Anyone have experience with heart catheterization?

[Kevin Smith]

I've got to get it done next week.

Any info or experiences welcome.

Thanks

[JayB]

Easy, peasy....you just lay there [emoji3].

Dr. will insert line in your right groin. From this port they will inject dye into each main artery that supplies blood to you heart (most people have 4 of these) when dye is injected, they follow it through with a scanning x-ray that allows instant views. If each is clear, they will remove the catheter from your groin, send you to recover for a few hours, then home you go. If they find blockage, they will first try to clear it up and place a stent in that location (all done thru the same catheter) or, if that no worky, they take you to surgery and do a bypass on the blocked artery. You will be awake for the procedure. Painless. The table is a little hard but nothing to worry about. I watched on the screen while they injected all the dye. I had an idea what I was looking at since I had been in on some procedures in a previous hospital career.

oh look...what is that?

[Bigfootwolff]

Had it done last year, and had a lot of fear going into it, In large part because my cardiologist told me after looking at my stress test I needed to get in the cath lab ASAP. Ended up doing it a couple of days later, and ended up needing a stent. I ended up spending the night in the hospital and went home the next day. While in the recovery room, my cardiologist told me no more red meat or bacon. That was hard to hear, but it sure beat having a heart attack or full blown open heart surgery. Try not to worry. A co-worker had his stent put in through his wrist, not the groin.

[Double-O-Dave]

I had a cardiac ablation a few years ago. You'll be very impressed by how smart everyone who works in the cath lab is. I swear the janitor had 2 or 3 doctoral degrees. You'll get an injection (IV) that will make you very drowsy, and then they'll give you another injection and you won't wake up until you're in the recovery area. I had a bit of fun with the nurses - when they asked me if I knew why I was in the cardiac cath lab, I said, "yes, I'm to have a cardiac ablation". They then asked if I knew why I was having this procedure, I said "yes...Kerry Keating in the 3rd grade". Deadly silence in the cath lab as everything and everyone stopped in place. When the nurses asked me what that meant, I said: "in the 3rd grade I asked Kerry Keating to be my girlfriend, and she said 'No, you're ugly' - which of course broke my heart". The nurses died laughing, and they then decided I needed the "big shot".

You'll be fine.

Good luck,

Dave

[Kevin Smith]

Had it done last year, and had a lot of fear going into it, In large part because my cardiologist told me after looking at my stress test I needed to get in the cath lab ASAP. Ended up doing it a couple of days later, and ended up needing a stent. I ended up spending the night in the hospital and went home the next day. While in the recovery room, my cardiologist told me no more red meat or bacon. That was hard to hear, but it sure beat having a heart attack or full blown open heart surgery. Try not to worry. A co-worker had his stent put in through his wrist, not the groin.

Thanks y'all, my Dr. said she's going through my wrist. The stress test wasn't horrible but she wants to take a look. Can I go work the next day?

[Green]

A heart cath (even during an active heart attack) is not a big deal. The point of insertion (groin or radial) is the highest risk after the procedure. Open that up and you'll bleed out quickly.....the docs will make sure that doesn't happen though, but you'll have to lay still for several hours to a couple of days (depending). A quadruple bypass is a whole 'nuther critter though!

[JayB]

No, you will need a day or two of rest afterwards...that's a pretty big artery they stick the line through. I had forgotten about the radial procedure...lady at my office had that.

oh look...what is that?

[SCREAMINREELS]

Easy, peasy....you just lay there [emoji3].

Dr. will insert line in your right groin. From this port they will inject dye into each main artery that supplies blood to you heart (most people have 4 of these) when dye is injected, they follow it through with a scanning x-ray that allows instant views. If each is clear, they will remove the catheter from your groin, send you to recover for a few hours, then home you go. If they find blockage, they will first try to clear it up and place a stent in that location (all done thru the same catheter) or, if that no worky, they take you to surgery and do a bypass on the blocked artery. You will be awake for the procedure. Painless. The table is a little hard but nothing to worry about. I watched on the screen while they injected all the dye. I had an idea what I was looking at since I had been in on some procedures in a previous hospital career.

oh look...what is that?

Nice...alot of docs are going through the wrist the last few years as well.
Not a biggy. Worst part of (if it's clean or a stent) is if you need to be sandbagged and then you have to be still for a while

[Grant2]

Had one a few years ago. Not going to lie it hurt when they stuck me in the groin only lasted a few seconds, but it hurt and was not fun. It's really no big deal just kinda scary that they stick you in an artery.

[DRT]

I've been through it four times and they forgot five stents in me. No big deal except the shave.

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[knucklehead]

They went in my wrist. I didn't think it was a very big deal. But based on the number of people present and the attention I received, they apparently thought otherwise. I had it done at 7:00PM. I was sent to a room and was told to get a good night's sleep, they would wake me up at 5:30AM. That's when the real fun started.

[nursejenn]

Thanks y'all, my Dr. said she's going through my wrist. The stress test wasn't horrible but she wants to take a look. Can I go work the next day?

No... don't do it. Get a couple days rest afterward...

[Goldeneagle]

I had the radial and then 2 days later had 2 stents put in through the groin. Neither were too bad, but wait a few days to go back to work. Especially on the radial. You bust that back open your in trouble.

[tpcollins]

Been there, done that, 2 stents in 1997 and then needed another stent sleeved into one of the first two 11 years later.

I have my stress test Wednesday due to a slight pain again in my left arm.

[muzzlebrake]

Twice. First one 1989. Second one 3 years ago. Stints both times. Nothing to worry about. After a nice nap you are all done.