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If you have had a heart cath to either diagnose or follow up specifically for Pulmonary Hypertension only were you sedated at all? Even lightly? I was NOT sedated with my last one and from what I'm reading on these boards most people are sedated.
Exercise Hypertension Pain Sedatives Valium Benadryl Pulmonary hypertension
you were not sedated at all? How did they do it?
I was sedated. Actually I was talking too much and they really hit me with the drugs to shut me up.
I have to do another one with exercise. I don't see how they can sedate me and get me to exercise at the same time.
I recently had a cath and I was given Valium about 30 minutes before the procedure, however I was very awake and very aware. While in the procedure room they gave me an equivalent to Novacaine in my right groin to numb the entry point of the cath. From other people I have talked with, it's my understanding that this is the typical protocol but I could certainly be wrong about that.
Dear Libi,
I was not put to sleep when I had my cath a few years ago. They gave me an IV and some kind of medicine that made me relaxed . I felt high during the procedure and did not feel any pain. It was over before I knew it. I dont remember too much, but I could hear the music they played for me and the staffs voices. The worse part of the procedure was afterwards when I had to lie flat on my back, and when they stuck an IV in a hand and hit a valve. That hurt! Till this day I dont like getting stuck with needles, so I ask for the butterfly needles when they draw my blood at the Drs. office. I hope you have a good day.
I was not sedated at all either. My cardiologist said that it can effect the results of the heart cath, so he does not sedate any of his patients any more. I wish they could have at least given me something to relax, according to the nurses in the room, he is one of the few doctors that does them that way.
Thanks everyone. In previous posts it sounded like people were being sedated and I was not and it hurt like crazy.
I got Benadryl about 2 hours before because I'm allergic to the dye but other than that I had nothing but the Novacaine at the injection site. I felt EVERYTHING. The Novacaine shot was brutal. I still have nightmares about it.
The 1st one I had done (through the neck) they did sedate me but it was done by another Doctor.
Honestly I can't imagine ever letting another Doctor do that to me without some type of sedation.
I had both right and left heart cath at the same time.
I had a IV and someone asked me if I was feeling any pain. I said yes and that is all I remembered. When I woke up I asked if they finished? They said yes I told them were really fast. I had to be there at 8:30 am they finallycame for me around 5. I felt no pain but it was a long day. You have to lay on your back for 6 hrs I think we left around 9pm. I hate pain. Ask the nurses and the doctor to explain the procedure and that you don't do pain if you ever need another one.
I had both right and left heart cath at the same time.
I had a IV and someone asked me if I was feeling any pain. I said yes and that is all I remembered. When I woke up I asked if they finished? They said yes I told them were really fast. I had to be there at 8:30 am they finallycame for me around 5. I felt no pain but it was a long day. You have to lay on your back for 6 hrs I think we left around 9pm. I hate pain. Ask the nurses and the doctor to explain the procedure and that you don't do pain if you ever need another one.
I just had it done on Tuesday and they gave me valuim 30 min before and when they started they gave me two shots of versaid(can't spell) I did not remember any of it. I also have pulminary hypertension and now we are trying to decide what medicine to take which ones to you take? I am very scared about starting some.
I just had one done on Thursday (my 5th one). The nurse put something in my IV to relax me, but the IV was not working properly at delivering, so I was totally awake and felt the shot to my groin. I watched everything on the monitor. I felt the flutter in the heart when the probe reached it. I have had 2 done through the neck with no sedation and 2 others done through the groin where I was totally knocked out. This last one had no changes in my pressures (still high) but my PVR, pulmonary vascular resistance, had doubled. My doctor said he would have to formulate and give me a prognosis (?). Anyway, you're not crazy. All doctors do things differently, but with the same goal in mind, to help you.
Yes, I had this done as well. I was awake and watched it on the screen. Kind of weird looking in there.
Yes, I had this done as well. I was awake and watched it on the screen. Kind of weird looking in there.
How they sedate you vastly changes from doctor to doctor. For a routine cath localized anesthesia usually works. You can ask next time ahead of time for some kind of sedation.
Everyone should be mostly awake for it. They have IV medicines that they can get to make you not remember it. They need for you to be able to follow commands during it and tell them how you are feeling.
Versed is the drug of choice that will sedate but you can be awake enough but you won't remember anything about it. Alot of choices out there and every doctor has their preferences.
I've had a "traditional" cath through the groin-I was awake but sedated. I've also had one through the carotid artery and was not given anything. My doctor wanted me to exercise once they were "in". It didn't really hurt-just felt weird. When I was done - after I did about 5 minutes of leg lifts-they removed the cath, I sat up for a few minutes and then walked back to the patient room. My dr. didn't want any sedatives to interfere with the test results. Liked the fact I was able to get up and leave, but would have like something just to take the edge off.
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