I’m due to have an MRI with radioactive dye which l will be given through a cannula. I’m to eat a fatty sandwich before the procedure. I’m concerned about being injected with the radioactive dye. Has anybody else had this procedure? I’m not actually sure what this procedure will be looking for as the letter came out of the blue apparently this is the last of the tests l will be having before my consultant contacts me. These tests have been going on for over a year.
MRI Scan : I’m due to have an MRI with... - British Heart Fou...
MRI Scan
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kingsnorth
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I have had several MRIs over the years, including one or more with the dye you mention although I can't be sure on that. However all I can say is there will be strict guidelines used by the medical profession concerning the the use of radioactive substances and so you will not be subjected to something that is considered unsafe, far from it. Not only that it is likely the procedure itself is also subject to approval. So if it were me I wouldn't get too concerned about it. However you will be given the opportunity to discuss this prior to your procedure before you sign the consent form, although it would be helpful to everyone if you had decided to go ahead prior to this rather than decline on the day, which would then deny someone else your place in the queue.
Hello I had a nuclear medicine heart scan couple of weeks ago and they used the radioactive dye - on day 1 scan and on day 2 scan so two lots, felt no adverse effects at all. I don’t recall the staff injecting the stuff wearing any particular protective gear like some do when in actual scan room / Cath lab. So implies risk is minimal/ ok to take. They do advise after to keep distance from children and pregnant women for 48 hours after. I did this with my kids and it was great I got the living room telly all to myself in peace and quiet while they stayed upstairs. Always a silver lining. Good luck with your scan
kingsnorth• in reply to
that's sounds like the scans l will be having l will have 2 on different days. what is it actually looking for l have had so many heart tests I'm getting lost with it all now
• in reply tokingsnorth
Hi mine was looking for blood flow I believe, I.e. to get pictures of blood flow. I’m seeing Cardiologist next week so will know then.
kingsnorth• in reply to
Good luck with your results
I have had these and there was nothing to worry about. All I remember is having to sit to wee for the rest of the day as your wee will be slightly radioactive.
I am 10 weeks into recovery from a triple by pass and aortic valve replacement. Before the operation I had the MRI scan and the dye. It was relatively painless although a little warm as it coursed through my veins. It is a procedure called an angiogram. In Cambridge (Royal Papworth Hospital) they played music while it was taking place. I was highly amused by the song - Going up to the Spirit in the Sky!
I hope you are feeling better now you have had your surgery. Was the operation due to the result of the scan
Papworth did mine too. All pretty standard procedure and they are brilliant at calming your nerves. I'm sure I had Vera Lynn playing while I was there.
'We'll Meet Again' perhaps? My consultant said I was lucky that it was only 'Going up to the Spirit in the Sky' as he said it could have been 'Stairway to Heaven'! Yes really good at keeping you calm. Mind you it wasn't as though I had a choice, so I was resigned to accepting the whole thing.
I’m in pretty reasonable shape thanks. I am waking about a mile a day now and start cardiac rehab (the gym at Addenbrookes) in a week. Leg swelling is going down nicely and wounds have healed. I was a classic case as I had a pain in my arm and one in the left side of my chest along with neuralgic pain in my lower jaw. Ambulance called and whisked off to hospital 25 minutes away. My care at Addenbrookes and Royal Papworth the heart hospital was superb. I will never knock the reputation of the NHS.
That’s good to hear keep up the good work !
I had one done recently, the nurses were great and explained everything to me before it started.
They tell you when they inject the dye, I was aware of it but it wasn't uncomfortable... and it was over in a flash.
have you had your results yet ?
I just got them today, after a 3 week wait (not bad in todays climate)
Happy to say that my heart function is good, the structure is good, and there's been very little scarring been left... so they are confident it was myocarditis and not a heart attack!
That’s good news !
Does scarring go away?
I'm not sure to be honest, I wouldn't have thought so
HiNothing to worry about at all, all part of the diagnosis process. I had no side effects and I believe all I was asked to do, after the procedure, was drink plenty of water to help flush the dye out of the system....no coloured wee... :))
In fact thinking about it, I had one within a few weeks of my mitral valve surgery to help diagnose an infection.
ATB
HiI think you're having a perfusion scan which shows the blood flow through the arteries. The dye is injected through a canula and it feels like a rush of warmth through your body. You might feel like you want to wee but that's normal (you won't wee!) It's over in a flash. Nothing to worry about.
From my personal experience I would also ask for an Angiogram (catheter or at least a contrast CT) as they're more specific to what's going on.
I'm awaiting a triple heart bypass following the results of my Angiograms only.
Good luck and let us know how you get on. Feel free to message me.
Susie x
I have so many tests, l have had a CT with contrast which showed moderate plaque I’m now taking statins and aspirin. The CT scan was with contrast. I’m convinced if they do enough tests something will be found. I’m 72
So it sounds like they're now seeing how well the blood flows through your moderately plaqued arteries. My understanding is that the CT Angiogram only shows the calcification in your arteries which is an indication of how much narrowing there is. The radioactive dye is nothing to worry about. Just don't go near babies or pregnant ladies for a few days x
Thanks for replying what you say does make sense my tests have been going on for over a year and l have only spoken to my cardiologist once in that time and that was at the start of my journey and a telephone consultation. Cardiologist’s secretary tells me she can’t discuss results as she isn’t qualified to do so! I was informed about the moderate plaques by way of a letter so I’m totally in the dark.
