angiogram coming up

[Dizzydory]

hello all you lovely people. I’ve been following your chats for some time and learned lots of good and interesting things from you. I’m just starting on my journey to get to the bottom of my new heart symptoms and am booked in for an angiogram next month. I’m quite concerned about this as I have reacted to the contrast dye when having 2 separate CT scans. It’s not an anaphylaxis reaction but I’ve had 2 different reactions. One where my blood pressure dropped and I got uncontrollably shakes while in the scanner and the second ( in a different hospital so they use different dye apparently) I had a vasovagal reaction. Has anyone else had these reactions to the dye? I’m going to speak to the cardiac nurse about it when she rings for my pre op but I just wanted to see if anyone else has been through this. I’m not too concerned about the angiogram otherwise as people on this site have spoken about it and I’ve found that quite reassuring.

[Weetabixie]

Hi Dizzydory, I haven't as far as I know had any reaction, sorry to hear you have had. I do wish you well with the upcoming angiogram. Maybe someone else will be able to reply when they see your post who has had similar experiences. Take care

[Dizzydory in reply to Weetabixie]

thank you for your reply Weetabixie. As I’ve not had any other replies I can only assume I’m on my own with this one. Fingers crossed it all goes well.

[cappachina]

Hi Dizzy Dory I am highly allergic to the dye which was discovered when I was first injected with it in 1992 which caused major panic with the docs and staff in theatre to get my blood pressure back up I then had the most horrendous rash for three weeks from head to toe and felt really ill When I was diagnosed with needing a new aortic valve they had to seek advice about whether I could have the dye and I was given 2 anti allergy drugs half an hour before the dye and angiography I was terrified the first time but I was fine no reaction at all I have had treatment with the dye twice more and again no reaction so speak to your Specialust re this

[Dizzydory in reply to cappachina]

Hi cappachina, thank you so much for replying. I was panicking thinking I’m the only one and was starting to worry they might cancel my angiogram. I too went bright red all over and super hot but thankfully it had disappeared by the next day. You obviously suffered for longer. I don’t suppose you know what the allergy drug was do you? I’m definitely going to speak to the cardiac nurse about it and now feel a bit more confident about the whole situation. Thank you for the reassurance it has helped calm my nerves.

[cappachina in reply to Dizzydory]

Hi the plan was to give me Cetirizine 10mg and prednisone 20mg and to use a different dye from Niopam which caused the reaction . I am assuming that is what was used as it was the Consultant Immunologist who decided that was the plan It is unusual but I have now heard of other people the same. If you have had a reaction twice before it should now be flagged up on your medical record but definitely discuss it with them Hope all goes well and please let us know

[Dizzydory in reply to cappachina]

Thank you for letting me know what worked for you. Hopefully the medical team can sort me out as well as your team did🤞🏻

[Dizzydory]

Thank you for your response, it’s nice knowing people are out there to support you when you need that bit of reassurance. When the cardiologist told me I needed to have the angiogram and also a loop recorder fitted I admit my anxiety levels went right up but I have been able to calm myself down purely from reading posts here. It seems the worst part is the wait to have these done.