myocardial perfusion scan

[Hendrix1]

I was told yesterday I needed this test. Anyone had experience of this? Feeling nervous.

[Tos92]

Hi Hendrix1,

A myocardial perfusion scan usually consists of two parts - stress and rest.

I have had a myocardial perfusion scan. It is usually performed to see how well the blood in your coronary arteries are flowing to the heart muscle. The test is good in order to determine ischaemia (narrowing of the arteries). You don’t mention whether you’ll be required to use a treadmill.

I had a stress agent injected into my arm slowly in order to raise my heart rate to see how it performs under stress instead of going on a treadmill. Some experience chest pain, breathlessness, sweating, upper back pain, abdominal pain and nausea. These are considered normal side effects to the stress agent and can subside quickly once it has stopped being administered.

During this process, they will take pictures of your heart.

The rest part is easier. I was sent away to eat something fatty and to avoid caffeine on the day of the scan. This included coffee, chocolate, fizzy drinks etc.

You are monitored throughout the scan with doctors and radiologists on standby.

There is some more info below.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Good luck.

Tos

[Fanfab1]

hello

I had the nuclear medicine scan version of this. It was over two days.

Day 1 I was injected with adenosine to see how heart reacted (I have to be honest that bit was not nice) then I was injected with the radioactive stuff and taken for scans (my memory is not what it was the scan may have been the next day)

Day 2 I only had the nuclear stuff injected and scanned.

Other than finding the adenosine awful - I always do - it was fairly strict.

They do say to stay away from children and pregnant women for a bit.

the scanning machine is a lot simpler than a MRI.

Once you get your appointment you should get a guide / information with your letter.

Good luck.

[scentedgardener]

I had the stress and rest tests last year, one week apart. It's boring more tgan anything else. With the stress test I was having my BP continually monitored, and a continuous ECG while they administered the stress agent. The stressor feelings literally only last 2 minutes. I was fascinated by it all.

The hanging around is the worst bit.

The scan took 19 minutes, the machine is over your chest and gradually moves over it. I can't do MRIs, far too claustrophobic, this was okay.

Be prepared for the boredom, take someone with you if you can to alleviate said boredom, I didn't realise I could on the first, most lengthy, one but did take a companion for the second one.

I'm sure you'll be fine, I wouldn't hesitate to have another if needed.

[Silvertail]

You'll be fine. I was nervous before mine but it was like a production line that day and I was at the end of the line. 😊 That reassured me and the doctor and nurse will talk you through it. Good luck.

[sam-sam32]

Hi Hendrix 1. I am radiation sensitive (esp. wifi) and so was very nervous about this test. Also I am an older person. The nursing staff were really great (and I don't wear rose coloured specs) and very kind. I took a book to read - others were doing stuff on their phones in the waiting room between the tests described by others already. The worst bit was that I was absolutely exhausted afterwards and this lasted several days - but then I am sensitive (although told it was a different type of radiation - really??). My advice would be to not arrange anything much the day after and have it off work so you can rest, if this is possible. sam-sam32