So worried about ct scan tomorrow

[Snowboard]

I'm having a ct angiogram tomorrow. I'm not exactly worried about the actual procedure as it's just a scan but petrified about the potential diagnosis. I'm pretty certain I've got angina although my cardiologist says I'm low risk despite me having moderately raised bp, unusual ecg and a family history of cardiac disease ! I'm 54, never smoked and have run for years, I just never expected things to turn out like this so it's all a bit of a shock. Does angina necessarily mean stents and bypass or can it be successfully treated with meds long term ? I'm so worried I'll have 90% blocked arteries and just be sent away worrying I'll be living on a time bomb !

[84green]

Hi Snowboard.

Firstly, your anxiety is absolutely normal and shared by most who have to wait for results. As you rightly say, the procedure is very straightforward.

I would check when you can expect to get the results and then chase them up if delayed.

My report gave a pretty thorough and detailed report on the state of my arteries and heart so you will get plenty of information to discuss with your GP/ specialist.

I haven’t been diagnosed with angina. What makes you believe you have it in terms of symptoms. Others can probably commment better on angina than I can - I was told that, with the artery blockages I have, I “shouldn’t” have angina. I’m not sure whether it can be diagnosed via a CT scan. Have you had an exercise stress test?

In any event, my understanding is that even if angina is diagnosed a stent or bypass doesn’t automatically follow. In fact, research shows that medication and, if needed, lifestyle changes are as effective in treatment. Surgical intervention is only used for the most serious blockages or to help relieve symptoms if medication doesn’t work. There are a number of anti- angina medications available.

dicardiology.com/article/is...

Best wishes

[Hidden]

I had an angiogram not too long ago, and the resutls were given to me in printed form with pictures, as well as an explaination from the surgeon performing the aniogram. I found it to be an interesting experience and nothing to worry about.

My results were given to me with 2 hours of completion of the angiogram and before I was discharged. Whilst my results confirmed what ws mostly already known, my experience from the year or so of suffering heart failure (and this seems to apply to as any forms of heart failure as possible) is that they prefer to treat via medication and other 'non invasive' treatments as much as possible.

Given how much they know about the effects of medication etc - I would not be too fussed about it. Worrying is not going to change anything, where as knoweldge of your situation will help them get it managed and undercontrol asap and in a way that will keep your life as normal as it has ever been - that does seem to be the aim of Cardiology and Heart Clinics...

I wish you well with your outcome.

[Sunnie2day]

I had my angio (and a simultaneous right heart study) done in November - before I went in all I could think was 'OH NO!! I'm going to end up with multiple stents AND a quintuple by-pass, I just know it!!!!'. Oh my I worked myself into a proper panic - even though I'd watched the BHF angiogram video at least five times before the day.

Long story short - ask for all the 'anxiety reducing' meds they can give you (oh is that stuff magic, took three days to clear my system so it was absolutely the saving grace). Know that if they do find the worst (or even just a little 'worst') you are in the all-time best place. So much better to be in the presence of trained professionals having a look-in than to collapse in the street or at home.

My results were given to me right then and there - crystal clear arteries so the diagnosis is 'angina with normal coronaries'. Once the pandemic is over I will be investigated for microvascular angina.

Everyone is different - if they find 'something', again, you are in the best place in the world for them to have found it.

Please update once you feel up to it - LOL, it really did take three days for me to be able to form a coherent sentence after all the anxiety reducing meds they gave me.

[Manhattan1]

hiya.. i had a CT angiogram after being admitted with chest pain.. totally painless!.. just a weird warm flushing feeling as the dye was injected lol..Cardiologist came to my room about 2 hrs later.. result... mild/moderate furring of arteries..no angioplasty needed as artery blockage wasn’t serious enough... hurrah!! lol.. additional meds added to my evergrowing list lol... diagnosis of angina and ischaemic heart disease..Cardiologist said the meds i have are the best put together to protect me from a heart attack.. but she couldn’t state it would never happen.., as she put it.. ‘anyone no matter how fit could have a heart attack’

[Snowboard]

Thanks everyone ! It wasn't as bad as I expected. My partner kept on telling me 'its just a scan ' which it was ! I've got 'an issue' with anything cardiac as my dear dad had a cardiac arrest at 50, when I was about 11. I remember clearly the day it happened. Luckily he was in a/e and was very promptly resucitated, no real cardiac issues until his mid 70s and lived until he was 83 ! I also work in ICU so see the worst cases !

