Had a cardiac PET scan yesterday.

[smirkymonkey]

I have been having chest pains recently and my doctor recommended this test. It wasn't that bad except for the drug they give to speed up your heart , which was a bit scary.

Other than that, the staff was amazing and so caring and professional. I was so impressed with the level of healthcare at Brigham and Women's Hospital. They were absolutely wonderful.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this scan and what your experience was. I won't know the results until next week, but I am really grateful for my insurance and that I live in an area with such superior healthcare.

It upsets me that people are being threatened with being denied health insurance by this current administration. I believe it should be one's right as a citizen.

[Rorey]

1. That sounds TERRIFYING!

I hope your tests show you're just fine.

Nobody should have to worry about having access to great health care in this country. Or anywhere.

[smirkymonkey]

4. It would have been, but the staff was so great that they eased all my worries

and even during the worst of it they were constantly there to reassure me that nothing would go wrong and if it did there was a reversal agent to stop the effects of the drug. I am just so grateful to have access to such excellent medical care. I only wish everyone did.

[at140]

2. When I had keeled over with excruciating abdominal pain,

I was so glad to have good health insurance through employer.
Sadly the emergency room desk told me to take a seat!
I said, my pain is so bad I need help immediately!
So they put me in a room and gave me a shot of Demerol.
Guess what happened then?
My pain began to subside, but so did my heart rate.
It went from 80 down to 70 down to 60 down to 50 down to 45!
Very fortunate my wife was watching the monitor and got hold of a nurse.
They gave me another shot of something (I am guessing adrenaline),
and my heart rate began to climb back.

I wonder if my wife was not watching the heart monitor, I would have expired.
To make a long story short, they did ultrasound and determined it was gall bladder with stones.
My gall bladder was surgically removed, and the year was 1990.
I have not missed the gall bladder one iota.
I can eat anything I like, and no more pain.

[smirkymonkey]

8. That sounds terrifying!

I'm so glad your wife was there with you! And I am glad to hear that you are doing well now!

[at140]

14. Thank you, and I think severe gall bladder attack pain

would compete with what some women go through during delivery.
It is unbearable and unrelenting.

[yellowdogintexas]

21. gall bladder, kidney stones and heart attacks

present with very similar symptoms.
When I was worked up for pain in my back and wrapping around my flanks, I had a gallbladder US and an IVP to look for both

It turned out to be a kidney stone


Believe me, having that baby without drugs didn't hold a candle to the pain from that kidney stone.

[at140]

22. I believe you!

I never had a kidney stone, but had 2 really bad gall bladder attacks.
During the first attack, I was staying at a Ski resort mountain lodge with no phones!
That was obviously before cell phones came around, I think it was early 1980's or late 1970's.
Imagine someone is pumping high pressure air in your abdomen. It squeezes and squeezes and hurts like hell.
I think there was a small amount of whiskey in the room, and it helped may be 5% reduction in pain.
When morning came, the pain was gone. That is how my attacks were, once it was over it was like
there never was a problem. Absolutely zero pain!

[pangaia]

11. I once saved my Taiwanese girlfriend in a hospital in San Antonio.

Last edited Sun Nov 24, 2019, 02:58 PM - Edit history (1)

I think it was maybe PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL, if there is such a place...
Long story short, she had been in the US about 3 days.. had to take her to ER in ambulance.

Amongst other things she was nauseous. They gave her some shot of something. I STAYED in the room. Her heart rate soon started falling A LOT. I got a nurse in there ASAP. She is very small, about 4'11". They had given her too much of the drug.. like enough for a 200 pounder !! They gave her something else and she recovered.

after I got home I received a bill a few weeks later..like $6000-7000 I forget..no ins then.. I refused to pay it. I finally told them, they almost killed the woman. If they kept after me I might have to take legal action.


Never heard from them again..

[at140]

20. You figured correct!

The hospital gave the smaller woman too much pain killer.

[nocoincidences]

3. That drug was used with me

in some sort of heart test, but it wasn't a PET, it was a stress test of some sort.

It evoked a sensation in my body that was so bizarre I couldn't begin to describe it, except to say it was extremely uncomfortable.

The only good thing about it was that the effect was pretty short-lived.

My sympathies!!

[smirkymonkey]

6. Yes, it was frightening, particularly since I am prone to anxiety.

That drug makes you feel very out of control and uncomfortable. I am glad you got through your test as well. I hope you are doing ok now.

[at140]

5. Best luck with your health!

If it was heart related, my sincere advice is to begin gradually a walking exercise routine.
I walk 5 miles at 2.5-3 degree up-slope at 24 min/mile pace on treadmill every week.
At age 79, knock on wood, no heart issues.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Thank you! I love to walk, but should do it more.

I strongly suspect that my issues may be psychosomatic, but my doctor wanted to be sure that there was nothing seriously wrong. I do need to take better care of myself, so this was kind of a wake up call.

[pangaia]

9. This test should be readable in a very short time. like an hour or so if need be.

I think if there were anything really serious, you would already know...

[smirkymonkey]

13. I hope so, but it's the weekend so they would have sent the results to my

cardiologist who ordered it and she won't be back in until Monday at the earliest. I am hoping it's nothing serious. Thank you for your concern.

[flyingfysh]

10. That is an advantage of living in the Boston area

We get top-notch health care here. I once had foot surgery at Brigham and Women's, was home the same day. It worked out great.
We also have Massachusetts General, Beth Israel, and New England Baptist (orthopedics only), Boston Children's Hospital, and several others. We also have Harvard Medical School.

I had a knee replacement done last month at New England Baptist, and I am impressed by how well that place is organized. I am still recovering and going through physical therapy, but I have no complaints at all.

I got a bill from New England Baptist for my knee replacement: $20.

[smirkymonkey]

12. I honestly think we have the best healthcare in the nation.

I am consistently impressed by all my doctors and NP's. They are all so excellent. We are really very fortunate to live in this area of the country.

[Grasswire2]

15. Myocardial Perfusion Imaging -- also called Nuclear Stress Test.

The good thing is that a cardiologist is right there with you during the test.

Useful if you are not able to do a treadmill stress test. They do inject something that makes your heart race. Scary for many of us!

[link:https://www.digirad.com/understanding-your-nuclear-medicine-stress-test/|

[smirkymonkey]

17. I had already had a regular stress test.

On the treadmill. This is supposed to be more thorough. They use radioactive tracers to show if there are any blockages in your heart. Helpful website! Thank you!

[OnDoutside]

16. Best wishes for a positive result, Smirky.

[smirkymonkey]

18. Thanks OnDoutside!

How are things in Ireland? I love it there! Hope to visit again soon!

[OnDoutside]

19. As green Ireland always is, wet !