Just back for Cardio. visit

[roundsgirl]

Hey everyone, I just got in from cardio visit, to which he said he thought we were at valve replacement time and ordered a heart cath. this Wed., is the standard???? I'm scared to death, I knew my heart was worse via how I feel and last echo, which showed moderate-severe aortic regurgitation, etc...

I really thought he would give me another prescription and say let's look again in 6 months.
So are awake during the procedure? Do they tell you what they are seeing? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Rachel for all of your replies, looks like you were right. Thanks again for your advise.


Sincerely,
Roundsgirl

 

[Cooker]

Hey everyone, I just got in from cardio visit, to which he said he thought we were at valve replacement time and ordered a heart cath. this Wed., is the standard???? I'm scared to death, I knew my heart was worse via how I feel and last echo, which showed moderate-severe aortic regurgitation, etc...

I really thought he would give me another prescription and say let's look again in 6 months.
So are awake during the procedure? Do they tell you what they are seeing? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Rachel for all of your replies, looks like you were right. Thanks again for your advise.


Sincerely,
Roundsgirl

The cath is normal. This is scary business but you will be fine. In my opinion it is MUCH better to get it done BEFORE your heart sustains any permanent damage. I am sure that all will attest to that. Take a deep breath??it is not as bad as you imagine.

 

[kfay]

It has been a while since I have had a cardiac cath, however, I'll tell you what I remember. I was awake but they give you alot of drugs to make you relax and comfortable. The worst part was when they numbed up my groin to insert the cath, but that was really nothing more than a sting until the numbing medicine took effect. After that, you shouldn't have any discomfort at all. It really isn't too bad. You have to lay very still and then afterwards you have to lie flat for an amount of time (can't remember how long).
You'll be fine and really no worse for the wear. Good luck.

Kim

 

[bvdr]

Rachel, I remember those feelings you are experiencing now. Suddenly it all seems real and even though you've read up on a lot of this it seems different and more scary when it is actually happening to you. The heart cath isn't bad. When they give you the contrast it may feel like you are wetting the stretcher but you won't be. Usually you can have a sedative if you request it but I have found I like to be more alert to listen to comments made and to ask questions. Don't forget to get a copy of the catherization report to put in that personal file of test reports that I hope you are keeping. In that file also keep a log of doctors you have seen with dates and telephone numbers and addresses. It will be so handy as you go through this whole process. Remember, you are a very important part of your medical team and you MUST keep yourself as informed as possible. As always, we are here on the board for you to help in whatever way we can. There are a whole lot of collective experiences here to draw from and which hopefully can help you as needed.

 

[Adrienne]

The actual procedure was nothing. They sedate you. For me what was very hard, and that's because I have such a weak bladder was the fact that you are supposed to lie with your leg straight for 6 hours afterwards (although some people on this forum talk about a plug they put in afterwards which lets you get up sooner). At the same time they give you an IV with lots of liquid to flush out the contrast dye. Well, need I say more?!

 

[njean]

Rachel,

I had my last cath in June & it was by far the easiest cath I've ever had! The numbing of the groin area was probably the most unpleasant & it was just a sting or two until the area numbs so that they can insert the catherer. You're awake the whole time but you have been given sedatives (yeah!! ) so you don't feel anything.

Afterwards when you're back in your room, you must lie on your back for about 4 to 5 hours until the nurses tell you it's okay to get up to go to the bathroom, eat something, etc.

P.S. Back in 1975 when I had my first OHS, some of the catherizations were performed through the arm instead of the groin. I had a cath done on each arm back then. I find that the ones performed through the groin, are easier & I don't think the one's on the arms are even done anymore!

Just relax; it won't be that bad, I promise! Good luck

 

[Bina]

Mine was 2 yrs ago, through the groin. They asked if I wanted a sedative and I said "a small dose". I was given .5mg of Ativan just to relax. It really was no big deal. Had to lie still for a long time....then I was dizzy, so I stayed the night. The bruise is quite colourful and a bit sore for a few days. The cath is a great diagnostic tool, I would do it again without hesitation.

 

[Ross]

I've had 3 caths now. Ask to be semi sedated and they will. It's really no big deal and you get to watch on the monitor along with the Doc and nurses. The contrast stuff is a rush. Feeling it flow throughout your body quickly and yes, it does make you feel like your going to pee, but you won't. Worse part of the whole thing is laying flat on your back and still of hours afterwards. Sometimes they use collagen plugs and you aren't down so long, but I found 7 hour flat and still to be beyond my breaking point. The procedure itself only takes about 20 minutes or so. Prep and waiting take hours.

 

[WayneGM]

Ditto what's been said.....it sounds worse than it really is. I found watching the monitor quite facinating during the procedure. It helped keep my mind occupied which helped calmed the nerviousness.

 

[DebbyA]

The procedure itself is pretty easy. I had it mid-Nov. After they administered the sedative, they asked if I felt like I'd just had a cocktail. I said, well, not really, so they gave me more. Then it occurred to me that I'm not usually prostrated by one cocktail...

