Angiogram!

[Nnanny]

Angiogram, I had my angiogram today, and it wasn’t straight forward! The doctor came round and was very reassuring and I asked him about sedation,as I was having two procedures done,he said that would be okay, I knew it was to be one in my wrist to look at my arteries and one in my groin to look at my valves.

When I got up to the Cath lab the doctor who was doing the one for valves said they don’t really do sedation for this because it didn’t give a true reading of chest pain, He was the senior consultant ,he knew I wasn’t happy about it,so he said he would go ahead and if I really needed it he would give me a little!

The catheter in my wrist was no bother at all,but he had trouble getting one in my groin and had two attempts,it was really uncomfortable and not very pleasant.He did allow 1:25 of sedation which helped a little but it only made it bearable.

The result is that my arteries are clear enough for me to stop Clopidogrel and he thought a lot of my problem is that my blood pressure isn’t well controlled,so he has adjusted my medication.He said I have a leaky valve but on what he say today he doesn’t think anything needs to be done yet.

He said my heart is “ stiff”

and when I asked if that meant damaged he showed me his hand with fingers flexing,but he said my heart was not so flexible! He is arranging a CT of my heart in about 3 months and I have just got to wait and see if better blood pressure control helps.

I am a bit confused by it all but at least if I ever have to be admitted again we at least have a starting point.

[Hidden]

Hello

I am sorry it was not as straightforward as in most cases especially the groin one but you did it and got the results so feel good about yourself

It is a good that your arteries look ok another positive

Now I had a triple Bypass and last week my Doctor heard a murmur when she was listening to my heart and it got me in a right state so yesterday I went to see my surgeon

She explained the murmur was from a slight valve that was leaking that they knew I had before and after the Bypass op but because it was only slight there was no need to do anything about it

She also said that at least 3% of the population will have a slight leaking valve but if they stay that way they never know and it causes them no harm and she suspects especially as she literally had my heart in her hand that mine will

So you could possibly have a slight leak in a valve and if so they will not need to do anything other than maybe keep an eye on it now and again that it stays the same so this could be another positive

The third thing I am not sure about but others will be when they read your post but the CT scan will tell them more and stay positive that all the other things are good so this could very well be to

And of course as you say you now have a starting point even though I hope you do not get admitted again getting the angiogram out the way they know what is happening if you did

Even though a bad start it sounds it has been very helpful having it done and hopefully you are a little reassured , I would be

Till you have the CT scan done and I know it is not easy as I am very bad at doing this but don't over think things , they let you back out and if they had seen anything really needing attention you would have still been in there

Try and have a relaxing evening x

[Nnanny in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I am glad it’s been done and the results were good, I hope increasing medication is the answer, I am so thankful that my arteries are ok, I know I ha a lot to be thankful for and like most people tend to overthink! I will try not to think about a “stiff heart” Best wishes

Nnanny

[Hidden in reply to Nnanny]

x

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

It sounds a pretty encouraging outcome …….they are not so concerned about the valve, and now your BP will be under control.A shame they had such difficulty with the groin access. I know how painful that can be when they try and try again. My last one was pretty sore for a while afterwards.

Perhaps try and relax for the next three months. If you can. You are off Clopidogrel, on the BP treatment you need, and your leaky valve is not requiring specific attention.

But they did order a CAT scan. Can you remember why?

[Nnanny in reply to Kristin1812]

Thank you, I am pleased with the result but he said what he found didn’t explain my breathlessness ,so I imagine that would be the reason for the CT .

We just have to trust in their judgment.

I feel more reassured now. I have never smoked and there is strong family history of heart disease .