Has anyone had a cardiac "stress test?"

[Dodie]

I looked it up on www.webmd.com and it looks like a treadmill thing with lots of wires hooked up to you. Is that about it?

I'm sure my DH can't get off work. Is it something I can drive myself to and from?

Anything else I should know to be prepared for it?

 

[Lynn CC]

Yes, that is what it is. Mine took about 45 minutes. It wasn't that bad, but they really wind you to find out what shape your in.
It's not bad at all.

 

[Towncrier]

In addition to the treadmill, the test may involve being scanned twice by a Nuclear Medicine gamma camera. They take an image of your heart at rest and under exercise (stress) conditions and compare the images to see how well your heart is working. Although I have never had this test done, I have worked on the software for gamma cameras for the past 20 or so years.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

I'll let you know next Tues & Wed (6/17 & 6/18) how my nuclear stress test went. Going in Tues for 2hrs then back on Wed for another hour. Tues is treadmill w/"pictures"; Wed is more "pictures"
I was told to fast, no caffeine after a certain time, etc.
I was told I can drive back n forth - asked that too

When is yours?

 

[Dodie]

Tomorrow afternoon. Nothing about fasting or caffeine. Just an initial appointment and a stress test based upon the symptoms I'm having and a trip to the ER I made last week.

I'm only 41 for goodness sake!

 

[doxdogy]

I have had the stress test. I went back to work when it was finished. So, you should be alright to drive yourself. But, I would double check with your doctors office to make sure that you can drive yourself.

 

[Margie J]

Hey Dodie, I know how you feel. I've had stress tests done twice already, both before the age of 40. They aren't bad at all.

There are two types, the treadmill test and one where medication induces the "stress". The later test is for those who can't walk/run on a treadmill for some reason.

For the more common treadmill test you will be wired up to heart, blood pressure and pulse monitors. A Cardiologist or assistant will then bring the pace up on the treadmill until you indicate that you can't continue or the monitor indicates a max heart rate. You may have a radioactive contrast dye injected during the test if pictures of the heart will be taken.

As the pace is lowered your pulse/BP will be checked to determine how quickly it returns to normal. If dye was injected you may then be asked to have scans taken then and within a few hours to watch for changes in vessels, valves and beats with time.

 

[Carl]

The test I had included injecting a "dye" into my veins during the stress test. It took several hours to complete my test because they wanted pictures before the stress test and then again after the stress. Even then, though, I was quite able to drive myself home afterward.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just wishing you my best, Dodie. And nothing to prep for or concern yourself with. I have had the test twice, they just put you through a runup as described above by several. Again, my best wishes.

 

[DocRafiki]

Wear clothes you would wear to the gym... esp. don't forget your walking/jogging shoes. Mine included an echo, so I got a baseline then walked, then lay down for an echo, then sped up, then lay down for an echo. I never made it to a jog. It was not fun. I was not told to fast or refrain from caffeine, though the latter was common sense based on my condition. Do I win for the youngest stress test at age 28?

 

[TheLionKing]

Originally posted by Carl
The test I had included injecting a "dye" into my veins during the stress test. It took several hours to complete my test because they wanted pictures before the stress test and then again after the stress. Even then, though, I was quite able to drive myself home afterward.

This may be confusing. They injected an radioactive isotope to be picked up by the scanners like Towncrier mentioned.

The "usual" use of the word "dye" involves X ray contrast material used in a catheterization suite during an angiogram when actual pictures of the arteries are taken when the contrast or "dye" is injected directly into the coronry arteries, or the artery of interest during other types of angiograms.

It is true that they can inject the contrast into a vein, but that is usually done during a CAT scan.

 

[SnowAngel]

I had one at 24 .. It's really not too bad. It's just running on a treadmill with little wires attached (like when doing a normal cardiac test) and mine they also had a blood pressure monitor on. Please do remember to bring sneakers and comfortable clothes. I didn't know that and ended up jogging in combat boots
I have also had the radioactive isotope. They injected radioactive into the veins in my arm before the stress test.. did an x-ray (took abt 15 mins) did the jog.. then did another x-ray and then another 2 hours later another x-ray

 

[Blondie]

So Dodie...how did you do?

I'm having my "Nuclear Stress Test" on July 2nd. I was supposed to have it last week, but had to cancel to attend my nephew's funeral.

They told me not to have any caffeine 24 hours prior to the scheduled test.

I will have an IV started, and they'll inject the radioactive dye, etc.

Not looking forward to it at all.

I'm having the test done due to the PVC's I've been frequently having.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just checking in, Dodie, how did your test go? Hopefully well, and with little stress. My best.

Dan

 

[Dodie]

Thanks for asking, everyone!!!

I told my DH, "They tried to kill me but I wouldn't die!" LOL!

Since I'm "young" and pretty "healthy," they said they really worked me, to simulate any strenuous activity I might engage in.

I seem to have passed with flying colors, although I'm waiting for the ultrasounds that they took of my heart before and after to be read today.

This is good news. It means that the little palpitation episode I had a couple of weeks ago is probably NOT related to the chest pains that I am having now and that those pains may be due to something else (gall bladder maybe - those tests are next).

Getting older isn't much fun, but it's certainly better than the alternative!!!!

 

[Blondie]

Glad to read you passed with flying colors!

Hopefully, I'll do the same in a few weeks!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Glad it all worked out - hope all goes well with your gall bladder

Wish me luck next Tues & Wed when I go in for mine.