recently diagnosed eschemia and they want to do an arteriogram

[xboopersx]

I am contemplating a procedure called an arteriogram supposedly for taking pictures in my heart to establish any further proper procedure but am scared to death after hearing of so many who have had catherizations similar and yielding bad or questionable results, I have high blood pressure, extreme hypertension, atrial fibrillation, fibromyalgia, diabetes and am known to be a bad bleeder not to mention several other issues My question i guess would be: can anyone give me some kind of comfort or a good reason i should or should not have this done because quite frankly this is some scary  stuff
   thanks for your input

[xboopersx]

thank you oldie for your comments... glad you are doing well thanks for your response to my issue..I am slowly getting more and more confidence to proceed with this angiogram... I have 2 weeks from now to hear any more possitive input before i go under the knife.... still a little concerned with the bleeding issues i have and being a diabetic
                                                       God bless!

[oldie]

I
had a stress test with dobotamine Sept '09. Report said damage to heart wall suggesting probable trifascular blockage. I saw   four cardios hoping they'd get me off the hook. They didn't.. All said : Get a cath. it's the only real test to check your arteries. I fianlly did it five months ago. One stent in a 95% blocked RCA, the main right artery. No pain.  Italked to the doctor throughout and watched part of it on the same screen he was watching. I still have unpleasant symtpoms but I think they are the side effects of the medications. None of them seem related to the heart. I'm 82, bike 5kms a day and some quite tough work in a large garden. I have pretty bad off-days now and then but it's not my ticker.I'm all but sure.

[xboopersx]

thank you kenkeith for answering our question also..when the stress test was completed we had an appt to see the Dr a few days afterward he walked in and said that the stress test was not normal and that the blood pressure was elevated through the entire test to almost 300 at times so then he said that he wasnt sure what the problem was so he recommended the arteriogram to go in and take pictures to see what it might be that he didnt know yet but could be 1 of three things: blockage or to possibly persue a stent or to see if there was a need for open heart surgery. As you can imagine thoughts. immediately were omg how serious is this? ...the Dr seemed a little reluctant to explain much else ...maybe because there is more to it or because he did just come from some emergency at the hospital and that was the reason he was running an hour 1/2 behind that morning...either case he seemed a little short with answers that morning Maybe have another appt with him and possibly get more information? We dont know but still a little nervous about this whole ordeal.  Thanks for the feedback... this is so helpful

[kenkeith]

I had a stent implant about 6 years ago, and as I remember it is not an unpeasant experience whatsoever.  There may be a little feeling of warmth when injected with dye that occurs after the cath is in the area to be evalulated.  Don't let the fear of the procedure to impair your judgement....there is very little risk and no pain!

I will add that a cath is only necessary if there is going to be a stent implant or a coronary by-pass.  I'm not sure why there is a cath procedure after the stress test to take pictures unless there is going to be a stent implant,  but you commented the procedure is an arteriogram to determine any further procedure. If there is not going to be a stent, its not clear why you would have an interventional cath.

Because arteriogram can be other procedures than a cath, and it may be the doctor is referring to a less invasive procedure.  For another option,  "CT angiograms are completed using computed tomography technology.  (MRI may be used and is referred to as "MR" angiography.  Recent advances in computed tomography technology provide for highly detailed images, and CT angiograms are becoming more widespread as this new technology has made it possible to accurately evaluate small structures.  This is especially true in the small coronary arteries of the heart, which were almost always performed with catheter angiograms in the past".

If it has been decided by the doctor and you for a stent implant or bypass there are as good as or better vessel images and of the heart muscle and its functionality.  

[xboopersx]

thank you also for your comments.. very helpful because i have been so fearful of this procedure because i am a diabetic and suffer from extreme hypertension and have been known to be a bleeder...you have also eased my mind...thank you and God bless!
             xboopersx

[xboopersx]

from xboopersx...thank you for answering my question and yes i was diagnosed through the nuclear stress test... i have so many ongoing problems and alot i have`nt mentioned on here and because of this fact have been a little hesitant with even proceeding with this anteriogram... u have given me a little more confidence  thank you!   God bless!

[erijon]

Fly is correct, it is common to fear the unknown when the truth is really empowering. If you have problems, wouldn't you rather know so it can be treated? After all, if you have a blockage and don't treat, it won't go away just by sticking your head in the sand.

Like Fly, I also do volunteer work and most of the patients I speak to that were terrified by the prospect come out thinking "that's it, that's all there was to it?". Most say the worst part is the waiting afterwards.

Again, get the knowledge so you can take control over anything that's going on in your body. The risk is very small and thousands of these are done daily. You will read more about the bad experiences as people that have this procedure without issues don't post, they have no need so what you read on the Internet is slanted.

Good luck,

Jon

[Flycaster305]

The unknown is always scary, especially so when seemingly invasive procedures are involved with one's body.  I was extremely nervous the first time I had the procedure, but now when I have to have one, I consider it an inconvenience.  I've had eight or ten of the procedures, and have led to life-saving procedures as well a detailed understanding of the problems I have with my heart.
If you have extreme hypertension and diabetes, you certainly have cardiac risk factors.  Was the ischemia diagnosed by a stress test?  
I'm a volunteer in a cardiac wing of a hospital, and have interacted with literally of hundreds of people who have had the procedure.  The only problem anyone has reported is a bruise where the artery was opened.  The chances of a problem are very, very small.  You will have been given a medication that will make you goofy as a loon and you won't have anxiety during the procedure.
Proceed with confidence.