Now I Need an Angiogram!

[Red from Canada]

What Next!  I need to rant.  I was supposed to have hip replacement surgery tomorrow.  They just needed clearance from my heart doctor.  Well, he did a cariolit/persantine stress test....and cancelled my surgery because I have more blockages in my heart!  Has anyone had an angiogram done while on peritoneal dialysis.?  Will it affect my dialysis at all.  I thought I was scared of the hip surgery but now I'm really frightened.  Anyone have any encouraging words??

[rose1999]

Hi Red.  You'll be fine, try not to worry.  My Dad had one in June (he's 79 and lives in UK but I guess an angiogram is the same wherever!).  It made no difference to his dialysis they did it on a day between (he's on HD). He was fine having it and then it resulted (as expected) in a major femoral distal artery bypass.  He's made a great recovery.  I'll have my fingers crossed for you, but honestly he was FINE 
All the best
Rose xx

[Black]

Be sure your docs know the following information.  You may want to go to the site and print out the whole page for all of them.

http://www.kidney.org/professionals/KDOQI/guidelines_cvd/guide2.htm

"...

2.4 Special considerations in dialysis patients regarding CAD evaluation include the following: (C)

2.4a To minimize the risk of potential volume overload from the performance of angiographic studies, iso-osmolar radiocontrast media (e.g., iodixanol) should be used.

2.4b Some dialysis patients have residual renal function; there are no data on the value of “nephroprotective” strategies to reduce the potential risk of contrast nephropathy in these patients. The use of N-acetylcysteine (and iodixanol) is appropriate in dialysis patients with residual renal function, as both may offer benefit without known harm. Sodium bicarbonate and hydration are not routinely recommended, as intravascular volume expansion may pose risk to dialysis patients with increased cardiac filling pressures.

2.5 In patients undergoing invasive coronary procedures, it is important to avoid internal jugular sites and to preserve brachial and radial arteries for future dialysis catheter and arteriovenous fistula creation, respectively. (C)

2.6 Patients undergoing planned invasive procedures for evaluation or treatment of CAD should be assessed for hemorrhagic risk and presence of anemia, as anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet agents may be administered adjunctively for percutaneous coronary intervention. (C) ..."

Good luck, hope it goes well.





EDITED: Removed double post - Sluff/ Admin

[Danally]

My dad had an angiogram while he was on dialysis. He then had a quadrupole bypass and he made a great recovery. Good luck to you.

[Red from Canada]

Thanks you all for the encouraging words and for the info.  I am still waiting for a call with the appointment and will let you know how it goes.

[Sluff]

I hope the angiogram goes well for you. Find the problem and fix it. You'll feel much better. Good luck 

[bolta72]

Best of luck to you.

[Black]

What's happening, Red?  Hope you're doing okay.  Had the angiogram yet?  Hip surgery rescheduled?

[Red from Canada]

I am still waiting.  I called the heart  doctors office and was told that the hospital would call me when they had an appointment.  It's been over 10 days now and I've heard nothing!  I don't think busy doctors take into consideration that the "patient" is sitting here, scared stiff of dying before they get anything done!  I will let you all know when I finally hear.   If it's within a  6 month range, they can reschedule my hip: if not I have to start all over.

[paris]

Red, I am sorry you have not heard anything. Waiting is the worst part. Our minds just keep worrying and nothing is being done.   Hope you hear something by Monday

[goofynina]

I wouldnt wait for them to call me, i would be calling on a daily basis until they got so sick of me they squeezed me in somewhere.  Dont give up and dont be scared to raise a little hell when ya need to, believe it or not, that is what we have to do sometimes to be heard and to get things done.  Good Luck. 

[Rerun]

That is Canada and Socialized Medicine.  They will get to you when they get to you.  Same here in the US except we have freedom of speech and can call and bitch.

[Black]

That is Canada and Socialized Medicine.  They will get to you when they get to you.  Same here in the US except we have freedom of speech and can call and bitch.

 

[Black]

I am still waiting.  I called the heart  doctors office and was told that the hospital would call me when they had an appointment.  It's been over 10 days now and I've heard nothing!  I don't think busy doctors take into consideration that the "patient" is sitting here, scared stiff of dying before they get anything done!  I will let you all know when I finally hear.   If it's within a  6 month range, they can reschedule my hip: if not I have to start all over.

Oh, don't you just HATE the waiting!       I forgot you have to deal with the slowness of the health care system there.    Hope you hear something soon.

[Amanda From OZ]

All we seem to do is wait! argh!

I hope they get this sorted out soon.

Amanda
xxoo

[Red from Canada]

Hello All,  Well, I have finally got an appointment for my Angiogram.  Pre-op Thursday and on Friday morning they will do the deed.  I sure hope this works!  Dialysis seems the least of my troubles at the moment..  Please keep your fingers crossed for me.  Thanks
       Dennise

[okarol]

  Good - hang in there! I hope things progress smoothly from here on.

[Black]

My first thought was. "You're having pre-op done on Thanksgiving?  Your docs must work really hard."  Then I remembered you're in Canada.  

Hope it goes well; keep us posted.

[Red from Canada]

Well!  After all the anxiety etc., they did the angiogram on Friday and said that while one artery is 100% blocked, my heart has made its' own natural bypass, and I will now be able to reschedule my hip surgery.  Thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement.  Thanks to Black for the info too.

[Black]

  Good news!!    Now let's get the rest over with soon.   

You are most welcome for the info.  That's one of the best things about this site.  Everyone shares info and we all benefit.

[ODAT]

wow, great news. wish my mom's did that. she had 95% blocked and they put in a cypher stent. she had a major reaction to something either plavix, stent itself, meds on the stent, or the polymer. No one could tell us for sure what but she looked like she had a sunburn and was on steriods for two weeks. Now her skin is coming off in chunks. The dye from the angiogram made her creatine rise from 3.5 to 4.9! It went back down to about where it started though. What kind of dye did they use on your procedure?

[okarol]

Wow that's amazing that your body just rerouted when needed. Hope things progress smoothly now. 

[rose1999]

That's fantastic Red.  Hope all goes well from now on.