Hi my hearties
I had my angiogram on Monday. I know I was a wreck at the thought of it
and I am grateful to all of you for giving me reassurance. I can say that the build up is worse than the actual procedure.I received a phone call today from the hospital to say my consultant now wants a c. t scan of my chest. No idea why.
My understanding is that an angiogram only shows up certain things. If these are negative, a different technique is necessary to diagnose your particular problem. I am no expert; can you contact your cardio department to get more details?I would say that it is good you are getting a thorough investigation.
Hello GardeningFlowers. I’m sending you all my positive vibes so that your test come out well!
Glad it went okay.
My first angiogram was not good. I was stressed out before it and had a headache from Hell after it which lasted for a few hours.
3 days afterwards I had a stroke, luckily it wasn’t major and although my eyes initially did their own thing and my balance was up the creek after a few days I was 95% fine.
I’ve had 2 more angiograms since, one where they fitted 2 stents and a further one to check things were okay.
I’m not so afraid now if I have to have another one.
My first was incredibly stressful, but now after having 3 others plus angioplasty, I actually look forward to them. Nothing like sticking a camera in your critical arteries.
Regarding the ct scan: not sure exactly what that would be. My follow up scans have been MRIs with contrast dye -- maybe that? I would ask if you can what the angio found, although if it had been dire they would have done stents and/or balloon angioplasty right away.
So glad it went well for you I bet you are relieved. The CT scan will be a breeze after the angiogram. I hope all your results are positive.Good luck.
Hello GF - It’s Sandra. I remember you were waiting for an appointment at Liverpool Heart Hospital. I was back there two weeks for two CT scans with dye which I understand is the ultimate in scans and needed for heart surgery. Waiting for results as cardiac secretary has gone on holiday. They explain everything to you when you are there and it was all over in minutes (I worried for days before). Hope it all goes well. Best wishes - Sandra
Hi Sandra. Yes I have been contacted by Liverpool hospital and once they have all my results from Leeds General infirmary then I will get an appointment. I haven't even met my consultant at Leeds. Saw a doctor who was standing in for mine. Only lasted for about 10 minutes. Very abrupt the way he just said okay you will have to have open heart surgery. Made my mind up for me to go to Liverpool as more options for minimally invasive surgery.
Hello GF - yes it’s the same reason I got a letter of referral from GP (who was reluctant) to Liverpool . I paid privately to see a surgeon who said I was suitable for robotic minimally invasive surgery. The CT scan by the way is like a large wheel that they put you through (you can see it online). Now it’s just the months of waiting in the queue until op - unless I can afford to pay. What happened to the NHS? Waiting is the worse thing. Might see you in there one day! Best wishes Sandra
Hi Sandra. I feel like I'm waiting for everything. Believe it or not Leeds General infirmary lost me in the system. Not good. I am hoping Liverpool not make me wait long. I have severe regurgitation. Hoping they can do minimally invasive on me to replace my valve. Don't know anything yet. Hope you are keeping well. How are you coping. I have terrible breathlessness and no energy. But I have spine issues too with severe pain. Hope things will improve. Best wishes liz😘
Hello Liz. Hope you are managing to keep cool. Who referred you to Liverpool? And was it to a specific surgeon. You could tell them or your GP that you are feeling worse. I have also found the cardiac secretaries (medical) to be very helpful. I rang them last week and was told I am booked in for a telephone call with surgeon re my CT scan. I would not have known this unless I had asked! As It is your heart they cannot ignore it. I was feeling pretty ill a month ago and ended up in A&E with arrhythmia. Yes I am tired and breathless. Spend a lot of time lying down. Back pain seems to be impossible to treat although there are pain patches which I keep forgetting to get. Anyway I am sure we will both get there in the end. (She said hopefully). Best wishes Sandra😊
Hi again Sandra. I chose Liverpool after reading about it and realised they h Ave a more advanced team. I contacted them myself and they said ask g. p to refer me. It was so simple and Liverpool offered me an appointment once they receive all my records. I have chronic back pain and am on morphine now.. Just hanging around now waiting. 😊Liz
Hello Liz, Hope the heat wasn’t too much for you and you aren’t any worse. Just wondering if you have managed to see the surgeon yet. Hope so! ☺️ Best wishes - Sandra
Hi Sandra. Nice to hear from you. I seem to be spending all my time chasing hospitals up. Liverpool are still waiting for Leeds to send all my records to them. Nobody seems to be in a hurry. I am OK. Just seem to be so lethargic and my breathlessness is a concern. Hope you are well. Best wishes liz. xxx
Hello LizPermanently tired is the norm. I haven’t heard from Liverpool either. Think they are all on holiday. Keep looking through my books and pictures hoping something is worth thousands so I can pay for op. Some hope there ! Are you on something for your breathlessness? Perhaps your GP could hurry things up for you? Best wishes - Sandra
Hi Sandra. Sorry for the late reply but as you can see I am having another late night. Mainly due to pain. I keep Saying that I wish I was rich enough to pay for the surgery too but no chance of that. I am concerned about the damage been done to my heart with all this waiting around. It seems wrong that if you can pay then they can do the surgery straight away but not on NHS. Hopefully we will reach our surgery soon. 😊Liz. X. Do you have the secretary's number. I have got it and have spoke to them twice this week.
