Cardiac Stress MRI anxiety

[Toffodog]

Hello everyone, I have been requested to attend for a Cardiac Stress MRI scan next week to investigate the reason why I am having a high frequency of angina attacks some of which come in clusters every 15-20mins and always at rest. I have been requested to stop using the GTN spray and not take any of my heart medication ( Isosorbide, Bisoprosol Amlopidine etc) 24 hrs before my scan which is causing me so much anxiety at the moment as I heavily rely on my GTN spray to ease the angina pain.

I am reaching out to anyone on this forum who has had this type of MRI scan to please let me know how they managed during the 24 hr period and if they had any other medication to ease angina attacks during this time?

Thankyou

[Happyrosie]

my husband had one of these tests a couple of months ago. Yes, he had to stop his medication but he’s not needed to use gtn spray for many years.

The actual procedure was a breeze and stopping medication caused no issues for him.

[Toffodog in reply to Happyrosie]

Thankyou for you response which gives me some comfort about the procedure

[BaronFrankenstein]

I am due to have a stress test this Thursday. I feel a bit anxious about it but if anything happens you are in the best place you could be. Also they will stop the test if anything adverse should occur and give you whatever medication you may need.

[Toffodog in reply to BaronFrankenstein]

Thank you for your response and I hope all goes well for you on Thursday. I understand what you say about everyone being there if anything happens however I depend on GTN spray and will probably require this at some stage during the procedure so I’m not sure how to control the pain,. I’m seeing my consultant tomorrow so will ask if there’s any sedative that I could have. Wish you well for Thursday.

[BaronFrankenstein in reply to Toffodog]

As they have an IV line in to administer the drug to speed up your heart for the test they can also adminster drugs like GTN to help you should you start to experience heart pain as well. The advantage is they take effect a lot quicker than if you used a GTN spray as its gets directly into your bloodstream.

[Toffodog in reply to BaronFrankenstein]

Awe thank you so much for this info , just reading this message has reduced my anxiety and I feel a little more relaxed about the procedure once again thank you

[AmatureKnitter]

I had one on the 23rd Dec last year. Adenosine and contrast. It was my second attempt after discovering I'm claustrophobic in the first machine. I went to a different hospital with a wide bore MRI (all NHS do BTW), had a shot of midazolam, they put the fan on for me, I kept my eyes shut this time. They were right there behind the glass and in constant communication the whole time. No problems.

[Toffodog in reply to AmatureKnitter]

Thank you for your response which gives me some comfort especially about the sedation that they may be able to give me as anxiety is a trigger to my angina. I’m with my consultant tomorrow so being armed with the sedative info will help me , thank you