Hi folks,
It is time for my 3 year post-op Angiogram. They went through my femoral artery before. I am going to have to fly to another state to have it done and fly back.
Questions:
Can I walk the next day?
Can I fly home the next day or 2 after?
Can I hike?
I am a pet sitter. How long after having it done can I start picking up stuff/bending over and walking a lot?
I will ask the doctor these questions if I can ever get a hold of them, but in the meantime, if you know please answer so just I can get a general idea.
Thanks!
Clare
I’m not sure how some of the entries are being missed @trehard. I will reach out to ModSupport. I hope you faired well
All the best,
Moltroub
I just had an angiogram done in March and I was walking around 3 hours after my procedure. My neurosurgeon did use a closure device, which minimizes the amount of time you have to be on your back. I was told no heavy lifting or running for several days, but I could walk the next day and after 48 hours was told I could walk as much as I wanted to as long as I didn’t run. I don’t know why you wouldn’t be able to walk and board a plane the following day…but ask your neuroradiologist or surgeon.
Did you have the kind in your femoral artery? The last one I had done was 3 years ago and they just let it heal by itself, but then I wasn’t allowed to move for 4 hours. (and I filled up my bladder which was torture!)
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I haven’t had it yet as was hoping to get it done locally, but that’s not happening. Have to fly back to my original surgeon.
Yes, access was through the femoral artery. He used a closure device called angioseal. Even without a closure device, you should be able to get up and walk within 4-5 hours. I went home as soon as the 3 hours had elapsed.
Good Morning everyone!
@phoenix33 just a bit of correction on angiogram-seal closure devices. It’s a type I’m well aware if, having had numerous angiograms. A surgeon has to use some type of closure device or the patient would bleed out through the femoral artery. Mine also uses the angio-seal. Here’s a description of it https://www.terumo-europe.com/en-emea/Products/Angio-Seal™-Evolution™-Vascular-Closure-Device
Usually I’m aware of the weighted bag that is placed over it for a long time but my last one in December, I wasn’t. It could be that John, the Nurse Anesthetist, did what he said he would do and gave a lot of good pain meds.
@trekhard the four hours is very uncomfortable isn’t it? Usually they keep the catheter in me during that time, on one they didn’t and that is torture in itself. My follow up angiogram this Summer will be through the wrist. Ms.Ryann, my RNP, says it’s much more comfortable for the patient. There’s some type of strap they put over the site after using a closure device that is just for an hour I think she said. There’s not all the rules we have when they go through the femoral artery. Once they take it off, I get to go home! Cardiologists have been using the wrist for several years now, so nothing new to the medical field. They’re supposed to use paper tape on me now since I’ve developed fragile skin. They forgot in December and it was a mess. We will see how it goes in June…
I hate you have to travel so far to see your surgeon. I had never thought of it before your entry that finding a surgeon so far away from our home, or relocating can have its own set of consequences. I wonder if it’s possible to have your surgeon release you to one who is closer? My thinking is if the surgeon retires or relocates, a patient should be released to find another as with any other field.
All the best,
Moltroub
To Moltroub: I tried to get my imaging done locally. My surgeon’s office coordinated with my regular doctor. My doctor coordinated with my neurologist, and they put in the request for the angiogram at the local hospital in Denver. It took a month to get that done. But the scheduler will only give me an appointment for a consultation, she won’t schedule the imaging. Last time I was in the local hospital, under emergency, the surgeon’s exact words were “I can’t treat you, you are not my patient”. Even though they had diagnosed me with SubArachnoid Hemorrage, they released me with pain medications and that’s it. I could be wrong, but my feeling is that they put in hidden notes not to accept me as a patient. I tried last year to get an appointment when I was having pains on my face/head, and they would not even schedule an appointment. I told my general doctor my theory. He told me scanned the notes and doesn’t see anything, so I don’t know. But we, including my parents and husband, decided that I should fly back to a facility that has a vested interest in my outcome, rather than playing games. Who would ever fathom medicine could be like this?
I totally agree @trekhard! I’m sorry I missed this. Did I read your entry correctly in that they released you instead of treating an SAH? Maybe the surgeon is afraid you’ll bring the attorneys in on them.
