mibi nuclear scan fears

[Buffy6956]

hello everyone

I’m due to have a nuclear stress test next week and rather than letting me excercise they are planning on doing it by stressing my heart with drugs. I’ve read that the feeling u can get from this drug can cause immediate breathlessness chest pain nausea etc and be frightening …it can also cause heart arrhythmias some of which can br dangerous in the wrong person. I guess I’m looking to find out that if any of you have had this snd experienced side effects what were they like and more importantly his long did they last for thankyou x

[Hidden]

Dear Buffy6956

I can fully understand your worry over this test and it doesn't matter if when I had it I suffered this or that because we are all individuals and each may have a different experience of the test.

All that I can assure you is that it doesn't take long and the facts and information that they can gather from it will help with your continued treatment.

You can look up the procedure, but please don't just let the professionals guide you through it on the day, make it very clear to them { they are used to it } that you are stressed about having it.

Take someone with you to get you home.

Its not pleasant, but what is when the hospital is involved ? you will be fine, I am sending a warm internet hug to you.

Take care and please let us know

[Wingnutty]

I didn't get any of the symptoms that you describe after administration of the drug, but I did get a mild headache which disappeared within 5 minutes of the end of the stress test. One of the people running the test commented that I was the second person that day who had registered a headache as a side effect. In my case they made me get on an exercise bike and peddle gently. I pointed out to them that there was no resistance on the pedals that it was just free wheeling and they stated that is the way it is supposed to be. The pedals were more about taking my mind off the fact that my heart rate was going up rapidly because of the administered drug rather than providing any exercise stress.

One thing I was surprised about is that I was given piece of paper to carry around with me for about a month if I remember rightly. This stated that I had been given a dose of radioactive dye which might still register in certain circumstances at places where radiation detectors exist to detect potential terrorists. The places I was quoted that might have these detectors were airports and large train stations. I knew nothing about these detectors before I had the scan.

[Gibson01]

Hi Buffy,

I have had a couple of stress tests with drugs. One in a PET scanner and one in a CT or MRI scanner (I cannot remember which it was). I did not find the effect of the drugs to be particularly severe, just mild, breathlessness and pressure on the chest. The effect only lasts for a few seconds or may be a minute, just enough for the ECG to pick up any signals. I did not have any side effects.

Just try to relax and lie still in the scanner, they sometimes play music help you relax.

Once the tests are done the technicians will help you up from the scanner and make sure you are ok before they let you leave. If you are attending as an outpatient I would agree with blue that its a good idea to take someone with you to see you home.

I have also had an exercise test, in which you walk on a treadmill which gets faster and steeper until you say enough! I found that more challenging as although it did not provoke severe angina pains, I was exhausted afterwards and had some mild chest pains for the next couple of days.

Whichever test you have, your heart will be monitored with an ECG throughout the test.

The staff performing the tests are very caring and will look after you. They are there to diagnose any problems, not to cause any distress to you.

Let them know that you are stressed by prospect of the test. I'm sure that most of us are.

Try and focus on the idea that the test won't last long and will hopefully start you on the road to diagnosis, treatment and getting better.

Good luck.

[Buffy6956 in reply to Gibson01]

Ty so much I’m just really scared… sat outside the X-ray room atm

[Gibson01 in reply to Buffy6956]

how did it go? was it as bad as you feared?

[Buffy6956 in reply to Gibson01]

hi I’ve just added a post regarding this. Ty for asking x