I went to the doctor. I usually get nervous at the doctor. They performed an EKG. The problem was, the assistant was having all kinds of problems putting the 'stickies' on my chest (I have quite alot of hair on my chest). And for awhile they couldn't get a reading. The stickies kept coming off. Then somebody else had to help the assistant and was trying to hold down the stickies. It was strange. Finally, after about 15 minutes of trying, they said they got a print out.

The problem is the printout said "T wave changes in inferior leads. These changes are unusual for a male of this age but could be a normal variant. Summary: Borderliene Normal".

What does this mean? Could this reading have anything to do with the fact that they were having so many problems just administering the test, or maybe anxiety in the doctor's office? Any input now would help. Please note I am 29, not overweight. Thanks.

Hi Jack,

For perspective with the EKG, there is the first wave (P) and it records activity in the upper heart chambers. Then there is the largest wave (QRS) and this records the activity in the ventricles. Each QRS wave is one beat of the heart. The T wave records the heart's return to resting state and relaxation between beats.

Worst case scenario if the heart doesn't relax enough between beats it will not fill sufficiently and that would be problematic. If anxiety was an issue, a fast heartbeat (by QRS count) could prevent filling time and less blood to be pumped out. If leads were not making proper contact as you describe there would be no output and no T wave.

The doctor reading the printout will make a decision whether it is normal or not and based on other factors as well decide the significance!

Thanks. But what would "borderline normal...possibly normal variant" mean? The doctor didn't make too much of it, although he thought I should see a cardio because of high blood pressure. But he didn't say anything about the results of the EKG being problematic and as a reason to go. I was just suprised when I read the EKG and it said that. Also, I have read that if the leads were not on correctly you could get an improper reading. Trust me, there was much trouble administering the test, and they were trying to physically hold down the leads at one point. Finally they got a reading, and I even thought to myself that there is no way that can be an accurate reading.

I have had a similar experience, and felt as you do that I was in the care of incompetency! The problem is the jell-like substance used to enhance electrical conductivity. It is slippery!

The connection (maybe necessary to press and hold) would be either passing a signal or not. If the lead is not placed at the correct location, there would be no T wave.

Apparently, there was some problem with conduction at the connection site and required holding; also there may have been some problem in finding the exact location to get the T wave (could be inexperience)! But there was a reading, and it only takes several heartbeats for an understanding and workable outcome.

A variant is an unusual and could be a harmless happening. During my echo test the tech doing the testing said my heart had skipped a beat, and he said it is a variant that is common without consequences or awareness when benign. Nothing to be concerned over.

Thanks again for your input! One last thing, would a variant, such as what I described be a common showing in EKG results, especially when the print out says "could be normal variant...summary: borderline normal"? I asked the doc about the EKG and he didn't seem to indicate any real problem with it (it was after a read the report at home that I freaked out about it". Also, can heart problems be detected through routine blood tests?

Again, thank you for all your input and helping me put my mind at ease!

"Borderline normal" is an obscure expression because there are many aspects to the heart's function as well as what the EKG is measuring. It could relate to the heart rate at rest. A reading over 100 as heart rate at rest would be abnormal, but it may be explained as anxiety taking the test.

The test also extrapolates measurements of heart's upper and lower chamber sizes. Borderline may indicate measurements are in the upper range of normal, but that may be the "normal" size for a specific individual...heart size is larger for an athlete...males larger than females, etc.

Yes, blood tests are helpful and part of the protocol to determine a heart condition. There are bio-markers released into the blood stream if there is an injury (highTroponin level) and protein (CK-MB) is released from damaged (dead) cells. High C-reatinine level would also be significant.

I dont understand why the assistant had so much trouble with the patches not sticking. I am hairy too and the assistant always shaves the area where the patches are required which takes a couple of minutes. Sounds like you got a couple of trainee assistants. Go back to the doctor and say you are not happy with the way the test was done and you want a retest.