Has anyone ever had an angiogram? Does it hurt?
Oh, good Lord. You are talkeing to the king of angiograms and stents since I got my blood disorder!
Piece of cake, Iris. They always knock me out. Of course, my history is that I've witnessed a few other's tests over the years and when I asked the doc to show/explain my first one, I wanted to argue. Konk! He nodded at the nurse and I was out like a light.
They strip you down to nothing and shave half your crotch if going in the femoral artery, the first choice. Parkwest piles the blankets heated in the oven to keep you warm. Really, it is nothing to get worked up about because I have actually administered stress tests to folks
while they were having the angiograms. It is a very safe procedure that is well mastered by the medical community and so the test itself is nothing for you to worry about.
The biggest fear-factor is that of the unknown; not the test, but the results. I haven't come out of the 3,4 or so without stents, but I have clotting issues that you don't have. The docs have to do all this on me while I'm on Plavix, a blood thinner (whoopee). Granted, I feel your apprehension, but this thing is so routine nowadays it's like a tonsilectomy only more expensive. If you wish, they will konk you out. If you like, they will let you watch the "radar" screen as they work. They automatically konk me out so I won't say, "Hell, doesn't look like an 85% blockage to me!" (Again)
Call or PM me if you want any more specifics, hon.
Gregg
