Strange question regarding stents - British Heart Fou...

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Strange question regarding stents

Mollie223 profile image
35 Replies

Hi just quick question I had an angio 3 weeks ago which was horrendous and I remember moving my legs from the pain I am having 2 stents tomorrow but worrying about moving my arm whilst it is being done. I did not look last time so just wondering is your arm secured so it cant move ? Or is it because its numb it cant move ? Silly question I know but cant stop worrying about it I remember being asked to hold something but surely when you are sedated you don't have to remember to keep arm still ?

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Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223
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35 Replies
Skybeacon profile image
Skybeacon

Hey Mollie223 .

Fear not. After having gone through virtually the exact same procedure 7 weeks ago, I felt almost nothing. The entry sight is treated with local anesthetic (ok, that hurt a little) and then I felt nothing and my leg was stationary and held securely in place during the procedure. It's going to be an easy procedure Mollie... you can do this standing on your head. :>)

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to Skybeacon

I hope so 🙏 thank you for replying I keep thinking this time tomorrow it will be over and the chances of things not going well again must be low

bee_bear profile image
bee_bear

Hi Mollie, I had my emergency angio and stent a few months ago. I was sedated enough that I didn't move the entire procedure (was about 45mins or so) and I distracted myself by watching them put the stent in on the monitor. I thought it was amazing and it was a handy bit of dissociation too!

It might be a good idea for you to explain your angio experience to them when they come to prepare you for going down to theatre. It might be that you need a wee bit more sedation or something.

It'll be over before you know it and hopefully the stents will make you feel a lot better when you've recovered.

Let us know how you get on. :)

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to bee_bear

Thank you for replying I am still worrying when I should be in bed. The consultant doing my stents tomorrow supervised the last angio so is aware of what happened and has already mentioned more sedation this time so hopefully it will not be as bad as last time I am switching between feeling positive and grateful to be having it done to crying ! Hopefully it will all go ok and I will be back on tomorrow evening

bee_bear profile image
bee_bear in reply to Mollie223

All perfectly reasonable responses! It's great that you have the same consultant, I hope that gives you some comfort. Wishing you well today. All the best

Herestous profile image
Herestous in reply to Mollie223

Hello MollieHow did you get on? Hope all went OK.

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to Herestous

All good 2 stents fitted no pain during or after totally different to first one thank you for asking

Plum53 profile image
Plum53

Hi Molly, lots of positive replies on stents, this may be me in 3 weeks if my blood test is ok. Like you a bit concerned but then they wouldn’t stent if wasn’t needed. Wishing you well very soon x

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to Plum53

Good luck let me know how you get on

VeggieKen profile image
VeggieKen

.Hi Molly,

I had a heart attack back in September, and had a very rushed emergency stent fitted to a collapsed right artery.

In October I had a planned angioplasty with 2 overlapping stents fitted to my left artery, which I have to say was a much more comfortable situation.

The feeling in your arm will be very low, and they will likely provide a sedation option which as my consultant said, would be like having a gin and tonic 🙂.

After this second surgery I felt much more able to recovery calmly, and within a few days felt like I could slowly get back to short walks.

You will be fine. I know this is a massive thing for you , as I is for us all, but just know that for the consultants, this is a standard operation, that they carry out daily.

See you on the other side

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop

Two angiograms, both through the wrist; one the morning after a heart attack with two stents fitted; didn't bother me in the least. I felt absolutely nothing ( and I have a fear of needles like canulas) but I did have a massive bruise on my arm after. They release the pressure bandage too early. Strangely for second one I was terrified and in tears. The nurses were brilliant and completely understood. I don't think I had extra sedation but again I felt absolutely nothing and didn't even have a pin prick mark where the canula was a I was in recovery before I knew it with a cup of tea and toast and back home having lunch by 1.30pm. My main worry was my spine because I have horrific pain and can't lie flat but they put supports under my knees. I know I didn't move but I don't know if that was because I couldn't or didn't need to. My only complaint was that they wouldn't let me watch the screens.

Survivor1952 profile image
Survivor1952

Angioplasty for me about a week after a silent HA (at least I'm told that is what had happened). Entry via my right wrist, two hour procedure, two stents placed, no pain but one heck of a bruise. I christened it my 'tribal tattoo'.

Quite fascinating watching the screen and then being shown the important bits afterwards before going back to the ward as I was kept in after my HA.

Felt a lot better almost immediately.

