Last week I had an angiogram & venogram done of my cerebral (& extra cranial) vasculature to check for cerebral venous stenosis & jugular compression (#VascularEagles #EaglesSyndrome), which they suspected from my CT. I don't seem to have cerebral stenosis, but jugular compression on both sides at the loxation of the styloid process was confirmed.
Because I have had a CT angiogram before and so I went in expecting it to be the same sort of procedure, in and out, no big deal.
haHA.
It kinda is a big deal. At least compared to what I was expecting! It was surgery, and it's 4 days later and I still huuurt! And I had to lay completely flat for 4 hours after the procedure so I didn't blow my artery access point by lifting my head, so they made me eat laying flat on my back! Luckily my bf was there to cut stuff up for me I was at the hospital a total of 9 hours!
Having my artery & vein both accessed right at the groin has been one of the more painful medical things I've experienced (The very quick to come & go pain *during* the venogram when they shot whatever it was up into my brain itself was way, way worse, but at least it was over quickly. Though I did cry out and instantly burst into tears even though i was already on fentanyl at one or two points! And I have a robust pain tolerance @_@), at least because it's so long-lasting. It hurts to shift around, though it's slowly getting better, but I still have to walk weird due to the pain. :\ Glad that I was right in noticing on my *OWN* just looking at my CTs that my jugulars were compressed, but I'm also confused as to how mildly they seemed to be on this test, when on the CT angiogram, my left jugular was 100% squished-- no contrast got through AND it's squished to small to even make out, uncontrasted in parts. So, either something about the procedure itself (I did find one article saying the catheter can mess up pressures itself bc it's holding the vein open) or something else might have been different to make, of course!, my body be being on it's best behavior for the appt. That's the one time when I WANT it to show off it's awfulness. Sigh.
Follow up with the ENT next month!
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