[Closed] Coronary angiography

bullheart to the forum.

I Had one in july not unpleasant just very odd feeling... to me it felt like i had wet my pants for around 20 seconds..i was told it might but it was more obvious than id imagined...pleased they told me as id of been convinced id let go

Had mine due to a positive calcium ct score of 2

Angio showed a less than 25% narrowing of my mid lad artery...finding it pretty hard to get my head round it if im honest..its scared me somewhat 😕

Statins have been recommended also 😕

Had one in the summer as a precaution when I was in heart failure, no deposits or narrowing whatsoever, my problem is the muscle of the heart not the blood vessels.

They tend to go through the wrist in the radial artery now, they use a local anesthetic but it still bloody hurt...felt like they were shoving a biro up my wrist, once it got past the elbow and into bigger blood vessels it was fine and I couldn't feel it but someone else on the ward had to ask them to stop and use a smaller catheter...maybe it was just a crap cardiologist that day!?

Mine is precautionary as well following some anomalies that showed up on a cpet test.

'...felt like they were shoving a biro up my wrist' isn't helping mind.

As I'm having to pay for this test I am expecting no skimping on the local anaesthetic!

I would recommend taking the option and having the happy meds.....

I've had this done several time and have had a range of experiences from 1 (I fell to sleep...) to 5

Good luck with the procedure

I've had a few. It's not that bad if they go in through your groin. Having your pubes dry shaved 😯 is probably the worst bit! I can't comment on the other means of entry.
A colonoscopy is far more unpleasant

felt like i had wet my pants for around 20 seconds

That aspect of it is really weird!! I've had one and a camera down the throat (TOE), both with just a local. The camera down the throat was far more unpleasant. For both procedures, I found that keeping relaxed helped (I used the anchoring technique from NLP https://www.nlpworld.co.uk/nlp-glossary/a/anchoring/ ) - but whatever works for you. Had mine in Bristol Heart Institute, they looked after me well.

Good luck 8)

had 2 in the past. one through my wrist and one through my groin.
no fuss.
far worse were the two cardiac ablations. both lasted 6 hours and you are not allowed to move a muscle.

I had one last year, in through the right wrist and also had stent fitted whilst they were there.
Fortunately or unfortunately I can't remember it though.
About 3 hours prior to it (and following a helicopter ride) I was technically dead and need CPR/defib to bring me back.
All is good now though.

It's probably better to have it checked prior to being in a situation where you actually die first before they find out there is a problem.
As I can't remember it I can't comment on the unpleasantness, although I imagine it's far less unpleasant than being dead - although I can't remember that either 😆

The procedure isn't that bad from what I'm told (parent had one). It's not like shoving cameras up stuff.

However it's the results that would be the worry. Outcome is going to be one of, a) no problem, b) slight concern take loads of these drugs, c) angioplasty (balloon in the artery to widen and fit a stent), d) heart bypass operation (major op).

far worse were the two cardiac ablations. both lasted 6 hours and you are not allowed to move a muscle.

how do you stay still for 6 hours?

Never had one personally, but I've done a few hundred. If you're having just a diagnostic angiogram (ie not stents, just a look and see what's going on), it should be a quick and painless procedure.

The actual procedure should take about 10 mins, although there will be more than that faffing at the beginning to clean your wrist or groin and get the drapes perfect. Local anaesthetic in the wrist or groin will sting but should be no worse than this. Occasionally you can get a little discomfort as the catheter gets past the elbow (due to small wiggly arteries), and some people feel as though they have wet themselves if we use a lot of the dye/contrast when taking the pictures. Anything worse than this, you should say something to the cardiologist as they'll be able to change technique/kit or give you drugs if you're uncomfortable. Very few of my patients need sedation for just a diagnostic angiogram - it's usually over before they've kicked in.

Edited to say that I'm a cardiology registrar specialising in angiography, it's not just a weird hobby I have...

it's not just a weird hobby I have...

is disappointed...

😆

Although it'd be a great hobby - they're a lot of fun to do , very satisfying 😀

Hi legolam

Sorry for highjack of thread but can i ask the significance of what less than 25% stenosis is and a calcium score of 2.

Not had it cleared up by gp yet just got the cardiologists letter re results.

Im 46 and fit as a lop...or so i though 😕

Currently bricking myself

Usual caveats about not giving advice on the internet to randoms, see your own doctor if worried, yadda yadda...

Im 46 and fit as a lop

I'd be happy if those were my results (and I'm more than 10 years younger than you). Essentially means your arteries are free of appreciable atheroma/furring up. You need 70% stenosis of a blood vessel to cause obstruction to the blood flow. I wouldn't entertain doing invasive (or non-invasive with a CT) coronary angiography with a calcium score that low - no matter how much I enjoy doing it!

Thanks so much and understand the advice part.

It is only one artery too .. the mid lad

Will speak to gp and see why the statins have been advised..

Maybe a belt and braces approach.

