What to expect

What usually happens, step by step, so nothing comes as a surprise. Every patient is different, and your care team will tell you what applies to you. This is general information, not medical advice.

What to bring to your first visit

Having these with you makes the first appointment go further.

A photo ID
Your insurance card
A current list of your medications, with doses
Any records or test results you already have
A short note of your symptoms: what you feel, when it happens, and how long it lasts
The questions you want to ask

Your first visit

You check in at the front desk with your ID and insurance card.
You talk with Dr. Tauth about your symptoms, your health history and your family history.
You have a physical examination, and your medications are reviewed.
You may have an ECG, a quick test that records your heart's rhythm using small stickers on your chest.
Before you leave, you hear what happens next, whether that is more tests, a treatment plan or a follow-up visit.

Read the full guide to your first appointment

A cardiac catheterization

A test that shows how blood flows through the arteries that supply your heart.

Before the day, the office tells you when to stop eating and which of your medications to take or hold. Ask if anything is unclear.
On the day, you change, an IV line is placed, and the entry site at your wrist or groin is cleaned and numbed.
You are usually awake, with medicine to help you relax. A thin tube called a catheter is guided to your heart, and a contrast dye shows your arteries on an X-ray. The dye can cause a brief warm feeling that passes quickly.
Afterward, the catheter is removed and pressure is applied to the entry site. You lie still for a while so the blood vessel can seal.
Many people go home the same day. The team will tell you what to watch for at home and when to call.

A stent placement

If a catheterization finds a significant narrowing, it can sometimes be treated during the same procedure.

A small balloon is guided to the narrowing on a catheter and inflated to widen the artery.
A stent, a small mesh tube, is placed to hold the artery open. It stays in place permanently.
You may need to stay longer than after a test alone. The team will tell you what to expect.
You are usually prescribed medication to take afterward. Do not stop it without talking to your doctor.

Follow-up

You come back for a follow-up visit so Dr. Tauth can see how you are doing.
Your medications are reviewed and adjusted if needed.
You talk about the everyday changes that protect your heart: diet, activity, and not smoking.
Keep taking your medications as prescribed between visits, and call the office with any questions.