Has anyone had a NUCLEAR MEDICINE MYOCARDIUM SCAN

[Loveheart123]

I've one due on Monday and a bit apprehensive... any info would be greatly appreciated

Thank u

[STUBAX]

Had the nuclear scan, not much to it to be honest just an odd feeling when they do the stress part as the drug hits the heart.

[Loveheart123 in reply to STUBAX]

Thank u ..😊

[richard_jw]

I had one at Papworth.My one came in 2 parts. They inject a radioactive marker then in my case a chemical to increase the heart rate until they deem it a safe level. Then they measure the result.

The second one is done without the heart stimulant.

There has to be a time interval between the 2 tests to allow the chemicals to get out of your body.

In my case, they did this instead of an MRI scan because I have a cochlear implant, and they refused to do an MRI because of the implant although it's safe up to 1.5 teslas (power of scanner)

Might be worth asking why they are not doing an MRI, since it does not involve radioactive stuff.

None of this is painful, it is time consuming. I had to return to Papworth the following day for part 2 to allow enough time between the 2 tests.

[Loveheart123 in reply to richard_jw]

Thank u ..😊

[Sunnie2day]

It's been years since mine but from what I've read things haven't changed all that much...they inject (relatively painless, it goes through the IV cannula), they scan, they declare the scan over and they put you in an isolated recovery area.

After a fair bit in there they move you to another isolated bay, then finally you're discharged with a detailed post-scan home care note including instructions to isolate carefully at home as you'll be low-level radioactive for at least 48 hours and often up to 60-70 hours post scan.

The following BHF publication may be quite helpful to you:

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Loveheart123 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thank you ...

[Linusquilter]

Just make sure you keep the letter asking you to attend for the treatment as you may set off the alarms at an airport!

[Givein]

Hi, I had one a few months ago.It was fine, not painful or scary.They put a cannula in to inject the drug which makes your heart think it is exercising.After a short rest you then sit in a waiting area and have a glass of milk and a cheese sandwich which I had to take with me (weird I know, something about the fat being needed for the test).Then another wait before being put in the scanner.Again, not scary or claustrophobic, the machine just moves around you.Straight home after scan.Repeat performance a few days later for the “resting” scan, no cannula or drugs this time.A few weeks wait for the results.

Hope this helps😊

[Loveheart123 in reply to Givein]

Thank u ... I was wondering about the fat thing .. lol .. ..take care

[Whonnock]

I’m a little bit claustrophobic so I just closed my eyes during the scan part and sang every song to myself that I could remember the words to. As I’m Canadian, I forgot “God Save The Queen”. The time went quickly.

[Loveheart123 in reply to Whonnock]

When you say scan do u mean u had an MRI ....

[Whonnock in reply to Loveheart123]

No, it was a nuclear stress test. I was injected with a nuclear tracer and then in a large imaging machine .