kimmers37
05-11-2004, 06:58 PM
Hi All: I went to a Doctor yesterday and was completlely "shocked" I am 37 years young, I hope to still be soon and and my future..my BP was 145/97...always ran high but recently I have been getting numbness,weakness and tinkling sensations in my left arm...well, needless to say I was STUPID to let it go thus far...now I am scared!!!! My own Father died @ 45 with a massive heart attack.... Heart disease, high BP...ETC.... I go back in 2 weeks for a stress test...but the numbness etc....isnt subsiding....actuaclly getting worse...I aint ready to "kick it" yet! I never believed in Doctors but I am really scared now...Any advice? Thanks! Kim
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CobaltBlue
05-12-2004, 08:24 AM
Hi All: I went to a Doctor yesterday and was completlely "shocked" I am 37 years young, I hope to still be soon and and my future..my BP was 145/97...always ran high but recently I have been getting numbness,weakness and tinkling sensations in my left arm...well, needless to say I was STUPID to let it go thus far...now I am scared!!!! My own Father died @ 45 with a massive heart attack.... Heart disease, high BP...ETC.... I go back in 2 weeks for a stress test...but the numbness etc....isnt subsiding....actuaclly getting worse...I aint ready to "kick it" yet! I never believed in Doctors but I am really scared now...Any advice? Thanks! Kim
Kim:
I am not trying to scare you, but to give you the best advice I think I can, and that is make sure you do go back in for the stress test, and if you feel any increased discomfort/tingling/weakness when you exert yourself, then you should head to the ER and describe your symptoms.
My father died at 58 of a MI, after having bypasses at age 51. Little did I know that the pains in my left arm and shoulders in 2002 (at age 35) was angina. I had hypertension since I was 25 and brilliantly ignored it. I did finally get on medication after I was diagnosed during a physical (170/112). Even with the meds, I still continued my poor diet and sedentary lifestyle until it culminated in a heart attack at age 35. I went to my physican after 1.5 months of this pain (angina), and that very Friday, he scheduled a stress test for the following Monday. Well, I actually had the test on Sunday, in the hospital, since I had the MI on Friday.
I am not ready to kick it in yet, so instead I kicked myself in the rear and changed everything about my lifestyle. Two years later, I am much better off than I have ever been.
It's hard to say whether or not your symptoms are or aren't related to CAD...but my advice again (my opinion based on what I went through) , its better not to wait and find out. If you are wrong, you have lost nothing and gain peace of mind that your coronary arteries are fine, if you are right, then you have avoided heart damage that could have had you playing 50/50 odds with your life and surviving a MI at our young age (<50 yrs old).
Kim:
I am not trying to scare you, but to give you the best advice I think I can, and that is make sure you do go back in for the stress test, and if you feel any increased discomfort/tingling/weakness when you exert yourself, then you should head to the ER and describe your symptoms.
My father died at 58 of a MI, after having bypasses at age 51. Little did I know that the pains in my left arm and shoulders in 2002 (at age 35) was angina. I had hypertension since I was 25 and brilliantly ignored it. I did finally get on medication after I was diagnosed during a physical (170/112). Even with the meds, I still continued my poor diet and sedentary lifestyle until it culminated in a heart attack at age 35. I went to my physican after 1.5 months of this pain (angina), and that very Friday, he scheduled a stress test for the following Monday. Well, I actually had the test on Sunday, in the hospital, since I had the MI on Friday.
I am not ready to kick it in yet, so instead I kicked myself in the rear and changed everything about my lifestyle. Two years later, I am much better off than I have ever been.
