Stress Test... | Arthritis Information

Anyone have any experiance taking a stress test? Any tips or advice?

I will be haivng one soon.

treadmill or with medication? What is going on? Are you o.k.? I have seen them conducted (medication), and assisted, but haven't had one done on myself. Keep us posted...hope you are o.k.I hope all goes well. Let us know.I assume a treadmill. I ended up spending the night and day in the hospital Tuesday night and all day Wednesday...finally got myself out of there at 10 pm last night...( whole diffrent story)

My husband and I went for a light dinner Tuesday evening and stopped at our local mall to walk...it is too cold outside...half way through I had severe chest pain and I could not get a good breath. I wasn't panting out of breath, just couldn't get a breath. Scared me but good.

We went home and I rested...then up and down the stairs a few time and I felt the tightness start...not pain the second time but an uneasy, something not right feeling. So we went to the emergency room...long story short they kept me...no blood clot and no heart attack.

I had a bit of a problem last weekend in Florida while at the zoo. I found myself looking for places to sit while the family enjoyed the exhibits. Chalked that up as nothing really just being tired...but after the incident at the mall...Doctor want to check my arteries for blockages...jeesh..

I will say the pain was bad...but the not being able to get a deep or satisfying breath scared me.

For my FB friends, I did NOT post this on my FB...My father who is 82 is on FB everyday playing his farm games, he would worry himself silly if he read this and be mad I didn't tell him. So please do NOT mention anything about this trip to hospital on my page....thanks

#1inflamedOnline2010-02-25 18:39:07I sometimes get bad muscle spasms in my chest. Hurt like crazy. Especially if I over do. My son sent me to the eroom several years back because he got tired of hearing my yelling out in pain. It is hard to breath well when your chest muscles do not exspand. I hope it is nothing major. Also after they check the heart they maybe could check your lungs also. Prayers for you and yours. Keep us posted because we care.Hi Lisa, have had both types of stress done and neither one were too bad. I wasn't fond of the one with medication. Wear comfortable clothes. Hope all turns out well. LindyI have no experience with stress tests but I wanted to wish you all the best. When do you go? Sounds like you had a couple of scary incidences. Scary indeed! Thank god you went and had yourself checked out. Many people (women especially) ignore symptoms like you describe. Keep us posted and don't hesitate to go back in if you continue to have pains.

*hugs* [QUOTE=waddie]
I am glad you are getting checked out Lisa, I think everyone with RA should have a good cardiac check-up! I hope its nothing serious and I'll be waiting to hear what they find. [/QUOTE]

I agree Waddie....Everyone with RA should have a cardiac check-up!

Inflammation and heart issues go hand in hand....

I hope everything goes well for you Lisa How are you feeling?

Phats [QUOTE=Phatgirl2]How are you feeling? Hi Lisa,

Just sending you hugs...

I hope your tests come out well and they figure out what is causing the pain/tightness. That would be very scary. Let us know how that goes!

Kelly

I get the whole adenosine gated stress test done every other year. I have no cardiac condition but am high risk.

Wear tennies and an exercise top - one that will allow them to attach electrodes. to your chest. If your tech is a man and you're uncomfortable with a man doing this, ask them for a woman tech to perform the EKG portion of the test.

They'll prep you for IV for two reasons:

1. to inject the adenosine to speed up the heart while on the tread mill [if you can't do the treadmill they have ways to evaluate that portion while you're lying down]

2. to inject the radioisotopes for the heart scan

Some cardiologists, depending on your symptoms and risk factors, only do a portion of the test. Others do the whole shebang. If you have the whole shebang allow for 4 hours max.

It's really a piece of cake. BTW - mine comes out perfectly normal every time - in fact, better than most people my age. I attribute it to exercise.

Take a book to read in between set-ups.

Thanks sam...good advice

I forgot to add - no bras or underwires or metal.[QUOTE=Sam1234]I forgot to add - no bras or underwires or metal.[/QUOTE]

What!!!! NO BRA…How will I ever corral the “girls"….Oh my…this could be dangerous…lol

#1inflamedOnline2010-02-27 14:26:41 [QUOTE=#1inflamedOnline][QUOTE=Sam1234]I forgot to add - no bras or underwires or metal.[/QUOTE]

What!!!! NO BRA…How will I ever corral the “girls"….Oh my…this could be dangerous…lol

Good luck and hope all goes well!

