I'm just trying to find out how many people out there had a bad time to their brain angiograms? and if so what were your reactions, side effects, and recover times? the more I read out here the more freaked and scared I get. I own and operate a small home daycare (10 kids) and an having my 1st angiogram Aug 9th, but need to be back on my feet the following monday, is that unrealistic or am I imagining it being worse then it is?
Scared!
Kathleen,
First, please speak with your doctor, as he/she is the only one who can give you the proper advice as to when you will be back on your feet after your angio. I can tell you that the restrictions I was given after my angios, no driving for 2 weeks and no lifting for 2 weeks, but every doctor has their own restrictions that they give their patients.
Please keep us posted on how you make out. We're here to help you through this!
Best wishes,
Linda
yes i agree w Linda z-i could not lift anything heavier than a newspaper for 24 hrs then only 5 lbs for a week or 2. i can say the procedure itself was EZ- biff bam boom done before i knew what happened- so dont worry
Hi Kathleen...I agree with Linda...and would like to add...you have to have some faith in who is doing your angiogram...and if you don't seek a 2nd opinion...everyone is different...
The anxiety of the test is worse then the actual test...unless you have some underlying problems ... ie., Me is allergic to the contrast ... and that causes me extra problems...
Cyber~thoughts your way ~ Colleen
Hi Kathleen.
The only painful bits about the angios I had were the sting of the local anaesthetic and the back ache from lying flat for 4 hours (the first) and 12 hours (the balloon occlusion test plus angio)! I didn't feel the catheter as they threaded it up from my groin. When they injected the contrast I had a hot feeling in my head and then various sensations as the contrast went around the brain. I saw blue flashing lights a bit like fireworks and tingling down my face, then the other side of my body. Not very pleasant, but not particularly unpleasant either. For the second one there was an anaesthetist there who gave me some sedation to make me feel relaxed. I wasn;t sure i needed sedation, but it did make it a little more tolerable. I had a bruise in my groin over the femoral artery both times which affected my walking a little. Unlike some of the others in the forum I was only advised to avoid driving for 48 hours and lifting heavy objects for about a week. I was already off work with symptoms from my giant aneurysm so its not possible for me to estimate how long you will need off. I think after the first angio I would have been mobile enough to return to work at 5 days. The second included a balloon occlusion test and it took me much longer to recover from that.
My aneurysm was big and enlarging rapidly so I only waited 4 days from diagnosis with the MRI to first angio. I didn't have much anxiety as it was clear it needed doing. I'm sure its harder for you as your have more time to think about it. It is good that they have found your aneurysm on screening, as you know from your family experience rupture is a much more serious event.
Judith