Quite scared - Heart Disorders Message Board

maltesa · 08-02-2006, 12:19 PM

I went to the hospital last week to see a cardioligist as i had trouble before Christmas with chest pains, as i arrived they said they would do an ecg and they needed to check my weight and height but they would do my blood pressure first, the ecg was done and then they took my blood pressure and the nurse laughed and said she would not ask me to have my weight done as my blood pressure was so low it was hardly registering it was altering from 50/45 to 50/55 and as i am in a wheelchair she was worried that i was going to faint, i went to see the doctor and after checks they said my cholestrol was very high and looking at everything they thought i should have a heart scan and that is what i am scared about as people keep telling me it is quite painful, could anyone help me and give me some proper advice that i could follow and take the fear away.
Thankyou i would value any advice given.

started04 · 08-02-2006, 01:20 PM

Hi maltesa,

The scan is merely taking an image of your heart at different angles. A stress test (treadmill) may cause chest pain (angina) for some people, but the test is halted immediately. An angiogram is an invasive test and the site of cath puncture may provide some discomfort post test.

The very worst for you with a scan would be the discomfort to remain in one postition for a period of time.

maltesa · 08-03-2006, 08:09 AM

Thankyou so much for replying so quickly i am very grateful, what i am frightened of is the consultant said they would inject something into my arm and my heart would race faster and when i spoke to a friend who had this done she said it felt like her heart was trying to get out and she was really sick, somehow i wished she had not told me but it was my own fault for asking, have you heard of this procedure?

Thanks again.

Fanntym · 08-03-2006, 06:16 PM

I had a nuclear (MUGA) scan last week. They injected some stuff in my arm to prepare my red blood cells to take the radioactive stuff, then 15 minutes later gave me the radioactive stuff via IV. I then had to lay still on a table about half the width I am, and was strapped in. They took 4 series of pictures each lasting 6 - 10 minutes, and during those times I could not move but the tech did let me move around between series of photo's. Physically it did not hurt at all, so if it's a MUGA scan you are going for you have nothing to worry about. I did not raise my heart rate either.

Lynne

nicm · 08-03-2006, 10:22 PM

The test that your freind is refering to is called a chemical stress test. This is the option for higher risk patients and it is more controlled. I had one done the first time I was admitted to the hospital. I was nervous before and during the test,this is only normal. When they inject you your pulse will start to rise in stages until your pulse reaches the number they are looking for. The feeling is hard to describe but it is not a pleasant one. On a scale of 1 to 10 this test rates about a 4 on the this sucks scale. Possitive note the bad part only takes 5 minutes.