Thanks Lisa,

The biggest plus is that I have been walking for sometime for exercise.

6 months ago I had not. So I hope it helps on the treadmill.

I will admit the last few weeks I have not been walking because of the flare. The Predisone helped that and is why I felt like walking at the mall after dinner that evening I had the chest pain and shortness of breath. I had been doing the Leslie Sansone videos it is more of a work out, but like I nentioned the flare...I just want to get ahead of this game...I am always working through some physical set back it seems. So glad the rest of my life is blessed!

Warning....lol...I posted this under sudden ear pain...when it should of gone on this thread. A few people have asked about my Stress test So I thought I would re post it here... sorry if you already read it on the other thread...and thank you all for your concern =)

There has been a total screw up with scheduling my stress test. Now it seem I will not have it done until the 16th. I try to give the benefit of the doubt to the hospital, the Cardiologist staff, and my Doctors nurse...but I will say If I had not become pro-active as of today I would NOT of had an appointment. I saw my doctor yesterday and he wanted me to have it this week...not happening....he settled for next week...now that is not happening. My Doctor does not know this, I hate to tell him because his nurse who I like (and the cardio office is blaming) may of made an error.
The first two errors made in scheduling the stress test the cardio office blamed the hospital, then blamed my my Doctor, now his nurse...IDK...

My doctor scheduled the type of stress test with drugs. He said because of my MS and RA
I would fail the tread mill and have to re-schedule with the othere type of stress test. I forget what he called it.

I haven't been feeling the best. Just trying to muddle through. I haven't been on here. I will read and try to catch up with everyone.

Big hugs to you, Sorry you are feelling poorly. I am glad you got an appointment. Well it stinks they have it so far out but I am glad you got after them. Prayers for you my friend. I hope you get to feelling better soon. Lisa, where are you? How are you doing? I've been thinking about you and wondering if you had your cardiac testing. Check in please. LindyHi Lisa, I'm with Lindy in wondering how things are going! Thanks Ladies, I have been under the radar. I have been pretty tired. The time I have spent online has been getting updates on my son at Fort Benning. They have a discussion page set up for family members.

I will rally myself and be back in full swing soon...I need to catch up on everybody.

Thanks for the concern...

Lisa

Oh yeah,

I get my stress test Tuesday

Lisa, I understand about being under the radar, I too disappear for awhile. Sometimes you just need to take a break especially if you're not feeling good. It's probably the best for you to take it easy until you have your stress test. I sure hope that it's negative. Take care and tell your son thank you from me. Lindy

I just did the treadmill test -- and it went well - especially for an old woman with foot drop and needing two new knees and a 3-disk fusion. Even though I've had a recent heart attack the cardiologist declared me "in good shape for my age" and says there's no signs of heart trauma with exercise. Wear loose clothing. You'll have to fast in the event they have to go to chemical.

IslandWoman,

That's great news! Celebrate!!!!

Lisa! somehow I missed this thread from the beginning!! I am so sorry..

I hope you are waiting patiently...... for the tests which will be tomorrow?

Good luck.. We're all pulling for you!
Wishing you the best of luck. I hope your MS problems are getting better also. Lisa,

Hope you get your results soon. I'm praying for you, girl!

Again, Thank you ladies;

I lived through my stress test yesterday. I had the chemical test.Will find out results in a day or so. Would of loved to of tried the treadmill though. I wanted to show off all the walking I did before I started flaring with one thing after another...at least it feels that way to me. I have experienced a bit of foot drop on my right foot, this is an old symptom that has exacerbated, but is starting to resolve. I really think that my thyroid diseas, MS and RA are all connected by they are all thought to be autoimmune. It seems that when I do flare with one the other is waiting in the wings to remind me it wants equal time time to mess with me.

Really, been disheartened. Feels like I am always recovering from something. Things are coming along. Been really tired...I know it is only an hour but this time change has messed with me just a bit.

Thank you all for being so kind,

Lisa

Island Woman. that is awesome! Good for you. I know I COULD of done it...and I will be able to do it and more soon... I am sorry for sounding so whiney above...just hard to put a light positive spin on it all

So glad the results were favorable!

Oh I hate foot drop. I have not had it for years but used to get it all of the time. Really makes walking a challenge. I would be afraid to go into a store for fear the foot drop would hit and I would not be able to come back out. It stinks when your trusted foot becomes a liability.

Get well soon!