Hello im new on here. Feeling very scared as I have to have an angiogram to confirm coronary heart disease.Has anyone experience of an angiogram?
Thanks feeling very alone right now. I don't want to upset my family and my cardiologist is very unhelpful and won't see me face to face. I'm waiting for a date for the angiogram
Nothing to be scared of. It involves passing a very thin catheter along a blood vessel.
The entry point is either the wrist or groin. Mine was in my right wrist. It’s done with a local anaesthetic, you’re conscious all the time, it doesn’t hurt, might get a slight tickling sensation though. It usually takes an hour or so, mine was two hours as they placed two stents. Worst part is keeping still.
I understand most folk have it done as an outpatient and they have to stay in recovery for about 4 hours. Mine was as an inpatient and, for unconnected reasons, I was in for 32 days after mine.
You’ll probably have a spectacular bruise, I christened mine my tribal tattoo.
Hi - guessing You've been diagnosed with angina and sent on your way with bag of meds to take whilst waiting for further tests. I can empathize with your fear... I was in your shoes this time last year. I was in complete denial that I could possibly have CHD, and even declined the angiogram - initially anyway! To be honest there isn't much the cardiologist will be able to tell you until after the angiogram that is the gold standard for diagnosis, without it the Drs or cardio specialist nurses can only go on symptoms and the vague information provided on ECG. It's a scary time- waiting is the worst bit, but the angiogram itself is straightforward. The British Heart Foundation help line nurses are brilliant - well worth giving them a call to chat through all your worries.
I had two angiography last year. There is nothing to worry about. The catheter room is cold. You lie in the bed. Staff introduced themselves to me. You will have a cannula in your arm where they introduce the drug (sorry can't remember your name) which for a few seconds makes you feel you have wet yourself. They will numb your wrist and introduce the wire, you might feel a little tugging as it goes up to your arteries. If they find a blockage they may stent. If you feel a bit nervous you can ask for a bit of sedation. The staff monitor you and at the end of the procedure you will have a pressure band put on your wrist, which when you get back to the ward staff will gradually loosen. I got a cup of tea and some toast when back in ward. I had a second agiogram as I agreed to take part in a trial as my LAD was completely blocked and I would have had to wait 6 to 7 months to get a stent. The only downside was the horrendous bruise
I'm so sorry you've been through so much and hope your health is more stable now?Thanks for reassuring me x
Hi,
The duration of the angiogram depends on whether they find something or not. I’m my case, they found nothing so it lasted 10 minutes. I was very nervous but it only hurt when they placed the catheter in my wrist, didn’t feel anything after that.
Good luck with yours!
Thanks 😊 x
That was me too. No problem apart from the pain where it went into my wrist. Bloody excruciating. I apologised for my fidgeting. He said "Don't apologise. But don't fidget! The kit I have in your heart is going through there!!" I had another angiogram 18 months later and that time I asked them to go a bit heavier on the anaesthetic at the wrist. Didn't feel a thing that time.
Hello 
I was petrified of having an angiogram and the first one never happened as I got in such a state
They knew then just how anxious I was so please let them know you feel very anxious if when you are due to have it you still do you can have a sedative which helps just feels like you have had a couple of drinks which is quite a nice feeling
The Nurses are very supportive to especially again if you let them know how you feel
The room is quite cold so just expect that but before you know it they will have you with a cup of tea and then saying you can go home it really is not as bad as we let our imaginations tell us it will be and from someone that has severe anxiety saying that it really cannot be bad at all
Please talk with your family you could do with their support and I am sure they would want to help you get through this
If you want to ask any more about it just ask and we will do our best to answer
Let us know how you get on x
I was told after ECG's that at some point I had had a silent heart attack. As I am on Warfarin and have other medical conditions, they wanted to avoid an angiogram as it came with higher risks, but after several different types of scans they decided they had to do it. The procedure is as previously outlined and to be honest I didn't feel anything at all. Sadly it didn't last long as he told me I would need a triple by pass. Stayed around 4 hours with the band which is to ensure your artery doesn't burst open. Should have had the surgery on the 30th November but postponed due to a bowel infection.
