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ANGIOGRAM FEARS and QUESTIONS

Leahjet
0 Recommendations

Hello Ladies,
I have stumbled on this site after reading endless webpages of heart conditions, angiograms and more.
I am 33 years old and have been having some troubles with my heart.
Heart conditions do not run in my family so this is a bit odd really. Last year I was having these strange pains in my chest at random times. I became concerned about them in around January this year and had planned to go to my DR and have it checked. As it turned out, one day when I was at home looking after my daughter the pain in my chest came again. This time very severe that I had to sit on the floor and let my daughter play at my feet on the kitchen floor. My husband came home from work for lunch and found me sitting there clutching my chest. He called and Ambulance to come - I probably wouldnt have actually as I convinced myself it would pass.
At the hospital blood was taken and ECG's - One ER DR told me "You've had a heart attack"... which scared the living heck out of me. Then the other DR's disagreed saying my symptoms were borderline.
I was discharged after 2 days of monitoring being told that there was nothing wrong with me.
I then got a referal to a heart specialist (cardiologist) private and went to see him. He said my ST leads were slightly elevated on all my ECG's including the ones he had just taken in his rooms. My triponin Levels at the hosptial were .04 the first day and then .03 the next day. Borderline. My stress test was normal. That was all back in MArch 09.

Since then I have been living in absolute fear. I still get pains in my chest and heart racing etc. I know I suffer from anxiety and Im sure that is adding to my problems but I dont think its completely my issue here. I went back to my Heart DR yesterday and he said he wants to do an Angiogram to be sure whether or not there is anything going on and to ease my mind.
I am scared of doing the proceedure if its a waste of time.
Can you tell me if you have had it done and will I be sleepy enough to not feel it or remember it. And do you think its worth doing?
Scared sooky mother of 2

Explore topics in this discussion:

Surgery Acid reflux Morphine Anxiety Angina Benadryl Stent Xanax Stress Heart disease Allergies Artery dissection Pain Heart attack Heartburn Valium Depression Lorazepam

21 replies

Yatchzee

The angiogram will give the doctors some answers. Be glad that you are getting one as some people have trouble trying to get one. I remember the angiogram but they gave me some type of relaxing drugs because I was worried and upset about it and the worst part, really, was having to lay still for hours after so the entry point can heal up.
It sounds like you might have Prinzmetal because of the unusual T waves and the pains while you are just sitting. Look it up. There are a couple medications for it and those of us who have it would like more research on it and more reasons why we have it but it is possible to live a normal life and get along fine. I wish you well and let us know how it goes.
Joyce

Kennarina

Hello Leahjet and welcome! You have come to the right place. You are very young to be experiencing these distressing symptoms - but if you browse around this site, you will be relieved to see that you are not alone! We have lots of 20-somethings onboard here, too.

As Joyce says, be very happy that you're having an angio - considered the 'gold standard' of all cardiac tests. The test can confirm any coronary artery blockages (or lack thereof) that are impossible to detect otherwise. Whether you have blockages or not, you do need to know. I'm going in on Tuesday morning to have another angio myself for some niggly symptoms that my cardiologists need to check out.

Start researching. Knowledge is power. The more you know about this procedure, the more confident and less overwhelmed you'll feel. Here's a good place to start: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coronary-angiogram/MY00541

If you've suffered from anxiety, two things may be happening: anxiety symptoms can often feel like cardiac ones, and any cardiac problems you do have will be magnified by anxiety. Are you on meds for this?

Good luck - please keep us posted about how your angio goes.

XOXOXO


http://www.myheartsisters.org

Leahjet

Thanks for your replies.
As far as the Anxiety goes I havent been on anything yet as I have been breastfeeding my daughter and was concerned about exposing her to any meds.

I think I may have a little bit of depression too, but I am putting that down to the fact that this heart thing has really scared the heck out of me. Im too scared to go for a walk in fear my heart rate will increase and I'll keal over. Its Really aweful living like this. I feel like a walking time bomb yet on the other hand there could be potentially nothing wrong with me.

