MRI Heart Stress Test: I have an... - British Heart Fou...

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MRI Heart Stress Test

marksnan profile image
26 Replies

I have an appointment at Papworth next week for the above test. If anything is wrong will they tell me straight away or will I have to wait for another appointment. This follows a short admission to hospital following an episode of tachyarrhythmia. Consultant said my ECG was normal and had another one at G.P. yesterday which was also normal. I get short of breath - but again G.P. said my lungs are clear. I have pain in my middle toes - think it is probably gout. I have a bit more frequent urination than I used to but not usually waking up in the night to pee. However, doing just light gardening, I get bouts of dry coughing which are so severe I feel like I am going to pass out and did pee myself last time. The bottom number on my blood pressure is always high (145/92). Feeling tired and generally unwell but not sure if this is real or just because I am worried that it could be heart failure. Anyone else with this experience. I suppose, in reality, I am just looking for reassurance that I am not going to die of it any time soon. At the moment I have far to many complications in my life to be ill - but then I suppose we all do. Everyone else on this page seems so brave. Getting old sucks! Wishing for good outcomes for all of you.

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marksnan
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26 Replies
Jils profile image
Jils

If it is the same as a perfusion stress test I was told results would be back with consultant 2-3 weeks. If it's major urgent, I am sure you will know earlier. If you are going to Papworth, like I did, I waited 8 weeks from the last scan of 3 that I had. Good luck. Let us know how it goes xx

marksnan profile image
marksnan in reply to Jils

Thank you. Will let you know. It's an Adenosine Stress Test.

Jils profile image
Jils in reply to marksnan

Please do. Wish you well xx

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day

That old saying (getting old isn't for the faint-hearted) is so true! I'm 63 (today!) and although I've had a lifelong heart condition (rheumatic heart) it never slowed me down until I hit my late fifties with it going rather pear-shaped last year (sigh, I now have multiple heart conditions). Even without complications like heart disease, ageing brings all sorts with it including stress incontinence ('accidents' on coughing/laughing/running...) especially in we who've carried and delivered one or more children (I have two who've given me five grands between them :) ). Not to be indelicate but Depends or Lady Tena are a real help in that department - both brands come in varying lengths and capacity. Certain meds can exacerbate the incontinence, and account for increased frequency and middle-of-the-night trips as well, so it's a good idea to talk to your GP about it, especially if you're on medications.

Re your upcoming scan - unless there is something the tech deems imminent/urgent seen on it, you won't get the results until your scheduled consult (usually a few-to-several weeks later). My experience has been the tech says 'That's us done, I don't see anything imminent/urgent/to tell me I should keep you in, so you can go.' I've decided hearing that 'I don't see anything...' is super and I usually do the happy-float back to my car.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to Sunnie2day

🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️ but who's counting? 😁

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Sunnie2day

Happy Birthday Sunnie2day!

I am doing my pelvic floor exercises as I type thanks for the reminder of the joy's of childbirth😂

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply to Milkfairy

:) Worth it, of course (can't imagine not having those two and their five in my life), and thankfully those exercises go a fair ways towards giving some control. Only some, but any is better than none!

Shoshov profile image
Shoshov in reply to Sunnie2day

happy birthday sunnie2🎉

marksnan profile image
marksnan in reply to Sunnie2day

Happy birthday!!!!x

marksnan profile image
marksnan in reply to Sunnie2day

Thank you Sunnie - lol I don't think even Tena Lady would have helped the deluge that occurred last week - but I will give them a try! If the tech doesn't say anything I will ask if everything is OK.

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply to Sunnie2day

Happy birthday 🎂 I hope you're having a great day being spoilt. 63!! That's no age at all, you're still a youngster xx

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply to Lezzers

I was quite spoilt yesterday, it was a lovely day and evening (husband cooked his speciality and then did all the washing up!). And I have to say despite the multiple heart conditions, I feel as though I'm still in my mid-30s (lol, wish my face reflected that but heigh ho, just happy to still be here :) ).

