Cardiac catheterization was a breeze

[yankeeman]

Had the cath -- my first -- a week ago. My groin looks like I was on the wrong side of a bus, but the test wasn't that difficult or painful. The bleeding issue was not a problem as I expected. They put in something like a wall anchor you would use in your house (made by St. Jude's, surprisingly) that actually stays in and dissolves. I still had to stay in recovery for four hours, however. In retrospect, I would have taken two days off from work instead of one. It was just too tiring going to work.

The guy doing the cath said the coronary arteries look OK. but that the aortic valve still has to come out. Not sure when. I may find out this week when I see my regular cardiologist.

Here's the question: In general, among all of you people all over this fair world of ours who have gone through this, how much time elapsed between your having the cardiac cath and the actual surgery. This has some bearing on my planning for sick time, etc. I would be grateful for any information.

I was proud when I went in for the cath that I probably knew more of what was happening that most, thanks to ValveReplacement.Com and this interesting group of people that talk to each other, continent to continent

Thanks!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

There is no set pattern between having a cath (or any other test) and the timing of surgery. It all depends on the findings from the test. Some people have surgery the next day, others schedule surgery at their convenience ASSUMING there is not a critical need for doing it ASAP.

Have you met with a surgeon yet? It's usually best to let the Surgeon decide on the timing for surgery.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Philip B]

Cath to Sugery

Cath to Sugery

Al's right, how quickly you land in surgery after your cath really depends upon your docs' assessment of how quickly you need surgery.

I went in for a cath to determine how quickly I needed AVR surgery and had my plans to have the surgery in early June totally derailed when they found a large aortic aneurysm that needed more immediate attention. Both my cardio doc and surgeon insisted that I have surgery to fix both problems within six weeks of the cath. My surgery was done three weeks after the cath.

How much time you will need off from work is really an individual thing. It depends upon your body's response to the surgery. Although others may disagree with this generalization, it seems like planning about a week for the surgery and recovery time in the hospital is a fair estimate. Of course that can vary depending upon complications and how well you respond after surgery.

Returning to work is also a very individual thing depending on how well your body responds during recovery. You'll get a lot of good advice from folks here about resisting the urge to over do. The best advice to follow is to do what your cardio doc and surgeon recommend. Follow their instructions and listen to your body.

Personally, I managed to return to work on a very limited part time basis during my first week after release from the hospital. Neither my cardio doc or surgeon were too excited about this, but my type A+ personality did not allow me to be very good at sitting at home with nothing to do. I basically went to work a couple of hours a day during that first week between naps. With the blessings of both my surgeon and cardio doc, at two weeks post-op I was working 1/2 days and at four weeks I was back working mostly full time. I suspect your experience and the recommendations from you docs will differ from mine.

Good luck!

-Philip

 

[mntbiker]

how much time elapsed between your having the cardiac cath and the actual surgery.

I can't help with this question. I never had a cath.

 

[WayneGM]

As mentioned, everyone is different....both in time from cath to surgery and surgery recovery time.

It was about 5 months between my cath and my surgery, but I've read posts where others had their cath literally days before. I had my cath on a Wednesday and also took Thursday and Friday off.

With respect to recovery time after surgery, I have the type of job that is stressful mentally. However it is not very physical (no heavy lifting, etc). My doctors told me to expect to be off work 10 - 12 weeks, including 1 week in the hospital, and they were right on except I ultimately spent 2 weeks in the hospital (due to a complication but that's another story). I was fully covered by employee short term disability insurance and they did not push me into going back to work any earlier. In fact, I think they would have let me stay off a couple more weeks if I had pushed for it.

In my 30+ years of working I rarely took a day off for even a cold. In the beginning of my recovery I often tried to do too much and found it only set me back. OHS was an eye opener for me on just how fragile, and temperamental, our bodies can be so I decided to take advantage of my short term disability insurance and give my body the time and patience it wanted to heal. Of course, with our Canadian government health care system paying for the surgery and my employee STD insurance still paying my salary I was lucky enough to be able to afford to, so that's a circumstantial factor that may influence your recovery time.

Good luck and best wishes.

 

[Curtsmum]

My son has had 3 caths up to now and still not he his 2nd surgery, he will be having another one because his pressures have got higher. Like others have said it all depends on the Circumstances. Best of luck. Paula

 

[yankeeman]

Thank you all for your replies

Thank you all for your replies

The information you provided, Al, Wayne, Philip and Curtsmom, is helpful and useful and eases my fears about what is likely to happen.

Al, I have not found a surgeon. I called Brigham & Women's in Boston and they said that the process has to involve the cardiologist. i.e. the first telephone call is made by the cardiologist, not by me. I live only a half-hour from Boston and it would be insane for me to have this surgery anywhere expect Mass. General or the Brigham. As soon as I find a s urgeon then I think the timetable will be clearer. I did check with Brigham and they said they will accept the cath results even though they didn't do the cath. I gather they can be transmitted electronically. (As can dental records, interestingly enough, if that becomes an issue of concern)

I was particularly intrigued by the fact that the estimated time away from work among you is such a wide range -- one week to 12. I also am seldom sick and hope that I can get back to work quickly...I suspect my wife will be happy to have me out of the house ASAP. I don't want to become the first heart valve surgery survivor murdered by his wife.

