Cardiac MRI

I had a cardiac MRI last Wednesday.

Cardiac MRI in the news

Cardiac MRI explained by the Cleveland Clinic

Cardiac MRI explained by U.S. DHHS and Insititutes of Health

My cardiologist, Dr. John Kugler, wanted to get a good view of my heart prior to implanting a pacemaker to address an AV Block that is causing dizziness and exertional dyspnea(shortness of breath). During this study, they also injected contrast dye to enhance images and dobutamine to increase my heart rate.

During the test they had a hard time getting a regular heart beat while attempting to take pictures, so I got to lay in the MRI tube for 2.5 hours. That wasn't the way I planned to spend the morning, but it gave me a chance to practice my breathing and centering techniques.

Next step...implantation of a pacemaker.

There are only 153 days until the Omaha Heart Walk....have you joined a team yet?

Join my Team:Health Beating Hearts Heart Walk Team

Mechanical Heart Valves and MRIs

So my cardiologist wants me to get an MRI prior to implanting a pacemaker since I won't be able to have one after the pacemaker. As the proud owner of a 27VAVGJ-515 St. Jude Medical heart valve, I was doing a little research on MRI and mechanical heart valves and found this short and very interesting (to me at least) article.

Heart Valves and the Lenz Effect

2011 Omaha Heart Walk 5/21/2011

Join the Healthy Beating Hearts team in the 2011 Heart Walk.

2011 Omaha - Council Bluffs Start! Heart Walk

Join my Team:Health Beating Hearts Heart Walk Team

Deaths From Congenital Heart Defects on the Decline

Deaths From Congenital Heart Defects on the Decline

Treatments Linked to Similar A-Fib Rates After Heart Surgery

Treating Postoperative A-Fib

Adult Heart Patients

Doctors treat more grown-up heart patients

Examples of Congenital Heart Defects

Types of Congenital Heart Defects

Congenital Heart Defect Gene Found

Scientists find gene linked to congenital heart defect

"Blue Babies": Lost managing adult congenital heart disease

Managing Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Heart Links

Adult Congenital Heart Association


Congenital Heart Information Network


American Heart Association


International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease


The heart.org


Children's Hospital & Medical Center

New blog hopefully providing information and support to adults living with congenital heart disease

As an adult in my middle ages and living with congenital heart disease, I've created this blog to provide information and support for other adults working to live healthy lives with congenital heart defects. Our population is growing, and will continue to grow since those people in their forties and fifties are the first generation to have benefited from widely successful surgery to repair congenital defects.

Clearly this blog is just beginning, but I plan to grow it rapidly and hopefully provide a valuable resource.

Great Site for Mechanical Heart Valve Patients

A site from the UK with great information and lots of friendly folks.

http://www.mechanicalheartvalve.co.uk/