Thanks again and good look to the op

how do you stay still for 6 hours?

no idea, but you do.
they feed a wire up the main artery in each groin, up inside your heart, and burn little scars on the inside of your heart.
I think the fear of them being inside your heart might help you keep very still. 😆

far worse were the two cardiac ablations. both lasted 6 hours and you are not allowed to move a muscle.
how do you stay still for 6 hours?

Mine was done under a general anesthetic, so not a problem to stay still

I think the fear of them being inside your heart might help you keep very still

🙂

I expect my coping strategy will be fainting as I'm not good with needles for some reason - quick jabs are fine blood tests etc then bye bye. I will try not to wet myself if I do faint.

I've had a few. They're character building....

Well that was ok, about a 2. I am advised that I have naturally high cholesterol (8) and some slight plaque in one artery that doesn't need a stent but can be dealt with by statins - anyone on those?

Dam my dyslexia, I was expecting...

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Perditus...that sounds good.

Im the same but my gp was rubbish...when asked about my calcium score he said i dont know much about that as it wasnt done when i worked in hospitals... 😯

Told me take these statins if you can tolerate them if not.. stop...but thats all you will be offered...again this shocked me as i thought there may be alternatives...

No offer to check cholestoral or liver function either which id of thought essential as its on nice giidelines for statins..

I only know my total cholesteral as 5.4 as they didnt have the ratio ldl hdl breakdown

Im still not sure if i have heart disease or not to be honest...when i asked he said .. i can just go of the letter the cardiologist sent which says mild plaque disease and less than 25% stenosis of mid lad..

Do i pressume this will just get worse until i either die or have angina...

Told me i had to contact cardiology if i needed more info...i did that today .. they said i needed gp referal to see a cardiologist..

Considering a private consultation at the mo...

I had one about 4 years ago. I collapsed after several days of feeling unwell and was rushed to the local coronary unit with suspected heart failure (was actually sepsis that was attacking every organ in my body).

All I can remember is seeing a big screen in the hospital with my heart beating away and something going up through my groin.

It was all a bit weird it still feels like the experience really didn't happen!

The angio was the easy bit, the next 6 weeks were a bit tougher!

EhWhoMe - speak to whoever requested the CT scan. If that’s a cardiologist then it’s worth a further discussion, privately or not. It’s a complex area and interpreting minor narrowings on these scans is subject to error.

You should also ask them or see your GP (or someone else) to ensure your other risk factors are identified and treated where appropriate (cholesterol, BP, Glucose, weight etc).

However, if I was in the situation you describe, I would happily take a statin. They’re much maligned drugs and among the most benign of everything I prescribe (and in a lot of circumstances, among the most effective), yet the public perception is very different, presumably thanks to rubbish published in the rag press.

I don’t think you can underestimate the value of a personalised conversation in your position.

Disclosure - also a cardiology registrar. Although I am training in the torture described above (ablations), though I hope my patients are more comfortable (/sedated) than that.

Hi Superficial

Thanks for that.

Cardiology via a and e ordered scans as i ended up there with chest pain neck and jaw pain vomiting and the like during the night.

Ecg was normal troponin negative so guess thats good...got given lazoprozole from hospital and gastic something or other was blamed at the time but to be sure they sent me for scans which i do appreciate.

Im 6ft .. 77kg fitter than ive ever been decent diet dont smoke .. so this has floored me somewhat

May i ask when you say minor narrowings are subject to error do you mean both ways as in they could be more narrowed or less narrowed..

Guess what i would like to know is once any narrowing starts is it a given that it will just continue or can i stop it.

As in my mind now i feel kind of screwed.

And is any plaque or narrowing considered to be cad..or does basically everyone get narrowing as they age.

Just wondering as then do i have to declare this to things like holiday insurance when they ask about any conditions.

Going private was just to save time as cardiology said they where struggling for appointments and im very aware there are folk in much worse positions than me.

Thanks for you help just trying to educated myself more before moving forward so really appreciate you time and advice.

Unfortuneatly i used dr google and read about plaque rupture too..whish i hadnt..

Thanks again

Oh ct calcium score was 2..

Many oppologies to op for thread highjack..hope some of my questions also help you..

I paid for my CA EhWhoMe - was £2300.00 at the Spire in Cardiff. The cardiologist has some idea of sports medicine as well which was good as condition only an issue when out cycling.

I just started the statin and the beta blocker (something beginning with an 'N') - 1/4 of a 5mg tablet per day - went out today and didn't have the normal spasam of chest tightness which was good. Fingers crossed.

Perditus..thanks for that hope it all goes well for you sounds promising.

How are you mentally having to take statins and the fact you have plaque..tbh its really shocked me and im pretty down about it.

Did your scan show any narrowing...?

Got my cholestoral done total is 5.4 with a ratio of 4.4 so quite good..my hdl is a tad low at 1.06 tho.

So again suprised ive got any build up with fairly low cholestoral.

Cheers