My Dad had an angiogram about 3 weeks ago. He was injected with a local anaesthetic in the top of his thigh, so that they could access his heart via his femoral artery. He had been given a valium before hand, but admitted later that he probably didn't need it as there was no discomfort, plus he found the whole thing fascinating - they let him watch on the screen! A thin catheter was fed in from the leg, and then, once it reached the heart, a dye was injected. The procedure took about 25 minutes, and after a cup of tea and a snooze he was told to go home (my stepmother drove). He had a bit of a bruise at the top of his thigh, but that was all he had to show for it.

add on just wondering if there is anything I can do to help myself? I know loosing weight will help take strain off heart , but anything else vitamins,food, swimming?

Amethsytfairy:(

add on just wondering if there is anything I can do to help myself? I know loosing weight will help take strain off heart , but anything else vitamins,food, swimming?

Amethsytfairy:(

There is a lot you can do dietwise, do cut out processed foods because they're high in salt and sugar, cut down on booze, and don't smoke if you do. Cut right down on red meat, and eat plenty of fish and chicken, but make sure the chicken is outdoor raised because it's lower in fat. Have veggie days where you have no meat at all, and eat fresh fruit everyday. Drink plenty of water, and avoid coffee and coke completely.

It's important to do exercise, but it's essential that you talk through what and how much exercise with your GP.

Myarka.

I had 2 angiograms earlier this year, and to echo what Jabba says, there really isn't anything to worry about. In fact, I found the whole experience fascinating!

As with Jabba's dad, a local anaesthetic in the thigh, the tube inserted in the femural artery and then you can watch on the screens as the dye is injected and you follow it round the heart. There may be a little dicomfort as it is pretty invasive having someone jiggling about around your nether regions, and the iodine is cold, but it is very minor, and far outweighed by the benefits.

Previously I'd had cariograms, ecgs, ultrasounds and they didn't show anything, but the 1st angiogram showed a narrow circumflex artery which required immediate angioplasty (stent), and a 2nd angiogram showed 2 more slightly narrow arteries. No decison has been made as to where we go from here, although my cardiologist has said he'd be very reluctant to insert more stents.

I was, however, kept in overnight on both occasions.

Hope that's helped put your mind at ease, any questions please feel free to PM me.

Hi amethystfairy

As everyone has said it really is nothing to worry about. Angiograms (including the heart vessels) are a very commonplace procedure and other than possibly a bit of bruising pretty much side effect free. As with any procedure you need to talk through all the ifs and buts with your consultant but my dad has had a couple of balloon angioplasties to his femoral artery and is regularly playing golf etc without problems.

You will need to have someone drive you home as you will have had light sedation and will be advised how to take care of the puncture site so if you live alone and have no-one who can stay with you you might be advised to have an overnight stay but that will vary from hospital to hospital.

As mentioned above some centres will let you watch and the consultant may even talk you through exactly what is on the screen. Fascinating and somehow this helps most people.

Don't worry you'll be fine. Myarka's advice re self care is excellent and you may find just doing some extra walking or other gentle exercise enough for the time being. As suggested discuss this with your GP.

Hi AF, you must be feeling a little shocked after today's news 🙁 Hope you feel better soon. I'm sure when the shock is gone you might feel a bit more positive about the angiogram. You will do just great x

thanKs for all your replies< I am ok now. just have to think of lot of people have gone through this with no problem and be positive about it, BUT there is no way I am going to look at the screen ugh no thanks! will look to one side ! and no commentary either lol!

just have to grin and bear it it is just I hate hospitals!

have decided to try to loose weight( for the umpteenth time) but that has made me think seriuosly about it for once so will have to eat what i like within reason and not buy rubbish like crisps and chocs.

Amethystfairy:)

it's so hard losing weight, in my opinion, one easy tip for me was to stop using butter with everything, even sambos...i didn't even miss it when i put loads of lovely salady stuff on it. I lost some weight with that and by walking 20 mins everyday on my lunch break too....and i still had my packet of crisps every day lol.
best of luck with it x

today just realised I had forgotten to tell the cardiologist about my pains the day after gardening and supporting a drunk friend around and up the stairs. bah! why doesnt my GP tell him then so that i wont forget, why do they want to know what is the matter with me when they should have the info from my GP?

likewise went into hospital again yesterday for my vertigo he also wanted to know what was wrong with me and of course I had forgotten to tell him somthing, next time i will write it down!

wonder if I will be naked for an angiogram? assume topless but for the groin area?

have started eating bit less but eat when I want to ( hungry) wont help what I have got but at least less strain on heart.

Amethsytfairy:)

No, you shouldn't be naked for the angiogram. You should have a gown on, and will be given some really funky paper pants to wear. They will be ripped slightly once the procedure begins for the assistant to apply iodine, but the more intimate parts should still be covered. The area around your groin should be shaved though.

