Mri stress perfusion scan

[Dpc2019]

Anybody had a mri stress perfusion scan? and what was there experience?

[momist]

Easy peasy lemon squeezie. The 'stress' involved is just a drug to raise raise your heart rate and simulate a stress response. The MRI part involves raising your arms backwards over your head (lying down of course!) and holding them there for some time while the machine slowly progresses you through the scan, and that seems the worst part of it. It does take quite a bit of time, as they give you the injection for the drug and then you must wait for it to take effect, followed by blood pressure and ECG before you go into the MRI machine. Just stay relaxed and follow the instructions carefully and it shouldn't be any problem.

[Dpc2019 in reply to momist]

Sou ds easy enough Im just terrified of the high heart rate part.. How long did it last the stress part? And was your heart really fast?

[momist in reply to Dpc2019]

No, not really fast at all. They do keep a close watch on you. I forgot to mention the infusion into your blood during the MRI (so they can see it on the scan). This leaves you mildly radioactive, so you are advised to avoid socialising with pregnant ladies for a couple of days. Or maybe I'm confusing two different procedures I had around the same time? Did they mention the nuclear bit when they sent your appointment?

[Dpc2019 in reply to momist]

Just said mri stress perfusion scan. I'm not so worried about the mri just the stress part, but like you said heart doesn't goo that fast. As long as not beating out my chest I'm happy

[momist]

All good then. Keep well.

[Dpc2019 in reply to momist]

I mean i Had svt in the past with heart rate of 150bpm wouldn't be like that would it? Sorry to keep aski g that's my anxiety..

[momist in reply to Dpc2019]

No, at least mine wasn't. More like you had just had a brisk walk, I don't remember the heart rate being a problem at all.

[mishugenah]

A chemical stress test. I had it just a week ago and the worst part for me was them finding my veins to get the drug into. For some reason, they needed me to come back a second day, but it wasn't difficult, just inconvenient considering it was a part of a barrage of tests as precursors to an angiogram. You will do fine, and yes, perhaps the toughest part is holding your arms over your head Good luck!

[Bolander]

When I had a perfusion scan the first day was the stress test, the following day was repeated without stress test. I presume the second day was to establish a baseline to compare with the stress test, and thus isolate the effects of stress. I found the worst part was having to stay still while the test was in progress.