I know exactly what you mean. I found out I had a severe problem by a Patients No Best notification. It was a copy of the letter from the hospital to the GP. No support at all. It scared me stiff. In the end I paid £200 to see a private cardiologist before I had my catheter Angiogram. Since I was told I needed surgery on the procedure table I've not seen anyone except an appointment I made with my GP. Thankfully I'm seeing my surgeon on Thursday. I do feel they've got the patient care side of this all wrong on the NHS. You really have to push for information on your own body! X
I was thinking of paying privately for a cardiologist to explain the contents of my NHS letter but decided l might do that after all the tests are completed. This new scan came out of the blue 6 months after l had an echocardiogram l still haven’t had the results of that scan yet all l know is that the lady that did the echo scan said she couldn’t see any problems but needed to take measurements of blood flow and send results to cardiologist. Good luck with your op. I will keep you all posted x
You can always ask your gp for results of echo.
I had the same ct angiogram which showed moderate plaque but unfortunately also showed an 8cm tumour. Cardiologist wanted to place stents but had to wait until thoracic had taken tumour out. Following this I had a Dobutamine stress test and it was determined blood flow was good so no stents needed at this time just the aspirin and statin
That sounds similar to something I had. It was a cheese sandwich if I remember correctly.😜
Yep cheese sandwich! How were your results ?
I only had the first test IIRC (plus the cheese sandwich) . The result of the first was such that the second wasn't needed. Lots of boring waiting around though - take a book!
I've had MRI and PET scans with dye and a radioactive tracer with no side effects. Suggest drink plenty of water to flush it through your system. Never been asked to have the bacon sandwich in advance though!
This sounds like a MIBI scan also known as a mycardial profusion scan, my husband is currently on the waiting list for one. Can I ask how long you've had to wait for the test & which area you're in? Thanks
The appointment came out of the blue. I had an echocardiogram in March so I’m presuming this scan was ordered at the same time. My cardiologist as far as I’m aware ordered a whole range of tests over a year ago but these seem to be dripping through so l have lost track. I live in Canterbury Kent x
Thank you. My husband was referred for the test last Feb/March time and was told there's a 6 month waiting list so hopefully he'll hear something soon. Good luck with your scan
I have had both MRI's and CT scans with radioactive dye, with no bad after ettects.
Just to be clear, what you’re describing isn’t an angiogram as another respondent suggested.An angiogram uses a contrast agent that is opaque to X-rays, so when they shine the X-rays through the body, the coronary arteries appear dark on the monitor.
The radio medicine scan is much less of a big deal for the patient. The radioactive agent injected. This “glows” with gamma rays which the detector can “see” in the same way a camera records an image.
When I had mine done, they used a static detector, but I believe they can use a CT scanner which produces a more detailed view.
No reason not to have it, just follow their instructions with the fatty sandwich and drinking etc.
I have had the test with the dye done after I had my pacemaker fitted, It feels very warm when it goes through your arteries and makes you feel like your about to pee yourself, but you don't.
They just do it to see if there is narrowing of the arteries. Nothing to worry about.
Hi, Quite interesting to know that you are having this procedure. You are lucky you are having this state of art test. In my case I am awaiting for MRCP scan which involves MRI involving the gall bladder, biliary tract and the ducts of pancreas. However, one snag. I have a pacemaker which was upgraded in 1.9.21 after cardiac re -synchronisation procedure device. Although the my pacemaker is fully compatible with MRI, the radiology department of the local hospital is dragging their feet to do it saying I need to have cardiac backup and support. I have written to Chief Executive whether they are doing it or not and haven't got a reply. It has been going on since 21.7.22 when I was admitted as an emergency. I am surprised the way NHS trust is handling the matter. Can they refuse to do the test?
When you had your pacemaker upgraded to a CRT'd did you have new leads fitted & if so what happened to the existing pacemaker leads?
Hi Lezzers, I HAD the upgrade on 1.9.22 and the new leads fitted to ventricles. If I can recollect the past pacemaker leads are there but not functioning. One more question I have now become aware that all pacemakers after 2000 are MRI compatible which mine was. Why the radiology department refused MRI when I wanted it?
My understanding is whilst your new CRT'd is MRI compatible the leads that were left in situ are not and that is why there is a problem with the MRI. Ask your cardiologist to ascertain which hospital will carry out a MRI with the existing redundant leads in situ, however it may be a case that there's nothing they can do about it. Hopefully your cardiologist will find a hospital that will do it but you may have to travel.
Thanks, the information was very helpful.
l think it's a postcode lottery as to who gets these tests and if you can have them. hopefully yours will get yours in the not too distant future x
I’ve had a couple of these, quite nice to eat guilt free cheese sandwiches 🙂 I felt nothing at the time of injection or at any time after. I agree with the others regarding being told to avoid pregnant people and young children and also I was told to flush the toilet twice for the rest of the day! Good luck with your tests, take care and stay well x
I have always had the contrast dye when having my regular CT scans - they say they can get more definition when the dye is used. I have just gone along with what they say - they tell you to drink lots of water afterwards to flush the dye out of your kidneys. Mine are to scan my whole aorta to make sure it isn't getting bigger.
I have nevered questioned this.
Regards
Denise
well l had my second nuclear scan yesterday it wasn’t pleasant but bearable the tightening of the chest scared me but it was all explained to me before l had it done they had trouble finding a vein to put the cannula in and had to use an ultrasound machine to find a vein but they got their in the end. The staff in the nuclear medicine department were amazing and so patient, now just waiting for results and I’m anxious already 😱
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