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MUGA Scan today

Jan 10, 2008
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I had a MUGA scan today, which is a (painless) procedure to determine (with a big, costly machine) how effectively your heart pumps. At least that is what they used it for with me.

MUGA Scan machine

And the preliminary answer, anyhow, is a score (the ejection fraction, how much of the blood in your heart gets pumped out and around your body on each compression) of 39%. That sounds low, and it is low. Normal is supposed to be at least 55%. Perhaps up to 70%

But it is never 100%, so 39% isn't as bad as it might seem. And it actually is better than the score I got on June 23, 2006, which was 35%. Now it has marginally improved! That was a surprise!

When your ejection fraction is low, when your heart is pumping poorly, you become weak (it is difficult to exert yourself), and you may get edema (a congestion of fluid in the body, including lungs).

Anyhow, this result is probably testimony to the effectiveness of contemporary heart medications. It pleases me.

Plus, the nurse or technical was nice, and I got a good cheap breakfast in the cafeteria. It used to be that I hated going to the hospital, because of my sad experience there with Barbara, but now it seems almost comforting. Certainly I know my way around there better than I used to. And the food definitely is a bargain!