Myocardial Perfusion Scan

The appointment was treated very kindly by the hospital staff who were all nice, kind, helpful and re-assuring.

During the scanning process, the blood supply that goes into my heart was assessed using the Persantin method which was administered intravenously to which time serial ECG tracings were taken while monitoring my BP and pulse rate. It was followed by the Sestamibi injection that helped dilate the arteries of my heart so to enable the imaging easy. This in turn will help the staff evaluate if there is any evidence present of an impaired blood supply to the heart muscle that is causing the atypical chest pain I am having.

This experience found a way for me to marvel at how Science has progressed through the length of time. The brainwork of the Engineers and the Medical genius combined is truly fascinating.

I also loved the treatment accorded to me during the scanning process. After the initial procedure of injecting medication to my veins, I rested to allow the medicine settled in my bloodstream. With my face facing up the roof and hands over my head, the slim bed was slowly transported under the nuclear cubicle hoisting it very steadily and slowly.

For twenty minutes the cubicle transformed into a right angle until it eventually formed an acute angle. Then I changed position. This time, with my face down onto the bed with my back being exposed to the radiation. Like in the first process, all I did was close my eyes and dreamlessly wandering my mind to nowhere. I just did a deep breath in and breath out to relax myself and totally forgot the world. That also took twenty minutes.

In each session done, I was given a time lapse respite to settle down and gladly, my anxiety of the previous day did not play havoc. I was as calm as the afternoon sea when the ebb tide ceased.

Then back to the other machine, the serial ECG, BP and Pulse Rate monitoring and recording. Electrodes were attached to my chest, under the breasts, and on both sides. I call it “Electrocution Phase” that made the staff laugh. It was another procedure of testing stress endurance other than the treadmill machine.

Thanks to the Sestamibi as it was truly causing a funny feeling. After a while, I felt my chest tightening followed with headaches. For some reason, my tummy was the very first one that was adversely affected with undue sensation hard to describe. I thought I have long tolerance with drugs because I did not feel any difference at the start. In fact, I was feeling confident the first time it was introduced into my bloodstream.

As the pressure was added, I could not take it any longer and decided to tell the staff that I could not stand it. They eased off my suffering by injecting me an antidote then my normal feeling came back. I cried of pain. That chest tightening was the very first experience I had last time before I was taken to the hospital sometime ago.

At that point, I felt like I was being hypnotised by the pain. As if it was deliberately inflicted on me. The feeling was kind of a heavy load pushed on me beyond the limit I could handle and I really cried. Tears welled down my face and I could tell the compassion arising from the two lovely ladies who conducted the study on me. They understood that particular emotion as it was the expected symptoms of adverse effects of the drugs.

Yes, that was part of their studies. I was then made aware that I became a voluntary Guinea Pig. After all I signed the paper of consent after the explanation was thoroughly presented to me.

It was a relief that after the test, I was treated to a hot cup of tea to counter the adversity that I went through that process. Lunch time was a helpful recess and as hunger settled in, I went to order a bowl of hot noodle soup. No, it’s not your average instant noodle soup.

I washed it down with un-chilled bottle of water, and then I decided to go for a walk around the vicinity.

Back to the hospital to continue the session, I was taken back to the imaging room. This time, the electrodes were back on (the Electrocution Phase) and with the same procedure as before it was done simultaneously with the ECG monitoring minus the BP and the Pulse Rate.

There was another time pause employed, perhaps to avoid nuclear over-exposure. That is just my conjecture. I rested again and finally called back in to do the last stage.

When all was done, my inquisitive nature prevailed and jokingly asked the ladies questions like, “How’s the movie going? And what’s the cardiac anatomy look like?” These questions drew smiles to the faces of the two lovely ladies who dutifully and politely explained to me that it would take them awhile to process the assessment. Anyway, I was told that my Cardiologist would tell me on my next visit to him which is next week.

It was another long haul of the day, and another long sigh to do…hopefully with a great deal of relief since the youngest lady of them all told me that I was doing well during the test. Let’s see!

I would like to take the opportunity of thanking my well-meaning friends for their prayers and kind thoughts of me during that unusual ordeal of my life.

May this find you all in good state of health and well-being.

Look after your Heart.

“Heart is the seat of life; not of pain nor of sorrow.” ~Anon~

Copyright@2008, LCDancel, All rights reserved

Author's Note: Dateline of the MPS, April 8, 2008