heart catheterization

[Mary W. Mathis]

Can anyone tell me about their experiences with heart catheterizations? My
husband had one five days ago and I'm wondering how long it takes to feel
normal again. He did not have an actual heart attack, but angina required
the heart cath and they found a 70% blockage requiring a stent.

thanks.

[Frank Griffin]

Mary

After my cath, I took me about a week to feel normal again. I found walking
for the first week troublesome. I think they hit a nerve when they went in,
causing some discomfort for the first week. Then I was fine.

Best Regards

Frank

--
"Mary W. Mathis" <makeast...@home.com> wrote in message
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[Don Stevens]

Different strokes for different folks!!! I had no problems and was back to
normal in a couple of days.
don

"Mary W. Mathis" <makeast...@home.com> wrote in message
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[CLR]

I had failed my Stress Test miserably and when they did my Cath they found
one 100% blockage and two 90% blockages and sent me right to a room to await
my Triple Bypass two days later......I never even got to have a cigarette in
between <grin>.......after the operation my Surgeon said "Mr Roberts, you
really should stop smoking".......and as I lay there with a 14" gash down my
chest and three tubes running out of me, I said, "I just did Doc, it's
EASY"...........lol......prayers and best wishes to your Hubby Mary.......

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3

"Mary W. Mathis" <makeast...@home.com> wrote in message
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[Bob Landes]

I had a heart tx. in July of 99. Since that time I have had thirteen or
more caths both R&L. My wife and I just discussed numbers and think we
probably listed to few. After transplant the majority of these have been
heart biopsy. But I have also had the full instrumentation package to
measure everything possible 6 times, we think.
Most of these are done through the groin, however I have had 6 through the
neck. I am able to leave the tx. center within a few hours if the site is
in the neck. Groin catherization site requires up to 6 hours post test
before I can leave.
At first, I thought that these tests didn't disturb me to much. Now I know
that they cause quite a few problems. I almost always have multiple PVC's.
Site discomfort (PAIN) increases each time. Apprehension is not any worse
with accumulation of higher test numbers. I have found if I eat at all Post
test within 24 hours that I have problems with digestion. Usually I
experience muscle cramps in my chest muscles. And I have a permanent demand
pacemaker since transplant. Within a minute of the start of the
catherization my heart begins to run on the pacemaker only. Sometimes I
have mild chest pain also during this time, but it usually resolves on it's
own within 24 hours. I know that I have probably bored all with this long
post, but I don't think I've ever discussed this with other heart patients.
During biopsy a piece of heart muscle is taken from each chamber of my heart
for testing.
Long story short is that I now feel it actually takes 2-3 full days before
all the little problems resolve. I used to tell my family I was fine as
soon as I got back to recovery but the truth is different.
God bless all on this site, I pray for all of us to appreciate the
additional time afforded by going through the pain necessary to have a
reasonable quality of life.
Bob Landes Heart tx July 03-99
Mary W. Mathis wrote in message ...

[Dick Hauser]

>
> Mary W. Mathis wrote in message ...
> >Can anyone tell me about their experiences with heart catheterizations? My
> >husband had one five days ago and I'm wondering how long it takes to feel
> >normal again. He did not have an actual heart attack, but angina required
> >the heart cath and they found a 70% blockage requiring a stent.
> >
> >thanks.
> >
> >

Had the same proceedure done Feb16th. My blockage was about 90%, though. Took
about 3 days before I felt relaxed enough to test out exercise. In the week
after the proceedure I carefully walked a few blocks (mabe a mile) and although
I "noticed" all kinds of feelings, I think most were not directly related to
the proceedure. I was just more aware than before. Took about two weeks
before I felt that I could exercise strenuously. I'm not running yet, but I
expect to get that into my schedule next week because long fast walks are
feeling good. It seems a lot like just getting back into shape, (duh).

For what its worth, a psychologist that I know said that about 80% of the
people that go through a major heart trauma suffer some kind of panic attack in
the subsequent months.