Re: Stressed Out Test

[Guest guest]

Becca,

Hi there. You wont be running just walking fast. I just had my 3rd stress test. I seen my cardiologist yesterday for the results. I got good news. I had a stent put in my main artery last June of 2005. Also, have a defibrillator now since December of 2005. My heart seems to be getting better. It's pumping at a much higher rate now. It seems that I am improving and I am so happy about that.

So, Becca don't worry about taking this stress test...it is a pain, but they can learn a lot about your heart by doing this test.

Sincerely,

Toni

[Guest guest]

My recollection is that they start you slow and then gradually ramp up the speed and/or incline until they see what they want to see. I don't last very long on the treadmill because of my heart failure, and because I have a left bundle branch block also, any ischemic changes are masked. I don't know about the shoes--I'm not familiar with Crocs, but I expect you need to wear some sort of soft soled shoes that are not slip ons, etc.

Good luck,

Brenta

Stressed Out Test

Folks,

I have been talked into doing a stress test in a couple of weeks and I am extremely nervous about it. I swore that I would never do this test because I just do not trust anybody monkeying around with my heart rate, but I have a new Cardiologist/EP here now and she wants some diagnostics done and I can see the sense in that. But I am still uncomfortable with the whole idea. I met the tech who will assist this morning, nice guy, and he told me to wear running shoes. I don't own a pair of running shoes and have no intention of buying of pair just for this, so are comfortable shoes like Crocs appropriate? Will I just be walking fast or actually running? Thanks for all the info and the support!!

Becca in Florida

Sneak preview the all-new .com. It's not radically different. Just radically better.

[Guest guest]

when i took my stress test after a while i started getting tired, i was only walking but they started speeding up so i told them that i got bad knees and they took it easy, But since the doc was there it was ok, because walking for a long time at that speed was enough for a proper stress test. Good luck and make sure you relax during it because i was getting very nervous. TurkBecca <beccageo1980@...> wrote: Folks, I have been talked into doing a stress test in a couple of weeks and I am

extremely nervous about it. I swore that I would never do this test because I just do not trust anybody monkeying around with my heart rate, but I have a new Cardiologist/EP here now and she wants some diagnostics done and I can see the sense in that. But I am still uncomfortable with the whole idea. I met the tech who will assist this morning, nice guy, and he told me to wear running shoes. I don't own a pair of running shoes and have no intention of buying of pair just for this, so are comfortable shoes like Crocs appropriate? Will I just be walking fast or actually running? Thanks for all the info and the support!! Becca in Florida Sneak preview the all-new .com. It's not radically different. Just radically better.

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[Guest guest]

You probably will NOT be running, just walking, and probably not that

fast. If they are using a treadmill, they can elevate the angle so that

you are walking uphill and get more exertion. If they use the

stationary bicycle, they just increase resistance. Comfortable walking

shoes should be adequate.

I share your concern with anyone monkeying around with the heart rate

but the stress test is important in letting them know how well your

heart functions with exertion.

If they just went by my resting heart rate, I have made a miraculous

recovery, going from a 21% EF to a 45% EF. But under exertion, it drops

back down to 29% EF. So when I don't do anything, I have no problems

(except for the arrhythmia) but if I begin to exert myself, my heart

can't keep up with the body's need for more oxygen.

Be assured that they have cardiologists nearby if anything should

happen. They will also monitor your heart rate so that it won't trigger

the ICD.

Mike

On Jul 14, 2006, at 12:31 PM, Becca wrote:

> Folks,

> I have been talked into doing a stress test in a couple of weeks and I

> am extremely nervous about it.  I swore that I would never do this

> test because I just do not trust anybody monkeying around with my

> heart rate, but I have a new Cardiologist/EP here now and she wants

> some diagnostics done and I can see the sense in that. But I am still

> uncomfortable with the whole idea. I met the tech who will assist this

> morning, nice guy, and he told me to wear running shoes. I don't own a

> pair of running shoes and have no intention of buying of pair just for

> this, so are comfortable shoes like Crocs appropriate?  Will I just be

> walking fast or actually running? Thanks for all the info and the

> support!!

> Becca in Florida

>

> Sneak preview the all-new .com. It's not radically different.

> Just radically better.

[Guest guest]



I echo with what Mike just said, about anyone monkeying around with the heart rate. but there is another way than the treadmills or bike.