My DR gave me some Serepax the other day to calm me down a bit as I was starting to get panic attacks too. So I have been taking them for a couple of days.

My biggest concern is.... WHY what the ER dr say I had actually had a heart attack yet my specialist doesnt seem to think so... he certainly hasnt said that!

My DR is a very nice man and he when I asked him if the Angiogram hurts he replied "not the way I do it" which he smiled and winked afterwards which was kind of comforting and weird all in one.

I am the type of person though that a minor medical proceedure is like open heart surgery to me so actually now potentially facing a heart problem Im really rattled. And this whole angiogram thing... there are just so many HORROR stories on the net.

My Dr said I will be in LA LA LAND --- which sounds perfect!

I think I just need to hear that this is routine stuff...
Whats worse ? wisedom teeth being pulled in the chair or Angiogram?

One other concern I have is, can anything happen to you when you get home? Like a heart attack????????

Really - its not nice being afraid.

Kennarina

A wisdom tooth extraction can be kind of the same as an angio - in both cases, we are nervous and worried about how awful it might be, and afterwards, we say 'Oh, that wasn't so bad at all!"

Just remember that this test is a GOOD THING. A very good thing. Many women beg and plead for this test but it's not ordered for them. You will be in La La land in the cath lab especially if you mention to your doc ahead of time that you have a tendency towards anxiety. Be sure to say you are breastfeeding though so they know that whatever they put into your I.V. will be nice and safe for baby.

As for your post-op experience, it depends. Do you know if you're having a radial access (wrist) procedure, or a femoral access (groin) procedure? Here in Canada we do mostly radials. Easy peasey.

So far, I've never heard of an angio causing a heart attack after you get home. You're probably as likely to get hit by a bus, but you don't spend any time fretting about that possibility, right?

Your troponin levels were marginally elevated in hospital, which is likely why the ER doc mentioned the words 'heart attack'. Troponins are cardiac enzymes that usually are present in the blood only when the heart muscle has been damaged during a heart attack. But there are other rare causes for elevated troponins and that's likely why your other docs said 'not to worry'.

Lovely news that your doc has prescribed the Serepax. Depression is something that hits up to 65% of all heart patients, yet fewer than 10% are treated. You are on the right track. Have you considered going to talk to a counsellor? 'Cognitive Behavioural Therapy' is what's recommended for depression along with meds.

Now take a deep breath and go nurse your baby.... :-)

XOXOXO


http://www.myheartsisters.org

jay73

Hi Leahjet,
I had an angio nearly two years ago after having a heart attack at 34. You can have an echocardiogram (an ultrasound) which will tell the docs how your heart is 'moving' and if there are any areas that aren't it may be due to damaged tissue from a heart attack. If your heart is moving normally then it's unlikely that there's damage and you may have not had a heart attack. Kennarina's right the troponin levels will have steered the ER docs down the heart attack route.

An angio will show if you've got a block in an artery which is causing angina pain.

I didn't have any sedation for the angio and it didn't hurt and I can remember it all very clearly. (I watched most of it on the screen above me.) I was anxious and felt a little queasy but that was because my bp had dropped so they 'upped' the saline levels. I had a local anaesthetic in my wrist and then a catheter was placed in the artery. A small 'wire' was placed in the catheter and pushed round to my heart. Some 'dye' was injected into the artery which then showed my arteries on the screen and the cardiologist could see where the blockage was. (When the dye went in I was told I might feel like I was having a hot flush or had wet myself!) The image intensifier (big camera!) is quite close to your chest. The dye is iodine based so mention to the docs if you have any food allergies.
I had a 95% blockage in an artery so he then did an angioplasty (the 'wire' in the artery had a balloon on the end which was opened up and 'squashed' the blockage against the artery wall and then reinforced with some metal scaffolding to keep the artery open and the blood flowing. I felt a bit of 'pressure' in my chest when they were opening the blockage but I was warned about this by the cardio just before he did it and told me it was normal to feel some pressure). When that was done the catheter was removed and a wrist band full of air was put around the tiny cut where the catheter was. Over the next few hours the air was slowly released.
Some hospitals prefer to do the angio via the femoral artery (groin).
The whole thing lasted about 45 mins and within 5 mins I was back on the ward eating toast and drinking tea.
If I had to have another one in future I wouldn't hesitate. I think you will find the fear of having the procedure worse than the procedure itself!

