Anyone had the mri stress test ,where they inject dye to view your heart under stress .whats the procedure like ,is it anything to get anxious about .Having it done due to ectopics ,worried it will set my ectopics and palpitations off .Can I take diazepam to relax me prior to procedure and will i need to stop my beta blocker prior .2 and half years post x3 cabg .
Thanks for any advice experience given
Steve
It feels a little peculiar with the stressor but not anything to get anxious about. The MRI is noisy and rather claustrophobic but entirely manageable. I've had several and while not my favourite way of spending an hour, I would certainly take a stress MRI again over a stress echo - far more restful!
If you do have any ectopics/ palpitations during the MRI I would think it actually be useful to help with diagnostic information, not something to worry about.
You must check what drugs you can take with your MRI department and follow their instructions.
Generally you also have to avoid tea, chocolate caffeine etc for 24 hours beforehand - you should be sent an information leaflet.
All the best - it's a very useful test to have.
Thanks for your advice / information very helpful
Fortepiano has covered most areas but definitely ring the to check on medications. My letter asked me to stop a drug I was (am) not on so i rang them. It turned out they did not know I was insulin dependent!
Nothing to add - the idea of the drug to stress your heart is actually intended to induce your symptoms so they can match where they’re coming from.
No other drugs prior, other than stuff you’re on regularly, and avoid all caffeine (including caffeine free drinks/tea/coffee!)
Mine took about an hour, they’re talking to you all the time. I closed my eyes for all of it and thought about other stuff. Definitely easier than a pressure wire study to determine narrowings!
Only thing that I would add is I had doctor in with me while they did the stress part of mri which was reassuring
My GP referred me for a stress test but because of my disability they decided to do this test instead. For various reasons it was cancelled and I was quite relieved in a way because 3 weeks later I had a heart attack. I felt afterwards that if they'd put my heart under such stress, I would probably have had one during the test. Then again it would have picked up the problem and maybe avoided it. I know I felt worried about having my heart put under such stress artificially.
I’m having my Stress MRI on the 11th Jan, I’m happy in a way because in my mind it’s the gold standard of cardiac tests.
Hi Steve, l was due to take the mri test after a heart attack 2 stents l also have ectopic beat , l wasn't worried about test but there was no way l could lay completely still for 1 to 2 hours , so they strapped me to a rigid pedal machine ,put the dye in and off l went , l thought my heart was coming out of my body but it satisfied the Dr and that was that . I can't remember what drugs l had to stop just check with the Dr don't worry you are in good hands everything will be alright
The chemical that is usually used to speed up your heart is adenosine.
I had a MRI last week but not sure if it was a stress test.
First 30 minutes was overall valve and heart function tests.
Then the dye injection that I never felt at all. This was to check blood flow in the heart muscle.
Will know results in 5 weeks time.
Thanks for all your information, this gives me some insight into what to expect
Yes I've had mine nothing to it really,just holding your breath can be a little nervous but it's ok.
Stress Test
Cardiopulmonary stress test /cardiac stress MRI - how are they?
Exercise treadmill stress test results 
MRI Heart Stress Test
