Angiogram with contrast

As a dispassionate observer who wants the best outcome for everyone, including using cold, and old-fashioned, reasoning, I would say you may set yourself up for a ton or two of regret if you don't deal with this forcefully, determinedly, and in spite of misgivings and fear/anxiety. Putting things off generally gives them more time to take a stronger foothold, which in turn makes them more resistant to treatment. Things about the heart tend to progress, but not in the way you hope.

My cardiologist, over a three year period, asked me to submit to two separate MIBI stress tests on a treadmill. Each involved approximately the equivalent of 500 chest x-rays, and I was required to sign a waiver attesting that I had been advised of this and that I was willing to undergo the procedures notwithstanding. Included in the workups until an electrophysiologist agreed to ablate my left atrium were an MRI, chest x-rays, echocardiogram, and an angiogram, the latter of which requires exposure to fluoroscopy. So, I now glow in the dark. But, I'm happily responding to your post with my all marbles, now three years free of the atrial fibrillation that plagued me, thanks to an ablation.

About the worst you'll get is a 'hot flash' when they inject the contrast dye, or maybe you'll want to reach up and scratch your nose when in the CT donut...which you may not do.

Last thing, and it's just me: I gotstuh know. I read, read, read, watch videos posted by physicians and physician groups at symposia, and have learned that nobody can, or should, care more about what lies ahead for me than I. This means it is incumbent upon me to direct my time and energy toward resolving matters that arise and that threaten normalcy and peace of mind. This, in turn, means I must be realistic, pragmatic, and courageous when confronting things that will still be there if I turn my back on them, and then later look back to see if they have gone away. They never do. Mostly, they get bigger.

@gloaming thank you for the advice, I appreciate it. It's not like me to be anxious but as I was curious and started digging, I found a few posts on this site that gave me pause. But I am also not one to go the denial path or put off my health, so I do see the value in proceeding.
Side note--I also had a calcium score of zero 2 years ago, so I have a lower concern of anything being found--but nothing yet has explained my heart's weakened EF.

adding this--I am also allergic to shellfish--does that have any bearing on the contrast?

Hi @lizzyhope
I just had a CT angiogram 3 weeks ago when I landed in the ER with severe crushing chest, back, jaw and ear pain. I’ve had contrast so many times I don’t give it a second thought. It is a brief weird sensation if you’ve never had it. I also have BP on the low side and the nitroglycerin the paramedics gave me lowered it even more so they were watching carefully when they gave me nitroglycerin as part of the CTA. It dilates your arteries for a better image. They also said my heart rate needed to be under 65 which it was so I didn’t need meds to bring it down. If you’ve never had a CT scan, they are easy and go by quickly. You’ll need to hold your breath briefly a few times. Very easy. CTs are not long or claustrophobic like MRIs although I’ve had so many MRIs I just about fall asleep in the machine. Always let them know about any allergies before any procedure. You’ll do great! Praying for a good outcome for you.

I agree with gloaming about doing your own research and being your own advocate and case manager to help connect the dots between your various conditions and/or medical quirks. I always tell friends that no one has more time to dedicate to your case than you do so play an active role.

@californiazebra I wish I could give you a real hug for this! I have been praying about what I should do and your words and experience brought me such peace, thank you. I am sorry for your need for the ER. Sounds like you've been through a lot but have remained positive-that's such an encouragement. Bless you.

I won't go through my journey, because the steps I have taken have been basically covered by you and the previous responses. I can attest that the more data you have the better your decision will be. My only caution is, that with your thorough research you will come across conflicting positions. When I came to these dead ends, I was able to present my uncertainty with my Cardiologist who explained how the conflicting positions may have come about and how they would impact my situation.

About contrast : if you have kidney disease, maybe there’s a less stressful contrast….i was concerned about a different test, and will get IV hydration following my CT…general rule is hydrate more—day before, day of and day after your test, to help your body clear the contrast.

@lizzyhope It will be a valve problem possibly, not functioning up to snuff, or maybe hypertrophy of the left ventricle, perhaps due to some idiopathic condition, maybe genetics....but something has slipped, and imaging should help to pinpoint it.

@lizzyhope
Glad you've found your peace in this. Let us know how the test goes and what they learn from it. Blessings, Zebra

Well, I just got kind of a curve ball. I saw my endocrinologist today who I see for thyroid disease (plus some other endocrine issues). I've seen him for 20 years and he's one of those incredibly rare very wise doctors who spends 30 minutes talking with me. He has also always monitored my lipids. I asked him his thoughts and he felt a stress echo might be better AND prescribed me a statin for my LDL. My last 4 years LDL has been: 133, 100, 107 and most recently 94. I trust my endo more than anyone but I feel confused. My cardiologist (I just met, have seen twice) has never even discussed my lipids though he can see the latest on his portal from my primary Doctor. Now I'm wondering why he never suggested it. At my first cardiol. visit,after 1st echo, he prescribed jardiance + metoprolo. I asked to wait on the metro., and at the 2nd echo he said my bp is too low now for the metro., so just kept me on jardiance.
If anyone has time for input, I do appreciate it!