I have to have a stress test this friday and ,was wondering if any one here has ever had one. I am a little freaked out by the word NUCLEAR. What are they going to do to me? They told me this test would show them if I had any damage from a mild heart attack I had a few weeks ago. I dont know how putting me under stress is going to do that. Anyone here had one? If so, please tell me what to expect.

They make you do a little bit of exercise to see how your heart is working, I think. The 'nuclear' may include the injection of some radioisotope as a means of monitoring blood flow.

Here is Wikipedia's page on the subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_stress_test

It describes the "nuclear" variant thusly:

"A radiotracer (typically Technetium-99m Sestamibi although Thallium is possible) is injected during the simulated exercise portion. After a suitable waiting period, pictures are taken with a gamma camera. The pictures are then compared with the patient's resting images in order to assess the status of the patient's coronary arteries."

Did you not ask them to describe the procedure to you? "Stress" means physical exertion and not emotional stress.

I have had a regular heart stress test.

What they do is put you on a tredmill for about 40 minutes. Based on your condition, They try and get your heart rate up to maximum level. Not Idea level for working out. this test has some math involved. Mine is 140 max. But when I do a stress test, they get it up to close to 170. And yeah, it hurts a little but the cardiologist usually talks to you and takes your mind off of it. At least mine does.

Then when they get you up to maximum heart rate speed they make you come to a dead stop and you have to lie on a table and they do an ultra sound (or something simular) and check all 4 valves to see if they leak and are pumping right.

Then, they either get you back on the tredmill or they take you to a room where you will climb into this large egg shaped pod and they have you breath into a mask where they will have you exhale all the air from your lungs. You have to push out everything. It sound scarey but it's kind of funny for me. I've done it like 4 times already. I might have to do one this year.

this is how they see if you're getting enough oxygen and to see if you have lung damage which relates to heart.

Don't have a clue as to what a nuclear stress test is though. Maybe its a CT scan instead of a sonagram or ultrasound or whatever they used on me.

For you I believe "Thallium Stress test" is what it's called.

I went thru with it and the nuclear part is putting dye of some kind, then they take pics of every thing. In my case they were looking to see how much damage was done when I had my heart attack.

40 minutes? I'd be lucky to get through 4! Just gimme a pizza an' a beer. That'll take care of any stress I might have!

Strike a light... I'll be blowed... 40 mins!!! No way, looks like I'm gunna have to go for the pizza and beer too...

Hope the results turn out okay for you cricket and don't show anything dramatic... I know you have a lot on your plate to deal with as it is...

Dingo
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Thanks Dingo, wasnt what I wanted to hear , but it will be ok . Just have to take better care of me for once.

Wish you lots of luck.
Sounds like you need to get yourself back into shape.
I've been lucky, knock on wood.
Good genes are helping.

If you're in bad shape, you won't do the 40 minutes... It starts out as a slow walk on an even plane... as the time goes on, the speed and incline both increase. They watch your heart rate and you stop whenever you hit however many bpm's they predetermined to be your 'max'. I ended up going through the whole program... Towards the end I was running a dead sprint up a hill. It sucked. lol.

It's nothing to worry about. You will have all the right people and equipment there. Just do as they ask and you'll be fine.

WELL , I GUESS I need to ASK so you can POST again , WHAT were your results SIS ? You know me , I am going to ASK ... LOL

Not to much damage, but enough to make them monitor me . And take meds . So far so good

WELL , maybe I can also monitor you ( LMAO ) so you can stay on track sis .

YOU KNOW ME SHA' ......