Has anyone had a cardiac catheterization?

[Jirel]

7. Per my dad's MANY....

… and for which I was able to hang out with him during some of them -

These days, they tend to enter through the wrist, but occasionally they still go in through the groin. You get local anaesthetic, so it doesn’t hurt going in or out. You may be given some mild sedation if you’re feeling nervous, but you’ll be awake and comfortable through it. The procedure is usually pretty quick unless there is a problem clearing a vessel or stenting, which happened once to him. The longest part of the process can be the recovery phase afterward. They have to be sure that the vessel they went into is completely shut, and you’re stable, before they can let you lose. In most procedures these days, that means chilling on a recovery room bed with a high-tech transparent pressure bandage on your wrist, and they’ll be monitoring your vitals and coming by to check that bandage until they’re satisfied. This is where it’s handy to have someone to talk to, or something to read 1-handed. If you’ve been on blood thinners, it may take a little longer.

He always felt really tired afterward, which was considered normal. The best strategy was to go straight home, read, nap, or watch TV. Even if feeling peppy, patients are supposed to not to anything strenuous that might risk opening the vessel again. So, get all chores done before going in or have someone else cover them, and have takeout or someone who’ll feed you later on.

Edit: some people do get sedated more heavily, but that wasn’t the way they did my dad’s. You might want to check with your doc about their plans.