ANGIOGRAM FROM START TO FINISH HERES WHAT TO EXPECT.

[hf54]

Hello all -I’ve seen many posts asking what happens during an angiogram and how did it go, I had mine yesterday so I will tell you the full story / abbreviated as there is a lot of information. first thing I would say is there is virtually nothing to worry about and the procedure is fast, efficient and the level of service /attendance I received was 2nd to none.

They ask you to arrive at 8:15 and I got there at 7:30 am yesterday Tuesday, the 3rd of March. I don’t know if it was coincidence but I was 2nd to have the procedure done. They take everybody into a ward and you change into a gown At this point you can leave your underwear on. They come round and explain the procedure to you again and you sign consent forms. At the appropriate time with the accompaniment of the nurses you walk /trolley into the angiogram room (Next door) which is absolutely State of the art in our hospital -I wouldn’t like to put a price on all the equipment. There were approximately six nurses on the ward and a further six separate nurses/clinicians plus the senior cardiologist performing the angiogram. I felt completely safe and incredibly well attended to. The room is cold for deliberate purposes but they cover you with a blanket. You don’t need to do anything you can look at a mural on the ceiling you never see the thing go inside your artery, nothing .When they go in the sensation is just like somebody pressing down on your wrist too hard perhaps with a small coin then there is a tingling sensation around your hand which I will describe as unpleasant but certainly not severe pain or anything like that. The procedure is over in about 20 minutes. Then they wheel you back into the ward next door.

Tea and sandwiches followed within half an hour which were well received in my case! 1st cup of tea I’ve been able to drink for four months and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Who says hospital tea is bad! in These days of modern technology they use a strange looking clear plastic band on your wrist at the original entry point which is inflated with air to stop any bleeding. Every 15 minutes the nurse comes round to check your pulse and blood pressure And to remove some of the air which is done over a period of around an hour I would say. After around two hours its removed.

After a further couple of hours my friend took me home.

If anyone is worried about bleeding and there is any problem they can keep you there overnight but I must stress this is perhaps only for people with pre-existing problems or on blood thinning medication and even then it’s only in certain circumstances. I was explained clearly that if A bleed started it will be very slow I could call the ambulance and I would attend to me in my home. No Hollywood movie stuff here! I’ve had absolutely no issues with the entry site.

As regards those worried about dying during the procedure (!) I did make some enquiries -in approximately 10 years at my hospital where they done thousands upon thousands of these procedures three people approximately have died. All were extremely old and at least one or two of them had already had strokes/serious medical conditions. They had to have this procedure anyway because they were so ill so for the enormous majority of the population there is nothing to worry about..

I hope my post helps clarify that this is a very professionally done standardised procedure .

Finally myself?? All my Coronary arteries are in great shapeAnd there is no other abnormality that showed itself during the angiogram. HOORAY Being hooked up to a blood pressure machine for most of the day also gave me a chance to observe my heart rate and blood pressure which combined with the medication is falling now – a very good sign, my cardiologist is very pleased with the progress i am making. I would just like to use this point to thank everybody on the forum who have produced many useful testimonials that I and hundreds of other users Have used. Wishing you all the best of outcomes.

[Brokenheart19]

Thank you for this! I had mine as an emergency in May last year. My mother has to have one next week and had been fretting despite me telling her it’s virtually pain free. I’ve forwarded her the text of your post so she can be armed with information. 🤗

[hf54 in reply to Brokenheart19]

That’s great news I’ve received so much help and encouragement from the forum myself-nice to give something back!

[Hidden]

I’m pleased everything went well, I found my experience pretty much the same as yours, nothing at all to be frightened off 😉

[hf54 in reply to Hidden]

I know many people have unnatural fear of a lot of things. I hope I can help in some way. Sometimes with other things such as medicines this can be bizarre-people will eat a terrible diet drink too much eat lots of junk food but blame medicines for all their woes !

[Dovaston]

I am pleased that your experience was as good as you say. However that is not to say that is the norm. My own experience of 3 Angiograms is vastly different to yours !

[hf54 in reply to Dovaston]

No I accept there are people who will have problems as far as I’m aware the vast majority of people passed through without problems but you are definitely right when you say some will have to have it done more than once.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Dovaston]

Via the groin is a bit different. Bleeding took rather longer to stop.

[hf54 in reply to MichaelJH]

A guy next to me had to have his done through the groin – took a little longer but he responded very well

[hf54 in reply to Dovaston]

It is the norm but sadly there are some people for him to proceed it doesn’t go as well, but still gets completed there were two from the last 10 when I was in hospital-one of these was a very elderly patient and the other had to be gone through the groin but the procedure was still completed

[080311]

Had mine as an emergency taken from the cardiac ward in the hospital to have it done, no pain at all as you say state of the art equipment looked like something from the Star ship Enterprise! Wrist band with a little window in it to make sure there was no bleed. But seeing I was in the hospital anyway the nurses kept checking on me.

[AndyD]

Given the choice of a filling or angio I would opt for the latter every time!!

[Hidden]

Great overview of the angiogram procedure! My experience almost the same but I did get a pounding headache afterwards due to the vasodilators they put into you although normal painkillers took the edge off it.

Glad to hear you had such a good result, sadly my angiogram showed I needed bypass surgery but the consultant performing the procedure was excellent at explaining the situation and answering my questions.

[Brokenheart19]

My mum says thank you too! She says she’s not worrying but I know it’s the fear of the unknown. This forum has supported me too; after my HA last year the medication, recovery and rehab advice was amazing.

[bantam12]

I'm glad your angio went well but everyone's experience is different so taking one positive report doesn't mean that's the norm.

My experience and that of my husband were very different !