For imaging at a local facility, I don’t need a surgeon’s approval, just an order from a doctor, neurologist or PCP, doesn’t matter. One of the images ordered last year was set up and I thought incorrectly it was for the imaging but it was for me to answer a bunch of questions. My PCP’s scheduler told them I was allergic to dye when she put in the order, I told them I was allergic to dye when they called, and then finally when I went to the appointment a month later was told the local hospital couldn’t do it because I am allergic to dye! Put in any bleep you care for and that’s what I probably ranted. So back to WFBH I went, it took about 6-8 weeks. I could have gone straight to WFBH where they do most of my images anyways. My PCP now has that in my chart - send to WFBH. LOL. Interestingly enough, it’s not in my chart per se, it’s with the notes the scheduler keeps. I never knew there were different records kept in different areas, and I don’t know if we can access the notes from the scheduler. I know my PCP’s scheduler works extremely hard at her job, is forthright, professional and very nice to me despite the angst I’ve caused during one issue. She’s the one who told me that she put a notation in with my PCP’s approval of course to always send me to WFBH. It’s not a bad drive just a bit over an hour and I have my favorite tea shop as a reward. We’ve also been exploring different restaurants which is nice as big cities have more to offer.
Hugs to you!
Moltroub
Yes, that’s correct. His exact words were “You are not my patient, I can’t treat you”.
I am going to try to go to another hospital system and see what happens.
The situation was: I was at home in CO recovering from my aneurysm bypass surgery, starting week 3 of recovery. I had my first 2 good days of finally feeling better. I sat down at the computer and bam! Massive Headache, neck seized up like a rock, and I had to vomit. I screamed and ran to the bathroom. My mom drove me to the local emergency (no angiogram locally). So that evening my local emergency said, “it’s too late for an angiogram (in Denver), we are just going to send you by ambulance and you will have one tomorrow”. (that’s another question, why did they not transfer me for 20 hours?). So they took me by ambulance. Treated with pain meds (not well!). Next a.m., angiogram in Denver at their stroke clinic. They diagnosed SAH, sent imaging to Barrow in AZ. Barrow said, no, it’s not a leak. So the doctors disagreed. The UC health doctor told my family and than to my face, he couldn’t treat me. He discharged me with pain meds for 3 days. Then… I couldn’t get a hold of Barrow. I couldn’t walk… I was in terrible pain. Finally, my dad was able to get through and get a prescription for pain meds and muscle relaxants (neck was seized up and so were my legs). After a week of phone calls to Barrow with no return call, my dad found a number to their resident on call. A resident said this was meningeal irritation when the blood from surgery (specifically the iron) irritates the meninges in the brain and spine. The blood slowly travels down the spine, and that’s why it seizes up your legs.
So that was what happened 3 years ago.
In 2019, I had face pains and was really scared. I tried again to get into UC Health in Denver but they schedulers would not make an appointment for me. I can’t remember what words they said to deny me, but it made me think there must be a note in the system saying not to schedule me.
I contacted the UC Health patient advocate who wrote a really mean letter and did not answer my question. I asked her what am I supposed to do if I have an emergency. I said the emergency room did not treat me. She said to go to the emergency room…
So I am going to try going to a different health system and see if I have the same problem there. But my regular doctor and neurologist are both UC Health, so I don’t know if that will be an issue?
I would like to add that I think Dr. Lawton (Barrow) had made improvements. It used to be they would not return calls. Now, they answer the calls, know who is calling, and also they always return messages through the portal. Just for anyone thinking about going there.
However, be aware that you may have problems getting treated at home if you travel for surgery. That has been my case.
@trekhard Wow, just wow! Did they not do a CT scan immediately upon your arrival at the Emergency Dept? Our local hospital can’t treat a rupture and their guidelines is the CT first as it will show a bleed. Unfortunately, or fortunately, they gave me too much meds and I had to stabilize before Dr. Wolfe could operate. It’s been fortunate I got her!
When we were looking to move, we chose to keep the properties we looked at in driving distance of WFBH just because of your sharing. We did put in a couple of offers but they were either denied or we had to say no after home inspections. We are going to stay where we are at until BH retires.
I think checking with another hospital group may be your answer. Both of ours have Hospitalists, so PCP’s don’t come see the patient in a professional capacity. Neither do the specialists as hospitals have those as well. They like to keep the money under their roof I guess. The only issues I have had is getting the records sent to them which isn’t as bad as it used to be. Computer technology is amazing! You may want to reach out to different Neurosurgeons or maybe Barlow can recommend one. It’s an aggravating road you’re on that’s for sure!
Wishing you all the best,
Moltroub
Moltroub: I did have a CT. I totally forgot about that! I just looked up the findings and they diagnosed SAH, with about 5mm of fluid collection. They called the results to one of the Denver surgeons. Maybe based on where it was it was considered non-life threatening? I don’t know. They didn’t tell us that is what they found.
Re: properties. I think about this as well. I would like to move to a more remote section of CO that would be 5+ hours from Denver. It makes me worried not being near a major center. I’m in a pretty major place (about 150000) and even then wasn’t able to be treated. I hope you find a great place!