About three years ago I was sent for various tests at the hospital because my ankles had swollen a lot, could hardly walk, had a hard time catching my breath, and an uneven heartbeat was found. The first test on the list was the stress test on the treadmill.

Within a minute or so, as they were adjusting the speed upward, I realized that I just couldn't do it. I had no breath left at all. The two technicians were sarcastic with me, here I was, just a minute or two into the test, screaming and crying for them to stop. They said I wasn't even giving it a chance. Well, they did stop it, very unwillingly, and then had to give me a shot of some kind and wait for while (I think it might've been something to calm me down, but never did get around to asking). Then a doctor came in and gave me a different shot which is a substitute for the treadmill as it tells your heart the same thing (don't know how that worked either). They finally got that done, none of us very happy and definitely they were not speaking to me at all.

Well, to shorten my story and bring it to a close, it was that very night I had my stroke and my life changed forever. My ICD was implanted a year later when I was strong enough for the operation.

Let me tell you that I think I got the best treatment in that hospital and by the doctors and nurses that anybody has ever had. and, three years later, I have still the very best specialty doctors that Vancouver , and basically All of British Columbia, has to offer. I still think in the back of my mind that there is a great big Red flag on my file, that says, be NICE to this patient, because she has a really good case if she wants to sue . and that's what happened to me , for what it is worth. I will NEVER have another one of those stress tests again, ever. They can give me that artificial shot if they want, suits me just fine.

All the best and good luck, Lynda.

Re: Stressed Out Test

You probably will NOT be running, just walking, and probably not that fast. If they are using a treadmill, they can elevate the angle so that you are walking uphill and get more exertion. If they use the stationary bicycle, they just increase resistance. Comfortable walking shoes should be adequate.I share your concern with anyone monkeying around with the heart rate but the stress test is important in letting them know how well your heart functions with exertion.If they just went by my resting heart rate, I have made a miraculous recovery, going from a 21% EF to a 45% EF. But under exertion, it drops back down to 29% EF. So when I don't do anything, I have no problems (except for the arrhythmia) but if I begin to exert myself, my heart can't keep up with the body's need for more oxygen.Be assured that they have cardiologists nearby if anything should happen. They will also monitor your heart rate so that it won't trigger the ICD.MikeOn Jul 14, 2006, at 12:31 PM, Becca wrote:

Folks,I have been talked into doing a stress test in a couple of weeks and I am extremely nervous about it. I swore that I would never do this test because I just do not trust anybody monkeying around with my heart rate, but I have a new Cardiologist/EP here now and she wants some diagnostics done and I can see the sense in that. But I am still uncomfortable with the whole idea. I met the tech who will assist this morning, nice guy, and he told me to wear running shoes. I don't own a pair of running shoes and have no intention of buying of pair just for this, so are comfortable shoes like Crocs appropriate? Will I just be walking fast or actually running? Thanks for all the info and the support!!Becca in FloridaSneak preview the all-new .com. It's not radically different. Just radically better.

[Guest guest]

Lynda,

They probably did a dobutamine stress

test. That is the drug that will speed up the heart to simulate the treadmill

stress test. They usually are used on those w/ bad joints who aren’t walking

well, bad back etc, or just low/poor endurance. It is what we do for our

patients referred for most organ transplants because they are usually so debilitated.

Janet

Re: Stressed

Out Test



 

I echo with what Mike just said, about anyone monkeying

around with the heart rate. but there is another way than the treadmills or

bike.

About three years ago I was sent for various tests at the

hospital because my ankles had swollen a lot, could hardly walk, had a hard

time catching my breath, and an uneven heartbeat was found. The

first test on the list was the stress test on the treadmill.

Within a minute or so, as they were adjusting the speed

upward, I realized that I just couldn't do it. I had no breath left at all. The

two technicians were sarcastic with me, here I was, just a minute or two

into the test, screaming and crying for them to stop. They said I wasn't even

giving it a chance. Well, they did stop it, very unwillingly, and then

had to give me a shot of some kind and wait for while (I think it might've

been something to calm me down, but never did get around to asking). Then a

doctor came in and gave me a different shot which is a substitute for the

treadmill as it tells your heart the same thing (don't know how that worked

either). They finally got that done, none of us very happy and definitely they

were not speaking to me at all.

Well, to shorten my story and bring it to a close, it was

that very night I had my stroke and my life changed forever. My ICD was

implanted a year later when I was strong enough for the operation.