After the angio ask if you can be referred to cardio rehab it will give you the confidence to start exercising again and that will help get those endorphins pumping and hopefully help you to start feeling better.
Good Luck
Jay

51bchan05

Hi leahjet-
As everyone b-4 me has said...angio is the best way to check out the heart. I was petrified to have my first one 4 year's ago. I started crying the minute he told me I needed one after flunking my stress test. I cried all night and the next morning b-4 the test. I was so embarrassed afterwards as I didn't feel a darn thing. NOTHING!!! I was awake and could talk but didn't feel anything. Don't be afraid. The anxiety is the worst part. I hope that everything turns out ok. Keep us informed.
Thinking of you,
Barb

gracie62

Leahjet:
I got my first stent at 39, second at 40, 41 brought triple bypass followed 18 days later by a heart attack. I lost count of the angios I have had after the 10th. You are lucky your doctor wants to do one. I was told over and over I did not need the procedure each time, despite my classic symptoms and a strong famiy history of heart disease. I had to fight for my life, literally. I have Prinzmetal's angina, as well as heart disease.

I have had a heart attack and multiple angios. If I had my choice, I would choose the angio every time over the heart attack. The drugs are much better! Seriously, you won't remember much - just bits and pieces and you will get a peace of mind you can get no other way. The laying flat for a few hours afterwards is hard on those of us that are type A's. I fought several nurses through the years to pee on my own and I haven't had a bleed yet (but I wouldn't recommend that to newbies at all).

The worrying before an angio is much worse than the procedure itself. You said "I am scared of doing the proceedure if its a waste of time." It is NEVER a waste of time. You will either discover your arteries are clear and you are okay heartwise for now and have peace of mind, or you will diffuse a timebomb within your body.

Take care and let us know how you are doing. I strongly urge you to look up both Prinzemtal's angina and coronary artery spasms. If they seem to fit, bring it up with your cardio. A lot of us in this community have this so called "rare" condition.

Dianna

Hany

Hi Leahjet

I had an angio about 3 weeks ago, I put it off for about a year because I had had troubles with another test and was so scared. The others are right , the anxiety is worse than the test itself. I didnt feel a thing. They gave a very minimal dose of sedative that took the edge off my nerves. Also did lots of deep breathing beforehand so was very calm. They saw a continous spasm in 2 arteries which blocked the blood flow and they opened up with intravenous nitro. I was suprized they saw that because I thought they needed drugs to provoke spasms. Anyway I would definately do the angiogram ,rather than sitting around suffering horrible symptoms ,wondering if you are having or gonna have a heart attack. Other tests can be inaccurate but with the angio you will know for sure if you have blockages.

best wishes

Hana

afargelli

I have had two angio's in less than 6 months. The first resulted in (1) stent the other was fine. I am telling you that fear is natural but this is the Gold Standard in detecting if you have a blockage.
The proceduere is not painful and you can be awake or asleep it is completly your choice.
There is tons of info on the internet that will explain the procedure to you.
You need to know one way or the other so that you can deal with a problem if there is one or find the source of your pain if it is not your heart.
IF you can not manage to do this for your self please think of your loved ones. REMEMBER we are all here for your support.

