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Original poster

Can anyone give me any reassurance about angiograms - have to have one and am really worried.

66 replies

Winetimeisfinetime · 30/04/2008 11:47

I have just had a call from my cardiologist to say that the results of a myoview scan I had aren't normal and that there is some 'patchiness' indicating coronary heart disease.He says I will now need an angiogram. I am both worried about having heart disease and what the long term implications are { I am only 49 }, but also very scared about having an angiogram.

Can anyone please give me any advice or reassurance ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Winetimeisfinetime · 30/04/2008 12:25

Anyone ?

OP posts:
Furball · 30/04/2008 12:33

I had one put for my brain after an aneurysm

i assume it would be different with heart. i've had a shufty on the web and found Thispage which loks informative.

Good Luck with it

Furball · 30/04/2008 12:36

I've actually read the info now

I had the same inwhich you are sedated but obviously awake. they cut a hole in your groin (completely painfree and I can't even find the scar!) then pass a tube up in this case to you heart, then inject various dyes and xray to see exactly whats going on. With me because it was all happening in my brain - I could see and taste the dyes as they were on the inside IYSWIM.

Original poster
Winetimeisfinetime · 30/04/2008 12:51

Thanks so much for replying Furball - I hope that you are ok now after the aneurysm.

I didn't realise that they gave you a sedative - that makes me feel a bit better. Could you feel the tube going through your body ?

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Furball · 30/04/2008 12:53

I can't really remember it was 11 years ago. [sorry]

Have had it clipped and now OK

Original poster
Winetimeisfinetime · 30/04/2008 13:13

Glad to hear you are ok now Furball.

I know it is a routine procedure and lots of people have it done - I'm just going to have to get on with it. I'm not usually a baby about these things but for some reason the thought of this is really freaking me out. I'm just freaking out generally though at the news that I have coronary heart disease.

OP posts:
Furball · 30/04/2008 13:26

Yes that must be a shock Winetimeisfinetime

ajandjjmum · 30/04/2008 13:31

Winetime
My dad had a couple, and was not looking forward to them! Afterwards, he said that the sedative was wonderful, and he couldn't have given a monkeys what they did.
They sorted the problem.
Hope it goes well.

Original poster
Winetimeisfinetime · 30/04/2008 13:49

Thanks Furball and ajandjjmum - that is reassuring. I'm feeling much better knowing that you have a sedative - I could do with one of those wonderful sedatives right now as I'm feeing very maudlin and having negative thoughts that I might not get to see my ds grow up. I also have other health problems that I was coping reasonably well with the worry of but this heart thing has really stressed me.

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ajandjjmum · 30/04/2008 14:31

My parents have both had heart problems - and as you and I share the same age (spring chickens really!!!) - you do start to wonder if you'll inherit the bad bits.

Should be my incentive for getting fit, but somehow it's not quite working!

Original poster
Winetimeisfinetime · 30/04/2008 14:45

Yes aj my whole family have either died from heart problems or had strokes. Luckily no one has been affected until they've been into their 60's but as 60's is considered a normal age to have these problems it isn't considered to be indicative of a family risk factor and it means you aren't picked up and given any testing at an early age.

This all started for me when I mentioned to my gasteroenterologist that I was getting a bit breathless on exertion and he ordered a stress ecg and a cholesterol test for me. I had never had my cholesterol checked before and was very surprised when it was high as I am vegetarian and have never eaten dairy food as I don't like it. I cut out eggs and started taking Dairy free Benecol but at my next test my cholesterol was even higher so I am now on statins.

I would say if like me you have a family history of heart disease it is worth being checked out - as I keep being told { and I am trying to remember when I am panicing } that if it is picked up early it can be treated.

OP posts:
Original poster
Winetimeisfinetime · 30/04/2008 14:47

Thanks as well for taking time to reply - I had a horror that no one would respond and I would then feel even worse

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ajandjjmum · 30/04/2008 16:30

You're not on your own!!! Funnily enough I have been on pills for high blood pressure for about 10 years, and when I was worried about going on them 'at such a young age', my gp said that they would stop me having a stroke or heart attack early. Time will tell.

Furball · 30/04/2008 16:31

winetimeisfinetime - when is the appointment? don't forget to let us know how it went

Original poster
Winetimeisfinetime · 30/04/2008 17:03

aj - it's hard isn't it - I still feel quite youthful in myself { ridiculously childish at times!} and it's a shock to find that my body is starting to become afflicted with diseases mainly reserved for pensioners!