Let me tell you that I think I got the best treatment in

that hospital and by the doctors and nurses that anybody has ever had. and,

three years later, I have still the very best specialty doctors that

Vancouver , and basically All of British Columbia, has to offer. I

still think in the back of my mind that there is a great big Red flag on my

file, that says, be NICE to this patient, because she has a really good case if

she wants to sue . and that's what happened to me , for what

it is worth. I will NEVER have another one of those stress tests again,

ever. They can give me that artificial shot if they want, suits me just

fine.

All the best and good luck, Lynda.

Re:

Stressed Out Test

You probably will NOT be

running, just walking, and probably not that fast. If they are using a

treadmill, they can elevate the angle so that you are walking uphill and get

more exertion. If they use the stationary bicycle, they just increase

resistance. Comfortable walking shoes should be adequate.

I share your concern with anyone monkeying around with the heart rate but the

stress test is important in letting them know how well your heart functions

with exertion.

If they just went by my resting heart rate, I have made a miraculous recovery,

going from a 21% EF to a 45% EF. But under exertion, it drops back down to 29%

EF. So when I don't do anything, I have no problems (except for the arrhythmia)

but if I begin to exert myself, my heart can't keep up with the body's need for

more oxygen.

Be assured that they have cardiologists nearby if anything should happen. They

will also monitor your heart rate so that it won't trigger the ICD.

Mike

On Jul 14, 2006, at 12:31 PM, Becca wrote:

Folks,

I have been talked into doing a stress test in a couple of weeks and I am extremely

nervous about it. I swore that I would never do this test because I just

do not trust anybody monkeying around with my heart rate, but I have a new

Cardiologist/EP here now and she wants some diagnostics done and I can see the

sense in that. But I am still uncomfortable with the whole idea. I met the tech

who will assist this morning, nice guy, and he told me to wear running shoes. I

don't own a pair of running shoes and have no intention of buying of pair just

for this, so are comfortable shoes like Crocs appropriate? Will I just be

walking fast or actually running? Thanks for all the info and the support!!

Becca in Florida

Sneak preview the all-new .com. It's not radically different. Just

radically better.

[Guest guest]

Amazing story, Lynda. Damn technicians just follow their protocols

without considering individual needs.

The shot you got was adenosine. They used adenosine on my last stress

echo because I am so blocked by medications that no matter how

vigorously I exercise, my heart rate doesn't go high enough. Adenosine

feels like you're stressing the heart, which is what it is doing. I

didn't care for it at all but it is short acting and they were able to

complete the echocardiogram.

This is from Wikepedia:

When administered intravenously, adenosine causes transient heart block

in the AV node. It also causes endothelial dependent relaxation of

smooth muscle as is found inside the artery walls. This causes

dilatation of the " normal " segments of arteries where the endothelium

is not separated from the tunica media by atherosclerotic plaque. This

feature allows physicians to use adenosine to test for blockages in the

coronary arteries, by exaggerating the difference between the normal

and abnormal segments.

On Jul 14, 2006, at 3:14 PM, leming wrote:

> I echo with what Mike just said, about anyone monkeying around with

> the heart rate. but there is another way than the treadmills or bike.

>  

> About three years ago I was sent for various tests at the hospital

> because my ankles had swollen a lot, could hardly walk, had a hard

> time catching my breath, and an uneven heartbeat was found. The

> first test on the list  was the stress test on the treadmill.

>  

> Within a minute or so, as they were adjusting the speed upward, I

> realized that I just couldn't do it. I had no breath left at all. The

> two technicians were sarcastic with me, here I was, just a minute or

> two into the test, screaming and crying for them to stop. They said I

> wasn't even giving it a chance. Well, they did stop it,  very

> unwillingly, and then had to give me a shot of some kind and wait

> for while (I think it might've been something to calm me down, but

> never did get around to asking). Then a doctor came in and gave me a

> different shot which is a substitute for the treadmill as it tells

> your heart the same thing (don't know how that worked either). They

> finally got that done, none of us very happy and definitely they were

> not speaking to me at all.

>  

> Well, to shorten my story and bring it to a close, it was that very

> night I had my stroke and my life changed forever.  My ICD was

> implanted a year later when I was strong enough for the operation. 

