Cardiac MRI

[Avagra]

Waiting for a cardiac MRI and a bit nervous as I’m not great laid totally flat but can manage being slightly raised with a pillow. Is dye always injected during the procedure and what’s the average time it takes.Thanks

[Yumz199725]

Mine took 2 hours and I think they only inject the dye to see the valves? I'm not sure though. Hope yours goes well x

[Avagra in reply to Yumz199725]

Thank you 🙏

[Alfiesmum6]

I think my head was flat but they gave me a cushion for my knees so ask before you go in. Mine took 45 mins they did put dye in but only 15 mins before the end and a hardly felt it.

[Chembris24]

I had a cardiac stress MRI last week. I am pretty sure I had a small pillow under my head and a larger support under my knees so I wasn't totally flat. The dye bit you don't feel at all. Mine took an hour and you are so busy listening to instructions on when to breathe normally and when to hold your breath that the time went by v quickly. I also had an eye mask so was in my own little world throughout!

[Murderfan58]

I don't like MRI scans but knew I had to be calm . I had an ECG before having the scan and electrodes on my chest . I lay down with my slippers on as I knew from previous MRI over the years on my brain and spine my feet get cold. A wedge cushion was placed under my knees and 2 pillows under my head. A heavy plate was put into my chest but strapped to the handles which took the weight it was to protect the electrodes from the magnetic pulses. Ear defenders and 2 pillows under my head and panic button placed in my hand . And they put me in but had to come straight out the pillows where to high and my nose almost touch tube . But on one pillow it was fine. There was a grey stripe along the top of the tube so I concentrated on that and did my pre natal breathing. But you have instructions to follow. They tell you to take a deep breath in and hold it then breath normally. I count it was 20; seconds. Because of waiting for the instructions took my mind off being enclosed. After a long while was taken out and dye injected and told I needed to hold my breath longer but if I couldn't to shall breath. But I was determined to hold my breath which I did. When they said it was finished and got good pictures . I was in just over 90 mins. Problem was my limbs had seized up . I have a rare hereditary neurological condition which effects my limbs they had to help me up and walk to get dressed. But they where lovely.

It was raining heavily. I had mine done at the mobile unit at the hospital but the tunnel was open both ends. The radiographer insisted to walk down the metal steps incase I slipped have walked with a stick since I was 29 it was raining heavily . He got soaked through in his scrubs . Which I worried about but he said it was fine as he clothes in the trailer.

Had my first MRI in 1988 when it took up a whole room and the tunnel was longer and pitch black thank goodness modern ones aren't like that now.

So glad I stayed still and did everything they asked. As they got very clear pictures. I had small spaces but having a MRI gives them more information than a CT scan. So it was well worth my fear and the time flew by because I had to listen for the instructions and they keep asking me if I was ok.

Try and relax and stay still and do everything they ask if you if you can . But it's well worth having it done . Good luck having yours. 😊

[Avagra in reply to Murderfan58]

Thank you 🙏

[Murderfan58 in reply to Avagra]

My pleasure. I wish someone had told me about holding my breath before I had to do it. But it was fine and was determined to do exactly as they wanted so it was a surprise how long I had been in the machine. Like I said I wore my slippers because I knew the room would be cold because of the machine gives off a lot of heat . At least my feet where lovely and warm. Going with a positive frame of mind has always helped with everything I have had done . And always think it's better to know if something is wrong then you can get help.

You will be fine .

[Avagra in reply to Murderfan58]

👍

[Driver11]

Hi had mine recently and did have small pillow. I have an ICD so a bit more complicated and took 40minsYou'll be ok good luck

[Avagra in reply to Driver11]

🙏

[Sasl0v]

hi - I had mine last week. Was much better than I thought it would be. Had a pillow and a leg support. The tunnnel is open at both ends and you could have a fan on if you wanted which I liked. It’s obviously really nerve wracking but they will look after you and it will soon be over. Good luck

[Avagra in reply to Sasl0v]

Thank you my friend 👍

[Cricket-lover]

Hi. I was so anxious about it so I can understand how you are feeling. I actually asked to see the machine before we did the paperwork. That was so helpful as it was nothing like I was imagining and it calmed me down. It was very light and bright. I did find it helpful to have a calm cd with me to listen to. I definitely had a pillow and it was comfortable except for the knee raise thing which left me with sore knees! I think most people find that more comfortable though.

They ask you to do a lot of breathing in and out so you do feel connected to them and you can always contact them via a button they put in your hand

Mine was longer than expected because of my arrhythmia but they said it would be about 40 minutes when I arrived. I didn’t feel the dye go in and once they’d put that in it was soon over. Just drink plenty at home to get it out your system.

I hope you are feeling reassured

[Avagra in reply to Cricket-lover]

Thank you Cricket-lover it has given me some reassurance 👍

[Chinkoflight]

Hi Avagra, Rather than dwell on the process, it's just another machine that takes pictures, think about the outcomes. It is a gold standard diagnostic tool and although many people should have a cardiac MRI to help fully assess their issues, a lot don't.Following a sudden cardiac arrest and admission to a general hospital cardiology unit that was struggling to cope, a quick treatment plan was devised to fit an ICD. There was a difference of opinion between cardiologists and some were happy to quickly diagnose some form of ischaemic heart failure. But the first line tests, echocardiogram and angiogram failed to support this diagnosis. Because a ventricular tachycardia had been detected the same Cardiologists were still content to fit an ICD and send me home. The hospital doesn't have Cardiac MRI facilities.