My cardiologist said the plug doesn't take about 1 in 400 times. As one of the favored few, I can tell you to be prepared with something to listen to for about 6 hours. You have to lie on your back with the leg on the side of the incision straight and unmoving, and without raising your head. Tell the nurses if your back hurts, or anything else. They can help you change position a little.

 

[boomersooner]

My heart cath experience was not my favorite but it was definitely bearable. I was wide awake the entire time! I was supposed to have a TEE and then a heart cath. Well the guy that was scheduled for the heart cath first freaked out and refused to go so they moved me up. I was looking forward to being drugged up from the TEE during my cath experience but it did not work out that way. It’s really no biggie. If I can make it through it wide awake and talking to the doctor about cheese steaks (he was from Philly) during the process, you will be fine, espcially if you are drugged up a little. This also does not mean that you are for sure headed for valve repair or replacement. I had my cath over a year ago and am just now going in for surgery. My suggestion is even if you do not have valve replacement you do know it is in your future, so start researching your options.

 

[Susan BAV]

Another experience, but kind of funny...

Another experience, but kind of funny...

Hey everyone, I just got in from cardio visit, to which he said he thought we were at valve replacement time and ordered a heart cath. this Wed., is the standard???? I'm scared to death, I knew my heart was worse via how I feel and last echo, which showed moderate-severe aortic regurgitation, etc...

I really thought he would give me another prescription and say let's look again in 6 months.
So are awake during the procedure? Do they tell you what they are seeing? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Rachel for all of your replies, looks like you were right. Thanks again for your advise.


Sincerely,
Roundsgirl

While they're pretty common, you do want to be in a facility where they do lots of them successfully and you do want a cardio who does lots of them successfully. Don't be afraid to ask.

I've had three, the first when I was twelve. This last one was the easiest; perhaps the technology is that much more advanced. I did start to scratch my nose in the middle of the procedure and panicked everyone. So don't do that.

I did get nauseated when it was over, I think partly because I slurped down a Starbucks on an empty stomach after it was over and I was laying around for what ended up being eight or ten hours with the weight on my leg. They had decided to keep me overnight, maybe because we live about three hours from the hospital, and Mr. W ran out to get that coffee for me that I thought I just had to have.

So I was still lying flat with the weight on my leg...and my bladder became full...and I became so nauseated that I began barfing...and Mr. W was hovering over me trying to make it all better but getting greener by the moment and looking like he was very likely going to make the whole thing a whole lot worse... And then every time I barfed, my poor full bladder leaked...and then I started crying...barfing and leaking and crying--what a mess...and my husband didn't realize the full extent of my embarassment and he called for help and then they sent a MALE NURSE in to clean me up and change my gown, all while I still had the weight on my leg .

While it's pretty funny now, I was horrified then.

They said they couldn't do the plug on me, thus the weight, because they said I needed surgery right away and the valve replacement ended up being less than two weeks later.

I hope it all turns out really well for you. Take care and please let us know how it goes for you.

 

[roundsgirl]

Thank you to everyone for your words of encouragement. I am getting more nervous, the thought of laying flat for so long concerns me, as I can't lay flat now without feeling like I can't breath. Then if I have to have the surgery, I just don't want to think that far ahead, as it scares me. I always knew it would be coming, but in 2005 the cardio. told me it would be 10 to 15 years down the road. I guess he didn't expect it to progress so quickly.

Once again a heart felt thanks to all of you.

Do they tell you on that day what the results are?

Thanks,
Roundsgirl
Lisa

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Here's a copy of my response to a previous patient on the question of a Heart Catheterization:

Your surgeon (actually ANY surgeon) will want you to have a Heart Catheterization before surgery to check your coronary arteries as Dick mentioned. Try not to let that idea freak you out. After my first one, I had one of those "is that all there is" kinds of reactions, BUT, I confess, I WAS freaked out going in.

The nurse brought in a video to preview and I watched it 3 times. The Cardiologist will numb your groin with something akin to novacaine and almost everyone reports feeling only some pressure as they insert the catheter. I found it fascinating to watch the catheter being moved around my coronary arteries. Maybe the Versed (Happy Juice) helped a little too..."You're going to do what? Gee, can I watch?"

The 'event' rate for cath's is VERY LOW when done by someone who does LOTS of them, typically 1 in 1000. I've lost count of how many cath's I've had now. (Over a Dozen)

Bottom Line: NO BIG DEAL.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[roundsgirl]

Hey thanks Rachel. Yeah, the cardio. I saw today is going to be the one doing the procedure. I think I asked him about 3 times if he was going to be the one doing it. My mom and son will be with me. Thank God for family.


Thanks again,
Roundsgirl,
Lisa

 

[MikeHeim]

Lisa-
I had a slightly different experience than others here in that I was slightly propped up when I had to lay still. I was one of the lucky people who were able to get the "plug", so I only had to remain motionless for about two hours. As an aside, if you feel like you can't lie flat on your batck and breath, that is a pretty serious symptom and one that shouldn't be ignored.

Mike