It's hard to say whether or not your symptoms are or aren't related to CAD...but my advice again (my opinion based on what I went through) , its better not to wait and find out. If you are wrong, you have lost nothing and gain peace of mind that your coronary arteries are fine, if you are right, then you have avoided heart damage that could have had you playing 50/50 odds with your life and surviving a MI at our young age (<50 yrs old).
kimmers37
05-12-2004, 12:02 PM
Thank you! That was very well said and I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. I will do everything in my power to follow through with what ever it takes to stay healthy. Thanks again, Kim
Random2
05-12-2004, 05:42 PM
Ubernier,
You went 1 1/2 months with chest pains before a heart attack at 35. Waaaay young. Did you have you cholesterol, sugars checked prior or an ekg. What was your weight???
I'm 33 & get readings at the doc. like 158/80, but it averages 117/75 or so away from the doc. on meds. I'm 5 '11 153 & have no family history of heart disease or heart attacks. My cholesterol ratio was 2.7 (anything under 5 is good). My LDL's were 72 (anything over 60 is superb). It puts me at much lower risk. I was just curious if you had tests+ run before your heart attack & had a lot of symptoms (chest pain) for a long time. What was your cholesterol, sugars & weight prior???? How much weight have you lost in the last 2 years+.
You went 1 1/2 months with chest pains before a heart attack at 35. Waaaay young. Did you have you cholesterol, sugars checked prior or an ekg. What was your weight???
I'm 33 & get readings at the doc. like 158/80, but it averages 117/75 or so away from the doc. on meds. I'm 5 '11 153 & have no family history of heart disease or heart attacks. My cholesterol ratio was 2.7 (anything under 5 is good). My LDL's were 72 (anything over 60 is superb). It puts me at much lower risk. I was just curious if you had tests+ run before your heart attack & had a lot of symptoms (chest pain) for a long time. What was your cholesterol, sugars & weight prior???? How much weight have you lost in the last 2 years+.
CobaltBlue
05-12-2004, 09:45 PM
Ubernier,
You went 1 1/2 months with chest pains before a heart attack at 35. Waaaay young. Did you have you cholesterol, sugars checked prior or an ekg. What was your weight???
Hi Lillians:
What a long story...I have posted some of my progress, etc. in here, in the heart and high cholesterol forum. I have CHD in my family, father had a CABG at age 51, and died of an MI at age 58. I was a foolish boy and thought myself immortal. Anyway, I weighed 155 lbs in high school, went to college, became smarter and less wise as I progressed up to 227 lbs by 2002 on my 5'9" frame. Along the way, I went to the hospital for various injuries and was told I had hypertension as early as 1992. I ignored it while in grad school. I weighed about 195 lbs at the time and was easing my way into a sedentary lifestyle. By 1995, I was employed, and shunned the physicals. At age 31, I went for my physical through work in 1997, came back hypertensive with a bp of 170/112. Was started on an ACE inhibitor, diuretic and finally a beta blocker to control it. ( I think the combo was Lexxel, HCTZ and Ziac). Anyway, I coasted along and kept piling on the weight to reach 215 lbs by 2000. In November of that year, I got my first shocker, my fasting glucose was 348 mg/dL. Now, I had a fasting of 124 in 1997 during that physical, but at the time, they thought I cheated and ate something that morning..
Gee, that explained why I was so tired at work everyday, and wanted to sleep through seminars! Well, I had been chewing tobacco since age 16, so that was my method of keeping awake (another brilliant choice on my part).
Amaryl was added to the mix. You would think I would get it then? No, not so fast. That allowed me to control the diabetes, via a pill, and still slurp down my 5 plates of prime rib and 3 plates of crab clusters at all you can eat buffets. I could not shovel any more down, nor exercise any less. Into the mix came Tricor to combat my high triglycerides, which reached the unmeasurable level of 600+, which meant my lipid values were not accurate for LDL....
