is a partial blockage you might have felt chest tightness of shortness of breath climbing stairs or with some other exertion. If not then they are still being thorough, following up the results from the ECG and chemical tests.
The situation might arise where they locate a partial blockage and they seek your advice to place a metal or plastic stent inside the blockage, to open it and improve blood flow. I suggest you discuss this possibility BEFORE you are in the operating room, so you know what to expect and they know how you feel. You could also discuss it with your GP, after reading the booklet. You should know what a metal stent is, and what a drug-eluding stent (DES) is, and how they work. (There are significant cost differences between metal and DES stents. If you have insurance check what they will cover.)
Again this is a common procedure. Your degree of discomfort in your everyday life will be a factor in this, as will the results they obtain. They will advise you what they think should be done and the probable outcome with your discomfort.
Hope this helps. ;)
dannyp
03-30-2008, 09:43 AM
Hi Chatypaty,
I just had one doen on Feb.14.
The first thing I will sugest is that you relax. Did the hospital show you any videos?
I'll expain how mine went.
I arrived at the hospital in the morning. Registered and went to a large room where it was sectioned off by the draw curtains. A nurse went from bed to bed prepping each person by shaving their wrists and pubic area. LOL My wife was right there. She is a comedian and had me and the nurse laughing while she was shaving me! :0
The next step, they rolled me from that room into another room and had all of ready to be rolled into the next room where they actually do the test.
All this took about 3 hours so far.
I was very nervous as I noticed I was next...
In I went into a very cold room. The nurses were great. They had me comfortable in minutes. There will no doubt be at least one comedian there. It's their job to relax you.
Once you are laying on the bed they give you a needle to freeze where they do it. Groin or wrist. I was lucky. They used my wrist. I was given anesthetic through a catheter in my other arm. It makes you feel very fuzzy and relaxed.
Then the doctor arrives and explains what he is doing. He made a small cut in my wrist and put the catheter feed into my wrist. When he is ready he inserts the tube in your artery and proceeds to insert it into your artery.
It does feel weird. I could feel it going in. It doesn't hurt at all. Just weird.
You will feel a little cold during the whole thing.
They had the monitor positioned so I could see the whole thing. It's very awesome to watch. LOL You are so drugged the scary factor won't be there long.
When the tube entered my heart I got a fluttery feeling. Same thing when the dye went in. The dye gave me the warm flushed sensation throughout my whole body. It does feel funny. It doesn't hurt at all.
I was lucky. My arteries were clear. My problems aren't a blockage.
So my story ends there.
The test itself is a breeze.
Hopefully someone will pick up where I left off and explain the rest of what it's like if you get a stint.
Good luck,
Dan
I just had one doen on Feb.14.
The first thing I will sugest is that you relax. Did the hospital show you any videos?
I'll expain how mine went.
I arrived at the hospital in the morning. Registered and went to a large room where it was sectioned off by the draw curtains. A nurse went from bed to bed prepping each person by shaving their wrists and pubic area. LOL My wife was right there. She is a comedian and had me and the nurse laughing while she was shaving me! :0
The next step, they rolled me from that room into another room and had all of ready to be rolled into the next room where they actually do the test.
All this took about 3 hours so far.
I was very nervous as I noticed I was next...
In I went into a very cold room. The nurses were great. They had me comfortable in minutes. There will no doubt be at least one comedian there. It's their job to relax you.
Once you are laying on the bed they give you a needle to freeze where they do it. Groin or wrist. I was lucky. They used my wrist. I was given anesthetic through a catheter in my other arm. It makes you feel very fuzzy and relaxed.
Then the doctor arrives and explains what he is doing. He made a small cut in my wrist and put the catheter feed into my wrist. When he is ready he inserts the tube in your artery and proceeds to insert it into your artery.
It does feel weird. I could feel it going in. It doesn't hurt at all. Just weird.
You will feel a little cold during the whole thing.
They had the monitor positioned so I could see the whole thing. It's very awesome to watch. LOL You are so drugged the scary factor won't be there long.
When the tube entered my heart I got a fluttery feeling. Same thing when the dye went in. The dye gave me the warm flushed sensation throughout my whole body. It does feel funny. It doesn't hurt at all.
I was lucky. My arteries were clear. My problems aren't a blockage.
So my story ends there.
The test itself is a breeze.
Hopefully someone will pick up where I left off and explain the rest of what it's like if you get a stint.
Good luck,
Dan