Andy. :hug:

xx

No, you shouldn't be naked for the angiogram. You should have a gown on, and will be given some really funky paper pants to wear. They will be ripped slightly once the procedure begins for the assistant to apply iodine, but the more intimate parts should still be covered. The area around your groin should be shaved though.

Yup, when I had mine, I was told in advance to shave my bikini line... unfortunately, never having worn a bikini, I shaved the wrong place. You might know more about bikini lines than I did! You'll be lying on a trolley (covered to protect your dignity), surrounded by experts and machines that go beep, and it's very reassuring.

Do take the opportunity to watch if you can. I seem to remember the consultant saying: "Ah, there are your kidneys... they look fine. There you are: a kidney consultation thrown in for free!"

And don't forget that you won't feel anything inside you, apart from the rush as the chemical is injected, because it goes up an artery - and arteries don't have nerves.

You'll be fine!

Thanks by the way I am eating less because of flu/ very nasty cold.not the way I wanted to loose weight but I wouldnt be surprised if my metabolism slowed down and haven't lost that much anyway!

had this thought what if there is a blockage in the artery and the dye pushes it up into the heart?

I am reassured by the replies,thanks for your experinces.

got this reply from heart helpline and they said when people with mild leaky valve get older( thats me thinking I wasnt !)the valves do get worse and exercise helps and they have included 2 booklets that i have to download and print I think, will ask daughter to help!( that shows how old I am ha!):D

Amethystfairy:)

got letter today the procedure will be on13th January ! 8.00am. dont know how I am going to get there lol.i expect one of my siblings will help.the booklet useful but the risks put me off a bit so wont think too much about this.good this there will be pre assessment on 17th so i will ask lot of questions. yes wear paper pants how glamourous! also shave the night before!

now to have a good christmas and put this in the back burner for now!

Amethystfairy:)

I think it's best to forget about it until the time.... no point in worrying, i'm sure you will find the docs etc will put your mind at rest at the pre-assessment.

If you do worry, make sure to post though so you are not keeping everything in x

went in for preasessment wiht nurse took one hour!went over what will happen and told me three things what would happen 1, dr decide the valve is ok for now and maybe do nothing or give me medication 2 if dr thinks it needs treating i have to go to St Georges hospital for angioplasty and stent that point i burst into tears:012: silly me! so she never told me the third thing.anyway i know lot more now and bit more reassured.now for xmas celebrations.....

Amethsytfairy:)

oh you poor thing....I hope you really are a bit more reassured so you can enjoy the festivities...take it easy with plenty of self-love. best wishes x

Thanks I am a bit of a coward!

Amethsytfairy:)

you are not a coward! you just value your health x

well it is on tomorrow!
wish me luck!

wont go on hp tomorrow as have to dash off at 7.30am. so will report back in the evening or day after.

Amethsytfairy:023::eeeK::030::001:

You'll be fine:), it's my turn for another one on the 23rd!

take care.

Andy. xx

Good luck - be positive and enjoy the fact that so many trained and professional people are concentrating all their attention on you!

best of luck tomorrow AF, try to relax as much as you can. Will be thinking of you x

Thanks all. it is done no need to do anything . go back next year . got this awful bruise on my thigh/groin!
bad start but after they put tube in groin was ok from then! had to have more injection to make area numbe then the dr tooka ges to find right place then gave up top dr had to do it he found the spot quickly!!

just relieved it is all over!!

Amethsytfairy:):D

glad it's all over for you now 🙂 take it easy

Well had to go back to hospital last night as there was a lump on upper thigh and the wound bleeding a bit spend over 2 hours in casualty ending up with new dressing and being told the lump is haemotema!silly dr put paper dressing so cant have shower.suppsed to be like clingfilm dressing.

today taking it easy.still feeling washed out.

Amethsytfairy:)

So Yorkman,

How did it go?

Amethystfairy:)

Hiya,

Just had a bit of a scare actually, nothing to do with the angiogram as such tho! Had chest pains Friday night, so was admitted into hospital sharpish, assuming that it was an angina attack. Luckily, having had the angiogram so recently, the cardiologist discounted angina fairly quickly this time, but sent me for a CT scan and diagnosed a pulmonary embolism, a huge blood clot on one of my lungs!

So, I've been in hospital all week (again!) and waiting for the docs to sort my warfarin dosage out. I can't praise the docs and nurses here in Chesterfield enough, they're fantastic!

Oh dear what a nuisance! I have had this too!one week after my caeserian years ago and had to stay in hospital for one week on heparin drip boring! and then warfarin for while .... hope you be better soon. drinking water thins the blood and donating blood is another trick to thin the blood!( but not when on warfarin i dont think)
glad your hospital is great mine was boring!!
take care,

Amethsytfairy:)

Dear all

Having had a couple of heart attacks...god angiograms bring back horrible memories!!!...that awful pain afterward, to stop the bleeding, with that air pressure ball thingy, laying there for hours, immobile..and thinking for every minute...that through the pain...just how lucky I am to be able to feel it!...be strong, all of you, and know that we can get through all of this