nanamo

welcome and hugs to you
i was 32 when i had my heart attack
and now 10 years later i'm still here fighting the fight
dont let anyone tell you ....... that your to young to have a heart attack or heart disease read some on here you will see they are wrong
dont let anyone dimiss you with abnormal or just borderline
the test is not bad and yes it will show what they need to do please make sure to take it easy and liek i said read younger women with heart disease you are not alone my dear
we are here for you great loving caring site
keep in touch so we know


god bless
surviving heart disease one day at a time
with trigger 04/08
for 10 years
nanamo

mysparetimedesign

Wow, at 46 I thought I was young...lol...but I too had problems and chalked it up to a cold, or anxiety and then went to Dr. on June 4 and July 24 had open heart surgery!
I was terrified of the angiogram I had on July 2, absolutely terrified, and today I can tell you I don't remember feeling anything and felt a little silly after it was all over.
I was having chest pains just before the procedure and was anxious so they gave me a Lorazepam, or a pill to calm me but it didn't put me to sleep at all. Then i went into the room for procedure and don't even remember them starting the incision or feeling anyting as the dye procedure was completed. In fact, I watched the monitors and could see where the "tubes" were in my body.
The hardest part for me was lying still...and I did have a slight complication after I got up from the hours of laying there, but it wasn't uncommon and just left me with a big bruise around the site.
Truly, I was terrified and didn't sleep for days before, and feel foolish now...it was nothing compared to what I was thinking was going to happen.
And it gave some much needed answers before much needed surgery....no blockages and my system was able to handle the much needed surgery....I am now four weeks post op and looking back thinking if I ever had to have another I wouldn't be concerned.
Good luck to you, and if it makes a difference, I've had years of dr. disagreeing with each others diagnosis and it's a terrible situation to be in and very unfair to you!
debbie

BevH

Hi Leahjet and welcome. I am so sorry you are experiencing these things at such a young age, but then there is a part of me (at amost 60) that is happy that you are perhaps getting these problems diagnosed and taken care of while you are so young. You are in good company here.
I had 3 angiograms in the space of 12 months and was lucky enough to have them done via my wrist. It is still a little rare but worked beautifully for me and as is done with the groin method I was in and out of la la land. I made sure I told them I was very anxious about this whole thing and they added extra meds to ensure my comfort. Indeed they were able to find and clear blockages that other methods had failed to really prove or disprove. You'll be fine and I'll make sure to say and extra prayer for you, as I'm sure all your heart sisters here will.

laurahc

Hi and welcome! Just adding another voice of reassurance--I'm 41, and had my heart attack and stents placed earlier this year, when I was 40 (at the end of March).

I had two angiograms in the hospital, two days apart--the first was to figure out what the &@$^ had happened, because I'm young and have no risk factors or family history. The angiogram showed a spontaneous coronary artery dissection that they fixed with six stents.

I was kind of-sort of awake for it; they gave me an anti-anxiety pill before sending me down to the cath lab, and while there, they had me on a combo Valium-Morphine IV drip, so I really was, as your doctor said, "in La-La-Land." :)

The only pain, and it was pretty minor, was when they first inserted the little tube for the catheter--even then, they put a local anasthetic at the site, which will either be in your groin if they go up through your femoral artery, or on your arm if they go in through your wrist (which is more common in Europe but doctors in the US are slowly starting to learn to do it that way).

I was able to mostly drift away--not really sleep (it's amazingly BRIGHT in those surgery rooms), but follow pretty colors in my mind's eye, that sort of thing. If I really *really* wanted to, I could force myself to focus on the doctors and what they were saying. Several people were holding my leg down to make sure it stayed absolutely still. There was discussion about how many stents to insert.

Other folks mentioned being able to watch their procedures; I had my glasses off and I'm blind as a bat without 'em, so that wasn't an option for me. ;)

The Valium-Morphine combo meant that I felt zero pain and had zero anxiety about any of it.

They did a second angio two days later to look around and make sure the stents were overlapping properly and that everything was healing up the way it should. Again, they gave me a Xanax (I think) beforehand, had me on the Valium-Morphine drip, and this time, even gave me a Benadryl in case I had a reaction to the dye.

