Angiogram, Angioplasty / Stent

[Sminshull]

On Monday I had a feeling of pressure on my chest. It was like someone was sitting on me. Anyway after visiting a walk in centre (I was terrified) an ambulance was called and I was taken straight to A&E. I know this would have been the same for others on here but after being discharged i had to ask the question "did I actually have a heart attack". I felt like such a fraud and still do now as the only changes i have felt is tiredness and feeling the cold more.

Yes I did have an Angiogram, Angioplasty / Stent and I have to admit that the NHS are amazing. I said I was terrified to the nurse staff and they couldnt have made me feel anymore at ease. Watching it all happen was amazing to see and if anyone reading this had an Angiogram planned, i will say that i prefered it to dental work and I admitted this to the surgery staff.

[jimmyq]

That all happened within a week? Wow, it took months for anything to happen leading up to my surgery.

[Sminshull in reply to jimmyq]

Well, from start to finish it all took 24 hours. Got to A&E at 11am on Monday and i was in recovery at 11am on Tuesday then back at home at around 14:00 on Wednesday.

[Dhomewood]

Snap - that is almost identical to my story and I completely agree, I’ve had worse experiences at the dentist.

If you scroll down the posts for a few days you’ll see my before and after Stent pics which the surgeon gave me.

The tiredness is probably the meds - I’m normally out for the count at 8:30 zzzzzz.

Best of luck to you

Daren

[Mrsbeevintage Heart Star]

I have waited months and had to sit for 4 days in hospital before I got my angiogramme...came away with no fix as blockage was only 30% the process was fine the out come has left me in limbo ...not that I wanted a stent but I was hoping for an answer to the unstable angina ..frewuent pain and tiredness .I'm very glad you got such a wonderful outcome

[jimmyq in reply to Mrsbeevintage]

Presumably, when you get to a certain level of blockage they will get you in and have it all done in a day. How you determine that level is another issue. I don't envy you, being left in limbo like that.

[Henry20 in reply to jimmyq]

Hmm, for new readers..... I'm not so sure about this "Presumably, when you get to a certain level of blockage they will get you in and have it all done in a day. "

I had 95-99% blockage and had to wait for 2 weeks before the stent was fitted.

But yes, the Op itself was done in a day.

(I'm not sure if they measure any higher levels of blockage, 99% seems pretty well shut off to me, but then I'm not a doctor).

[jimmyq in reply to Henry20]

"Done in a day" - I meant just the Angiogram. Every time I had it (3 times) I was in and out the same day.

[Mrsbeevintage Heart Star]

Off to doctor again tomorrow to see what happens next ...i will say though be careful with your wrist I'm three days on from the proceedure and it was fine but today it is very painful..i have obviosly used it to much .

[jimmyq]

I had my last angiogram in 1997 and they went in through the main artery in my thigh. My wrists are no problem.

[mikealford]

Yes you had a heart attack, possibly on the RHS where it feeds into the lungs, so you don't get the normal symptoms. Go through the Echocardiogram with your doctor to access the damage it did to your heart. I took 5 aspirins at the start of chest discomfort, and the pain reduced, but even then it wasn't much. When I got to the Cath lab, my Artery on the RHS was blocked. They cleared the block, and fitted two stents there and then, then 6 weeks later fitted another in the CX. My heart is undamaged and my EF is 65%, I'm lucky. But don't feel a fraud, because you aren't!!!

[Hidden]

I had HA in december, thought it was severe indigestion after a takeaway chinese meal. Was in RCHT at 10 pm, had angiogam/angioplasty next afternoon, with a 3mm cut on right wrist. Recovered for three days then out and home Christmas eve. Was easier and less painful than wisdom tooth. Sure I take a bucket load more pills than before, plus watch diet, but its the best thing that ever happened in that it made me focus on getting fitter and losing weight. So good luck, there's lots of sound advice on these forums and with the cardio rehab teams, they'll see you on the right track.

[Broadgreen]

Totally agree the exact same happened to me.So scary!!!!!

[jobe1968]

7.30 am on the 23rd of June I had the same feeling of intense pressure. Ambulance about six minutes to arrive. By 10 am I was in the intensive care unit post pci recovering. Thanks to the ambulance paramedics and fantastic emergency team at MAnchester Royal Infirmary I survived a total occlusion of the proximal LAD. Since then apart from one “Sir Lancelot Spratt” type Doctor all the service from ambulance to rehab and after care regards lipid clinic has been fantastic.