I reached 227 lbs, was moving boxes at my mother's house after she passed away. I could not figure out what the weird feeling in my shoulders was...Thinking back then, I know now that it was angina. At 35, you just aren't thinking heart problems. Anyway, the pain started to intensify and show up at rest each night, as time went on. Finally on March 14, I was sprawled out on the living room floor with my arms feeling like I had torn both rotator cuffs. Finally, the next day (Friday) I went to my physician at 8 am. Had an EKG, it looked fine. Described my symptoms, he said, "well you have a bunch of risk factors, and are young, but let me set you up a stress test." I thanked him, headed out to the local sub shop and snagged myself a double meat turkey sub with extra cheese. Went back to the lab, sat in my office and ate lunch while working on some data. The whole world turned white around me, I staggered down the hall, told my technician what happened at the doctor and that I felt dizzy after working myself up over the anxiousness. He noticed that I was pale white, in sweats. I noticed that laying down on the floor did not alleviate the dizzy feeling, nor the nausea. That was my heart attack. He wanted to call 911. Of course, I protested. I won...or did I? More like I was darn lucky. Anyway, went to the hospital, recieved a stent the following Monday and one a few months later, after I started trying to jog.
There is a happy ending to this long treatise I wrote you (sorry that it took forever!) I will link the posts showing the improvement to my lipid profiles and the reduction in meds as changed everything wrong that I was doing with my lifestyle.
Bottome line, Tricor is gone, my 600+ unmedicated TG is now at 30-40 mg/dL thanks to the exercise and weight. I would say diet, but when I reward myself with a quarter of an apple pie and two mounds of ice cream...I don't think that's low carb and an indication that diet does not impact my lipids so greatly.
My LDL was always not excessive. It was my HDL that was too low, and too small particle size. You will see the changes in my lipid profiles as I lost weight and took up running.
Anyway, back to meds, the diabetes med (Amaryl) went away next. I can slap that dessert down above and get the response of a non-diabetic. That's another story and I wrote about that in the diabetes forum a while back.
As I dropped the weight down, I came off the HCTZ, then the beta blocker (Toprol). Finally, when I reached 155 lbs, I came off the ACE inihibitor (Altace) and to the physician's amazement, my bp was around 100/60.
Now the caveat, as I gained weight back up near 170 lbs, my bp steadily rose to 120/80. That is why I just myself back into reverse. In addition, near 170 lbs, if I do not exercise daily, then my sugars do start to indicate impaired glucose tolerance. So, yes, I am an example that you can effect lifestyle changes to remove meds; however, who knows how long this will hold up? Also, if I get lazy, I get the same afflictions back at a much more rapid rate than a healthy individual would, developing these problems for the first time.
Let me stop there. I hope that answered what you asked about. I am 37 now, weighed 163 lbs a few moments ago. I just started running 6 miles on most days, and run at least 3 miles daily. I try to walk 4-7 miles daily, when I can. It does take a lot of time and effort, but I am making the most of my second chance. Thankfully, the MI did very little damage, and even then to the inferior part of my heart.
Let me stop there and find the links that have my lipid profiles in them. (I just noticed--in edit--that the code command does not format these anymore.) Bascially, though, you will see that my cholesterol was high when first diagnosed (269) but mainly due to high TG. Once controlled, I never really went about a total of 200 mg/dL.
Some of the recent literature that was presented at an Annual meeting on arteriosclerosis last week had data that indicate that LDL may not be such a large factor. Instead, the level of triglycerides more closely follow CV risk in diabetics and other patients with risk factors. Another study I followed with great interest was that HDL-C may not be the "protective factor," where instead it is a result, or measuring stick partly of how well the body metabolizes fats and partly due to the amount of fat ingested. That is, athletes and certain people that are blessed genetically metabolize fats better and therefore, a diet with more sat fat in it for them will increase the HDL level. That's another topic for another forum, at another time :)
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=61608
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=61620
You went 1 1/2 months with chest pains before a heart attack at 35. Waaaay young. Did you have you cholesterol, sugars checked prior or an ekg. What was your weight???
