A Nuclear Heart Test

 Today was my nuclear stress test at the Heart Institute.

 Knowing that a 'nuclear' substance was being injected into my veins was a rather unnerving feeling, but it really wasn't so bad.

 But it was a three hour long appointment that entailed answering questions about my health history, and once the injection was done I had to sit and wait 40 minutes for it to circulate and light up my heart's pumping action.

Whoa!

 Then I laid on a table with a machine that had two cameras, and the entire machine circulated around my body... some people might find it a bit claustrophobic, but actually it just circulates around the center section of your body, never touching you, and your head, arms and legs are out in the open, so you are not entirely enclosed.  

Then I had a second injection which causes the heart to simulate what it would be doing if you were running on a treadmill, and they monitor your blood pressure and heart while this is going on as well, but it makes you feel funny... like warm, a bit of a headache, and although it's not uncomfortable physically... you still feel weird.

Then you go have pictures taken a second time under the machine that wraps around your body...

it was a technically enlightening kind of day and the people at the Roanoke Heart Institute could not have been kinder.

It was a positive experience and I hope to hear from my cardiologist in the next 48 hours as to just how photogenic my heart was and if there are any dire findings.

Wish me luck!