Anybody had a dobutamine stress echo (heart) test?

[yoopermom]

I went in for a general cardio workup because my father's side has a history of having heart attacks as early as their forties and I dont want to join that statistic. I was surprised that this cardiologist would prefer to do the stress echo test rather than the old fashioned run on the treadmill until I drop test. I asked him why, and he told me that he felt it was more controlled and gave clearer results while stressing the patient less. I'm just wondering how it's going to feel when the injected material speeds up my heartrate, is it just unpleasant, or am I going to feel like I'm having a heart attack? He promised me that it leaves the system within 10-15 minutes after the test is complete.

Anyone have any experiences with it? I'm a big chicken, please reassure me!

Thanks!
Terri

 

[swald91]

I have never had to have any of these, but technology today is so much better than just a few years ago. Good luck!

 

[yoopermom]

Thanks, I know the tech's better, I just don't want to find out about it the hard way

He kept telling me, "Women do NOT manifest with the same cardiac symptoms that men do. It's really subtle in women." Not very reassuring!

Terri

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

I have had several thanks for cardiomyopathy when I'm pregnant. All they do is sit you in a chair, hook you up to the monitors, start and IV and give you the medicine. You will start to feel your heart race and you might sweat, and sometimes vomit (I did). They are right, it does leave your system just as quickly as it's put in. I failed mine and was sent straight to the cardiac cath lab. Good Luck. YOu will probably do fine!! Don't be worried. They are constantly monitoring you and sitting next to you and can intervene at any second you might look in distress.

 

[pigletgirl]

Are they doing under nuclear medicine with the chemical induced stress test? Its a better test and more sensitive to ischemic (lack of blood flow) areas of the heart.

 

[yoopermom]

Oh, boy, vomiting, that's something I do very easily I get queasy just from them just putting in the i.v. sometimes... I will hope NOT to get to visit the cardiac cath lab

Good to know it goes relatively fast and that I will be monitored, though. DH is coming with me after working overnight, so I'll be lucky if he stays awake!

Terri

 

[DMickey28]

My DH had one about 6 weeks ago after landing in the hospital with myocarditis.

He said that within 30 seconds of her putting the medicine in it he got very red, then went white, his heart was racing and he felt as though he was running the tail end of a very long sprint. It lasted about 4 minutes for him, I think, and then she gave him some medicine to reverse the chemical and within 30 seconds he was fine. He was actually pretty tired for a few days after that but it was probably more as a result of his situation than the stress test itself.

Good Luck ... It affects everyone different I am sure!

 

[yoopermom]

Boy this sounds like more fun by the minute

I know that everyone's results can be different, but mine tend toward the worse...

Sigh.

Terri

 

[Catzeyes]

I have had 5 or 6 lol I lost count. I do not find them that bad at all. When I start to feel my heart pounding I do the same breathing I used when I was in labor with my kids. It works great for me. It will be over before you know it. Good Luck!