Hello
I think you may have pressed my user name to reply to the poster even though they will still see it
I am so sorry though to read what you have been through
I had to have a triple Bypass to and to be honest it was nothing as bad as I thought it would be so it is awful yours had to be delayed because of the infection you got but they will get it done soon and I hope you will let us know how you get on x
Sorry about that. I am pretty new to this.😃
Hi Nicky, Ive had two the thought of them is much worse than the procedure, mines was done in the wrist I was given sedation never felt anything
Nothing to worry about as far as the procedure goes. I had it in my wrist and didn't feel anything apart from the odd little tug now and again. Due to the results I ended up staying in for a month and having a bypass. I do remember it being cold in the theatre for some reason. Good luck and try not to worry, you will be well looked after
Hi, I have had two , last one in March as said previously only bit of discomfort is when they put the cannula in the wrist, after that was fine and over quickly. I am going in hospital on Monday to have a pressure wire test and if needed a stent . I think that is like angiogram but takes longer especially if stents needed. I feel a bit apprehensive about that but just hope it all goes well and is soon over . You will be fine x
You have nothing to worry about , the only discomfort is when they insert the probe . Before you know it , it will be over, stents are already inserted on the prove and if needed are put in situ. Just think positive thoughts and remember you're being treated by very experienced people . Wish you well.
I had an angiogram in July & can say it was a painless procedure. I was given a sedative, so I was pretty chilled through it. Half an hour later I was having tea & toast. It's natural to worry, but that's usually the worst part. Hope you get your date soon & you're ok xx
I agree that the angiogram isn’t something itself to generally worry about although like any invasive procedure it carries risks which they will advise you of. My experience is that a CT scan showed I had mild plaque burden while an angiogram pre surgery said no plaque. My understanding is that the methods and procedures examine the same arteries but do this differently. Hence the difference in the results.
I know you will be nervous as it is fear of the unknown and also of what they may find!! The coronary angiogram really is the only way for the experts to be able to see exactly what is going on in your heart. I've had 2 angiograms, and unfortunately for me the sedative did not work and the procedure was very uncomfortable. I has mine dine in an old hospital too with staff that were clearly burned out!! Hopefully your experience will be better and you will have peace of mind once you know what is wrong. I had stents but after 15 months they collapsed and I jad a double cabg in January and I feel amazing now. I wish you all the best.
Hey Nicky678I had an angiogram as they were convinced I had CHD.
I was absolutely petrified as have a phobia of needles, viens and blood.
I told everyone this and was sedated and I was actually fine.
It was the build up and fear of the unknown that was the worst thing about it.
Now in order to have sedation they do need to put a cannula in the other arm or hand so be prepared for that. (This for me was actually worse than the angiogram ).
They are all very professional and it will be very quick and you honestly have no pain.
Its a very small incision.
I had mine on Halloween this year if you want to know anything more about the proceedure please let me know.
I didn't have any blockage and am now awaiting an MRI to see what else could of caused my Heart Attack.
Hello, Don't be worrying. There is nothing to it. I had one in 2021.
I had my angiogram a few months ago, found the process very interesting, and almost pain free. I was able to view the screen and see my heart with the wire moving through the artery, I think that helped a lot, as well as the confirmation the my arteries were pretty clear. Only real discomfort was the collar on the wrist which was gradually loosened over the day - and there is only a faint mark left as a reminder of the procedure.
It was a very easy procedure and mine was done through the wrist, please try not to stress too much, and most of the time if they do find something they can fix it while they are doing the procedure.
If you use the search box you will find hundreds of posts about angiograms. 99% of them will say they are nothing at all to worry about. I've had two; the first after a heart attack was absolutely fine. I felt nothing at all but did have bad bruising up my arm because they released the pressure bandage too early. YOu are given a medicine to make your blood less likely to clot then they fit a canula into your hand. That's the worst bit by far. YOu are wheeled on a trolley into the lab which has lots of monitors. (and it's quite cold in there)Some people are lucky enough to be allowed to watch as they run a fine wire through your arteries. YOu will be sedated and shouldn't feel anything. If a stent is necessary or possible, it may be put in right away or you may be asked to go back for one. Afterwards you have a pressure bandage on your wrist in the recovery room. It is slowly released to make sure you are not bleeding then it's a cup of tea and toast and home. They will tell you right away what they found or did. Because of the sedation you must not drive that day so someone will have to take you. I went in for 9am and was home an hour away having lunch by 1.30pm. They are usually done through the arm but can sometimes be through the groin.
Hi Nicky678...When I had mine, I found the whole process fascinating..watching the screen as the wire is passed into the heart...unfortunately I couldn't have a stent, so on Christmas eve 2019 i had a bypass...but the whole procedure really wasn't anything to worry about...🙏
Don't worry about it. You feel nothing in your chest. In fact, if you aren't squeamish it's absolutely fascinating. If you want to, you can watch the probe on the screen as it moves through your arteries. I watched a stent being placed in my right coronary artery. Science fiction stuff!!
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