Anyone on here ever had their heart checked by having an Angiogram done ?

[C908]

As I'm about to turn 60 I seem to have developed some type of heart problem. It started out several weeks ago when my wife found me out cold on the hallway floor. So far they have done a stress test, glucose tolerence test and have me wearing a 30 day heart monitor. Three days after I started wearing the monitor they called and said my heart was beating to fast. I was sent to see a Cardiologist yesterday. I was told my EKG was very bad and now I am scheduled for an Angiogram test this Tuesday. Just wondering if anyone else has had an Angiogram done ? 

[R J]

I've had 3 of them.

They make a small incision in your groin and insert a little camera & have a look around.

If the clogs are small they will usually put in a stint to enlarge the vessel.

If it is tooooo severe, you will be scheduled for bypass surgery.

As long as you get a good heart Dr to cut ya open, you will be on the street in 5 days.

If ya don't, you could end up in the Hospital for 29 days of which 21 were in Intensive Care.    My surgery was April 1, 1997.   They told the wife it would extend my life at least 10 years.     Well, I is 7 years past that prediction.

Don't worry about it, there is nothing you can do except go in relaxed and let it take it's course.  

 

[Rio Wil]

If the vessel in your wrist is big enough they might use it.....less risk than the groin, less recovery also.

[art]

Had one about 5 years ago, piece of cake. For me it was no pain or discomfort.

[RP#62]

Piece of cake.  I'm laying on the table, nurse said they were going to give me something to make me comfortable.  Man was I comfortable.  It was like someone pulled a nice warm blanket all over me.  She said to keep my arms at my side and don't move and that if I needed to scratch anything to say something and she would do it.  I started thinking about that and smiled.  She then said below the waist will cost extra.

-RP

[Rams]

Yep and I agree, the process isn't a big deal and will allow that heart specialist to get in there and find out what's going on.     Glad I had it done and now, I'm all better.      Of course, that was after they fixed what was ailing me and a year or so of monitoring.  

[Robert]

I would think about this test a MRA with radioactive dye and bring this up to your Dr. for you guys to discuss. Its non invasive shows all the blood vessels while flowing and can even pin point the smaller vessels and they actually see real time. It does not worsen the condition and possibly throw you into cardiac arrest because its does not stress the heart nor the individual. The angiogram is the tried and true test just like they run you through the mill of the other tests. Insurance may or may not cover  the MRA but, I would really look into it. They don't know where the block is or what the problem is a scope only sees that one small area and cannot go into smaller vessels. With this you see the whole upper torso, with flow in pretty much real time. With this you can also see ALL the blood vessels and see if there is one problem or many. The Dr knows the depth of the problem before he ever does anything to you. If there is a block to me this has a much better way to find it. That is also the big problem for you they don't know where it is or what it is otherwise they would be treating the problem instead of looking for it. The angiogram is safe, but I have heard of a few botched times because like anything else you are entering the body. I would not worry about the procedure its been done millions of times and is the tried and true method to find a blockage.


http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/magnetic-resonance-angiogram-mra

MRA can find problems with the blood vessels that may be causing reduced blood flow. With MRA, both the blood flow and the condition of the blood vessel walls can be seen. The test is often used to look at the blood vessels that go to the brain, kidneys, and legs. Information from an MRA can be saved and stored on a computer for further study. Photographs camera.gif of selected views can also be made.

During MRA, the area of the body being studied is placed inside an MRI machine. Contrast material is often used during MRA to make blood vessels show up more clearly.
Why It Is Done

A magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) is done to look for:

   A bulge (aneurysm), clot, or the buildup of fat and calcium deposits (stenosis caused by plaque) in the blood vessels leading to the brain.
   An aneurysm or tear (dissection) in the aorta, which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
   Narrowing (stenosis) of the blood vessels leading to the heart, lungs, kidneys, or legs.

[Hooter]

I had 2 when I was 29 and that was about....yrs ago. I had the last testing where they went through my arm but they don't do that anymore, at least around here. Everything is through the groin. Testing isn't much but makes you feel like you might have or are gonna pee pee your pants. But you don't.
I found my trouble was my xwife and anxiety no heart issues. Do the testing it tells the story. For the most part heart problems can be taken care of without much problem anymore.

[Cyclejohn]

Just wondering if anyone else has had an Angiogram done ? 

