Mended Hearts Open Forum

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  • 1.  heart catheterization

    Posted 08-06-2018 08:40
    I had a heart cath done last Monday (July 30th) using my left wrist. As of today, which is a week later it still feels like someone beat my forearm with a blunt hammer. Its not black and blue, but it hurts! Has anyone else had similar discomfort? Is this normal? Thanks MH community!
    -Chris

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    chris rhoads
    maintenance director
    land clearing specialists
    beaver PA
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  • 2.  RE: heart catheterization

    Posted 08-07-2018 09:27
    Hi Chris.  When I had my first cath, the doctor went through my right wrist.  For over a week, my wrist felt like it was broken.  It was just over two weeks before I had no discomfort in my wrist.  I'm glad your wrist is not black and blue.  That indicates healing.  As a suggestion, if you experience swelling around the insertion area, call your doctor.  I wish you well in your recovery.

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    Al Voss
    Mended Hearts of Southwest Georgia, Chapter #165
    Albany GA
    arvoss@aol.com
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  • 3.  RE: heart catheterization

    Posted 08-07-2018 16:20
    I relatively recently experienced two heart caths, one from the groin, and one from the wrist. I had no after effects from the wrist procedure, and only minor healing pain from the groin procedure.

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    Michael Weeks
    The Villages FL
    (352) 751-7018
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  • 4.  RE: heart catheterization

    Posted 08-08-2018 14:16
    ​I had a very peculiar cath experience.  I had a heart attack on February 12, 2018 and the emergency room doctor told me they would do a cath once the cardiologist arrived that evening, and would determine whether I needed a stent.  I have no memory of being prepped for the cath and no memory of the cath itself, except that I was told, afterwards, that I had major blockages in five coronary arteries and was being scheduled for quintuple bypass surgery at 6:30 am the next morning.  I remember calling my wife to let her know, texting my teenaged daughter to tell her that I would be okay and home in a week or so and vaguely recall a nurse telling me to keep my leg straight for a couple of hours.  My next memory was being rolled to the OR and prepped for the CABG surgery.  I woke up two weeks later, having ben kept sedated and on a ventilator that whole time due to having contracted pneumonia and a c diff superbug infection.  During the two weeks that I was sedated, I was hallucinating continually, and the hallucinations continued periodically for several days after the doctors finally woke me.  It took me another three weeks at Kessler inpatient rehab (where I learned to walk again) before I pieced together my experience.  The cath experience never entered my thoughts and any pain or discomfort I might have experienced under more normal circumstances had long since healed.  I did kiss my front door when I finally came home six weeks after my heart attack (I would have kissed the ground but for my sternal restrictions at the time).

    Best wishes and good health to all.

    Ira

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    Ira Reid
    Hoboken NJ
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  • 5.  RE: heart catheterization

    Posted 08-09-2018 10:01
    Ira   Yours is one of the most challenging histories I've ever heard.  I wish you a smooth recovery.

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    Ralph Fortson
    Tampa FL
    (813) 968-1170
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  • 6.  RE: heart catheterization

    Posted 08-10-2018 14:48
    ​Thanks, Ralph.  It's now been about 6 months since the surgery, and I've been working and been back to the gym (a normal gym, not a rehab gym) for the past three months and am doing quite well.  I'm not nearly 100% yet, but I always was an athlete, even into my sixties, and I'm finally again able to do some pullups, handstand pushups and even running a bit (more like the slow trot of a lame horse).  The young bucks still call me "sir" and I still look around wondering if they're talking to someone else.  I'm 40 pounds lighter than pre-CABG, got brand new plumbing inside my chest, scars that I wear with pride like tattoos, and have the confidence that only someone who has cheated death and knows that the borrowed time he's living on is pure gravy can experience.  I even get to drive my daughter to start college in two weeks.  What could be better than that?

    All the best,

    Ira

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    Ira Reid
    Hoboken NJ
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  • 7.  RE: heart catheterization

    Posted 08-09-2018 06:06
    Thanks Al. Its still hurting pretty bad. Ive been applying ice, but it doesn't seem to be helping. If it doesn't go away after another week Ill go back to my doctor.

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    chris rhoads
    maintenance director
    land clearing specialists
    beaver PA
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  • 8.  RE: heart catheterization

    Posted 08-17-2018 11:19
    ​Hi Chris, Just wondering if your wrist is finally feeling better? Hope you are doing well.

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    Bridie O'Hagan
    Dumont NJ
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