Anyone had a Myocardial Perfusion(heart) Stress Scan and a separate Myocardial Perfusion rest scan.

[meadfoot]

Been referred for the above tests by my EP. Thought I was to have an angiogram and simple heart scan. The letter has arrived today and the appointments are for Thursday next week and Wednesday the week after. I am unnerved by it as it is not what I was expecting.

Literally just back from GP appointment and found the letter in today's post, I could have asked her had post arrived earlier. She had the same expectation as me. She has not received a letter from the EP as yet.

Thanks friends.

Regard Dee.

[Bikerboy]

Hi Dee, I've just recently had a Perfusion scan - it's a piece of cake! - or like the buttie they ask you to bring...

Essentially, it's to test your heart for obstructions, narrowing of arteries etc, by injecting you with a tracer, which they scan with a very complex machine. The procedure is that you get "wired up", go on a treadmill to get the heart going, ( if you're not able to do this physically, they inject a drug to do this), then they inject the tracer. (This took place in the dept of nuclear medicine, so you can work out for yourself what they put in you to trace!) You then have to wait about 30 mins, during which you eat the snack (sandwich) you've brought with you. You then have to lie still on your back with your arms above your head while this big machine revolves round you scanning your heart. This takes 20 mins or so - at Preston Royal I was asked what music I'd like to listen to...very relaxing! After it's finished, you're free to go - and that's it! The resting scan is the same as above but without the treadmill first. I've not had the results yet but hopefully they won't find any abnormalities. I hope this reassures you. Regards, Bill