Hello Liz - I think I upset them by asking PALS about the 8-12 months wait, although I may be getting a bit paranoid now. Are you seeing Modi? Sorry you are in pain. Back pain seems impossible to cure. Yes please, that telephone number would help.
Hi Sandra. I hope you get some good news from Harefield. How did they get your referral for surgery if you don't mind me asking. I never imagined that we would have to do all this chasing the hospitals for the surgery. How long have you been waiting. Here is the number for Liverpool it is the department that deals only with the appointments with consultants. I am under MODI too. Good luck with contacting them.0151 254 3351.They were helpful with me. Liz❤️
Hello Liz- Thanks for reply. Things kept changing as they did more heart tests at original hospital. I was told a mitral clip would be best because of the other things wrong so decided to pay for 2nd opinion from Modi. He said I was fine for repair not Clip. (This took a year from diagnosis.) the Cardiologist at my Hospital however referred me to Oxford for Clip. (Sorry it goes on a bit). He had originally said he would contact Harefield for a repair but didn’t. Modi sent copy of all notes to cardiologist at Harefield because he thought that I had been referred there and he might be able to do it quicker. I gave up really but an appt came through by text this morning. I won’t know how long op will be until I have spoken to Consultant at Harefield . Phew!! Did you talk to Maria at Liverpool on that tel no? Sorry I tried to make this as short as possible. Sandra ❤️
Hello Liz - Hope your back pain is better. I thought I would let you know that I have received a text today from Harefield Hospital offering me a telephone appointment in early September. So have relaxed a bit now. Hope you hear soon as well. Best regards - Sandra❤️
hello Liz -How is it going? Have you seen the surgeon at Liverpool yet? I have had a pre-op appt at Harefield but they said it won’t be this side of Xmas. Regards Sandra
Hi Sandra. Once again sorry for the late reply. It's been a stressful few months to be honest. Nothing seems to be straightforward. I had a routine full blood panel done and I have high white cell count so ohs is out of the question due to risk of bleeding out. I have been put under haematology unit and they are wanting to do bone marrow extraction to test. I have seen cardiologist and I have to have valve replacement by tavi procedure. I am having a ct scan with contrast this Friday and fingers crossed I will see surgeon. I am sticking with LGI as I am further up the list there and I have had enough waiting around. I have made decision to put off haematology tests till after my valve surgery as I don't feel able to deal with it right now. Sorry to hear about your wait now. I will let you know how I get on and I bet I will be told like you that I am on another waiting list. 😕Lovely to hear from you
hello Liz- so sorry to hear about your white blood count. I know sometimes it can caused by high stress. I think all the procedures and going in and out of hospitals seems to make everything worse. I think I have had everything done now including CT scan with contrast (it wasn’t as bad as I thought) I had to look up TAVI and it does seem to mean no OHS. I hope everything starts to quicken up for you now. The more we wait the worse the stress. Take care and let me know how things are going ❤️Sandra
They gave me so much sedative it was like I was floating because it got stuck when they were putting it in . He nearly had to give up he asked if I was ok which I was at the time
So glad it wasn't as bad as you expected. MY first didn't bother me at all; I'd had a heart attack so I was relieved to get it done next day but I admit I was far more nervous the second time. Stupid really but he nurses were great and I didn't even have a tiny bruise.
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