Hi everyone!
Let me start off by saying I have never ever had any kind of heart problem before. My BP went crazy in October and no matter what my doc tries she can't get it to come down. She did a renal scan and it says I have bilateral renal insufficiency so she wanted to check my heart too. She ordered a chemical stress test, I can't use a treadmill because I have RSD in my knee. When they injected the drug that "stresses" my heart the left side of my face got really hot, the nurse said it was red, and I had terrible chest pains it felt like someone was sitting on my chest and it was hard to breath and then I got really nauseated. The nurse asked on a scale from 1-10.... I told her it was a 6. It took about 15 minutes after they stopped the drug for me to feel right again.
My question is, is this a normal reaction?
She said my doc will call me with the results but that pain was so intense it has me worried.
Has anyone ever had a chemical stress test, if so, is this a normal reaction??

Thanks,
Nancy

It's not a normal reaction no. It could be caused by several things though. You could be sensitive to the chemical or many other things. I'd be curious to hear what the doctor says. It would be advisable though to take it easy and try to not get too worked up about it until he calls you back.

I've had both types of stress tests. I had the adenosine stress test because they were concerned that I did have blockage and didn't want me to walk the treadmill. I felt like I had an elephant sitting on my chest and honestly I think the chemical stress test is worse than walking when it comes to the feeling that is it giving your body. I've yet to have a stress test indicate any problem even when there was one. Even the one that felt like the elephant on my chest came out normal.
I would say that your doctor waiting to give you the results might be somewhat of a good sign. If they had seen anything immediately they probably would have told you at that point. I'm assuming you had a nuclear scan after the stress test? I also would kind of take it easy until you get the call from your doctor.

Nancy,

The chemical stress test is uncomfortable but it shoudn't cause pain. If you experienced real chest pain then the test probably uncovered what it was looking for: coronary ischemia (pain from blood-oxygen shortage) caused by some arterial blockage. See if you can hurry the doctor on that final diagnosis.
My guess is that they will do an angiogram of both your cardiac and your renal arteries to pinpoint (and hopefully open) any blockages. Blessedly, both can be done with one catheterization.

Have you had chest pain on exertion in the past?

I have to agree with the above post, if the doctor had seen a problem he would have contacted you right a way. I have had both kinds of stress tests and would much rather be able to walk the treadmill. The last one I had was the chemical test and I left the hospital at 11a.m and was contacted by my cardiologist to go straight to his office at 1p.m. Try not to worry to much until you get all the results from your test. Best of luck to you,

Dee

I have only had the chemical stress which I am told is completely different from the treadmill stress test-I am awaiting that test. I found the chemical stress test horrible, it didn't give me chest pain but made my head feel like it was going to explode, I also felt dizzy and weird. It only lasted about 30 seconds though, then began easing.

Does anyone else know what chemical was used? I was given Amyl Nitrate but have yet to find others who have had this. Whats the reason behind using different chemicals, do they all work the same??

Take care and try not to stress yourself out too much before hearing from your Dr, I have been there....

Abby

Abby,
Thanks!
I felt the same way my head was hot and felt like pressure building up and I felt weird. But I could feel the same pressure in my chest too.
I'm thinking if anything was wrong my doc would have called me by now. She was supposed to get the results wednesday afternoon. So that is 3 days, I think I would have heard something if anything was wrong, but theres still that thought of how bad it felt that kinda scares me.
Thanks,
Nancy

Hi, When my GP got my results back (not from the stress but from my very first echo) she called me the same day(however I had to wait 6 months to see the cardiologist:( ). I have since moved and things run a bit smoother now, fortunately.
The chemical stress test is by far the worst test I had to have done. I felt exactly as you did. I may have had some chest pain but I was so freaked out by how my head felt, that was all I could think about. :) The Dr forewarned me that I would feel really crappy for a bit but then it would ease off, so I guess I reacted normally.

Waiting is so frustrating, its hard to concentrate on ANYTHING as your constantly waiting for the phone to ring(and yet hoping it DOESN"T ring)...as they say no news is good news.
Take care
Abby

I had the "Cardiolite" (sp) chemical stress test in January and hope to NEVER EVER EVER have it again. It took my breath away, face flushed, I couldn't even talk. It was horrible. I feel your pain. I don't recall having much chest pain but the results indicated poor blood flow in one part of the heart. My Cardio said he wasn't that concerned about it.

I AM!!!!!

I have had several chemical stress test and though they make you feel funny, no, I did not get hot like that, sounds like you may be allergic to the dye? Let us know what the DR says about it.
Gladys

I just got the results in the mail. It says everything is normal. Well I never want to have one of those again. If this was normal than I can't even imagine how it feels if something is abnormal.

Nancy