i am booked in for an angiogram pleas... - Atrial Fibrillati...
i am booked in for an angiogram please tell me is this the same as an ablation ,i find it all very confusing and scary , poppystorey
Hi Poppy
No, they're different. The first link below tells you about angiograms, the second, ablation. You have nothing to worry about except worrying! John.
nhs.uk/conditions/Angiograp...
bhf.org.uk/heart-health/tre...
Thank you so much ,having read all the information ,I feel more content ,I just need to know ,what is what ,so I can understand what people are talking about,thank you once again for your help .poppy .
Hi Poppy, Although the two procedures are quite different, they both take place in a catheter laboratory using Xray machines and both involve threading a catheter into a vein or artery in your groin (or arm sometimes) so that it can be steered into or close to your heart. With an angiogram they they then inject radio opaque die which shows up the arteries around the heart to check for blockages whilst with an ablation they go into your heart to attempt to stop the rogue electrical impulses which cause AF.. I have had both and they are no big deal frankly. Just have to lie down for a long time afterwards which is the worst bit.
Bob
Hi Bob thankyou for taking time to explain to me ,it has helped put my mind at rest .poppstorey
Hello Poppey
I had my angiogram mid September last year. Yes I worried, but there was no need – I know that will not help you at this stage. It is not an ablation but a diagnostic procedure.
To the cardiologist doing the procedure it seemed quite matter fact, and it was. I was awake throughout the procedure and it was over in 40 minutes, but as Bob has already stated they require you to lie down for some time afterwards to ensure the entry wound to the artery has stopped bleeding. They did the procedure via my wrist (radial artery)
I was one of five patients that day and all of us had a similar experience.
Good Luck and try not to worry yourself too much
Nick
Hi Poppy,
I have had two angiograms and it is in fact quite interesting if they will let you watch the screen! The first time I had to drink lots of water beforehand and overdid it so not a good thing as I had to lie still for hours. This time I found technology had moved on and they put in a collagen plug so I was sitting up having breakfast quite soon after.
The BHF leaflets are excellent for explaining anything heart related including AF. I found I was much less anxious the second time around as I knew what to expect so I think that is the way to go, the first time I asked a friend about it, not having access to the Internet, but she paused for a while then said, 'Well it's not very pleasant', which I took to be an understatement and was terrified!
