Re: maureen -questeon on Stress test

[Guest guest]

Maureen — what is involved in a NON-chemical stress test — my GP said I have “some calcification of my right iliac artery” from a recent CT and that means I probably “have it elsewhere” according to her and she says I need to see a Vascular specialist and have a stress test.

Is that a treadmill type test? How long? How fast? Monitors? Dye? I am phobic of doctors to begin with and can’t see “passing’ something like that— what did it entail for you?

sue

Hi, Barb,

Sorry I didn't post sooner! I'm on vacation, so am not reading posts regularly...

I, too, have cardiovascular disease, along with other diseases, including Hashimoto's. You're very smart to be working with your cardiologist on getting to the root of your heart problems, and it sounds like he's listening to you and being conservative about procedures. I've had numerous stress tests, although never a chemical-induced one (because I have asthma). They're arduous to go through, but can yield a lot of info for your cardiologist to go forward. Are you having a thalium stress? Those are especially diagnostic.

Getting your thyroid condition and diabetes under control will help, too. But you're very wise to pursue the cardiology angle as you are.

Good luck! Keep us posted

Maureen

www.maureenpratt.com

..

[Guest guest]

Maureen — what is involved in a NON-chemical stress test — my GP said I have “some calcification of my right iliac artery” from a recent CT and that means I probably “have it elsewhere” according to her and she says I need to see a Vascular specialist and have a stress test.

Is that a treadmill type test? How long? How fast? Monitors? Dye? I am phobic of doctors to begin with and can’t see “passing’ something like that— what did it entail for you?

sue

Hi, Barb,

Sorry I didn't post sooner! I'm on vacation, so am not reading posts regularly...

I, too, have cardiovascular disease, along with other diseases, including Hashimoto's. You're very smart to be working with your cardiologist on getting to the root of your heart problems, and it sounds like he's listening to you and being conservative about procedures. I've had numerous stress tests, although never a chemical-induced one (because I have asthma). They're arduous to go through, but can yield a lot of info for your cardiologist to go forward. Are you having a thalium stress? Those are especially diagnostic.

Getting your thyroid condition and diabetes under control will help, too. But you're very wise to pursue the cardiology angle as you are.

Good luck! Keep us posted

Maureen

www.maureenpratt.com

..

[Guest guest]

Hi, Sue and all,

I've had several kinds of stress tests. Echo stress tests are usually on the treadmill. You're given an EKG to begin with, and an echocardiogram of the arteries, then go directly onto the treadmill. As your heart rate increases, so does the pace and the incline of the treadmill. Once you hit your target heart rate, another echo is done to see if there are significant problems or if things are a-OK.

A thalium stress test is different (I've had 2 of these), and it can be done either via treadmill or via chemically-induced stress. Because I have asthma, I can't do the chemically induced variety. Basically, a port is inserted in your arm (IV port), and a radioactive isotope is injected into the port. You're heart and surrounding arteries are then scanned. Then, you go to a treadmill and are put through your paces. During the treadmill portion, more isotope is injected. When you hit your target rate on the treadmill, you're then scanned again. I assume that the chemically-induced stress test is similar in terms of getting your heart rate up. You are also give an EKG.

If you're not used to exercising regularly, stress tests can be, well, stressful. Also, you have to fast beforehand, so you're doing all this on an empty stomach and sans caffeine. But the information that your doc can glean from these tests is invaluable. In the case of the thalium stress test, the thalium leaves your system fairly quickly, so there's no lingering effect from it.

Be glad to answer any other questions! I've had almost every test known to woman or man -- I'm sure there are some I haven't had, but it seems like it, anyway!

Be well, all,

Maureen

www.maureenpratt.comSee what's free at AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Maureen — what is involved in a NON-chemical stress test — my GP said I have “some calcification of my right iliac artery” from a recent CT and that means I probably “have it elsewhere” according to her and she says I need to see a Vascular specialist and have a stress test.

Is that a treadmill type test? How long? How fast? Monitors? Dye? I am phobic of doctors to begin with and can’t see “passing’ something like that— what did it entail for you?

sue

Hi, Barb,

Sorry I didn't post sooner! I'm on vacation, so am not reading posts regularly...

I, too, have cardiovascular disease, along with other diseases, including Hashimoto's. You're very smart to be working with your cardiologist on getting to the root of your heart problems, and it sounds like he's listening to you and being conservative about procedures. I've had numerous stress tests, although never a chemical-induced one (because I have asthma). They're arduous to go through, but can yield a lot of info for your cardiologist to go forward. Are you having a thalium stress? Those are especially diagnostic.

Getting your thyroid condition and diabetes under control will help, too. But you're very wise to pursue the cardiology angle as you are.

Good luck! Keep us posted

Maureen

www.maureenpratt.com

..

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info, Maureen.

How did you do on your tests?

One of my “worries” is that I take beta blockers for ‘panic/anxiety’ and it’s difficult for me to reach a target rate when I exercise.

I use a treadmill now but only at 2.5-3 mph so nothing that gets me higher than about 110 beats per minute.

I am almost 50 am am guessing my “target rate” is about 150 or more..?

So they do the stress tests to check your heart function or blocked arteries...or both?

Sue

Hi, Sue and all,

I've had several kinds of stress tests. Echo stress tests are usually on the treadmill. You're given an EKG to begin with, and an echocardiogram of the arteries, then go directly onto the treadmill. As your heart rate increases, so does the pace and the incline of the treadmill. Once you hit your target heart rate, another echo is done to see if there are significant problems or if things are a-OK.

A thalium stress test is different (I've had 2 of these), and it can be done either via treadmill or via chemically-induced stress. Because I have asthma, I can't do the chemically induced variety. Basically, a port is inserted in your arm (IV port), and a radioactive isotope is injected into the port. You're heart and surrounding arteries are then scanned. Then, you go to a treadmill and are put through your paces. During the treadmill portion, more isotope is injected. When you hit your target rate on the treadmill, you're then scanned again. I assume that the chemically-induced stress test is similar in terms of getting your heart rate up. You are also give an EKG.

If you're not used to exercising regularly, stress tests can be, well, stressful. Also, you have to fast beforehand, so you're doing all this on an empty stomach and sans caffeine. But the information that your doc can glean from these tests is invaluable. In the case of the thalium stress test, the thalium leaves your system fairly quickly, so there's no lingering effect from it.

Be glad to answer any other questions! I've had almost every test known to woman or man -- I'm sure there are some I haven't had, but it seems like it, anyway!

Be well, all,

Maureen

www.maureenpratt.com

..

[Guest guest]

Hi, Sue,

They'll give you a list of meds that you have to stop taking prior to the stress test, so don't worry about figuring out that on your own.

I did well, as far as the physical part of it goes (I have lots of heart problems, but can't really control that). I'm a big proponent of walking, so it took awhile to get to my target rate cuz my legs just kept going!

Maureen

www.maureenpratt.comSee what's free at AOL.com.