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I need a heart cath done and a echo for checking my heart valves.
I went to my cardiologist yesterday and she ordered a heart cath and echo of the heart to check the valves. My lungs still feel heavy which she said is pressure in the chest. She doubled my Lipitor to 40 mg. She also put me on a new blood pressure pill. She ordered nitroglycerin pills for my chest pressure. I’m kind of nervous never having a heart cath. What should I expect? Any tips would be appreciated.
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@riflemanz64 Whatever you see anywhere, or hear, follow the prescriptions and instructions of your surgical team. Post op care is nothing to be trifled with, as many a patient who took shortcuts has learned.
My instructions were that I was to avoid stairs and bending the knees, like getting on the floor, for 48 hours, and that I was not to strain with weights heavier than 4kg (ten pounds) for five days.
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1 ReactionI will definitely follow the post op instructions.
@riflemanz64
You are sedated; you just aren't totally unconscious. You are in kind of a twilight phase so very relaxed. It is no big deal. The biggest concern is to make sure not to do anything that would cause bleeding to occur where they go into either the wrist or groin for a few days after the procedure.
@riflemanz64
I had a cardiac cath done 2 years ago at 79 before an aortic valve replacement. Uneventful.
The postop restrictions are to ensure healing at the site where they inserted the catheter.
I believe they told me beforehand that if necessary a stent would be placed. I did not need one.
The cardiologists are very experienced doing this procedure.
I get my cath done on December 10, 5:30 am. They told me that they would use the balloon or stents if I need them. I’m now on diltazem for BP and chest pressure and it really has worked great. They also gave me nitroglycerin. Lipitor was doubled to 40mg.
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1 ReactionCath was done this morning at 8:30am. I was wide awake and watching the monitors which was cool. I was talking to my nurses and doctors during the procedure. It took all of 6 minutes for the doctors to view my arteries. All was clear and good. I loved the professionals who worked on me. This was really simple. Longest part was the waiting after. They did use my right wrist for entry. Thanks for everyone’s experience on this procedure.
I had a heart cath in 2014 while preparing for a surgery to replace my aortic valve. They did mine the same as yours--going through the right wrist. I also had a pleasant experience, although mine was much longer than yours (they couldn't find one artery at first). Also, there was a storm going on during my procedure. It didn't cause any problems, though. Afterwards, they asked me what I wanted for breakfast, and since I didn't have any cholesterol problems, I could order anything I wanted. Like your procedure, mine also was pleasant and the staff was congenial.
My most recent catheterization was through the wrist. I had conscious sedation - so you are awake but I couldn't feel the procedure. It was a piece of cake compared to the bypass operation. The echocardiogram is just a scan with an ultrasound. Quite easy. I didn't have lifting restrictions but I'd follow doctor's orders of course.
Best of luck. This is the easy part.