>  

> Let me tell you that I think I got the best treatment in that hospital

> and by the doctors and nurses that anybody has ever had. and, three

> years later, I have still the very best specialty doctors that

> Vancouver , and basically All of British Columbia, has to offer. I

> still think in the back of my mind that there is a great big Red flag

> on my file, that says, be NICE to this patient, because she has a

> really good case if she wants to sue .   and that's what happened to

> me , for what it is worth. I will NEVER have another one of those

> stress tests again, ever.  They can give me that artificial shot if

> they want, suits me just fine.

> All the best and good luck, Lynda.

>  

>> Re: Stressed Out Test

>>

>> You probably will NOT be running, just walking, and probably not that

>> fast. If they are using a treadmill, they can elevate the angle so

>> that you are walking uphill and get more exertion. If they use the

>> stationary bicycle, they just increase resistance. Comfortable

>> walking shoes should be adequate.

>>

>> I share your concern with anyone monkeying around with the heart rate

>> but the stress test is important in letting them know how well your

>> heart functions with exertion.

>>

>> If they just went by my resting heart rate, I have made a miraculous

>> recovery, going from a 21% EF to a 45% EF. But under exertion, it

>> drops back down to 29% EF. So when I don't do anything, I have no

>> problems (except for the arrhythmia) but if I begin to exert myself,

>> my heart can't keep up with the body's need for more oxygen.

>>

>> Be assured that they have cardiologists nearby if anything should

>> happen. They will also monitor your heart rate so that it won't

>> trigger the ICD.

>> Mike

>>

>> On Jul 14, 2006, at 12:31 PM, Becca wrote:

>>

>>> Folks,

>>> I have been talked into doing a stress test in a couple of weeks and

>>> I am extremely nervous about it.  I swore that I would never do this

>>> test because I just do not trust anybody monkeying around with my

>>> heart rate, but I have a new Cardiologist/EP here now and she wants

>>> some diagnostics done and I can see the sense in that. But I am

>>> still uncomfortable with the whole idea. I met the tech who will

>>> assist this morning, nice guy, and he told me to wear running shoes.

>>> I don't own a pair of running shoes and have no intention of buying

>>> of pair just for this, so are comfortable shoes like Crocs

>>> appropriate?  Will I just be walking fast or actually running?

>>> Thanks for all the info and the support!!

>>> Becca in Florida

>>>

>>> Sneak preview the all-new .com. It's not radically different.

>>> Just radically better.

[Guest guest]

Hi Becca! I don't remember if I stop my toprol also. But I fell down on the stress test due to dropping blood pressure.This was 4 years ago.. I am sure you will do fine on yours. Hope you are well Take Care Hugs, LeahBecca <beccageo1980@...> wrote: Thanks

everyone for the great info and the encouragement. I did get to see the room and the treadmill last Friday when I had my echo done, and the tech who did the echo does the stress test too along with the doc. He did mention that I might opt for the drug induced test, but I will wait to see how things fall out. Also, my instructions say to stop taking my Toprol (beta blocker) 72 hours before the test which I thought was strange. Did anyone have to do this also? Again thanks so much for the kind response. Becca PS: Crocs are a shoe (clog-like or sandal) that are ultra soft and ultra comfortable and ultra light. I learned about them from our RV neighbors. Everybody down here seems to be wearing them, but especially the RV-er's. I can't live without them now. http://www.crocs.com Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.

[Guest guest]

Stopping the Toprol allows your heart rate to increase with exercise.

They didn't want me to stop my beta blocker so they used adenosine

while I leisurely walked on the treadmill.

On Jul 16, 2006, at 3:08 PM, Becca wrote:

> Thanks everyone for the great info and the encouragement.  I did get

> to see the room and the treadmill last Friday when I had my echo done,

> and the tech who did the echo does the stress test too along with the

> doc. He did mention that I might opt for the drug induced test, but I

> will wait to see how things fall out.  Also, my instructions say to

> stop taking my Toprol (beta blocker) 72 hours before the test which I

> thought was strange.  Did anyone have to do this also? Again thanks so

> much for the kind response.

> Becca

> PS: Crocs are a shoe (clog-like or sandal) that are ultra soft and

> ultra comfortable and ultra light. I learned about them from our RV

> neighbors. Everybody down here seems to be wearing them, but

> especially the RV-er's. I can't live without them now.

> http://www.crocs.com

>  

>

> Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.

>