Having my first stress test Friday. What's the worst part of it?

[CTyankee]

What should I expect?

It sounds like torture, even tho I work out on a treadmill every day (but not at an incline). I'm afraid I'll wimp out!

What do the docs really find out from the test?

I'm also having an echocardiogram during the same visit (3 hours long for both). What does that tell them?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear CTYankee.......

First off.......don't worry! You will be OK...

I've had both of these.......

The Stress test is just a period of time that you spend running hard on a treadmill.......while hooked up to a 12 lead EKG, so that the Doctor can see how your heart is responding to the exertion.

You tell him if you don't feel good........they take very good care of their patients!

The echo is easy......you lie down, and the tech does an ultrasound of your heart.

The purpose is to see how the heart looks.......how the valves and chambers are working.

No pain, no strain there. The exam usually takes about 20 minutes......

Ask questions of these people......they are there to take care of you!

Hope this helps.......:hug:

[Metta]

2. The worst part is worrying about it.

Peggy's right. If you want a simple, stress releasing visualization, drop me a p.m.

[CTyankee]

4. Thanks! I just sent one to you!

Every bit helps.

[UTUSN]

3. Not to worry

If part of this is on the treadmill, all that will happen is for you to do what you can. They try to push you a bit, but not much. What they need is for you to reach a certain level. If you can't, they might re-do it at another time withOUT the mill, by injecting something that will tell them what they need to know with you lying on a bed.

There's nothing to consider "wimp" about anything. Just relax.

[ashling]

5. The bill. No joke

I went in for a stress test thinking it was going to be on a treadmill lik I've had before. This was an all day thing where they infected something that makes you feel like you've been under that stress. Bill was $6,000.00 from the hospital and nearly $450.00 from the doctor. Insurance would not pay for any of it.

[CTyankee]

6. OMG! Didn't you have your insurance card?

I presented that before they even saw me. This should be covered as my spouse has excellent health benefits.

[blues90]

7. I have been to a doctor only twice in my life so

I had alot of worry naturally . I thought I was having a heart problem which turned out to be acid reflux which hurt like hell .

I did'nt know what to expect , they called me the day before the test and told me where to go . First they inserted a fine needle and a tiny tube and injected a small amount of radioactive dye . Then I had to wait for this to get into the blood . Then they hooked me up to a bunch of sensors with suction cups and connected this to a box strapped around my waste , then the theadmill and I have never used one before . The entire time you are on the mill one fellow monitors you heart and the other runs the mill , this is to get you to your target heart rate and no more , this took me a while and if I missed the timeframe they would need to begin again , they had it elevated quite a bit and he asked I need to speed it up and I said go for it , then they inject more dye then you wait 2 hours , I was allowed to go out and then come back and they leave just a few cups on certain spots . Then they put you in a machine just up to your neck and this takes photo's of your heart .

It sounds like alot but it was really nothing and like I said I am not one to go to doctors for tests but this was needed . i thought I would never make the treadmill but it was somehow not bad at all .

[bigwillq]

8. Good Luck!

I'm sure you'll do fine! :hug: :hi: