Frightened

[CathieC]

after being diagnosed with AF in 1979 it has only recently become a problem I have an angiogram booked for July 26th and they have already said I need stents. My cholesterol is low and I been taking anticoagulants for the last 5 years. I am frightened about the 26th but even more so about stents. GP has been very reassuring but...………………… the stress of waiting is making it worse. any ideas or advice would be welcome.

[10gingercats]

I am not a doctor and I have not had stents. But I understand that depending upon where the stents are needed it may be a far less invasive procedure than you fear.Many of these procedures are now done through an entry in the groin. I had a hole in my heart closed in this way with an insert to close the gap between two sections of my heart. i was sedated. and given some morphine and can honestly say it was not much of a drama. I went into hospital at 7 a.m. and was allowed home late that evening.Straight to bed and up the next day .Try and keep calm until you know more as anxiety is your worst enemy.

[CathieC in reply to 10gingercats]

Thank you.

[Buffafly]

I haven't had stents either but I have had two angiograms and they were no problem. I was terrified before the first but the worst part about the whole thing was having to use a bedpan while lying still afterwards 😳 It was quite interesting to watch the screen.

Best wishes, hope it goes smoothly.

[CathieC in reply to Buffafly]

Thank you

[BobD Volunteer]

I have had two angiograms in the last twenty years, the last in 2017. First was groin entry second was radial artery in wrist which meant no laying flat afterwards. I recommend you take a sports drinking bottle in case you have to lay flat as trying to drink with a straw is a pain.

Regarding cholesterol it seems that this is not a good indicator of cardiac artery condition as we are all different . I would expect any stents required to be done at the time so you would not need a second procedure. I didn't need any so home a few hours later in both cases.

[CathieC in reply to BobD]

Thank you

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Cathie

I believe an angiogram is where they look to see what's needed and angioplasty is when they insert the stents, if needed. I know two people quite close to me who have had them and both felt so much better afterwards. It's quite normal to feel a little anxious before any medical procedure, so the way you are feeling is quite normal.

Medical professionals do this sort of thing many times every day, so be reassured that you will be well looked after. When you go in tell them how nervous you are and they may be able to give you something to help you relax.

Please let us know how you get on.

Wishing you well.

Jean

[CathieC in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you

[graemeparsons]

Hi CathieC

I have had 5 angiograms, 2 angioplasty procedures resulting in 7 stents put in Left and right arteries and will need some more in not too distant future. It is all very straight forward angioplasty can be a bit uncomfortable at times. To me worst bit of all is having to keep absolutely still during the procedure. Hope this will help you feel a bit calmer, all the very best to you.

[CathieC in reply to graemeparsons]

Thank you

[Hidden]

when I was stuck on a cardiac ward for two weeks trying to get my Heart rate below 195 bpm I saw a steady streem of people having angiograms.

They went in looking really ill and grey, came out full of energy and and looking pink if they had had stents inserted.

The entry was through the wrist and they were off home the following morning

All the best with yours

[CathieC in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Hidden]

Watch your sugar intake, and keep hydrated - that should help your Afib problem. Here is what I found about sugar:

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After 9 years of trying different foods and logging EVERYTHING I ate, I found sugar (and to a lesser degree, salt – i.e. dehydration) was triggering my Afib. Doctors don't want to hear this - there is no money in telling patients to eat less sugar. Each person has a different sugar threshold - and it changes as you get older, so you need to count every gram of sugar you eat every day (including natural sugars in fruits, etc.). My tolerance level was 190 grams of sugar per day 8 years ago, 85 grams a year and a half ago, and 60 grams today, so AFIB episodes are more frequent and last longer. If you keep your intake of sugar below your threshold level your AFIB will not happen again (easier said than done of course). It's not the food - it's the sugar (or salt - see below) IN the food that's causing your problems. Try it and you will see - should only take you 1 or 2 months of trial-and-error to find your threshold level. And for the record - ALL sugars are treated the same (honey, refined, agave, natural sugars in fruits, etc.). I successfully triggered AFIB by eating a bunch of plums and peaches one day just to test it out. In addition, I have noticed that moderate exercise (7-mile bike ride or 5-mile hike in the park) often puts my Afib heart back in to normal rhythm a couple hours later. Don’t know why – perhaps you burn off the excess sugars in your blood/muscles or sweat out excess salt??

Also, in addition to sugar, if you are dehydrated - this will trigger AFIB as well. It seems (but I have no proof of this) that a little uptick of salt in your blood is being treated the same as an uptick of sugar - both cause AFIB episodes. (I’m not a doctor – it may be the sugar in your muscles/organs and not in your blood, don’t know). In any case you have to keep hydrated, and not eat too much salt. The root problem is that our bodies are not processing sugar/salt properly and no doctor knows why, but the AFIB seems to be a symptom of this and not the primary problem, but medicine is not advanced enough to know the core reason that causes AFIB at this time. You can have a healthy heart and still have Afib – something inside us is triggering it when we eat too much sugar or get (even a little) dehydrated. Find out the core reason for this and you will be a millionaire and make the cover of Time Magazine! Good luck! - Rick Hyer

[CathieC in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Ramblingross]

Hi CathieC....l had 2 stents in 2011 following a heart attack....they went in thru my wrist not my groin...a sedative is given if you want it to relax you..it's over in about 20 minutes....l had it done on the Saturday and the following week l kept a local holiday date....it was straight forward and I'm sure you.ll be fine...good luck and best wishes....

[CathieC in reply to Ramblingross]

Thank you

[Bob002]

I had a angiogram and stents two years ago Believe me it is nothing, you will be just fine and wonder why you were so scared( I was scared to) simple pain free procedure and you will fell better. Really the hard part is the wait.

[CathieC in reply to Bob002]

Thank you