Hi Lillians:
What a long story...I have posted some of my progress, etc. in here, in the heart and high cholesterol forum. I have CHD in my family, father had a CABG at age 51, and died of an MI at age 58. I was a foolish boy and thought myself immortal. Anyway, I weighed 155 lbs in high school, went to college, became smarter and less wise as I progressed up to 227 lbs by 2002 on my 5'9" frame. Along the way, I went to the hospital for various injuries and was told I had hypertension as early as 1992. I ignored it while in grad school. I weighed about 195 lbs at the time and was easing my way into a sedentary lifestyle. By 1995, I was employed, and shunned the physicals. At age 31, I went for my physical through work in 1997, came back hypertensive with a bp of 170/112. Was started on an ACE inhibitor, diuretic and finally a beta blocker to control it. ( I think the combo was Lexxel, HCTZ and Ziac). Anyway, I coasted along and kept piling on the weight to reach 215 lbs by 2000. In November of that year, I got my first shocker, my fasting glucose was 348 mg/dL. Now, I had a fasting of 124 in 1997 during that physical, but at the time, they thought I cheated and ate something that morning..
Gee, that explained why I was so tired at work everyday, and wanted to sleep through seminars! Well, I had been chewing tobacco since age 16, so that was my method of keeping awake (another brilliant choice on my part).
Amaryl was added to the mix. You would think I would get it then? No, not so fast. That allowed me to control the diabetes, via a pill, and still slurp down my 5 plates of prime rib and 3 plates of crab clusters at all you can eat buffets. I could not shovel any more down, nor exercise any less. Into the mix came Tricor to combat my high triglycerides, which reached the unmeasurable level of 600+, which meant my lipid values were not accurate for LDL....
I reached 227 lbs, was moving boxes at my mother's house after she passed away. I could not figure out what the weird feeling in my shoulders was...Thinking back then, I know now that it was angina. At 35, you just aren't thinking heart problems. Anyway, the pain started to intensify and show up at rest each night, as time went on. Finally on March 14, I was sprawled out on the living room floor with my arms feeling like I had torn both rotator cuffs. Finally, the next day (Friday) I went to my physician at 8 am. Had an EKG, it looked fine. Described my symptoms, he said, "well you have a bunch of risk factors, and are young, but let me set you up a stress test." I thanked him, headed out to the local sub shop and snagged myself a double meat turkey sub with extra cheese. Went back to the lab, sat in my office and ate lunch while working on some data. The whole world turned white around me, I staggered down the hall, told my technician what happened at the doctor and that I felt dizzy after working myself up over the anxiousness. He noticed that I was pale white, in sweats. I noticed that laying down on the floor did not alleviate the dizzy feeling, nor the nausea. That was my heart attack. He wanted to call 911. Of course, I protested. I won...or did I? More like I was darn lucky. Anyway, went to the hospital, recieved a stent the following Monday and one a few months later, after I started trying to jog.
There is a happy ending to this long treatise I wrote you (sorry that it took forever!) I will link the posts showing the improvement to my lipid profiles and the reduction in meds as changed everything wrong that I was doing with my lifestyle.
Bottome line, Tricor is gone, my 600+ unmedicated TG is now at 30-40 mg/dL thanks to the exercise and weight. I would say diet, but when I reward myself with a quarter of an apple pie and two mounds of ice cream...I don't think that's low carb and an indication that diet does not impact my lipids so greatly.
My LDL was always not excessive. It was my HDL that was too low, and too small particle size. You will see the changes in my lipid profiles as I lost weight and took up running.
Anyway, back to meds, the diabetes med (Amaryl) went away next. I can slap that dessert down above and get the response of a non-diabetic. That's another story and I wrote about that in the diabetes forum a while back.
As I dropped the weight down, I came off the HCTZ, then the beta blocker (Toprol). Finally, when I reached 155 lbs, I came off the ACE inihibitor (Altace) and to the physician's amazement, my bp was around 100/60.