@trekhard I cannot believe they let you walk out with a diagnosed SAH. Something is definitely wrong there! All SAH, subarachnoid hemorrhage, are dangerous. It’s what can kill us, not to mention the brain damage. It’s the blood from the artery getting into the area of the subarachnoid space. Here’s an article https://radiopaedia.org/articles/subarachnoid-haemorrhage?lang=us
I’m getting confused, so help me out if you don’t mind. You were first operated on at the Barrow Institute, then had cause to go to the local ER where they diagnosed you with an SAH, gave you pain meds and let you walk out because the surgeon refused to operate as you had already been seen at Barrow? Do I have that right? Please tell me I got things confused.
I don’t blame you for wanting to move to a more rural area. But we are staying put. We are in a semi rural area and deal with septic tank and well so that’s nothing new. Our water quality is excellent, much better than the little city’s water LOL We are close enough that a helicopter ride isn’t out of the question if needed. Look to see which hospital services the area you want to move to and which hospital they would have to fly you to if needed. We actually called a hospital in an area that we eventually put in an offer and they flew their patients to WFBH. The offer was turned down. Don’t fall in love with a place until the home inspection is finished. And go after a heavy rain. We just withdrew an offer on four cabins dating from the 1800’s, with the earliest from the 1700’s or so the story went. Beautiful place, but the repairs would take away all our retirement savings.
All the best,
Moltroub
Yes, that is exactly what happened. I had surgery in AZ, stayed there a week in a hotel to recuperate just in case. Flew home. Then a week at home. My 2nd day of starting to feel better, I sat down in front of the computer and bam! massive headache, neck seize, and wanting to vomit (but didn’t- just the need to). My mom had extended her stay with me a week and it was literally my husband’s first day back at work. My mom (who came to take care of me for 3 weeks) drove me to the ER, luckily just 15 min away. I called them ahead to tell them what happened, I thought it would be like on tv where they would meet me at the door and wheel me in. (I couldn’t walk). nope! I had to sit in line, and check in like everyone else. After an hour I got scanned, but they didn’t tell us anything. I asked 3x if they would helicopter me to Denver. No reply from the staff. I was just asking a question as I know how expensive helicopters are to operate and they don’t like to use those. Before my emergency, we had recently had an article in the newspaper talking about it as we have a lot of rural folks. (Remember how I said I went to the patient advocate and she wrote a mean letter back- she said I demanded a helicopter. I was just wondering if my situation was dire and if they would as they weren’t giving us an idea of my condition). Anyhow, I sat in the ER all day, finally at 4 pm they said, we are transferring you to Denver, but it’s too late to do an Angiogram. They will do one tomorrow. The ambulance people were amazing and got my pain under control (ER didn’t). Then the next day I had my angio. He sent our images to Barrow, Barrow disagreed and said it was blood from the surgery. So therein lies the problem. Barrow said it was not a SAH. In my UC health records, I am diagnosed as having SAH… so 2 different radiologists opinions. Maybe that is why they wouldn’t take me on… it was a very traumatic experience because UC Health dismissed me, but then we couldn’t get Barrow on the phone to help me either. Now we know to use the portal and we get replies within 24-48 hours.
Maybe I should get an attorney? I eventually got better, took a few months (3 I think?), but what I worry about is the future. What if it happens again?
Oh my @trekhard I don’t know if an attorney would help or not. All my life experience has taught me is that if you go to court, go with an attorney; and if you’re arrested do what the Miranda Rights say and keep your mouth shut, don’t talk to the police at all and get an attorney, and use an attorney when your purchasing property, completing a will or trust. I’ve never been involved with a law suit. In my past job, I went to court a lot. The LEA I worked with always told me to exercise rights if arrested and don’t talk to them, no matter how much they try. It’s exactly like the USN taught us- name, rank and serial number LOL. We do use attorneys for other life issues that will protect us for our future. Had to use one to get my disability. Attorneys specialize in different fields so you would have to find one that does medical issues I suspect, I’m not sure. There are time constraints the laws have on different issues.
Maybe touching base with the patient advocate you used could better guide you and help explain what exactly happened that you were dropped in the cracks. Perhaps talking to the Chief Medical Officer over the hospital, it might be Hospital Director, it’s the Doctor over the hospital and I can’t remember their title. But hopefully they could let you know if you should just use another hospital.
In my mind, if the initial Radiologist read SAH, they should have arranged for a life flight to a hospital that could do the necessary procedures to stop it.
The other thing I’d like to pass on is to always go via ambulance, if you feel it’s a life or death matter. Patients get prioritized in the Emergency Department and those that come in by ambulance are always first priority. The ones that can walk in won’t be seen immediately until the Trauma RN can see you. If it’s a busy day, that could take a good bit.
Sorry I can’t be more help,
Moltroub
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