M
Marge
I had a MUGA test last month. (MUGA = Multi-Gated Acquisition.)
First they give you an injection of pyrophosphate, to highlight the red blood cells; then you wait about 20 minutes; then you lie down and they inject you with a radioactive tracer. Then they take pictures. It takes about 45 minutes. You have to lie very still while they take the pictures, but the test is not uncomfortable or painful.
The idea is to show how well the heart is pumping, how many pumps per beat, etc.
My cardiologist referred me for this test after I went into a bit of a panic after my echocardiagram in June. According to the echo, my mitral valve regurgitation was recurring, I have mitral stenosis (which I didn't have before the surgery, or if I did, nobody told me!) and my ejection fraction was now at 30, compared with 45 that I supposedly had according to the hospital discharge summary in February.
I did have to bug my cardio a bit before he sent me out for any more tests after the echo. He kept saying, "Well, the echo is not that bad, you are feeling fine, as long as you have no symptoms ... Symptoms are my main concern ... " Etc.
Well! The results of the MUGA (which my cardio says is "much more accurate than an echo") are very good. According to the MUGA my EF is 53 % -- which is in normal range. On the low side of normal, but normal. Also, both ventricles are "of normal size and contour and concentric contractility." So I'm pretty pleased.
He has also referred me for a TEE, which is scheduled for Oct. 29.
Keeping my fingers crossed!
First they give you an injection of pyrophosphate, to highlight the red blood cells; then you wait about 20 minutes; then you lie down and they inject you with a radioactive tracer. Then they take pictures. It takes about 45 minutes. You have to lie very still while they take the pictures, but the test is not uncomfortable or painful.
The idea is to show how well the heart is pumping, how many pumps per beat, etc.
My cardiologist referred me for this test after I went into a bit of a panic after my echocardiagram in June. According to the echo, my mitral valve regurgitation was recurring, I have mitral stenosis (which I didn't have before the surgery, or if I did, nobody told me!) and my ejection fraction was now at 30, compared with 45 that I supposedly had according to the hospital discharge summary in February.
I did have to bug my cardio a bit before he sent me out for any more tests after the echo. He kept saying, "Well, the echo is not that bad, you are feeling fine, as long as you have no symptoms ... Symptoms are my main concern ... " Etc.
Well! The results of the MUGA (which my cardio says is "much more accurate than an echo") are very good. According to the MUGA my EF is 53 % -- which is in normal range. On the low side of normal, but normal. Also, both ventricles are "of normal size and contour and concentric contractility." So I'm pretty pleased.
He has also referred me for a TEE, which is scheduled for Oct. 29.
Keeping my fingers crossed!
