Ablation Update and Experience of Myocardial Perfusion Test

[Daisyblu]

Good news is I have a new ablation date of 21 July providing my INR settles down.

Meanwhile Ive had Part 1 of the stress test that looks at my arteries. I had to stop beta blockers for 48 hours and ensure I had no caffeine at all for 24 hours before the test. After I was hooked up the heart monitor the test began with being injected by a drug used to put my heart under stress ( I was not allowed to use the treadmill as I have left bundle branch block) . I was warned I may feel experience pain, nausea, breathlessness and feel faint etc but it would pass quickly. I certainly felt breathless and woozy! Then while my heart was stressed the radio active material was injected and I was sent on a 45 minute break to eat as much fatty food as I could- so a Latte cofee a cheese sandwich and some chocolate consumed I returned to the nuclear medicine unit where I was scanned - lying very still for 25 minutes whist the scanner moved around me. Then I was homeward bound! The ECG did reveal I was having atrial flutter which I was, as usual for me, unaware of so Im pleased my ablation is booked.

I am due back at the heart intstitute in a few days for Part 2 of the test when I will be injected with a radio active tracer and scanned again. The only directions I received were to avoid sitting close to pregnant women or children under 18 for more than 20 minutes.

The whole experience was far less unpleasant than I had imagined which is why I am posting this to reassure others who might have to undergo this test.

[sassy59]

Pleased it all went well for you Daisyblu and I’m sure the second part will be fine. Thinking of you for the 21st. Xxx

[CDreamer]

Glad it all went well and good luck for 21st.

[frazeej]

I'm with you-I found the nuclear stress test (adenosine and technetium) to be a "piece of cake"!

[Daisyblu]

I know others have had a dreadful experience so just wanted to add mine to give a balancd view. Im back at the Heart Institute (Bristol) on Tuesday for the second part of the test.

[Ducky2003]

That sounds a lot better than my CT angiogram last week. Something that was supposed to he simple turned into a nightmare. I like the idea of a good feed as part of the procedure 😁.

[Daisyblu in reply to Ducky2003]

Problem was I really struggled to eat anything at all. I have to do it all again tomorrow (Part 2 of the test) so hopefully having missed breakfast again I will have an appetite! Sorry to hear you had a difficult experience.

[Ducky2003 in reply to Daisyblu]

Good luck today.

[belindalore]

👍🙏