I will keep you advised after I meet with the cardiologist tomorrow afternoon and provide whatever information seems to be useful.

Jon

 

[aussigal]

Sounds like a good plan.
It is great to realise the cath is no-where near as bad as imagined...I dreaded the cath too. You will also find out that for most of us surgery isnt as bad as imagined either. Sure some of us have a few days that arent so good but they are soon over and recovery can begin.
I would say the average here for returning to somewhat normal lifestyle averages out at 2-3 months , some are quicker and others have a longer rehab. I had a bad/slow start but was still feeling relatively normal @ 3 months.

 

[yankeeman]

Question re: cause of heart defects

Question re: cause of heart defects

Aussigal, I note that you have two sons with bicuspid valves. That leads me to wonder whether mine was NOT in fact caused by my mother's fondness for Camels (the cigarette, not the dromedary) and bourbon.

To what extent do you think heart defects are caused by genetic issues?

Jon

 

[Blanche]

Genetic Issues

Genetic Issues

are those things that come from the genes, not from the use or misuse of alcohol or other "bad" habits. You will find that many heart abnormalities are indeed genetic problems. And, the abuse of tabacco and alcohol can cause a whole host of problems on their own...but they are not genetic problems. They are problems of choice.
Kind regards,
Blanche

 

[aussie girl]

I am glad to hear people say the cath is not as bad as imagined. I found out only a couple of hours ago that mine is scheduled for may 14th. I guess its another step up the ladder. I have been reading the information pack supplied by the cardio and it says " a local anaesthetic is used because you need to be awake during the test to follow the doctors instructions " other than lying there petrified what do i have to do? any information greatly appreciated thanks....mary

 

[Adrienne]

I am glad to hear people say the cath is not as bad as imagined. I found out only a couple of hours ago that mine is scheduled for may 14th. I guess its another step up the ladder. I have been reading the information pack supplied by the cardio and it says " a local anaesthetic is used because you need to be awake during the test to follow the doctors instructions " other than lying there petrified what do i have to do? any information greatly appreciated thanks....mary

They also give you a sedative. There is absolutely no pain. For me the worst part was afterwards when I had to lie down with my leg straight for 6 hours. I wish I had had that plug that Yankeeman wrote about!

 

[WayneGM]

aussie girl, you don't have to do much of anything. Mostly they ask you questions or might ask you to move slightly. You'll be able to watch the monitor and it's quite facinating and will help occupy you so you are not focusing on the procedure. It actually made the time go by faster. Towards the end they will insert a dye than will give you a "hot flash" through your body. It doesn't hurt or anything. You'll just feel this warm rush through you....think of it as intense "blushing".

The cath itself was a breeze, but I sure wish I had the plug Yankeeman wrote about, too. They had a hard time with stopping the bleeding with me (I'm told it's rare but it happens...lucky me) so they had to apply a lot of pressure which was pretty intense and resulted in a sizeable bruise and hematoma. As I said though, they did say this was a rare exception and usually the bleeding stops fairly easily. After that you do have to lie straight and still, although I think it was only about 4 hours for me. Good luck.

 

[Bina]

My cath came as a big surprise. I saw my surgeon on a thursday, and he said come back tomorrow for the cath. Not much time to do research or freak out.
He wouldn't operate until 5 days after the cath. My OHS was 10 days after it.

The cath was no big deal since I took the sedative. Afterwards they did clamp my groin hard and ship me off to the cardiac ward to rest. I stayed over night because a few hours later when they tried to get me up, I got super dizzy and almost fainted. I am not strong at all....

I did walk funny for a few days....and what a spectacular bruise

 

[yankeeman]

Here's more information on the plug that helps seal the hole they made in my femoral artery to get the catheter in. It is called an Angio-Seal Vascular Closure Device. My cardiologist said if they didn't use that they have to put heavy pressure on the incision point for a long time to stop bleeding. Did he say something about them formerly using a sandbag? I found only one drop of blood after. It leaves a little lump in your leg where the thing sits inside the artery but it is not uncomfortable. This thing is probably described online if anyone wants to Google that name

As for medication I got a simple valium and nothing else. I wasn't drugged at all. And there was no pain. (Other than a full bladder...I strongly suggest you DO NOT have anything to drink for a LONG TIME before this procedure. I tried using the bedpan but it would not work.)
Jon

 

[Bina]

I'm having a flashback....they did clamp my leg for a short time immediately after the cath. It was a metal bracket attached to the side of the bed, that was not very friendly, but I was still sedated.
After that thing was removed I had a pressure bandage.

...... that bed pan did not work for me either.....

 

[mtkayak]

Boy, do they give you a sedative! I was high as a kite (at my request)!!!! I enjoyed every bit of it.

One Card recommended surgery in 3 months after the Cath and another recommeded 6 months. So, I did it in 2 1/2 months after my Cath. That is after the Surgeon reviewed my case and said "Yes, surgery is needed".

 

[yankeeman]

Thanks Mike for sharing information on the interval between your cath and the actual surgery. I got a call from Brigham & Women's (Boston) at home on my machine and suspect they want to talk to me next week. If they follow you experience that puts me in there July-August.

As for the drugs, well obviously I got ripped off. Next time I'll insist on better drugs!
Jon