Angiogram for heart testing medication ... Safe?

My cardiologist  after extensive testing, echo cardiogram, nuclear stress test, holter monitor 1 week, CT chest, is recommending Angiogram for my heart.  I have been tapering one and half years.  Am at 1.37 mg diazepam at bed time. I think I am in tolerance withdrawal holding doesn't help me much with symptoms.  I am so scared of this angiogram; the medications for sedating.  Has anyone in my situation gone through this test and what were the consequences from taking the sedating medications?  My cardiologist, knowing my tapering situation, stated an optional test CT Angiogram.  I would have to make special arrangements to have that done and Dr. said the CT Angiogram was not as accurate.  Please let me know your experience or knowledge on this subject.

I had ct angiogram after my echo showed some problems.

 

It was very informative. They could see everything that was going on. They wanted to insert through my neck with sedation but I wasn’t okay with it being done that way and they did the ct. they told me if they needed to afterwards we would do it the other way.

 

But my CT angiogram was very helpful!

 

I've not had this test done but I wish you well.  It sounds like a stressful time for you. 

I'd like to know the results of all your tests if they found or find any abnormalities.  I had a positive ANA test in tolerance w/d and diagnosed with Lupus.  Get an ANA to rule stuff out, IMO.

Thank you for the quick responses.  Betterfuture - I know you are not a doctor, but in your opinion, the CT angiogram will be good to determine or finding any blockage/plaque in my heart vessels?  My cardiologist is saying that 1) CT angiogram does not show good quaility compared to a regular angiogram. 2) Regular angiogram cleans plaque during the procedure.  Kate08 - Yes very very stressful the last couple of days.  Like all of the BB members we want to avoid any medications if possible especially sedating medication through IV into my body.  Becksblue - My test results 1) CT for chest, clear except for 2mm, 4mm shadow.  Cardiologist thinks is an old scar; will check next year if any change.  Echo cardiogram - shows everything fine.  Holter monitor - upper chamber 3% skipped beats, lower chamber 1% skipped beats.  All those are very common. Not to worry about it.  Nuclear Stress Test - shows minor sign of something, not significant.  Since I complained about my chest pain ( I think it is benzo because the pain moves around) the cardiologist recommended angiogram to rule out all underlying conditions if any.  And I agree, just am afraid of the medication used during the procedure.  Can you explain ANA test, and tolerance withdrawal?  I assume I am in tolerance withdrawal?  I had CT at detox once, but I was on Colonzepham at that time 3/2020.

 

Are there any other members that had experience with these sedating medications used for any procedure during your tapering?

If you use the search engine on the upper right corner of the Homepage and put in 'Colonoscopy sedation' you will get a lot of hits as that comes up fairly often here.  Most of those threads are on the Other Medications forum so you can scroll down there and maybe you'll run into something.  Another topic that comes up is sedation for dental procedures so you could try that also.  Let us know if you need help.

You can also Google ANA-anti-nuclear antibody, screening test.  It tests for alot of autoimmune diseases.  Mine was positive in 2013 while I was in tolerance w/d.  Then went to a Rheumatologist and she ran more blood tests and found high Anti-Beta 2 glycoprotein 1 antibodies in my blood and low Complement 3 and diagnosed me with Lupus.  Then went to a Hematologist and he reviewed all my medical records and diagnosed me with Primary Thrombophilia, which means that I'm at risk of stroke or MI.  I have a procoagulant antibody in my blood which is a blood-clotting autoantibody.  I believe I have drug-induced Lupus from my damaged nerve and blood vessels.

I honestly wouldn’t know how to answer that question. They said inside looked good aside from a leaking valve and low EF. But since being on a beta blocker and ace inhibitor my heart is within normal range. Let us know how either test turns out!

 

I hope it’s nothing major 

My cardiologist  after extensive testing, echo cardiogram, nuclear stress test, holter monitor 1 week, CT chest, is recommending Angiogram for my heart.  I have been tapering one and half years.  Am at 1.37 mg diazepam at bed time. I think I am in tolerance withdrawal holding doesn't help me much with symptoms.  I am so scared of this angiogram; the medications for sedating.  Has anyone in my situation gone through this test and what were the consequences from taking the sedating medications?  My cardiologist, knowing my tapering situation, stated an optional test CT Angiogram.  I would have to make special arrangements to have that done and Dr. said the CT Angiogram was not as accurate.  Please let me know your experience or knowledge on this subject.

 

 

Sounds like you have access to some doctors you can ask. They probably know a bit more than the crowd here.

I am a Cardio-Vascular Specialists.  My job is to assist the Doctor at the table during a Cardiac Angiogram. While it sounds scary it is really a very simple procedure...and best done non-emergently.

 

We use a low dose of Fentanyl (100mcg or less) for pain and Versed (1-2mg) for relaxation.  The procedure is painless so if you are concerned about these drugs you can refuse them.  The physician can use extra lidocaine to numb the entry site.

 

95% of the procedures we do are through the inside of the right wrist (radial approach).  We place a small sheath in the radial artery-about the diameter of a straw- and pass catheters and wires into the heart arteries. We inject contrast and use fluoroscopy to take live images of the heart arteries. We look for blockages (plaque build up).  If we find something we balloon open the artery and place a stent to keep the artery open. 

 

The whole procedure can take from 20 mins to an hour.  You can go home the same day. 

 

Good luck...and try to relax!!x