Anyone have a Coronary CTA?

[StillLooking]

Has anyone had a coronary CTA to see if you have plaque in your arteries of the heart?  After some research, I know this is less intrusive than a cardiac catherization.  I would like to understand what other people have dealt with by having a coronary CTA and whether they help.

[curmudgen]

To add - had one done two months ago - no food 4 hours before test - stopped taking beta blocker and metformin that morning - - one hour prep time to stabilize BP and heart rate - 15 minutes in an air conditioned room - slight warm feeling when dye injected - machine makes more noise than I expected -  drove home 30 minutes later.  

[Mom2four85]

I've had one also...can't add much more than DeltaDawn23 did though.  I had no problems with the dye and it was a pretty quick test, but I didn't have to fast before mine - maybe because I was in the hospital already.

[DeltaDawn23]

Yes, I had one this spring.  It was very simple, took an hour tops.  I had to fast for 4 hours, take a beta blocker to bring my heart rate down -- they want it in the low 50's.  They took one picture, put in an IV and injected a contrast dye and took another picture.  The contrast dye is the same one they put in when you have a kidney x-ray, it is iodine based.  It gives you a somewhat unpleasant warm flush feeling for a short time, maybe 1 minute.  I needed to make sure I had no blockages in order to try a new drug for my Afib.  I had a heart cath 7 years ago and it was good, but they wouldn't let me try Rhythmol until they knew I was still clear.  The coronary CTA is the way to go, much less invasive than the cath, way cheaper too.  $1200 for the CTA vs $12,000 for the cath (and that was 7 years ago) -- it's sure to be way more now. It was definitive for what my doctor needed and less risk.  Good luck with it.