This was my 2nd attempt at the procedure, my heart rate was too high the first time (110) so the whole thing was cancelled. I was extremely nervous despite valium ! It had since been cancelled twice because of lockdown so I really had to get my act together. Cardiologist started me on ivabradine for a week before plus more valium ! This time the staff were much more reassuring, talked me through it, gave me time to settle down, they just seemed more determined to get it done.. In reality it was ok, yes the warm wee feeling and a bit of a headache but it was over in 30mins, the whirring of the magnet was wierdly hypnotic to be honest and I concentrated on that ! I've got to wait 2 weeks now but to be honest I feel less nervous. It is what it is as they say....thanks again for your kind words

[Gowers]

Glad to hear you managed to get the scan done. I didn't know due to a high rate - 110bpm you were unable to get it done previously - I would have thought?? it would still show up any defects & that Valium would slow down hr to give a false reading?? - do you know reason it couldn't be done? Would be interesting to have more information.

Yes, I remember the strange sensation when dye went in - made me feel quite sick but only briefly. I would imagine working in ICU & nursing others through difficult times would make you that bit more apprehensive. But, what a wonderful job you are doing - I remember the care my dad got in icu many years ago after surgery - the constant attention to detail was just amazing. Do hope your results will mean you will be able to be treated with the correct medication very soon. Do let us know how you get on

[Snowboard in reply to Gowers]

Thanks gowers ! Apparently hr needs to be around 60bpm so they can have a decent look at blood flow through the vessels. They give most people a beta blocker iv but it can only bring the heart rate down so much.

Quite common according to the technician to have tablets beforehand for a week or so.

I did notice that the place was much less busy so the radiologist had more time to chat and calm me down. The first time it was a bit like a conveyor belt.

[Gowers in reply to Snowboard]

Yes, I remember now reading that they often give beta blocker to slow down HR

[84green in reply to Snowboard]

Hi Snowboard. If it helps, I’ll share some of my experience of the process in case it’s useful to you.

I had an injection to lower heart rate and my mean heart rate in the report is shown as 62bpm. My normal resting heart rate is 55 - 65 so shows what stress can do!

As for results, mine showed “mild” stenosis in my proximal RCA and D1 artery. This is classified as 25 - 49% blockage. I also had “minimal” (1 - 24%)blockages in other parts of LAD, RCA and Lx. My cardiologist was content that this could be managed with medication (statin and aspirin) and lifestyle changes (diet and exercise). He also said that, in his experience, CT angiograms tend to over estimate blockages.

I did get an exercise stress test that was normal. This test, when positive, is apparently a very accurate predictor of ischaemic risk for heart events and angina.

On the basis of these tests I wouldn’t be recommended for an angiogram on the NHS - in the absence of other symptoms. Although an angiogram is the “gold standard” for diagnosis, it is invasive and carries some (very minor) risk and you’ll only be given one if it’s considered necessary.

Try and get sight of your report if you can. It gives a lot of information on the state of your arteries and heart.

Hope the results go well for you.

[Hidden]

Hi. I hope your results are favourable and if you do have angina it can be treated with meds. However, even if it is more serious its not the end of the world. I was 45 when I had my angiogram and found that that two of my coronary arteries were 90% blocked despite having exercised regularly and watched my weight and diet. Had a double heart bypass in Feb this year and while it does have a long recovery period I now feel so much better. I am out exercising daily and feel fitter and healthier than I have in years. Looking to the future now with a much more positive attitude than I was a year ago.

[Snowboard in reply to Hidden]

Thanks judge did you go straight to bypass then or have stents ?

[Hidden in reply to Snowboard]

Straight to bypass for me as the location of the blockages and my condition prevented them using stents unfortunatley. I was told immediately after the angiogram that I would require surgery so didn't have to wait. Was about four months from angiogram to my operation.

[Snowboard in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that. One more question ! Did they tell you there and then or did you have to see your cardiologist for the results ? If everything looked normal superficially would they have said something ? A colleague at work had one done, she didn't know the results at that point but intimated that it was normal so I wondered if they'd reassured her...

[Hidden in reply to Snowboard]

In my case they told me immediately (they actually told me while I was still in the angiogram theatre!) and after I had some time to absorb it in the recovery ward the cardiologist came and had a chat with me. It was apparently very obvious in my case what was required so they didn't need to spend time analysing the results.

[Gowers in reply to Hidden]

You were fortunate to have the surgery just before lockdown - but sounds like you had good after care

[Hidden]

I’m awaiting for a CT scan in the next few weeks, this week I suffered my second kidney stone in about five months. Also diagnosed with hypertension recently though god knows how long I’d actually been suffering. I’m hoping it’ll show something because I’m getting fed up of anxiety with it all.

[080311]

Hi Snowboard

I was in hospital already when I had my angiogram done my cardiologist who I saw daily did it, so while he was behind is visor! Was talking away about what he was seeing! So through the fog of the sedative was told I needed Aortic valve replaced and bypass! I suppose I have been very lucky the way it happened in a funny sort of way😊

Just seen your post was from 5 days ago so you must have had it by now hope everything was good.

Next month will be 4 years since my OHS and things are fine, so far so good!

Best wishes Pauline