My Dr ordered a Nuclear Adenosine Stress Test for me.

I'd like to know anyone's experience with this.

???????????

I don't know anyone who ever had one.

I'd appreciate any info about your experiences.

I have the instructions and I've read what Medlineplus has to say about it.
You can't have any form of caffine for 24 hours and I've very addicted to coffee. Because of this I'll be showingup for test with the world's worst headache already stampeading in my head because this is what caffine withdraw does to me ! (If I can even wake up)

snowmelts,

Do you have risk factors that would advise against the regular stress testing. It seems the adenosine is used to simulate stress by acting as a potent chemical vasodilator.
You have my sympathy. Add caffeine withdrawal to the stress of cardio testing and you will have the worlds worst headache. I know because I'm a 1/2 gallon a day man myself- like mother's milk.
(I even drank cofee before going to kindergarten.....for real)

Here's a nice .edu link:
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/cardiology/nuclear/physicians.htm#pet
You want the paragraphs called Pharmacological Stress Test.

Thank you. Nice to meet another coffee-aholic. Oh yeah my head would just explode right out of my skull. I'm calling in the morning and askeing about changeing this. I see in the link you provided that they do use this test when the person has COPD, witch I do have, but I CAN do a treadmill..just not in any sort of race. I can do a fast walk. I have feet/knees/back joint problems so I'll even tell them I'll wear the knee brace for the stress test.
NO CAFFINE would a "challange" to my system all by itself!

Anyway thanks, I'm calling them in the morning.

I called the Heart Center.. they won't change it. I've got to have the Adenosine.
However they said it's not really necessary to go 24 hours without caffine.. 12 hours is fine and will not mess up the test.
I can do 12 hours.

Now I just need to worry about them "stressing" my heart with the Adenosine.

Hi snowmelts! :wave:
I had this test done back in September. I will give it to ya straight...You will feel like you are having a heart attack. The drug is designed to stress your heart and it will I promise. It sounds horrible and for maybe 5 minutes at the most, it is, but just remember to take slow deep breaths and try to stay calm, and you will be fine. Promise! ;) My dr told me that he uses this test in younger people who are in most likely pretty good shape, so they don't have to spend an hour on the treadmill just to reach their target heart rate, and those folks with joint or age issues. I was very scared myself, so you are not alone, but it only last a VERY short while, and the key is slow deep breaths, and try not to panic. Try to remember that you are closely monitered the entire time. Please let us know how it goes! If you have anymore questions, just post and I or someone else will try to answer them for you!
Best Wishes!
:eek: Katie :eek:

Thank you katie 25. I am 56 almost 57 and I have joint issues in every joint (LOL) I am actually putting off some foot surgery till we get this situated. I also have the COPD. Odd thing is I do have to walk (not run) on a treadmill 3 times a week for back therapy. Oh well. Dr's orders are Dr's orders I guess.

Thanks for the advice.. the test sounds totally awful. I WILL defiantely remember to do deep slow breaths and will keep in mind that they CAN stop it. (I did read one site that said there is antidote shot!) Jeesssseeee..I hope they don't atually give me a stroke. I guess they won't .. UGH. NOT looking foreward to it. I live alone so I'm going alone but I have arranged public transportation so I at least won't be nervous driving.

This is my first experience with heart/vascular things. I had mini-strokes and the Dr is trying to find out WHY. Bad as the test sounds it is probably better to do it and find out the problem than ignore it and have a major stoke. Intelligently I know I have to do it A.S.A.P. but I am not looking foreward to it.

Actually, I didn't find it awful as it was for Katie. I had a heart attack on a Friday, and for my first stress test that Sunday, I had the adenosine administered prior to walking on the treadmill. I was told this was because I was already on a beta-blocker.

The adenosine made me feel more fatigued, as if I had already been exercising. I found the heart attack (two days earlier) a much less pleasurable experience. Since that time, I have had two routine stress tests (each December). I found these no worse than having adenosine administered.

Actually, I didn't find it awful as it was for Katie. I had a heart attack on a Friday, and for my first stress test that Sunday, I had the adenosine administered prior to walking on the treadmill. I was told this was because I was already on a beta-blocker.

The adenosine made me feel more fatigued, as if I had already been exercising. I found the heart attack (two days earlier) a much less pleasurable experience. Since that time, I have had two routine stress tests (each December). I found these no worse than having adenosine administered.

Thank you too. You've booster my Christmas sprite!
I do appreciate knowing everyone's experience with this.
Your posts have helped me go from scared to death to thinking I might just actually be lucky instead.
Isn't it wonderful we have this board. Thank you so much for the replies.

I'm not on a beta-Blocker (not even so sure what one is) I am on some things but not for anything concerning heart/vascular situations. Thanks for saying it can be less painful for you Maybe I'll be one of the ones that get less pain.

Perhaps the pain level depends on what it wrong inside the patient and the person administering the test?
We don't know what my problem is yet.
Am defiantly taking the deep breaths as katie24 advised. Sounds like very good advice no matter how it goes.
I don't want any REAL heart attacks or strokes or anything..that's why we are hunting the cause of the mini-strokes.

I'm still very worried about the test of course, but I've come to the conclusion that I'm lucky my Dr picked up on this and will hunt the reason. Some Dr's don't catch it when you tell them the weird symptoms. I actually thought it was something else entirely and after I described the sensations she was right away checking my paluse! I've been a bit depressed about this whole thing but you know the Dr's first oath is "Do no harm" . So easy or hard and although my own Dr won't be present, remembering that makes me feel less afraid. NOT unafraid..just less afraid. Maybe if I can think of "Scientifically with interest in the marvel of the modern testing" instead of concentrating on the sensations..maybe it will be less unpleasant. Maybe.

I lived. :wave:
It's done.
first they injected something nuclear, waited awhile and took pics in a machine that looks like an MRI machine. This was the "resting pics"

Then they made me wait again and then they attacked a bunch of wires and shot me with the Adenosine.
It did not feel like anything excercise ever made me feel like.

Strangely, my heart beat wasn't even something I noticed.
I did feel an icy cold in that area.. but then it was in my throat..
I needed to get air.. I needed a bigger throat to get air into me..oh I needed air..made me stretch my neck out more (I DID TRY to remember deep slow breaths but....)..then it made my jaws go wide open. :eek: I don't think my jaws have ever opened that wide before..I mean wide open so that the muscles were straining and there I was like a fish out of water gasping to try to catch some air. My nose competely closed! My lips became numb..but oh AIR was the big thing..I tried to breath calmly..but oh my I REALLY wanted air. Then I put my hand on my head because of the pressure. LOTS of pressure. All the while Gasping hard, TRYING to get air.
Lasted 6 minutes. I wanted more air..the girl says 2 more minutes.. the I gasped I REALLY need air..she says just one more minute.. ooooohhhhh.. then she says it's over, thats it. Some Dr standing there looking at the computer (that the wires were hooked to) readouts says "Your Stress Test is Good " (whatever that means) Then I discovered I had actually had tears running down my face..I didn't even know I'd had tears but I was now breathing normal again. Then immediately we went and took the pics in that machine again. This was for "stressed pics"
I was there a total of 3 hours.

I napped when I got home and my stomache now feels icky but the test is DONE. Thank goodness.