Has anyone on here had an angiogram before. As the hospital are telling me to have one. But I'm scared

[Magical_thoughts]

Has anyone on here had an angiogram before. As the hospital are telling me to have one. But I'm scared

[Jeff1943]

It's perfectly normal to be apprehensive before any medical procedure but an angiogram is quite straight forward and they should give you some tranquillisation before the procedure - ask for it and tell them you have anxiety disorder.

My wife had an angiogram in 2006 followed by 4 stents (an angioplasty) which opens up blocked arteries.

In 2015 she had another angiogram to check if the stents were blocked but they had not, they were 'patent', which was good.

Today in 2020 the stents continue to do their job. However, you may not need stents, they may decide to deal with any narrowing of arteries by medication. Or your arteries may not be narrowed at all.

Either way you have nothing to worry about, this procedure is carried out thousands of times every day.

[Magical_thoughts in reply to Jeff1943]

Hi Jeff thanks for the message. I'm 45 yrs old. I had a cardiac event. Minor one thank god. Due to Me inhaling a chemical. Theyve done loads of tests all fine. The tropinin for the heart has improved. It was high. Which was not good but has improved. They want to do an angiogram but the thought of it then the risks has scared me. If they don't find any damage then great. But if th ey do and th ey put a stent in. It will be a worry. Because then u r on meds for life. And the thought of a foreign object in my body is making me really anxious. What if my body tries to reject the stent. Then I'm scared what if I need something more. I just want to live a normal life without having to rely on something forever. Or be on meds forever. And then you say every so many years you have to go back for follow ups or more stents????

[Jeff1943 in reply to Magical_thoughts]

My wife has only had it repeated once in 14 years and all was fine. Doesn't mean everybody has to have a repeat, no new stents were found. I've had a pacemaker for nearly a year, I don't think of it as a foreign object but a lifesaver.Stents are an alternative to meds but if you have to take a tablet or two for life it's no big deal, it's a life extender. I say be glad we live in the 21st century when such life saving technology is available. Good luck with everything.

[Smarticus]

Hi, I have had several (and open heart surgery twice) It really isnt that bad check out some of the information on the BHF website and check out the BHF section of this site. HTH

[Magical_thoughts in reply to Smarticus]

Hi how old were u when u had them. And can they cause problems after.

[Smarticus in reply to Magical_thoughts]

Hi, my first was 45. There are two "ways in" either the wrist or the groin. It depends on your consultant and what they are looking for or trying to do, which "method" they choose. You will be awake for the procedure and it sounds worse than it is (stay away from google) every time I was totally chilled throughout, asking questions and nattering away.

Why do you think you would need a stent?

What chemical did you inhale?

What "meds for life" are you thinking of?

HTH