Anne's Posts

Hi Anne, the best advice I can give you is to stay busy. Also, make a list of things you want to do after the surgery that you will look forward to. On my list I have a meal at my favorite fancy restaurant to celebrate, a trip in January, planting in my garden. It helps to focus on happy things.

Anne - it's stressful in the final days, for sure. However, when the day arrives, you'll be so ready to just do it. The surgery and recovery are nothing compared to waiting. Remember you're going to wake up from the world's greatest nap and it's going to be behind you. My advice, make a playlist of your favorite songs because you're going to be doing a lot of walking! 💖

I just went through this and the period leading up to the surgery was really difficult. I got about two hours sleep the night before the surgery but when I checked into the hospital I was clam and ready have not looked back since. Now the focus is on recovery and knowing you get back to normal. Hang in there it does get better on the other side.

Anne, I went to a concert and partied until 2am the night before my surgery. I know, crazy, but I was the 3rd case, so I got to "sleep in" until 7am. I had a blast at the concert. I will tell you that as I arrived at Penn Station in NYC and got off the train, there was another train heading to Washington DC right across the tracks from me, and I stopped and briefly entertained getting on it. (Not really, but I did pause...). I grabbed a cab to Mount Sinai and it was a whirlwind morning and afternoon and pretty soon it was over. I really had ceased to be nervous by that point, and just let the experts take over.

Congrats on completing your testing. I wish I could comment on the cath but i never had one. I know others who have had it and appeared to have some form of sedation but not sure if this is a case-by-case situation or if this is a standard. I do recall it was pretty light at the end at least. Continuing to think of you and wish you well.

They were only interested in an artery for me, so wrist was all they needed a week ago. And I was awake. I guess a bit mellow from the sedatives, but I was awake. My wrist bruised up a fair amount in the last week, but if that’s the worst of it.... now on to my July 17 date.

I had the radial catheterization and declined the sedation. The dye does burn, but it dissipates. Sorry you had to endure that, but you got some great news as a result! You're stronger and braver than you realize. Each step in this process is an achievement. You can do this. You're going to do just fine, Anne!

Hi Anne. Glad your arteries are clear! Mine were too. Yes, I was very much awake during the whole thing and found it quite fascinating. When I saw the die go out like a road map on the screen, I said, "That's from eating oatmeal every day," I was a little loopy. They all laughed at me. I did have some discomfort from where they went in for several days and severe bruising but it all got better in time.

I didn't have a cath for my pre op but I had one 2 months ago because I'm having persistent shortness of breath. I was awake, and they were able to use my arm for both the vein and artery. I was very fortunate they didn't have to use my groin. I've heard it's very uncomfortable.