Help me with fear of angiogram

I have had a catheter in my arm for angioplasty and two stents put in and from what I read angiogram is pretty much the same thing but a little longer procedure because they are not in a rush to save your life . I had no reactions to the dye as far as I can remember but I remember the horrible pain in my arm where they put the catheter in . They had plastic postal parcel like ties holding some kind of cloth down and wrapped so tight I swear it felt like it was going to snap the bones in my forearm and they wouldn't losen it for hours . What if they want to go through the groin area will that be as bad or worse . Someone who has been through it please tell it will be okay but don't lie I want to know the truth . I don't take anesthetic well so I'd rather be awake and I won't take psychiatric calming drugs either but would choose them over being put to sleep infact I would refuse being put to sleep . I was awake durig my angioplasty and I'll be awake for the angiogram . you have to understand I have had enough of hospitals and want as few drugs from them as possible... none if at all possible.

Thanks

I think I have had 7 all together, I had 4 in one week. after the third one in the same area got a bit sore. But having one done is not bad at all.It hurts a bit when they put pressure on the groin area to stop the bleeding. but nothing that is unbearable. sounds as if the arm maybe worse then the groin. Im not sure about other Dr. but mine wont put you to sleep to do it because they have you move your head at different times.The only thing I had was numbing at the entry area. But if you are upset about it they will give you something to calm you down.kind of cool to watch.

My Sister had to have an agio through the groin to clear her heart for surgery.  It was a walk in the park she said compared to some of the other tests she has had.

She is 68 with ovarian cancer Stage IV and she had no complications.

I will say a prayer for you.

Kitt

I am also afraid of angio...

I am small-built and when doctors are withdrawing my blood, they have to use the smallest needle possible and even then some say my veins are just too small. Which makes me worried that there might be problems with the catheter..

And also I am afraid of the healing time being more than a day because I cannot afford to be off work for long, neither can I just rest because I have to take care of a toddler when I'm at home.

Also afraid of anything going wrong, because doctors don't really know what's wrong with me (hence the angiogram to find out)...

Oh, I'm 26.

Argh!

Just gotta let that out

either I scare my heart or my heart scares me while I keep wishing it would just work properly, last night mild pain like an ache which got a little worse at times but its like a feeling of something ready to happen its been like this for days on end and its frustrating because I can't seem to shake it off like I usually can . I don't want to go back to the hospital I hate going there . I really need life to get back to normal good greif I have young kids ...if they were older it would be much different but they are only 2,6,and 8 .

I found out yesterday the angiogram will be sitting on the shelf for now and I will be getting a Dipyridamole Cardiac Perfusion test (radioactive liquid fed into mt heart for pictures )instead to see whats going on .

I woke up really early today at about 4:50 am and forced myself to stay awake because I don't feel like I was falling back to sleep I felt like I was passing out kind of like turning off or loosing consciousness so I resisted sitting up about a half dozen times until I finally just got up . I'm pretty tired anyone feel like that its aweird feeling its happened one other time this week .

Johnny,

I hope things will go well for you. I know what it feels like to have the pain and not knowing what is wrong.

How are you feeling now?

Please, please update us.

Pinks

Pinks -- heart caths (angios) are done on patients as young as newborns. So although you personally don't know anyone your age or younger that has undergone one, the physician likely has experience in doing caths on patients of all ages. He/she will choose the right size catheter for your situation. As I said above, they used a child's catheter for me and if that's necessary they'll use a child's catheter for you. Discuss your fears with your physician.

I had an angiogram through the groin area. Out of all of the heart tests it was the easiest in my opinion. They numbed the groin area and gave me IV lorazapam to calm me so I would be relaxed and not move during the test. I watched the entire test, live action, and visited with the staff as they were performing it. After the test was complete they placed a "plug" in the insertion point and layed a heavy blanket on me so I would not move that area for a number of hours until the plug set and no bleeding could occur. I went home the same day with no restrictions other than no sexual activity for 48 hours. In my opinion, I wish that was the heart test they would have started with, rather than save it as the last.

-Soul