Angiogram after effects

[Leythersrus1]

Hi I had my Angiogram in October. The consultant also did a blood flow test and did pressure test on heart. During this procedure I felt my bicep area feeling very tight. I still get pain in my right arm not all day but most days. Has anyone else experienced this?

[mikealford]

I had a couple of stents and afterwards i get pain in my wrist when i urinate. I believe it is possibly some form of nerve damage might be responsible, but it has improved over time. I'm just thankful im alive.

[Leythersrus1 in reply to mikealford]

Thanks very much for your response.

[Sunnie2day]

Mine was 20th November 2019. During mine close to the end I had pain in my forearm between elbow and wrist - afterwards my cardiologist told me I'd had an arterial spasm as they were withdrawing and it might be a couple of months before the ache went away.

I dealt with the ache by applying very warm facecloths to it, and light massaging. I thought about using Voltarol but the consultant said I'd use so much it might cause a problem with my beta blocker (Bisoprolol 1.25mg once a day). Glad to report the ache finally stopped the same time as the last of the bruises faded at five weeks after the procedure.

When do you see your consultant again? When you do, ask if you had a spasm or if the residual pain you're experiencing might be due to nerve damage.

[Leythersrus1 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Hi Thanks for your response. I see the consultant next week and sure will ask him. He didn't put any stents in because I was only on a small dose of Bisprolol. He put me on a Amlodopine as well.

This seems to be ok as I had reservations about BP dropping. I have been told by cardio nurse to walk about 20 to 30 mins a day to see if I get any reaction. So far so good. Small hills next.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Leythersrus1]

Small hills - well done you! I still can't face inclines or stairs and have been told not to even try until after further investigations (mid-March) and a consult booked for mid-April.

Have you been told what if any diagnosis the angio provided? My angio showed no blockages so no stents. The angina that prompted the angio continues (although much less now I've been on the Bisoprolol for the past nine months) so I'm waiting for a cardiac MRI to see if I have microvascular angina known as MVA ('stress' aka perfusion, I'm not looking forward to it except it will at least provide some better answers!).

You say you had a blood flow test - I had the same thing as you, I think - stress angio through my right wrist, and a 'right-heart study' at the same time through the femoral vein in my groin. All in it wasn't pleasant especially with the spasm but I did some answers - no blockages - which made for a very happy ride home!

Did you have sedation (anxiety and pain relief)? I was 'heavily sedated' for the angio and it took three days for the medications to wear off. I shamelessly begged for as much as they would give - I hate needles and the thought of those wires snaking through my arteries frankly gave me the shudders! I'm so very glad I had all that as it made recovery much easier the first few days.

[Hidden in reply to Sunnie2day]

I’m having a stress perfusion scan on the 11th Jan, after 2 clear angiograms, a clear stress echo, a clear CT scan and a partridge in a pear tree. If that’s clear... I give up 🙉

[Sunnie2day in reply to Hidden]

I know just what you mean! I keep thinking there simply is a point where short of a heart attack or cardiac arrest I'm going to ask the cardiologist to discharge me and go back to what got me through before all these 'further investigations' got started (April 2019).

It's not I'm blaming the medics or thinking they're missing something - it's more like whatever I have that's causing the angina is so off their charts they can't work out what it is. I appreciate they're willing to keep looking but I'm not keen on continuing to be a pin cushion if I'm not 'critical'.

Does that make sense?

[Prada47 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Hi Sunnie

It makes perfect sense as long as they have eliminated any Life Threating issues. It is a quite strong decision to say enough is enough, but I for one understand where you are coming from.

Take Care and Warmest Wishes for 2020

[Hidden in reply to Sunnie2day]

Yes perfect sense. I find after another ‘it’s clear’ diagnosis my angina really kicks up a notch. It’s almost like it hides during an investigation...It’s totally soul destroying, I’ve reflected on it for countless hours.... had numerous alternative explanations from various clinicians and still I’m at square one.

[Leythersrus1 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Hi yes I hope I can do the inclines. I was told I had a partial blockage in the LAD and a branch was blocked. Surprised he didn't stent he said he would in clinic. But was told that stenting isn't the only answer and try the extra meds first.

I was fully awake and aware of what was happening and he said I was wriggling my hand a lot. This was at the entry point on my wrist when you could feel his hand manouvering the wire.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Leythersrus1]

A recently published report found meds sometimes were a better option than stenting. Naturally now I can't find a link to the report or any of the newsfeed articles about it but the essentials of it (from memory reading it all) seemed to say lifestyle changes (exercise and diet) plus medication might result in a similar or even better outcome than placing stents.

It came out before my angio, my cardiologist and I talked about it and I decided if he found blockages and thought stents appropriate I wanted him to go ahead. He didn't find anything (seriously, in the recovery suite he was actually scratching his head as he told me ).

Are you on any kind of a cardiac rehab programme, or under instructions for self-directed rebuilding fitness?

[Leythersrus1 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Hi I have to do these short walks first then a referral to a 10 week cardio rehab will follow. The walking Is The easy part the change of diet isn't but working on it.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Leythersrus1]

I know what you mean about the walking being easy but the diet being a bit less so. Diet I've got down but only after years of practice. The hardest part was finding tasty substitutes - I've always been a 'cook-from-scratch' person but finding those substitutes and then adjusting recipes I've kept in my head for close to 50 years of being the chef was not easy at all!

It's the exercise that I'm finding a bit tricky. Walking on level ground just takes a good warm-up to keep the angina from happening. But the few other things I'm approved to do are harder to force myself to. Still, I keep at it.

Please keep us updated on how you're doing, especially what happens with your arm. And have a Happy New Year!

[Leythersrus1 in reply to Sunnie2day]

I will best wishes for 2020

[Leythersrus1 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Hi Sunnie2day

Update from visit to see consultant.

He checked out my sense is pulse muscle seemed ok. Not caused by Angiogram.

Told me to increase exercise and had increased Amlodopine to 10mg. I will go to GP to ask about aches in arm.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Leythersrus1]

It may sound counter-intuitive but increasing your exercise might sort some of the arm ache. Good idea, though, to talk to your GP about it now the consultant has ruled out any complications from the angiogram. All in it sounds like a great start to your 2020, thank-you for the update!

[Leythersrus1 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Hi Thanks. I'm mindful though of increase in Amloplodine. I'm sure I read on here about issues when the dosage increased. I will try and find the posting.