Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi, over the last 18 months or so I am being treated for Microvascular angina because of my symptoms. Now I have been offered to have a Myocardial perfusion scan, but I'm a little worried about it. Has anyone else had this to confirm diagnosis?
1 like, 11 replies
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samuels gracey649956225
Posted
Hi,
?If I was you I would take the opportunity with that scan, it is supposedly the next best accurate test , next to the angiogram and I believe non invasive compared to the angiogram. I'm not sure if it can pick up the rarer type of angina known as Prinzmetal angina, someone here could answer that better than me as they might of been diagnosed themselves that way, the Prinzmetal angina.
gracey649956225 samuels
Posted
seangreen420 gracey649956225
Posted
i would be interested in knowing what is your current treatment for MVD?
if you need this perfusion test, than does it mean that the treatment is not working?
gracey649956225 seangreen420
Posted
Hi! Several medications I have taken have caused awful side effects. Insurance helps, and I am about to add Nicorandil to the mix and have my fingers crossed.
I have all the classic symptoms, but mine so far has been problematic moreso because the medication causes additional complications or stops working.
Also I have been after an actual diagnosis for purposes such as insurances/Ill health retirement etc. But otherwise according to my specialist it's not actually necessary for me to put myself through the test. Plus I hear it can bring on very bad chest pain. But I think I don't have much of a choice and in the long run having the test may be the best thing for me.
gracey649956225
Posted
samuels seangreen420
Posted
Hi,
?Generally the treatment for MVD is the same as prinzmetal angina, My cardiologist told me years ago that my body will build up a tolerance to all the nitrate based drugs and calcium channel blockers, I was originally diagnosed with this MVD but after many years it was changed to prinzmetal angina.
?Here is how it was explained to me, that is of course if MVD is the same as small blood vessels in the heart, when they go into spasms is when you get the angina chest pain. These blood vessels are naked to the human eye as well as via angiogram so diagnosing it can be very difficult, as with prinzmetal angina there is no cure, medications may help, generally does in many patients.
?Gracey I must apologise , I didn't have my thinking cap on, this myocardial perfusion scan won't pick up these small blood vessels,even if they are spasming, it will show everything else, well generally it does.
gracey649956225 samuels
Posted
Oh dear! Well it's unlikely I would have put myself through this unless I had researched it well, so don't worry.
I'm just confused as usual. I have been treated for having a condition without formal diagnosis, mainly based on my symptoms. I would be happy with this if everyone else faced the same predicament. All my tests have been fine so far. I realise that Microvascular angina is very difficult to detect annoyingly!
samuels gracey649956225
Posted
Hi,
?Yes both conditions, well several of them are hard to detect and are generally diagnosed by symptoms, although this test won't show up spasms (unless they can use a provocative medication looking for coronary artery spasms) depending on where you are, I hear this test is still used in various countries, with the use of a provocative drug. If this provoking test hasn't been mentioned to you then it's most likely won't be performed, I can't honestly say if they do it with this type of scan. This test will put your mind at ease for any other heart related problem.
Andrew is the man to chat to about MVD and syndrome X I believe, he could tell you how he was diagnosed conclusively, he frequents the forums, a wealth of information this gentleman
gracey649956225 samuels
Posted
I haven't yet had the full details of the test explained as yet. But I think it is one that makes your heart work hard, hence it can bring on bad chest pain. But I'll wait to hear what my consultant says.
Its great hearing from others suffering with the same or similar complaints. Would be great to have a chat with Andrew 🙂
1313 gracey649956225
Posted
gracey649956225 1313
Posted
Hi, yes it's a bit of a worry taking medication without a diagnosis. But I have been so bad I had no choice. Hopefully everything is fine with you, but microvascular is difficult to detect so possibly why they want you to continue with the medication just in case, particularly if it's helping you. Anyway I hope all goes well in December for you x