I have an appointment, later this week, for a "scintigraphie myocardique" at Niort and just wondered if any other AngloInfoer had been there for the same test/exam and might be able to advise me of the procedures and put my mind at rest.
Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.

I had a scintigraphie myocardiaque at Niort a few months ago. It's a straightforward and painless two part procedure.

Drive in via the main hospital entrance and follow the road around and under the bridge and the CIRI is on the right. There is a big car park a little further on.

After checking in at the reception, you are taken through to a room where they confirm all your details and fit a canula into your arm so they can inject the isotopes into a vein when they do the stress test. They then take you into the testing room where you have to pedal an exercise bike for a set time - in my case it was around nine minutes. They gradually increase the friction loading on the bike to bring your heart up to a controlled level of stress, at which point the nurse injects the istotopes. The bike test is carried out by a cardiologist. They then put you in a scanner (feet first up to chest level) so as to take scans of your heart.

The second test is an 'at rest' so they'll either send you off for a spot of lunch and a wander around or ask you to come back another day. The second test does not involve any exercise and is simply another scan session.

Once everything's been done, you have a brief interview with the cardiologist who explains the outcome of the tests. A report is sent to your own cardiologist and GP.

The people there are all very helpful, so all in all, a fairly pleasant day out......

Many, many thanks Sunday Driver for putting my "mind too rest" - at least what little I have left.
Will now be able to face this Friday with confidence.