Collectone profile image
Collectone

Hi .I had a lot of pain in my lower arm during my angiogram .Naturally my instinct was to move my arm but knowing that guide wire was already in my survival instinct made sure I didn't move !!.I asked why it wa so painful and was told its because veins not used to having anything inserted in them .Wish I'd known before hand .I've heard a few people had the same pain and some don't.

Survivor1952 profile image
Survivor1952 in reply to Collectone

No pain but I could feel the catheter moving in my upper arm and, weirdly apparently, across my chest. Didn't bother me at all, I do seem to have quite high awareness of what my body is doing at times.

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to Collectone

That is more or less what they told me and that I had small veins and that the vein went into spasms I was not expecting pain which was what made it so frightening It was an intern doing the procedure and in end the consultant took over to get the wire out. The bruising was horrendous and felt like I had been run over by a bus. BUT yesterday was totally different no pain or even discomfort really no bruising and 2 stents successfully fitted it was the cardio consultant that did it and would say he was and is fantastic completely different to the first time

Collectone profile image
Collectone in reply to Mollie223

Oh thats reassured me as I am waiting for another angio and have been dreading the thought .

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to Collectone

Really hope this one goes better for you I was so scared walking into the room to get it done but honestly it was so much better than the first one totally different and pain free it really was

pasigal profile image
pasigal

My arm was very securely strapped down, and I was heavily sedated.

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to pasigal

I actually asked them to strap arm down as they were not going to !,it made them all chuckle but I felt better knowing I could not move it

JoziSA profile image
JoziSA

I had angioplasty and a stent through my right wrist. My arm did not move. The process was painless. I asked if I could view the screen and requested that they speak me through the process as it was happening. In fact I can say is was an amazing experience. Yes I initially had anxiety but that was short lived after the inserted the needle. I must admit I needed to pee and was concentrating not to pee myself or move, as it finished the nurse brought me a pee bottle and I was more relieved about that than that the procedure was finished. The nurse just said next time I must let know and they will make a plan.

Survivor1952 profile image
Survivor1952 in reply to JoziSA

Ah, I was given a strong diuretic beforehand. About half an hour in needed to go, asked for a bottle but it wasn't placed correctly - next thing is a puddle under the table 😂😂😂

JoziSA profile image
JoziSA in reply to Survivor1952

I went in for a angio and while I was on the table they asked permission to do everything immediately and did not get an opportunity to relieve myself.

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to JoziSA

Oh no!,not good

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to JoziSA

Not good I visited the loo just before going down

trafar profile image
trafar

I had two procedures on following a heart attack and two stents, this was it pleasant but not too bad had this in via my right arm they could not usethis arm for the second procedure a couple of days later so went in via my left hand and this was a horrible experience very painful (not sure why). This arms was tied up and secured due to the doc working from the other side. My arm was free for the first procedure. I did ask for more blankets fir the second as I shivered with cold during the first.

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to trafar

That sounds awful for you. I hope you are sorted and feeling better now and it is all just a distant memory!

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223

Back home safe and sound with 2stents much better than first one was awake and aware all through it and no pain at all all done in an hour or so I cannot believe the difference from the first one thank you for all your support you were all brilliant

bee_bear profile image
bee_bear in reply to Mollie223

Just came on to see if you had posted an update and I'm so happy for you that it went well! Onwards and upwards :)

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to bee_bear

Thank you

Wk67 profile image
Wk67

Brilliant! Well done.

Drummer20 profile image
Drummer20

They had my arm on a splint to keep it still when I had my angiogram.

Silvertail profile image
Silvertail

Oh goodness, what happened to cause that pain? I’ve had three with no pain at all except discomfort when they injected the local. I hope you have a pain free experience with your stents. Xx

Heather1957 profile image
Heather1957

From memory nothing to stop you moving your arms or legs.

I had 2 stents fitted in 2021 and the arteries had to be drilled and I found the experience very unpleasant and was kicking my legs up and down.

They just kept adding a sedative through my cannula and told me to keep still.

Mollie223 profile image
Mollie223 in reply to Heather1957

That must have been so scarey for you I think our bad experiences are not the norm but it does seem to vary a lot. As I had read others experiences of how it did not hurt it frightened me even more I honestly thought something had gone terribly wrong and I was going to die. Like you they kept telling me just to breathe which was not comforting at all. I found out after that my artery went into spasms so the intern could not get the wire out!,Anyway my experience yesterday was totally different No pain at all and everything went well I would not be worried if I had to have another one although I hope I never have one again !

andrew290171 profile image
andrew290171

I have had 2 angiograms and slight discomfort when the catheter went in but after that didn't feel a thing

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