angiogram fear

[BlueTosca]

Hi,

I’m having an angiogram tomorrow through the right wrist. I have worked myself up into a state of terror.

Realise this is because I’m not completely sure what will happen.

Well, I feel the catheter going throughout my body?

Why is the point of entry so bad?

I’m a right-handed amateur artist and scared of damage to my right hand. How long after the angiogram, can you use your hand again?

I would love the sedation, don’t react well to it and often fight. I have had a pacemaker fitted and had to have it without sedation. But staff talk to me all the time to distract me, and it really helped..

I have bad shoulders, and I’m not sure I can hold my arms above my head for the required time. Are your arms outstretched?

Any thoughts or advice would be great.

Cheers

[ChoochSiesta]

I have had 2, you need not worry. It didn't affect my hand function at all. During the operation you just sit normally on a bed. It's a bit cold so wear a thick jumper or something. I didn't feel the catheter at all. As you say, the worst bit is them getting entry into your wrist but once that's done the rest will be a doddle!

[BlueTosca in reply to ChoochSiesta]

Thank you so much. You’ve calmed me down. And I will take a thick sweater.

[alvariam in reply to ChoochSiesta]

Do not worry, I had one 3 years ago and did not feel a thing. No damage to the wrist and home within a couple of hours after.

[BlueTosca in reply to alvariam]

Thank you SO much. Phew!

[Qualipop in reply to ChoochSiesta]

Sitting on a bed? I had to lie flat on what was like a hard trolley.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

The team who will carry out your procedure will no doubt have carried out scores, if not identical procedures before, so are fully competent. Apart from waiting for your turn to go into the angiogram room the whole thing takes about 30 mins unless you require stenting which will take longer. You may be mildly sedated, you may not, but you don't feel much. And after the procedure the team will make sure the insertion site has stopped bleeding and after about an hour or so when the team assess you to be OK to discharge you will be allowed to leave. Also during this time you may get a visit from the cardiologist to explain what they have found. The insertion site may be sore for a few days and you may get a small lump during this period but after a week you will have mostly forgotten all about it. Hope all goes well

[BlueTosca in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thank you so much for the information and the good wishes. Just so reassuring .

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to BlueTosca]

Just add you may not be allowed to drive for 24 hours so will need to arrange to be picked up. And if you are stented that is at least a week of no driving per the DVLA requirements.

[BlueTosca in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Ok - good to know

[Maninthemirtor]

Hi

I was listed for one, but didn't need to have it I was told while waiting to go in.

As far as I understand, you don't feel anything, maybe a bit of pressure, and I think your arms are by your side.

Hope all goes well. Sorry if you have already had it, couldn't get on this site for a couple of weeks.

[BlueTosca in reply to Maninthemirtor]

Thank you for your kind message. Just to let you know that I only posted today, so you’re up to date.

[Qualipop]

Don't worry. I've had two;the first after a heart attack, the second to check other blockages. The first I didn't feel a thing at all. I had sedation, was full aware of what was happening but didn't care. The room is chilly and the bed hard and that was the only bad bit oh and they wouldn't let me watch the screens that showed what they we re doing. I was annoyed.. A simple needle into your wrist- no damage. Afterwards they put a pressure bandage on your wrist until all possible bleeding has stopped then they release it slowly. MIne was released a b it early so I had a massive bruise from wrist to elbow. The second one I didn't even have a pin prick mark on my wrist. Then into the recovery room and given tea and toast. I went in for 9am and was home having lunch by 1pm and that's with an hours drive back.I don't know why but having already had one with no problems I was scared to death about the second one . The nurses are great and do understand. The second was even easier than the first.

[BlueTosca]

Thank you. Got some reason I had only heard about difficult ones. You’re reply has really helped.

