NataliesMom
07-31-2006, 02:02 PM
I'm having a Chemical Stress test done tomorrow and am just wondering if anyone has had this done and what can I expect? Also, are they just looking for clogged arteries on this test or what?
Thanks in advance. :) :)
Thanks in advance. :) :)
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arlmon18
07-31-2006, 05:51 PM
If you mean a nuclear heart scan - I had one last month. It was called a mibi scan, and the second part of the test was on a treadmill. They look for the way the blood flows through the arteries. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and thankfully, everything was normal. They can also tell your EF rate as well.
Lenin
08-01-2006, 09:25 AM
Also, are they just looking for clogged arteries on this test or what?
Thanks in advance. :) :)
That's primarily what they are looking for...clogged cardiac arteries.
I hope you come through with flying colors.
Look for some rather disconcerting discomfort when they administer that stressor drug...it only lasts a very short time.
How come no treadmill instead? Bad legs?
Thanks in advance. :) :)
That's primarily what they are looking for...clogged cardiac arteries.
I hope you come through with flying colors.
Look for some rather disconcerting discomfort when they administer that stressor drug...it only lasts a very short time.
How come no treadmill instead? Bad legs?
arlmon18
08-01-2006, 12:02 PM
Lenin - I didn't feel a thing when they administered the contrast drug.
Lenin
08-02-2006, 10:36 AM
arlmon,
It's not the contrast drug that feels awful it's the dobutamine or other agent that they inject that forces your heart rate to go to close to maximum that is very discomforting.
It's not the contrast drug that feels awful it's the dobutamine or other agent that they inject that forces your heart rate to go to close to maximum that is very discomforting.
arlmon18
08-02-2006, 01:16 PM
Lenin - that didn't bother me either. Maybe I just got lucky that day!!!
lylone
08-07-2006, 12:02 PM
Nat's Mom,
I had one last month and it was no big deal, I didn't even have to strip and wear a hopsital gown! Don't wear underwire and you won't either. I am on a BB for SVTs and they had me on the treadmill and used "adenosene" to increase my heart rate to 135 since I am only 35 years old. It made me feel like I was going to pass-out, but the nurses were very attentive and it helped that I had one on their hands on my back to feel safe while on the treadmill. Between that part and then having to lay still on a thin table while the scan rotated around me for 28 and then 18 minutes it was not that bad. The position of my hands made them fall asleep. My test was normal, but they couldn't see one chamber because of breast tissue. They said it was a common problem with women so don't be surprised if they tell you the same.
After the test, I was diagnosed with anxiety since nothing was wrong with my heart and I was having pains and blood pressure spikes.
From what I have been told, its a lot better than a cardiac cath!
The test is a breeze!:)
Ly
I had one last month and it was no big deal, I didn't even have to strip and wear a hopsital gown! Don't wear underwire and you won't either. I am on a BB for SVTs and they had me on the treadmill and used "adenosene" to increase my heart rate to 135 since I am only 35 years old. It made me feel like I was going to pass-out, but the nurses were very attentive and it helped that I had one on their hands on my back to feel safe while on the treadmill. Between that part and then having to lay still on a thin table while the scan rotated around me for 28 and then 18 minutes it was not that bad. The position of my hands made them fall asleep. My test was normal, but they couldn't see one chamber because of breast tissue. They said it was a common problem with women so don't be surprised if they tell you the same.
After the test, I was diagnosed with anxiety since nothing was wrong with my heart and I was having pains and blood pressure spikes.
From what I have been told, its a lot better than a cardiac cath!
The test is a breeze!:)
Ly
mr_panicky
08-09-2006, 11:52 PM
Ok, I had a Dobutamine Echocardiagram Stress Test
You lay on a table, they do an echo which is some cold gel on your chest and they take a look at your heart before the injection.
Then they inject some dobutamine and that makes the heart fly. You may have some "phantom pains" but those are normal. It's a trip and a half. Imagine running as fast as you can but you never leave the table. Your heart feels it ands responds accordingly but your body doesn't. I remember my breathing was weird cause I remember wanting to breath fast cause it mimicked rinning but I didn't need to.
The IV is the worst part and you may go home with a basic idea of your heart.
Now the Nuke stress test is very accurate but the dobutamine is also very accurate. They can tell if you heart is struggling due to blocked arteries.
My doc said I had 0-45% blockage. She said at 50% blockage the echo/stress test would have noticed it. She also said 75% is the danger zone.
You lay on a table, they do an echo which is some cold gel on your chest and they take a look at your heart before the injection.
Then they inject some dobutamine and that makes the heart fly. You may have some "phantom pains" but those are normal. It's a trip and a half. Imagine running as fast as you can but you never leave the table. Your heart feels it ands responds accordingly but your body doesn't. I remember my breathing was weird cause I remember wanting to breath fast cause it mimicked rinning but I didn't need to.
The IV is the worst part and you may go home with a basic idea of your heart.
Now the Nuke stress test is very accurate but the dobutamine is also very accurate. They can tell if you heart is struggling due to blocked arteries.
My doc said I had 0-45% blockage. She said at 50% blockage the echo/stress test would have noticed it. She also said 75% is the danger zone.
jan-BC
08-10-2006, 01:33 AM
...exactly Lenin! This can be a nasty test if one actually has ischemia or experiences angina, as speeding the heart up chemically (and quickly as opposed to the treadmill where there is some motor control) is pretty quick and results in exactly the same pain (that is sort of the idea). It also feels outside one's control. Why via chemical and not a MIBI scan or a standard stress treadmill EKG or even a stress echo as Lenin asked?
They (the cardios and radiological cardiologists) are looking for areas of the heart that are not being oxygenated properly when demands on the heart increase (yes, in short, clogged arteries). There are many avenues open currently, should blockages be found so do not panic in advance....
I would never agree to it now as I have EKG anomalies and residual damage from my bypass surgery.
jan
They (the cardios and radiological cardiologists) are looking for areas of the heart that are not being oxygenated properly when demands on the heart increase (yes, in short, clogged arteries). There are many avenues open currently, should blockages be found so do not panic in advance....
I would never agree to it now as I have EKG anomalies and residual damage from my bypass surgery.
jan
spazzzm
09-13-2006, 05:46 PM
Hmm...I'm confused. I had this stress test, but I had the imaging first, then got on the treadmill and after a minuter of 2, I was injected...I started OUT at over 100 BPM, and went to 170 before they pulled me off in less than 5 minutes.
The stuff I got injected with was for the nuclear imaging, so they could see the blood flow, NOT to make my heart go faster...(in my case, it probably would've exploded!)
My arteries, etc. were apparently fine, but I found out later that I have MVP.
By the way, the test, IV and all, was a piece of cake, even though, technically, I failed the treadmill part since my heart rate and BP went so high so fast.
The stuff I got injected with was for the nuclear imaging, so they could see the blood flow, NOT to make my heart go faster...(in my case, it probably would've exploded!)
My arteries, etc. were apparently fine, but I found out later that I have MVP.
By the way, the test, IV and all, was a piece of cake, even though, technically, I failed the treadmill part since my heart rate and BP went so high so fast.
Lenin
09-13-2006, 07:35 PM
spazzm,
You had the ordinary nuclear stress test where the stress comes from your effort on the treadmill.
The CHEMICAL stress test usually does without the treadmill and they give you a drug that causes your heart to race...but you just lay there on a table.
You had the ordinary nuclear stress test where the stress comes from your effort on the treadmill.
The CHEMICAL stress test usually does without the treadmill and they give you a drug that causes your heart to race...but you just lay there on a table.