Now the caveat, as I gained weight back up near 170 lbs, my bp steadily rose to 120/80. That is why I just myself back into reverse. In addition, near 170 lbs, if I do not exercise daily, then my sugars do start to indicate impaired glucose tolerance. So, yes, I am an example that you can effect lifestyle changes to remove meds; however, who knows how long this will hold up? Also, if I get lazy, I get the same afflictions back at a much more rapid rate than a healthy individual would, developing these problems for the first time.
Let me stop there. I hope that answered what you asked about. I am 37 now, weighed 163 lbs a few moments ago. I just started running 6 miles on most days, and run at least 3 miles daily. I try to walk 4-7 miles daily, when I can. It does take a lot of time and effort, but I am making the most of my second chance. Thankfully, the MI did very little damage, and even then to the inferior part of my heart.
Let me stop there and find the links that have my lipid profiles in them. (I just noticed--in edit--that the code command does not format these anymore.) Bascially, though, you will see that my cholesterol was high when first diagnosed (269) but mainly due to high TG. Once controlled, I never really went about a total of 200 mg/dL.
Some of the recent literature that was presented at an Annual meeting on arteriosclerosis last week had data that indicate that LDL may not be such a large factor. Instead, the level of triglycerides more closely follow CV risk in diabetics and other patients with risk factors. Another study I followed with great interest was that HDL-C may not be the "protective factor," where instead it is a result, or measuring stick partly of how well the body metabolizes fats and partly due to the amount of fat ingested. That is, athletes and certain people that are blessed genetically metabolize fats better and therefore, a diet with more sat fat in it for them will increase the HDL level. That's another topic for another forum, at another time :)
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=61608
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=61620
Random2
05-13-2004, 10:48 AM
Ubernier,
Congrats on your modifications. I'm 5 '11 153 & my doc. says that a 103 glucose reading is still high (not as high as she is if she thinks that). Chol. ratio was 2.7. LDL's were high at 72, but anything over 60 is considered good. Try's were low (like 70). Total chol. was 191. She would not believe that my hbp was due to anxiety before doing the tests. Well the only one that came out a little low was carbon dioxide (which she said is due to anxiety). O.K. it's due to anxiety, but she won't prescribe benzos over 1 mg., even though I am used to 2 per day. I don't abuse, my liver, kidney, cell counts+ were fine. She told me to start drinking diet soda, instead of iced tea & cut out carbs.????? I'm 153, what does she want??? me to turn into a skeleton. I'm active. I'm still on Lotrel & Altenolol & my b/p has averaged 113/65 the last couple of weeks. Do I really need to be on all of those meds. at 33 if my body is responding to lifestyle changes (a 6 pack a night to 2 beers a week). Zuzu mentioned that maybe she doesn't believe my readings outside of the office.... well I think that to schedule a b/p check 2 months later is silly. She wants to test my normal glucose level again in 6 months. I don't get it. White-coat can cause hbp (isolated at the docs. office.). I will go to the other doc. in her office & try to get off some of these meds. in a couple.
Keep doing what you are doing. You are a great example of what can be done with lifestyle changes.
Congrats on your modifications. I'm 5 '11 153 & my doc. says that a 103 glucose reading is still high (not as high as she is if she thinks that). Chol. ratio was 2.7. LDL's were high at 72, but anything over 60 is considered good. Try's were low (like 70). Total chol. was 191. She would not believe that my hbp was due to anxiety before doing the tests. Well the only one that came out a little low was carbon dioxide (which she said is due to anxiety). O.K. it's due to anxiety, but she won't prescribe benzos over 1 mg., even though I am used to 2 per day. I don't abuse, my liver, kidney, cell counts+ were fine. She told me to start drinking diet soda, instead of iced tea & cut out carbs.????? I'm 153, what does she want??? me to turn into a skeleton. I'm active. I'm still on Lotrel & Altenolol & my b/p has averaged 113/65 the last couple of weeks. Do I really need to be on all of those meds. at 33 if my body is responding to lifestyle changes (a 6 pack a night to 2 beers a week). Zuzu mentioned that maybe she doesn't believe my readings outside of the office.... well I think that to schedule a b/p check 2 months later is silly. She wants to test my normal glucose level again in 6 months. I don't get it. White-coat can cause hbp (isolated at the docs. office.). I will go to the other doc. in her office & try to get off some of these meds. in a couple.
