My experience yesterday for my coronary angiogram.

[Gooner1947]

Got there about 8.25am. They do the "angiograms" first they told me and I was first up.There was a nice atmosphere in there too. Everyone friendly. The cardiologist and radiographer doing procedure came for a short chat. I did opt to have the sedation.

They the usual stuff before. BP ,pulse. Took some blood. Put in a canula.

No one allowed to come in with you.

My procedure started about 9.45am ish.

Walked to the table you lay down on. There is a pillow.

I felt relatively comfortable and relaxed. Must've been the sedation as I was very very apprehensive about it. I'm pretty sure they sensed that.

The cardiologist told me when he was putting something in my wrist. No pain whatsoever.

Didn't really feel anything after that.

Some sort of xray thing hovers above but I did not find it intrusive.

In fact I was taken by surprise when a nurse came and told me it was all over.

The radiographer (maroon uniform) spoke to me whilst I was still on table and mentioned no real blockages as such were found and anything thst was there will be sorted by medication I'm taking. Apixaban and simvestatin.

I was helped off the table and actually walked back to the large armchair. Procedure took about 25 mins or so. Wasn't long.

During time in armchair BP etc is monitored regularly. You'll get a cup of tea and biscuits.

Cardiologist came for a quick chat to explain what happens next.

With me all results go to the Cardiff TAVI "team" for them to discuss when, where etc TAVI will be.

I probably left about 10.30am. My wife and daughter met me outside.

So I'm into another waiting mode but so pleased this procedure is over

[PadThaiNoodles]

Glad it went well for you.

I chose the "light sedation" option when I had mine done pre-open-heart-surgery. It was kind of cool to watch the x-ray image of your heart & coronary arteries on the giant flat-screen monitor. In fact, the whole experience was very science-fictiony.

The feeling of the catheter going down my arm was a little uncomfortable, but not really painful.

[DodgyTickerMum]

Glad it all went ok for you! You were in and out super quick. Did you not have the inflatable wrist cuff on afterwards - which they let air out of and deflate over the course of about 4 hours? I think that was the most uncomfortable bit of the whole procedure for me. It was so tight it made me feel a bit nauseous. I did get to see what they were doing on a big screen though, whilst in the cath lab. Bit surreal really!

[Gooner1947 in reply to DodgyTickerMum]

Yes I did have the inflatable wrist cuff on. I only noticed the big screen after it was all over. Maybe the sedation had more of an affect on me than I thought!

[Survivor1952 in reply to DodgyTickerMum]

I wasn’t bothered by the feel of the catheter, I could feel it up my arm and across my chest which they said was really unusual. I only had the local anaesthetic to numb my wrist.

I was given a strong diuretic as well before mine which made things ‘interesting’ especially as my angioplasty took two hours due to placing two stents 🤣

For other reasons I ended up with AVR and CABG three weeks later. I also had one heck of a bruise, wrist to elbow.

They played back part of my procedure to me afterwards but I wasn’t fully paying attention sadly.

[DodgyTickerMum in reply to Survivor1952]

Bless You! Mental note to self - next time, no diuretics before a procedure! 🤦🏼‍♀️ Like you, my angiogram was part of the work up of tests before my valve replacement. I had a huge bruise from my left wrist to my elbow post O.H.S. - which I assume was down to the thinners used for bypass. I also had another on my hip. Have no idea why - can only assume they clonked me, whilst I was transferred from the operating table back to my bed?! (I like to think they didn’t drop me - as I’m still here to tell the tale!) 😬

[Cee-Cee1]

Thank you for sharing your experience, Gooner. You've explained it so well and I'm sure your post will be very reassuring for anyone due to have the same procedure. Glad all went well for you. Carol 👍

[Gooner1947 in reply to Cee-Cee1]

Thank you

[PinkKizzie]

'morning Gooner1947, thank you for the update. I'm glad all went well and family there to give you support. Take care.