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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

cardiac MRI - anyone had one?

45 replies

lirael · 27/06/2013 13:31

My appointment has come through today for an MRI tomorrow morning - eek! Am anxious about the investigations they're doing on my heart anyway, but also a bit worried about the procedure. I think the hospital have two machines in different widths and am really hoping they've got me in the bigger one as am claustrophobic. GP has written me a prescription for a sedative which I'm just about to go and pick up, but not sure if I'll need it - it depends how narrow the tunnel is! Apparently I'll be in there for an hour. Not really looking forward to it...

OP posts:

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digerd · 06/07/2013 12:59

Lirael
Don't understand why they didn't give you the angiogram instead of the MRI.
The Angiogram is more invasive than an MRI . Not had one myself but seen them on TV.
Also don't know if you can take valium/diazepam beforehand.

My < fearless> DB had one done on his groins and lower stomach and told the doc to get out the way so he could watch the procedure on the screen as he was fascinated..

Were you told where the point of entry would be?

lirael · 07/07/2013 22:36

Thinking about it, they probably did the MRI first because its not invasive. If that had completely ruled out a problem, they wouldn't have done the angiogram, but as it showed the restricted function, they are going ahead with the more invasive test. Maybe? Or it could be as a follow up to my 'borderline' stress test - maybe they have a policy to do an angiogram on anything even slightly suspicious?

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digerd · 08/07/2013 14:47

I assume that the MRI detected a 'mild impairment' but not the cause.

The angiogram should be able to diagnose the cause. They are certainly determined to find out the cause after failing to do so by all the tests you have had so far.

So frustrating and nervewracking for you to have waited so long for a definite diagnosis of the problem and cause.
Good luck for the angiogram.

lirael · 08/07/2013 15:11

Thanks Digerd - I'm sure you're right. I am relieved in a way that it doesn't seem to be a cardiomyopathy (I think that would have been seen on the MRI) but don't want narrowed arteries either!

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digerd · 08/07/2013 15:45

I know a lady who had a blocked artery blown through and stented via angiogram in her heart. She didn't need the open heart surgery, which is needed for me if I ever need a replacement aortic valve.
That is too big to be done via angiogram, but stenting is much less invasive.
Still, I hope you won't need it.

That person I found on a forum for PVC just took Beta Blockers and nothing else was done.

lirael · 09/07/2013 18:50

Went for angiogram pre-op today - weighed and measured (though hardly likely my height will have changed!), blood pressure, ECG and chat about the procedure. The nurse was lovely and put my mind at rest - she said that they sedate people who are really anxious but that most people don't find it too bad. In fact we spent about 20 mins talking about being older mums - she is having her first baby at 45 . I've been really impressed by the cardiology team - very efficient, personable people, and the department seems to run very smoothly. If it hadn't been for the baby chat, I would have been in and out in 40 minutes.

The only annoying thing is that the ECG still showed lots of ectopics, despite the beta blockers

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digerd · 09/07/2013 21:35

My dad was born when his DM was 43 but it was her 7th !.

As far as your ectopics are concerned, you may need a higher dose of beta blockers?
Did she explain where they will be entering to do the angiogram?
I think now they do the heart through a blood vessel near your armpit?

lirael · 09/07/2013 22:50

Yes I think they're intending to go up to 10mg if I can tolerate it. 5mg seems OK - have been splitting the dose, but took 5mg in one go this morning and felt fine.

Apparently my consultant likes to go through the groin - was hoping for armpit as groin seems further away!

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digerd · 10/07/2013 19:20

They always used to do it from the groin. 20 years ago, my best friend's DH collapsed with stroke symptoms. They went in from the groin all the way into his head and clamped 2 aneurisms in his brain . He is still alive.

The lady who had one artery blown through and stented had it done through the armpit or near it. That was just a year ago.

Are you being sedated with diazepam for the procedure?

lirael · 10/07/2013 22:53

The nurse said they don't sedate routinely but that I could have it if I was very anxious. She said the consultant doing the op is not against sedation at all and would even do it half way through if needed. The thing that worries me is that being anxious makes my heart jump about all over the place and that'll make the procedure difficult. When I said that to the nurse she said tell the consultant and he may decide on sedation.

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BabsAndTheRu · 11/07/2013 08:09

I had a similar procedure for cardiac problem and thought I wouldn't need sedation but changed my mind just as they started, sedation was brilliant, think pink fluffy clouds. Could still see everything going on but was so chilled out. Would recommend it when going through this.

digerd · 11/07/2013 09:08

I would definitely have sedation < as much as is allowed to be floating on cloud 9 like we used to be years ago before ops [smile > We had it injected in our bum -ouch! But worth it.

lirael · 15/07/2013 16:00

NK34 - tell your DS that the angiogram is fine - imo easier than the dentist! Just a little scratch when the numbing injection goes in and then a slightly bigger scratch (but still not bad) when they make the little cut for the wire. The rest of it is completely painless and very quick - they said 30 mins, but the wire was only inside for about 10. It was fascinating seeing the arteries waving about like seaweed. And I haven't got any signs of heart disease, which is great news! A few little odd things they're investigating but nothing major.

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digerd · 15/07/2013 17:57

Great news and you were so brave imo. " arteries waving about like seaweed" eek. I have seen it on TV programmes.
Now you can relax at last .
Good luck.

lirael · 15/07/2013 21:15

Ah thanks Digerd but bravery not needed - I would honestly prefer another angiogram to having a tooth filled!

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lirael · 24/08/2013 13:19

Update for anyone still interested. Angiogram was basically normal but showed possibility of a small kink in an artery, so was referred for a CT scan. Had results from that yesterday which showed nothing abnormal with the anatomy of the heart - huge relief. Have got another ultrasound on 16th Sept which will look at ejection fraction again - hopefully it'll have returned to normal with the beta blockers.

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NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 24/08/2013 18:54

I have been following you! pleased things look less worrying for you. How are the beta blockers going now?

Interesting about your kink, is it the coronary arteries? my son had kawaski disease as a toddler and he has a kink in one of his coronary arteries.

lirael · 26/08/2013 09:19

I seem to have got used to the 10mg dose, which is good. It's the proximal left anterior descending artery which is slightly 'angulated' apparently. Kink was my word - not sure if it's the same thing? Anyway, it's not causing any problems and the letter also says that the heart function 'appears well preserved' which is the opposite of what the original tests showed .

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digerd · 26/08/2013 13:15

Hi Lirael
Been wondering how you were getting on with the beta blockers and if they sorted out your ectopics.
Must say I had to smile at the "well preserved".
I always had the feeling that the first "poor functiong" and other gloom and doom remarks you received were mis-diagnosed

I have had 4 echocardiograms on my regurgitating aortic heart valve in the last 6 years, but never had the ejection fraction measured

Good luck for the 16th Sept.

lirael · 27/08/2013 13:28

Thanks Digerd - and for all your support and hand-holding through the last two months

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