Furball -Thanks for asking. I'm hoping to have my appt. tomorrow evening but haven't had it confirmed yet.
I've spent the afternoon researching the neccessity of an angiogram and there's lots of evidence that it isn't always the best thing to have so I shall go armed with lots of questions.

Thanks both of you for taking time to post - it has made me feel better about it all

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smurfgirl · 30/04/2008 17:24

I'll be honest winetime I have never seen anyone have a sedative for a planned angiogram, they do inject local anaesthetic into the area before inserting the sheath in your groin. I had a placement in angio, and everyone said they were so worried before hand but afterwards they were fine and it was much better than they thought.

It can be uncomfortable afterwards because they use a special device to put a lot of pressure on the artery where there sheath was inserted to make sure it all heals up (you know like when you press on your arm after they take blood) but thats over pretty quickly. You have to lie flat for a bit but you are not in for ages at all.

It must be very scary though having to go for one - sympathies.

ajandjjmum · 30/04/2008 17:39

If they offer it, have the sedative. Or do what I did, cry, and they'll offer it anyway! (That was for a laparoscopy though).

Original poster
Winetimeisfinetime · 30/04/2008 17:53

Thanks smurfgirl - I'd rather know what the possibilities are. I shall just have to hope that they use sedatives here. If they don't I think I probably will burst into tears, aj, as I feel so anxious about it. I've had all sorts of horrible procedures done in the past with not too much stress , but this is really getting to me. I'm also worried about the small risk of heart attack that the test has - especially if I am so anxious to begin with. I definitely think it would be better for all concerned if I am away with the fairies whilst it's done

Good to hear people find it wasn't as bad as they expected though

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belle74 · 30/04/2008 20:01

Hello Winetime

sorry to hear you are having to have tests etc, never a pleasant prospect.

FWIW I have seen a few angiograms and stents put in and both of ther patients seemd absolutely FINE whilst having it done. They give you some hefty IV sedatives and something to make you forget after anyway.One of the patients I saw was virtually asleep and the other was having as laugh and a joke with the anaesthetist!!! Think the drugs must have affected him One of the patients had a stent put in which again seemed quite straightforward.

Think that being 49 is a GOOD reason to have this done as you will know extactly what your status is and you will get ongoing cardiology monitoring which is invaluable. Most of the poepl who suffer life threatening cardiac events etc in a younger age group fo so precisely because they were unaware. Good that you're on statins too, that will reduce your risk factors greatly. Good luck let us know how you get on.

hotbot · 30/04/2008 20:17

Hi ,
i work in angio unit, which area will you be in. Its not always neccessary to have a sedative, they can also be done thru yuor wrist instead of your leg .It dpends on your cardiologist. Also an angio is the best gold standard test to let you know if there are any issues witht he arteries of your heart.
I'M not being glib, but i would prefer this test to going to the dentist All of our patients say they wished they hadnt worried so much, as it really wasn't too bad.

good luck

monkeyme · 30/04/2008 21:36

I work in cardiology & I think the biggest risk with CHD is NOT knowing that you've got it! Just because you have CHD doesn't mean that you will definitely have a heart attack There are lots of things you can do to reduce your risk of ever having a heart attack and to help slow down the progression of the disease. I would assume that your cardiologist has started you on medications already?
The BHF website has lots of really good lifestyle advice, and their booklets are worth reading too.
The main things that patients mention (if they ever have any complaints about the procedure- not many do) is that the dye can cause a flushing sensation, and metallic taste, or you can develop a haematoma (bruise) at the puncture site. Good luck for tomorrow, it'll be easier than you think!

Original poster
Winetimeisfinetime · 30/04/2008 22:15

Thanks all of you for your replies. It has helped me to feel much better about both having the test and being diagnosed with chd.

I will know more tomorrow - it is just an appointment with my consultant to discuss the abnormalities that he found on my myoview scan and what is going to happen about the angiogram - I'm not actually having it tomorrow. I feel much more prepared though both for the discussion with him and the test itself. I almost wish it was happening tomorrow as I would like to get it over with and after hearing your positive stories I am feeling quite psyched up to get on with it.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to post - I really, really appreciate it. I will let you know how it all goes.

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ajandjjmum · 01/05/2008 21:35

Hope it went OK Winetime (I want your name!!!)

Furball · 02/05/2008 07:32

yes, hope you are ok winetime? what did the consultant say?

potoftea · 02/05/2008 07:47

Have come late to this thread but just wanted to add that when my mother had one done everyone told her there was nothing to do.

However she was surprised how tired she was afterwards- slept for the rest of the day, and still zombie like the next day, perhaps too much sedative. Just thought I'd warn you not to plan anything too lively for afterwards!

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