Keep doing what you are doing. You are a great example of what can be done with lifestyle changes.
CobaltBlue
05-13-2004, 03:26 PM
Keep doing what you are doing. You are a great example of what can be done with lifestyle changes.
Thanks Lillian--I will certainly try. I saw your post in the diabetes forum also, and I am sorry your phys. doesn't believe that the higher bp is not your norm. Your numbers look good. As far as what I would do, personally, in your situation, is not worry about it too much, but do show up in 6 mos to check on the glucose level. There are some people who have an average glucose in the 100-110 mg/dL and don't develop diabetes, but there are some that to do. It's better to keep an eye on it. I did see others post in there that they are in good shape, not overweight, eat right and exercise and still develop diabetes. Having had the diabetes and complications...if one day I can't keep it under wraps with diet and exercise, then I will certainly go back on an oral med, or take insulin if need be.
Thanks Lillian--I will certainly try. I saw your post in the diabetes forum also, and I am sorry your phys. doesn't believe that the higher bp is not your norm. Your numbers look good. As far as what I would do, personally, in your situation, is not worry about it too much, but do show up in 6 mos to check on the glucose level. There are some people who have an average glucose in the 100-110 mg/dL and don't develop diabetes, but there are some that to do. It's better to keep an eye on it. I did see others post in there that they are in good shape, not overweight, eat right and exercise and still develop diabetes. Having had the diabetes and complications...if one day I can't keep it under wraps with diet and exercise, then I will certainly go back on an oral med, or take insulin if need be.
Random2
05-13-2004, 04:01 PM
The thing that confused me was that anything under 110 was considered fine before. 126 was considered diabetes. Mine was 103. I am thin (153), don't eat sweets, have low sugar during the day, have a healthy diet+. She told me to drink diet soda instead of iced tea & no carbs. It will turn me into a skeleton. I think that she was being a little overboard. She lost a lot of validity in my eyes when she wouldn't prescribe the normal amount of xanax that I took on a daily basis (2 mgs), because " people get addicted to that stuff" & need more. Well try getting off of the Altenolo that the doc. put me on & tell me that it isn't extremely diffucult. Normal range was up to 110 until a couple of months ago, just like normal b/p was 120/80 until they changed the guidelines to 115/75. It just seems that they lower the guidelines, so they can set more appointments, which means more $'s for them. No kick-backs from benzo companies, so they prescribe SSRI's like Paxil that give you a 5 day stomach flu. *** is going on these days??? My carbon dioxide was the only other thing that was a little low.. (due to anxiety). Does she want me to go back & get that re-checked???? No. I just got a great list of psychiatrists that will prescribe Paxil they are frosted flakes & look at benzos like they are heroin & people that take them as addicts.
Random2
05-13-2004, 04:28 PM
Altenolol has also to be known to increase glucose levels for several people on the diabetes board.
The question that needs to be asked....
Do some of these beta-blockers & b/p medications do more harm than good???
The question that needs to be asked....
Do some of these beta-blockers & b/p medications do more harm than good???
CobaltBlue
05-13-2004, 05:04 PM
I understand about Paxil. I thought the MI made me anxious, so after 6 mos, I gave in to the advice of my GP and tried Paxil. I lasted 3 days on it. By day 3 I really did know what anxiety once. I quit taking them, told my GP, "thanks, now I know what anxiety is really like." I have been fine ever since.
Now, Atenolol, and it's related cousin Toprol had some profound effects on me. The first of which was a heartrate in the upper 30s. I could live with that. The feeling like I needed Viagra while on that class...that was what finally had me begging to come off of them.
