Recovery after a cardiac catheterization for blockages?

[luvwinnie]

Has anyone had this done? My friend/coworker did. SHe is 68. SHe had it last week and said she doesn't think she will feel well enough to come back to work until next Monday. SHe still feels "like a truck ran over her". THis doesn't seem right to me. My dad had a stent put in and was ok in a couple days. She sees her dr. tomorrow so I hope he takes her complaints seriously.

 

[bananiem]

It depends on the patient. My Dad got through is stent pretty well, but my Mom had a complication where she bled under the skin at the site in the groin where they run the catheter. It was very painful and took awhile to be normal. She was in her early 80's but in good health and walked daily.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thanks. As far as I know no complications are known. I just hope the blockage really was the cause of the pain she was having. I have to talk to her and see if that pain is gone now.

 

[mickeyboat]

Did they actually eliminate blockages, or just do the cath for exploratory reasons? My FIL had a stent put in a couple of months ago, and was better than normal even by the next day. The stent made a huge difference. Maybe your friend still has some blockages, and the strain of the procedure is still wearing on her. Are they thinking of doing a by-pass?

Denae

 

[luvwinnie]

They fixed the blockages.

 

[ZuZugal]

My dad has had 2 stents put in. First was 1 1/2 yrs ago; renal stent by his kidney. That one took a while to recover from. Last week, he had a stent put in much closer to the heart. He is feeling very well already, even the next day he had immediate results.

I truly think it depends on the patient and any other medical circumstances that might be involved.