Because I like to keep everyone on their toes there is rarely a dull day when it comes to my health. I think (but can’t be 100% certain), things have been a bit stable for a little while now so it doesn’t surprise me that my body threw up a curve ball last week.

Mr Haze had been deployed for work and that meant that I was it with the home fires. No biggy I used to do this without even thinking about it, but it was the first time since the before. Luckily though I had this little guy to keep me company. img_6379-mov 

Anyway, on Mr Haze’s arrival home I had a funny turn and had to get it all investigated. One of those investigations was today. It was called a myocardial perfusion scan and it essentially means take a nest and settle in for a day at the hospital!

the nest all packed.
the nest all packed.

No seriously it is a scan of the heart using medical isotopes that are little bits of radiation, these are inserted through a cannula, then over a series of a few hours images are taken. The full definition is “Myocardial perfusion scan (also referred to as MPI) is a nuclear medicine procedure that illustrates the function of the heart muscle (myocardium). It evaluates many heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart wall motion abnormalities.” (from the sheet they gave me) In between the sets of images you also have a stress test and mine was booked for a chemical stress test because of my heart rate.

The first part of the test actually starts 24hrs earlier when you have to give up all caffeine until after the scan. Did you know this includes chocolate!

So I arrived at the hospital at about 9 in the morning and left at about 230ish so when they said all day they weren’t kidding! When I got there my first task was to convince the dr that I wasn’t pregnant, there was no way I could be and no I didn’t think I needed to do a pregnancy test to be sure! This is harder than you are think when you are of child bearing age, which apparently is any woman under 50! Then he explained the procedure to me explaining that I would be radioactive but it is totally fine and it doesn’t last long really. Bummer there went my hopes of turning superhero from an accidental isotope overdose.

Next the nurse put a cannula in and wow she was so gentle! Seriously not everyone that inserts cannulas are and not everyone that should be able to can! I know this from experience. Then the radiographer inserts the first dose of isotopes. Back to the waiting room. I redid my nest setup and got hold of the tv remote!

I waited for about 45mins give or take and went in for the first set of pictures. These go for 15mins.  You lie down and I was pretty tired so tried for a little nap. Which would have been much, much easier if only I didn’t have to lie with my arms above my head for 15mins. I was like meh this will be easy, that is until you try to move your arms after the time is up!!

Back to my nest, to get ready for the chemical stress test. About an hr went by I read some blogs, watched The View, did some knitting.

Then it came time for the test. This involved being hooked up to a monitor that sent all my heart details directly to the computer. It was decided that seeing as my heart rate was already 102, the chemical route was the best option. Rather than the more traditional running on the treadmill up hills and getting faster. All the drugs were set up and connected for the four minute infusion. Then all I needed to do was walk for four minutes at a really slow pace.

Just before I started.
Just before I started.

They warned me that maybe I would feel flushed, woozy, headache all sorts of things but I was sure I would be fine! The computer starts kicking off the treadmill, the Adenosine infusion was started and nothing didn’t feel different so I thought awesome I will get through this juuuusst fine. Then the Dr turned the tap up and boom I sure felt it and then some. The nurse kept asking if I was ok and I was fineish for a little while then kind of out of nowhere I could hear them talking, asking me if I was ok I insisted I was sort of, I knew they were in the room and that I had to hold on and walk but I wasn’t in the room with them! The nurse very lightheartedly let me know they can tell when we aren’t ok even though we say we are!

Back to my nest for a cup of tea this time!! More reading, knitting and Matlock was on tv by now until they needed me for my last lot of scans. While I had the stress test they put a bit more isotope through so it really doesn’t last all that long at all.

For the last lot of pictures they also monitor your heart rate something that they don’t do first time around. It is also just a teeny bit shorter. But still 13mins with your arms above your head!!

And just like that it is all over. Now to wait for the results. As the Dr assured me at the very beginning of it all these tests are really used to rule things out not rule things in, so I am sure I will remain a medical mystery.

How did you spend your Monday? Do anything exciting like spend the day at the hospital? 

Cat xoxo

linking up with Kylie for #ibot

22 Replies to “The day I became radioactive”

  1. Have been thinking about you. Hope the results prove fruitful. I’m feeling like a bit of a medical mystery myself. Throwing heaps of money and time on tests to rule things out and going backwards in the process but hoping we will get there in the end.

  2. I’ve been radioactive before – lucky I didn’t have any side effects – but I did measure an impressive six on the Geiger counter. I hope you can be the medical exception, rule bad stuff out and get good news with your results!

  3. Wow Cat, this sounds like a particularly difficult day! I had a whole bunch of heart tests around Easter and will have to again in December. Not a pleasant process, but if they keep ruling things out, I’ll be ok with it. I have my fingers crossed everything comes back clear. xx

    1. No it wasn’t a fun day Nicole but on the upside we have ruled out all the nasty’s though there are still a few things going on but hopefully they are easier to fix. xo

    1. Goodness that doesn’t sound fun at all Janet. Thankfully the side effects passed very quickly. Results so far show nothing sinister and a couple of things hopefully easily managed.

    1. Thanks Renee. The tests showed nothing sinister which is great a few things there but hopefully they will be easily managed. xo

  4. Good luck with the waiting for results. I am not a very patient person and I find waiting for results the hardest thing to do. The medical profession don’t give much away either till they can advise you of the final results. Best wishes… Annette

    1. Thank you Annette. I am not very patient either. The tests have come back and are showing nothing sinister which is great, there are a few things that are hopefully easily managed. xo

    1. Results are back and they show nothing sinister a couple of things are showing up but hopefully these are easily managed. xo

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