I had the first part - stress test on Thursday (Dipyridamole Sestamibi). Got the rest test on Tuesday. I was referred for this in May when my problem was finally caught on ECG. I have already had a clear Coronary Angiogram.
The care on the day provided was second to non. As was the information. It was so reassuring, it made me feel relaxed and confident.
The actual stress test part involved a cannula and the drug Dipyridamole being used to increase blood flow. What I describe below lasts 2 minutes. It’s such a short period of time. And if it helps get a firm diagnosis, well good. The only thing I’d say is it’s like going from 0 to 60 in a car in two seconds, because it’s such a quick test, the speed in which the side effects happen come on quickly. But in my case, and as the care team advised, they also disappeared just as quickly.
I was told i’d possibly get breathless, a bit dizzy etc as your blood pressure can drop. So no surprise there, yep felt dizzy, and the breathlessness was weird and it came on suddenly.
I did have a brief few moments of an intense and very uncomfortable feeling in both arms and my neck, an extreme feeling of pressure. Has anyone else experienced that in one of these tests? I kind of had expected my chest pain to rear it’s head if anything. But, as instructed, I was still taking my meds, so they must have done their job. The only thing I experienced on that front was a slight heartburn. Which is normally a precursor to the full blown chest pain I’ve experienced in the past.
After the two minutes I recovered pretty quickly. And was then told to go and get a large coffee and fatty breakfast. I had obviously fully recovered as it was music to my ears 😂. No need to repeat that instruction. One sausage cob, a latte and an hour later I had my scan. I have always had really bad claustrophobia. But it was a CT not an MRI, and with exception to the last part of the scan my head wasn’t covered. The last part was so brief I closed my eyes and got through that.
I was at the hospital for approximately 2.5-3 hours as expected. Wouldn’t like to have that test to often but it’ll be so good to get this done and dusted before Christmas and hopefully get the results before then as well, find out what’s what do to speak - fingers crossed.
mibi nuclear scan fears
Unstable Angina - Carotid ultrasound scan?
Heart CT Scan - eye opening experience 
Which scan or test?
CT scan results huge difference to Angiogram