Hey C908,

I have had 26 of the angiograms performed on me. 25 of the 26 required additional procedures to be done while they were already in there. If you feel any discomfort during the procedure tell the Dr. and they will fix you up with an injection of medicine into your IV. Just doing an angiogram doesn't usually result in discomfort or pain, it is when they have to perform additional work in the artery on the heart that causes it. Most of the time you can feel the dye coursing through the vein that they inject it into. It feels very warm but only last a split second (or so). There is one artery that they inject it into that runs straight from your heart down the center of your body. That squirt feels like something is going to shoot out of your butt. I think I'll stop right there.

Good luck and my hope for you is that they determine the source of your problem and get you fixed up quickly.

John

[Master Blaster]

Yup had one a few years ago for a irregular heartbeat.  Test itself was nothing, but after when on the way home, the insertion site was leaking, had to turn around and go back, Nurse held pressure on it for a couple of hours until it sealed.  was uncomfortable, and leg and hip turned black from the blood leak.  Could be life threatening if not caught in time, so keep a check on it for a few hours.

[Hooter]

Yup had one a few years ago for a irregular heartbeat.  Test itself was nothing, but after when on the way home, the insertion site was leaking, had to turn around and go back, Nurse held pressure on it for a couple of hours until it sealed.  was uncomfortable, and leg and hip turned black from the blood leak.  Could be life threatening if not caught in time, so keep a check on it for a few hours.

Usually make you lay still for a period of time with a sandbag on the in incision site. If I remember its for about 8 hours. My cousin moved around and he leaked big time. They ended up doin minor surgery to close the site. It's worth having the piece of mind.

[C908]

Thanks everyone for all the replys, I'm actually ready to get the test over with. Today while I was shopping in Walmart I started having some strange feelings in my chest. I started feeling mild pain in the top left part of my chest. I have a heart monitor on so I called them when I got home. They said my heart had a change in rythym a couple hours earlier. I didn't get a call back from the doctor so I guess it wasn't to bad. The weather has turned cold here in Missouri so I'm going to stay in and take it easy for the next 3 days. My appointment is 7am at the hospital on Tuesday morning so wish me luck.   Thanks again, C908 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks everyone for all the replys, I'm actually ready to get the test over with. Today while I was shopping in Walmart I started having some strange feelings in my chest. I started feeling mild pain in the top left part of my chest. I have a heart monitor on so I called them when I got home. They said my heart had a change in rythym a couple hours earlier. I didn't get a call back from the doctor so I guess it wasn't to bad. The weather has turned cold here in Missouri so I'm going to stay in and take it easy for the next 3 days. My appointment is 7am at the hospital on Tuesday morning so wish me luck.   Thanks again, C908 

I wish you the best Hopefully it's just some minor thing they can fix up easily.

[Xtracho]

Best to you. Mine was no problem as long as you monitor the incision site for leakage. It's the femoral artery and it's a big one. Ended up with the choice of high risk stents or bypass surgery. Since everyone I knew that had stents, ended up either having more or eventually getting the surgery I opted for the bypass. 90 days post op I was back on the boat in Brazil. That procedure will surely give your cardio guy the info he needs to prescribe treatment. Again, good luck and hope all turns out in your favor.

[C908]

Went and had my Angiogram today and everything was good, no blockage. I go back to see the Cardiologist in 2 weeks. Still don't know why I blacked out but it could be stress related since I lost both my parents and one of my dogs within 6 weeks. 

[RP#62]

I'm sure they would have seen it in the blood work, but had a friend pass out mid sentence due to low potassium.

-RP

[Tailgate Tommy]

As others have said, that test is pretty easy. I had one 15 years ago then a quadruple heart bypass. The blockages were to bad for stents, 90% or so.
Best thing I ever had done. Been feeling great ever since.

I wish you all the best. DO WHAT THE DR. SAYS!

[T-Bird]

Last week I had a cardiac catheterization/ angiogram done, it was number 12 for me. I had a heart transplant 11 years ago and have to have one every year to make sure everything is fine.
Cardiac catheterization is the same as a angiogram, but without the dye. I have had 2 MRA with the dye that Jess was refering to.
They are all easy with no pain...just don't do any activities or lift anything over 5lbs for at least 48 hrs after. I have heard stories where patients bleed out from thinking they can do whatever they want after the procedure.

[grandpaweaver]

Piece of cake.  I'm laying on the table, nurse said they were going to give me something to make me comfortable.  Man was I comfortable.  It was like someone pulled a nice warm blanket all over me.  She said to keep my arms at my side and don't move and that if I needed to scratch anything to say something and she would do it.  I started thinking about that and smiled.  She then said below the waist will cost extra.

-RP

That got a smile out of me and I bet her as well