[baffle]

Had a stent fitted in my LAD August 11th its totally painless, but make shure you keep your socks on lol it is a bit chilly, doctors and nurses doing it are very highly trained, and are very reassuring, they do procedures constantly, you will be in good hands,

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I am the most anxious person anyone comes across and my first attempt at having an angiogram could not happen as I got myself in such a state they said it would have been to dangerous

But the second attempt I had support and managed it

I had mine done through my wrist and all I remember is a feeling like something like a shoe horn been banged not painful at all but that sensation but it really did not bother me

I did not feel a thing after that until the dye went through and of course most know it can give you that sensation that you have wet yourself when you have not and only again lasts a few seconds

Next minute even though I know it took longer but the Nurses had been distracting me talking about anything and everything it was over

They keep you in an hour or so to check how you are toast and tea check BP etc and then you are told you can go

Maybe a couple of days do not over do it but my wrist was fine and if I could paint I know I would have been fine to do so as I could not tell they had done anything

All I can say is if I managed to have it done and replying to you that it is nothing to worry about then it really is not as I worry about everything

Good Luck and let us know how you get on x

[BlueTosca in reply to BeKind28-]

Hello be kind28. I am beginning to calm down thanks to all of the great replies that I have had on this site, including yours. I am so grateful as I was in some state.

Thank you and I will let you know how I am.

Best wishes

[BeKind28- in reply to BlueTosca]

Hello

I am pleased your replies have helped you to feel calmer

Let them know when you get there how anxious you feel and hey will take real good care of you

I am looking forward to reading you have had it done and as I did wondered why you got worked up so much which sometimes I think it is down to the unknown when we do not know it can cause anxiety but so many of us have had this done and we are all saying the same it is not bad at all you are going to be fine x

[Weetabixie]

Hi Blue Tosca, I had 2 angioplasty and stent fitted, 1st was in Hospital after nstemi, they were unable to go through the wrists as incurred some problems there so eventually through groin, it took a little longer due to attempting both wrists. But once they went through right groin all went smoothly, you feel a little sensation as they make tiny incision for wire, they sedate you and give pain relief so hardly anything is felt apart from the sensation of briefly feeling like you wet yourself for a few seconds from the dye. The second time no problem and even asked would I like some music and played my favourite artist, Elvis, and they kept the screens away from me too. I am a very anxious person though. They then put like a padded cuff with air pressure on where the entry point of angiogram wire was and every so often release some air until it's taken off. Then a slice of toast and a a cuppa and home. Put it this way I'm more scared of the dentist visits, weird I know but true.Best of luck for it tomorrow and please come back and let us all now know how you get on 🤞

[BlueTosca in reply to Weetabixie]

Thank you Weetabixie,

Your words are very helpful. I share your fear of the dentist, but that observation puts it into perspective.

[Lmcroy]

hello

I have had two angioplasty after 2 heart attacks. I did not feel any pain entering the vein and the consultant was holding my arm in place at my side. The procedure is very quick and full recovery after a couple of hours. A wee tiny dot on my wrist.

Hope it goes well and please do not worry you are in safe hands.

[BlueTosca]

To everyone who was kind enough to reply to me I had my angiogram yesterday, but it was a CT angiogram and not the traditional one!!

The letter from the hospital did not really make this clear. I thought an angiogram was just an angiogram. Who knew? Certainly not me!

The first real hint I got was when they started to put the cannula into the area around my elbow and I queried this.

we then had a discussion and it was revealed to me that I was getting a non-invasive angiogram. I was jumping for joy.

Apparently the CT angiogram is going to take over from the standard one as the first procedure. But stenting cannot be done at the same time.

From arriving to finish was an hour and a half, with the time in the CT scanner( doughnut) being five minutes. It was a bit of a traumatic mainly because I had to have a tablet of Nitrolingual under my tongue. I react badly to this and had a searing headache within seconds.

From all of your kind information, I had prepared to be cold, but the die, which is injected twice, produces waves of heat and a feeling that you have wet yourself, which passes off quickly.

The headache passed off in two hours and the recovery time is, it is almost immediate.

I could drive straight away.

I’m still very grateful for everyone who took the time to write to me, because I arrived in a much state, and I have been in the day before.

Thank you for your help