Got the first of four stent implants 24 years ago, the last one after a heart attack in 2018.
The first three were done before the invention of the plug for the groin femoral artery.
Back then after the cath was removed, a nurse used their hand to put pressure on the stitched incision for 30 minutes to clot it up.
My first time it was a good looking blonde babe who performed that task, so that was nice….even though the situation didn’t induce any embarrassing “reaction” from her touch.
The next two were done by male nurses, so no fun there.
The last one six years ago was a breeze with the newfangled plug, and there was very little bruising.
Same with the TAVR procedure last September.
During the first two stent implants, the docs let me watch it live on their monitors. Pretty interesting stuff, and the second one was actually ticklish when he was poking the catheter through the 100% blockage to insert the balloon. Kinda funny feeling that poking deep in my chest, so I asked him what would happen if a chunk of that plaque broke off.
He replied, “Well, you could have a stroke and die”.
For some reason (probably the anesthetic) I thought that was funny, and started chuckling.
Doc said to hold still though.
scary times, but at least they kept me alive.to see VY and 4th & 5.