I was asked to share my recent experience of undergoing an angiogram.
I attended the Royal Glamorgan hospital in South Wales, it was an early start and had to be there for 8.00 a.m.
I was greeted by a member of staff and was welcomed onto the ward, it is a small unit and has 4 beds, I was first to be admitted and was joined by another 3 people.
The staff were friendly and very reassuring over the procedure and what would happen pre op and recovery.
I was first into the theatre where again I was greeted by the team and each member told me their role and name.
One surprise I was asked what my favourite music was and told them some sort of rock would go down well, to which I was wheeled in to smoke on the water.
The procedure was straightforward local anaesthetic was applied to my right wrist, as I was on my back I couldn’t see what the surgeon was performing, however I felt nothing, the only piece of equipment I was aware of was the X Ray monitor which moves around in front of your chest, after around 20 minutes a inflatable plastic cuff was placed over the wound and I was taken back up to the ward for the recovery, at no time did I experience any pain or discomfort.
Back on the ward I was offered a cup and tea and biscuits, I was not allowed to lift anything and I was monitored continually for vital signs, the pressure from the plastic cuff was gradually released, they like you to drink a couple of jugs of water this is to flush out the dye they use in the procedure.
I spent a couple of hours on the ward, was fed some sandwiches and plenty of tea.
The doctor who carried out the examination came around and gave me the result.
I have to say to anyone who has to have or knows of anyone having to have angiogram then there is nothing to worry about,
As for me and it was Friday the 13th, I have been diagnosed with narrowing of the arteries on one side of my heart, so my story continues as I await a decision of whether I require a bypass or stents.