But one cardiologist had some curiosity and understood my anxiety about being in the 10% group with a non ischaemic cardiac problem.

I won't go on but I was exceptionally grateful to have all the subsequent diagnosis from the Cardiac MRI and the consequential PETscan.

Putting up with what are really mild discomforts for an hour is a small inconvenience in order to get a much better understanding of your health which impacts on the treatment for better future health and is for many a post code lottery.

[Avagra in reply to Chinkoflight]

Thank you for your much appreciated response Chinkoflight I’ve had intermittent chest pains since my HA in Oct’22 and my ecg showed some abnormalities just recently and my echo showed some minor regurgitation,distolic dysfunction and my MRI is to see what might be the cause .

[Dan75]

Hello, AvagraThis is my first time on a forum, I read a little about your health journey and I find myself in one of your situations regarding t waves and everything that follows with it, so I was in the emergency room for shortness of breath and difficulty breathing with sometimes noises when I breathe, I think it's wheezing and unusual fatigue and cramps all over the left side, I had blood tests and an MRI of the neck and head which showed nothing and I had two ECGs and there they told me that I had negative t waves in D2 D3 and AVF and they told me that I can go home, without explanation or anything else and there I don't understand what that means, since I've never heard of it, I'm not followed by a cardiologist either, and I'm worried and I would like to know how it went for your cardiac MRI and that What does your cardiologist say about these T waves and what follows them, and how long have you had them? Thank you and I look forward to your answers, Best regards,

Dan.

[Avagra in reply to Dan75]

Hi Dan75 I had a HA in Oct ‘22 and a stent put in the circumflex artery and for a few months I’ve been having intermittent left chest pains that although not severe still uncomfortable.I have had X-ray,echocardiogram,48hr holter and ecg.The holter and X-ray was normal and the echocardiogram showed Very minor Mitral Regurgitation,Minor Distolic Disfunction and minor Left atrial dilation.The ecg showed ST and T wave depression/elevation and a MRI cardiac stress was administered 4 weeks ago and im awaiting the results.None of the above investigations would have been carried out had I not been sent to A&E by my doctor a few months ago and it was in the hospital that I saw a cardiologist for the first time since my discharge from hospital after my heart attack. I will let you know my results expected in the next few days but suffice it to say it appears to be a postcode lottery seeing a cardiologist and I advise you to press your GP to make a referral to a cardiologist.Hope you get things sorted out and let’s keep in touch.

[Dan75 in reply to Avagra]

good evening, Avagrai just read your message and i see that you have been through a difficult journey with huge obstacles, this is all new to me, so if i understand correctly, it is because of these famous t and st waves that you had a heart attack? what is an HA? had you been sick with your heart for a long time or very recently? yes there too the appointments are long to see a cardiologist and my GP is not someone i can count on, since several times i told him to write me a letter to see an ENT and he refused me, so i know very well that he is not going to listen to me and change GP, first of all i will have to find a good one who is not far away, it is an obstacle course, tell me is it these famous negative t waves that caused a heart attack in you? and I will wait for your answers regarding your cardiac MRI results, and what your cardiologist concludes,

thanks,

kind regards,

Dan.

[Avagra in reply to Dan75]

No the ST/T waves weren’t the cause of my HA (heart attack ) it was a blocked circumflex artery.I understand that the ecg T/ST waves will not warrant treatment and just be a part of my body history.I am not over worried about the situation as I’m not experiencing problems with breathing,blood pressure,heart rate or anything to worry about.I will however ask about ecg results when my consultant contacts me with MRI results.Will be in touch xx

[Dan75 in reply to Avagra]

so it's not these negative t waves that caused this heart attack, but a blocked circumflex artery, but these t waves, were they there before? or is this all new to you? ok try to get more information from your cardiologist about these negative t waves and keep me updated, we'll stay in touch, thank you very much Avagrakind regards,

Dan.

[Avagra in reply to Dan75]

👍

[Avagra in reply to Dan75]

As previously mentioned I had my MRI on September 3rd but still awaiting results but will keep you in my loop

[Dan75 in reply to Avagra]

Hello, Avagrasorry to answer only now, but I had left for a city due to the absence of my doctor and I changed hospitals since I did not have any answers to my questions in the first hospital and unfortunately my doctor took a vacation then in the new hospital they told me that I must have a letter of dispatch from my doctor so that I can be taken care of in this new hospital, but my doctor is still on vacation for another 30 days and I still do not have answers to my questions and my situation and you, I see that you were able to have an MRI, but what did the doctor and the cardiologist tell you about these t waves and these derivations and then especially the conclusion of this MRI,

cordially,

Thank you Avagra

[Avagra in reply to Dan75]

Had Cardiac Stress MRI on September 3rd but still awaiting results

[Avagra in reply to Dan75]

still awaiting MRI results but haven’t forgotten you 😊