Sillyfroggy profile image
Sillyfroggy in reply to Sunnie2day

Happy birthday to US, Sunnie. It is my birthday today also. Hope you’re being spoilt. I’m off out to dinner to a rather nice restaurant this evening, dragging husband along having released him from his no-birthday-card doghouse 😊😊🙈

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply to Sillyfroggy

Happy Birthday (belated)! I enjoyed my day including my husband making his famous curry - and doing all the washing up after! I hope your evening out was lovely and delicious :)

VelvetSky profile image
VelvetSky in reply to Sunnie2day

Happy Birthday Sunnie2day!

Hatchjd profile image
Hatchjd in reply to Sunnie2day

Happy birthday Sunnie! I am also 63 and agree with you on the bladder issues, The joys of an ageing body. 😊

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply to Hatchjd

:) I'm 64 now (God willing, I'll be 65 the end of August 2021) and it doesn't get any better, lol! Over the past year I've worked out which drinks cause the most trouble and that restricting those to times best suited to proximity to the WC plus not having more than a sip of water just before bed keeps the 'accidents' at bay.

Yeppers, the dubious joys of ageing - but ageing beats the alternative any day!

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day

Thank-you!

marksnan profile image
marksnan

UPDATE: Had a TIA Friday night and was admitted to Addenbrookes. Lost the power of speech (started speaking Klingon even though I knew what I wanted to say). It came back pretty quickly - within about 20 minutes - but now that I am home again, I find that I am struggling to find words and my speech is not as fluent as it was before. Anyone else experienced anything like this? Will it go completely back to normal? Cardiac Stress MRI tomorrow - hopefully will have some answers soon.

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply to marksnan

Hi marksnan, I don't have an answer for you unfortunately. My mother in law had a stroke at the age of 89/90 it didn't affect her speech/memory but her co-ordination, balance etc were affected, she did make a full recovery in time. I'm sorry to hear about your Tia, can you ask about therapy, brain training? My husband has a brain injury due to CA, he struggles to find the right words etc and brain training in the form of puzzles have really helped his concentration and in turn his memory. Take care, best wishes for your continued recovery. Xx

marksnan profile image
marksnan in reply to Lezzers

Thank you for your best wishes, I do love scrabble and sudoku, so hopefully that will help. I am only 67 - wasn't expecting all this yet.

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply to marksnan

67, far too young. I see you're having a cardiac stress MRI tomorrow, please let us know how you get on. Are you being followed up after the TIA?

marksnan profile image
marksnan in reply to Lezzers

Hi Lezzers - Thank you for your reply. Stress MRI went OK. Not something I ever wish to repeat! Radiographer said results are too complicated for her to guess at as the pics. need to be properly assessed - fingers crossed. Yes the TIA is being followed up - I have to go back for some physio for residual slight balance problems and also for a thoracic doppler scan.

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply to marksnan

Glad to hear you're being looked after. Hope the mri test results are good

April_May profile image
April_May

My dad was back to normal within days of his TIA if that helps.

I also had cardiac stress MRI at Papworth last week, blacked out twice in the prep room once the cannulas went in, alarms triggered and all sorts! So be glad you weren’t in the waiting room waiting your turn whilst I was there! Didn’t enjoy the adenosine bit but was expecting worse. No idea how long results will take, guess it depends how far up the priority list they rank. Im anticipating waiting a couple of months like I did for my echo. I’m in my 30s and normally pretty fit, but feeling old before my time at the moment!

marksnan profile image
marksnan

Oh dear April-May, I caused a bit of delay also, because Addenbrookes hadn't informed them about the very recent TIA and they couldn't make up their minds whether to go ahead or not. In the end they managed to get hold of the consultant at Addenbrookes who asked them to go ahead. The radiographer said the results would be with my local hospital within a couple of days but said that particular hospital was known for being a bit slow and some people had to wait up to 4 weeks. Sorry to hear of your problems - goodness I am moaning at 67 and you are only 30. Hope everything goes well and they sort whatever it is out quickly for you.

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