The addition of the Benadryl knocked me out cold--next thing I knew, one of the interns had his hand on my shoulder, telling me they were done and that everything looked fine!

So please don't worry and fret about your angiogram. It'll give your doctor very valuable information for treating you, and there really isn't any pain.

And again, welcome to WomenHeart!

-Laura

laurahc

P.S. I should add--I did feel the rush of heat during my first angio when they injected the dye, but it wasn't unpleasant.

-Laura

Misty1482

Leahjet, I have had one done last year. I was 26 (at the time) so it was a little scarey. For the most part, the laying in bed and not moving for hours is the hardest. I think they made me lay for 6 hours, and instead of giving me a catheter, I got to use a lovely bed pan...lol. So much fun. They gave me some numbing med and went in thru my lower pelvic area above my leg. I still have a mark from it and its been a year. But it wasnt bad at all. I was just in shock still from being told I had a MI and they wanted to see how bad it really was. Best of luck.
Misty

joni54

Hi Leahjet,

As everyone has already said, the worry and anxiety is the worst part. I am 54 and had great blood pressure and my cholestrol was very good. Started having what I thought was acid reflux in my chest. Even went to a gastro dr, who had scheduled a endoscope. After going for a cardiac checkup, the dr. did not like the fact I was complaining of "heartburn" symptoms and told me to go for a nuclear stress test. It was the first one I ever had, and it was a life saver. It showed the blood flow to the front of my heart, he immediately sent me for an angiogram. Yes, I did not sleep, or eat for the weekend prior. Worst anxiety ever!! Long story shorter, had it done, I had over a 90% blockage in the LAD (main front artery), they cleared it out and put in a stent. The dr. doing the procedure was fantastic along with his team. I was given some meds for the anxiety which was a blessing and was able to watch the whole procedure. There was even a power outage, due to a bad rainstorm, but the backup generator kicked in, but even that did not effect my nerves. Have the procedure, if they find something they can immediately repair it, and if they do not find anything, the peace of mind will be priceless! God Bless you either way!! Take care of you, so that you can take care of your family!!

joni54

laurahc

Seconding the fact that lying prone afterward is perhaps the hardest part. They keep you flat on your back for a couple of hours, then you have to stay in bed for several more after that, and yeah, use a bedpan--it was my first time ever using a bedpan and at first, I couldn't make myself go. Then I imagined the face of someone I really didn't like being at the bottom of the pan, and suddenly everything flowed. ;)

A short time after the procedure is done, they'll send in someone young and strong and hopefully cute ;) to put hard pressure on the insertion site for about 15-20 minutes to make sure that a clot forms. That was kind of uncomfortable, but not seriously painful.

You'll do fine, and like everyone else has said, the peace of mind is definitely worth it.

-Laura

Leahjet

Hi everyone,
I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I do feel better about having the proceedure. I spoke to my Specialists Nurse today and she told me they will take good care of me and that they have losts of scared people. They seem like a really great medical staff so I think I will be in good hands.
Thanks again. I am so very glad I joined this forum.
Where else would I find ladies who really know where I am coming from.
Thanks x

mysparetimedesign

Please keep us posted, and sounds like you are in good hands!

Sarcasma40

Nothing that has to do with heart health is a waste of time!!!

Heart disease knows no bias, so family history and age can't be the determining factors any longer

Heart Disease starts in the first 10 yrs of your life, so factor eating habits as a child until present, stress both as a child and presently, do you do everything for your family while neglecting yourself, your needs, your ailments?

I am proud for you that you are getting this attention now... I had three heart attacks and triple by-pass at 38 and the cause did not happen over night. If I had paid attention and took serious the hints my body had been giving me for years maybe I wouldn't be a member of the zipper club now.

If you do end up having a cardiac issue, realize that you are winning half the battle and are extending your life by catching it early, getting treatment and making life style changes. You are going to live, get helthy and be there for your kids. This is not doom, this is good!

Love and Peace,
Stacey

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