Anyone had a venogram

[mostin1973]

Has anyone had a venogram and what's it like? Feeling a bit nervous. Have had two dvt's in the subclavian vein and are looking to put stents in. Have like a sticky blood syndrome.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

This is identical to an angiogram (also called an arteriogram) except that the veins rather than arteries are checked. I had a peripheral angiogram for PAD. The veins were also checked as they suspected vascular eczema. In fact it was not but excessively dry skin caused by the poor circulation.

You should have been sent a set of instructions for the procedure. These would typically in lude not eating/drinking for about six hours before, stopping medication liked Metformin (if you are on it), etc. I suspect you are on anti-coagulants and there may be specific instructions relating to these. If not contact the clinic/lab undertaking the procedure

Because of the puncture wound you will not be able to drive for 48 hours and ideally have someone around for 24 (the clinic should give you details).

[mostin1973]

Excellent thanks. I have had 2 dvt's near my heart in the subclavian vein, they said it would give a better view than scan. I would have preferred the less painful option lol.

They will hopefully put stents in as my hand is quite swollen and not emptying properly and am left handed so not good. Seem to be more chance after I had my pacemaker.

They didn't seemed too concerned about my metformin or warfarin, I will check thanks.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to mostin1973]

It is definitely worth checking. Whilst bleeding can be dealt with the contrast dye can react with the Metformin to cause lactic acidosis. This risk increases if serum creatinine is out of range. Let us know what they say and how it goes.

[mostin1973 in reply to MichaelJH]

Would you believe it they obviously had not looked at my medication and said oh no you should not take it on the day of the investigation and then Miss it for 2 days afterwards. Thanks for that I would have got down there and would have sent me back (if they had noticed of course lol). So much misinformation I am finding though.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to mostin1973]

Having multiple medical problems (Type I diabetes, PAD and CVD) it seems at times I have to project manage it because of ;ack of communication. Previously I have commented that a clinic/department often seem to be treating the condition rather than a patient. When I had a CT scan I was told about Metformin when in reality the issue was changing my insulin/eating around the timing of the scan. On two occasions now I have morphed from Type I to Type II!

You couldn't make it up could you?*!