Help!!

[Lauren]

I know that I shouldn't be scared. I have to go in for a cathetrization? My Dr. is always trying to get me to do it, but now she is insisting. Can anyone give me some insight into what it is like. Im scared to death.

[SusanD]

Aw, Lauren, I'm sorry you are so scared ! It's hard to be brave when you don't know what to expect at all. What are her reasons for wanting to do a cath (I'm sorry, but I don't remember much of your medical history.) Here is what to expect with a cath:

When you are admitted they will start an IV and more than likely give you some meds to help you relax and feel sleepy. You will still be awake though. Depending on the cardiologist, they may or may not put a bladder catheter in you as well. I had a similar procedure done (EP study) and was not too happy about the catheter, but then became VERY glad after lying nervously on that skinny cold table for 45 minutes.

Anyway, after the meds are in and you are on the catheterization table, she will numb up your right groin area and then put a thin flexible catheter into the femoral artery. You will feel a bit of pressure as she does this, but it is not by any means *painful* (childbirth is WAY WAY worse, LOL !) and then she will slowly manuever the catheter up towards your heart. Once she gets to where she wants to be, she will inject some dye into the coronary artery system so she can see your arteries, how open they are,etc. and then she can also do a bunch of tests to measure the pressures in different areas of your heart and also your ejection fraction. You may even be able to see some of this on the screen as they do it. Some people say the dye flushing through their arteries causes a flushing or burning sensation.

Once the procedure is done, she will pull the catheter out and the cath lab staff will hold a lot of pressure on that artery to keep it from bleeding. Procedures vary from Dr. to Dr., so they may do this with a clamp device, may hold pressure manually or they may put some medication on it called Vasoseal that seals off the artery.

You will probably have to lie flat for a few hours and then depending on the results, you will either be kept there or sent home.

[Lauren]

Thanks for the info. It sounds lovely, I can hardly wait..LOL

[momofthree]

Hang in there Lauren. One of my hospital roommates while I was in had a cath. She had to lie still for 6 hours and then went home. NO moving so you don't start bleeding. But she did not complain of anything else but not being able to get around. Hope it goes really well...let us know. Alison

[Lauren]

I am a bleeder. I think it has something to do with me being a redhead. I heard that a few times at the hospital. I almost hemeraged with my first son. The thought of having something in my arteries makes me get chills. YUCK!

[carriep]

I was more terrified of the cath than of having heart failure. The thought of it made me a mess. But it was actually not too bad. I made them give me something to sedate me more than they actually did bc I was a mess. The worst part is when they put a clamp on the groin to stop the bleeding and then you have to lay for 6 hours. I cannot sit still ever. But I survived and once its done, you can move past it.
Good luck!

[Lauren]

Did you say heart failure? I can have heart failure from this procedure? I guess she forgot to tell me that part..eeeekkk!!!!

[Karen T]

Lauren....I think she was referring to our diagnosis of PPCM which leads to heart failure. Most of us were in "heart failure" when diagnosed but have since regained function.
I had a cath done a month after I was diagnosed, as I was not "improving rapidly". It really was no big deal. The hardest part was lying flat with a sandbag on my groin for 6 hrs. Does your doctor say what they are looking for? Refresh my memory, how long ago were you diagnosed and whats your current EF?
Karen

[Lauren]

Yes, I had CHF. I just thought she meant I could go into it again, from this procedure. I was diagnosed in February 2001. I was on a vent for five weeks before they figured out why I was having CHF. My cardio specializes in catheterization. That's why I think she is pushing me to do it. She says that she just wants to check for blockages.

[Karen T]

Do you have other risk factors? High Cholesterol? Strong family history?

[Lauren]

No Karen, I don't think so. When I was younger I was seen at St. Joseph's because I had alot of palpitations. They found nothing wrong with me. I drank alot in college but definitly not enough to be considered high risk. I'm not sure what her reasoning is..she still doesn't ever say the word PeriPartum Cardiomyopathy, she just says dilated cardio myopathy..The first time i heard peripartum was when i was diagnosed at Dartmouth, I'm not sure she believes in our disease???

[Lauren]

I went to my appointment w her yesterday afternoon. I asked her straight out, why she didn't use the term peripartum, she was like it's all the same thing...I got pissy and she said fine, fine, I'll call it whatever you want me to...It made me happier.LOL