Hi, just thought I would go through my experience of a CT cardiac angiogram as it may relieve some worries. Hope it helps.
I was booked for this test a week after an emergency admission with chest pain to rule out any coronary artery disease. I was obviously scared of the outcome on top of my mitral valve prolapse and bigeminy diagnosis a year ago. I didn’t have to do a Covid-19 test but I did a LFT anyway and had to wear a mask.
I arrived for my appointment and was taken to a cubicle and asked to change into a front opening gown, removing all my top half clothes only. Once I had done that I had a cannula put into my right arm and taken straight to the scanner room. The radiologist went through the procedure, checked my details and gained consent. I did a trial run of holding my breath when asked.
I then laid down on the couch and was hooked up to the iodine drip. I explained i had a frozen shoulder on my left side so couldn’t put that arm above my head so I only had to put my right arm up. It was supported by a pillow. I was given a spray of GTN to calm my rhythm and this settled the bigeminy briefly. I hadn’t reacted to the GTN before but some people get a headache.
The machine then took over and I was moved forward on the couch and the scanner started to rotate. A voice told me when to hold my breath and when to breathe again. I didn’t have to hold it for long. About 5 minutes in I experienced a very warm feeling going down my chest into my abdomen and to a point where I thought I had wet myself but I hadn’t! They had explained I would get the warm feeling and I had read in the information that you can feel as though you have wet yourself so hope that helps others that you don’t 😂 It must have been about 15 minutes and it was all done. The radiologist explained he had got some good pictures but the bigeminy had made it a bit more difficult. I was advised to sit up slowly and then I had to wait outside the room for 10 minutes just to check I was ok and have the cannula removed. I felt fine. After that I could get changed and was advised to drink a lot of water to flush my system.
I had been asked to go to another department to get the results so I walked there. They were incredibly busy as the off shoot of the emergency department and I had to wait about 2 hours but I was given a sandwich and water was on tap. I didn’t mind as I knew I was going to be given the results that day. Eventually I was called in and was told there was no sign of coronary artery disease thank goodness. It was such a relief! 2 minute chat and done!
Next up a repeat echo which will be 6 months after my TOE to rule out any further structural changes and waiting on a discussion with my cardiologist around surgery.
Sorry if it was long but I hope it might help those who have not experienced one before.
Update (from the wife!)
Bisoprolol side effects
Has anyone who has had an ablation, caught Covid and it’s brought their AFib back. ? 
Fair ground rides