I think beta blockers are good in some cases, especially when it comes to those with CHD (which yes I do qualify, fortunately I don't have that much tissue damage from the MI) or those that have severe arrythmia, and when other measures and medications aren't working to drop bp. Then again, I am not a physician, so you are getting my personal viewpoint here.
Now, Atenolol, and it's related cousin Toprol had some profound effects on me. The first of which was a heartrate in the upper 30s. I could live with that. The feeling like I needed Viagra while on that class...that was what finally had me begging to come off of them.
I think beta blockers are good in some cases, especially when it comes to those with CHD (which yes I do qualify, fortunately I don't have that much tissue damage from the MI) or those that have severe arrythmia, and when other measures and medications aren't working to drop bp. Then again, I am not a physician, so you are getting my personal viewpoint here.
Random2
05-13-2004, 05:36 PM
My pulse yesterday was in the low 50's on the Altenolol. My normal is around 72 or so without it. No problems with my chick. Toprol was the worst, other than Altace. Paxil was a complete joke. If someone wants to feel like they have the stomach flu, I would highly recommend it. Don't understand the beta-blockers as a 1st option when I have never had heart problems. Oh well, for some reason altenolol doesn't have bad side-effects for me & my b/p this week has averaged 113/65 with a pulse rate of 53 or so. Maybe if I'm on another med. I can join the night of the walking zombies.
zip2play
05-14-2004, 09:43 AM
kimmers,
The stress test is a very good idea. Make sure they follow up with an immediate echocardiogram WITH A RADIOACTIVE MARKER.
Just to be on the safeR side, take 2 aspirin ever day til the test. It will go a long way toward preventing any clot formation.
The stress test is a very good idea. Make sure they follow up with an immediate echocardiogram WITH A RADIOACTIVE MARKER.
Just to be on the safeR side, take 2 aspirin ever day til the test. It will go a long way toward preventing any clot formation.
kimmers37
05-15-2004, 08:57 AM
Is the echocardiogram the test that they inject you with dye? My Doctor had mentioned some type of further testing after the stress test? I am very scared about all this. Is it painless? Kim
CobaltBlue
05-15-2004, 10:35 AM
Well the ECG is recording your rhythm, but the stress test is where they inject the dye. I don't really notice any discomfort from the dyes at all; others notice some sensations though :)
The most uncomfortable parts for me are trying to lay still for 15 or so min as they image you, and depending on how in shape you are, running uphill on a treadmill during stage 5 and 6 or so of the Bruce protocol. Really it's not bad at all!
In a brief summary here is something how it goes. IV inserted into your hand, followed by injection of Thallium dye, then 1st set of imaging. You then proceed to get hooked up to the ECG and get on the treadmill, they start the Bruce protocol, once you attain the calculated target heartrate for your age (also depends on your meds if on a beta blocker), they will inject you with the technicium dye and keep you exercising at your target heartrate for 1 min. You will then stop exercising, have the ECG removed, and proceed to have another set of images done to find out if there is ischemia produced during exercise.
The whole process takes me about 2-2.5 hrs, depending on how busy the place is. If there was no waiting on others, it could probably be done in an hour or so?
The most uncomfortable parts for me are trying to lay still for 15 or so min as they image you, and depending on how in shape you are, running uphill on a treadmill during stage 5 and 6 or so of the Bruce protocol. Really it's not bad at all!
In a brief summary here is something how it goes. IV inserted into your hand, followed by injection of Thallium dye, then 1st set of imaging. You then proceed to get hooked up to the ECG and get on the treadmill, they start the Bruce protocol, once you attain the calculated target heartrate for your age (also depends on your meds if on a beta blocker), they will inject you with the technicium dye and keep you exercising at your target heartrate for 1 min. You will then stop exercising, have the ECG removed, and proceed to have another set of images done to find out if there is ischemia produced during exercise.
The whole process takes me about 2-2.5 hrs, depending on how busy the place is. If there was no waiting on others, it could probably be done in an hour or so?