Well, I had a Cardiovascular Perfusion MR Scan on Tuesday, there was good and bad points but first:
It was again in London at the Royal Brompton, because of rush hour train fares it was cheaper to stay two nights and travel off peak. The time of the scan was 12.30 for 1pm, I got there at 12.30 and was promptly whisked away to fill in forms, have cannulas fitted and have an ECG. They were very nice, polite but sometimes over explained what was happening, just remember the the nurse who also looks after the music doesn't know her 70’s from her 80’s from her 90’s, I asked for 70’s glam rock (my era) and got oasis but it was all light hearted. My arteries vanish at will and after trying at my elbows I ended up with one in the back of each hand and I was directed to the scan room where they hooked me up to drug pumps, put ECG monitor leads on me, gave me a buzzer, put head phones on and put me in the tube, I wouldn't like to be claustrophobic and have to go in the tube as it was the tightest I've been in, my nose was just an inch away from the top. My music started and I was given instructions of when to hold my breath, no problems, the nurse kept saying well done and that I was doing well at holding my breath. She then said we will now put the stress drug in (dopamine I think) all was fine then suddenly it started to hit, sweating, chest pain, feeling sick and disorientation, she kept asking how I was and I heard someone say “get him out” the table started moving and I was in the room again. I was just about coherent the nurse was stroking me and mopping my brow (a bit emergency ward 10 but much appreciated) she said “you didn't like that did you?”, at that point I said “I've now got an headache” and she said “that's the caffeine”, a few minutes later I was back in the smarty tube. I couldn't really say when the contrast went in but I know it did at least a couple of times but I started to lose the ability to hold my breath and scans had to keep being repeated. They finally said this is the last section, although they had been saying similar since the scan started but this time it was and they pumped more contrast into me and I started to go again but then I was out and being unhooked. Times suggest that I was in the tube for about 1 hour.
I now felt very similar to when I had a suspected TIA, I was reminiscent of a drunken sailor so my wife and I made for the nearest cafe to rest and replenish. I was now in after event scenario, hungry and wanting to sleep but I have kept having little events like whilst on the train my chest kept fluttering and dropping out and it now two days later and it's 5am and I Don't know which way things are going, it's either sleep or 999.
One things for sure and that is that the nurse was correct; I didn't like the stress drug!
Kel
