Stress Echo

[Eileen2345]

The cardiologist wants me to have a stress echo done. I have one scheduled for March 3, 2005.

Both my husband and my mom do not want me to do this, they say it is too stressful on a heart like mine.

I would like to ask, has anyone here had one done and how was it?
And do they use contrast dye?

Thank you for any replies and information.


Eileen

[shirleymahoney]

Eileen i had one done in October you only go as long as you can and when you need to stop they will stop you, my heart rate jumped within 2 minutes to 140 something and they stopped me and they had like 4 nurses in there


Shirley

[Reenie]

It won't be that hard on your heart because the docs won't let it be. If it will help them learn how to care for you, do it.

Reenie

[Cynaburst]

I had one done a couple of years ago. There was nothing to it. Mine was on a supine bicycle. For an echo, as far as I know, the only contrast is with the doppler that they use while doing the echo the regular way with the transducer. They had me pedal for five or 6 minutes as hard as I could, and then they told me to stop. It was supervised by several technicians and the doctor, so if anything bad had happened, he was right there.

They only push you as far as they can. They will make sure that you aren't asked to do more if it is dangerous.

[shirleymahoney]

Eileen

They did use the dye on me because she couldget a good picture of my heart walls she asked if she could do it with the dye and i said do whatever you have to do because i was only doing the treadmill once and she that's a deal

Shirley

[Reenie]

The contrast is often a radioactive agent and it shows several things, including how much oxygen the heart muscle is getting.

Reenie

[Jall]

A stress echo can be done with or without contrast. Bascially you are hooked up to an ekg and walk on a treadmill. Every three minutes the treadmill speeds up a little and raises its incline (it can also be done on a stationary bike). The goal is to get you to a predetermined heart rate, around 70% of maximum. A doctor and tech are watching the EKG at all times and stop the test if they see something they don't like. I am told the treadmill maxes out on pace and incline at 21 minutes. If you have'nt reached the desired heart rate by then, congradulation, you beat the machine! I am also told, however, that no one has ever beaten the machine. I usually go about 15 minutes. The only difficult thing about the test is that as the incline increases, its harder to hold onto the front rail and you feel like you might fall backward. In relation to all the different things that cardiologist can do to you, however, its a piece of cake.

[Lisa Inman]

stress echo

Eileen,

I had a treadmill stress echo done in December, my first. No dyes or such. There were several people there including one of my doctors. The report says I went 7 1/2 minutes and got my heart up to 153 beats a minute. They gradually speeded it up, and told me to tell them when to stop it. Maybe that was the hardest part, having to decide when I thought it was too much (since I wanted the maximum information from this if I was going to be doing it...) But as soon as I said that's it, they stopped immediately. Presumably they would have stopped immediately if they observed anything not good. Immediately they lie you down to get an echo as soon as possible while the heart rate is up. I had no idea I could get my heart rate that high without it really flipping out, so in a way that was reassuring to learn. (It was pounding though! and skipping some.)

Take care,
Lisa I.

[Abbygirl2]

I know I have brought this up before but I still can't figure it out. How does this differ from a chemical stress echo? I have never had a stress echo(treadmill) and have to wonder if I am missing something really important. Even when I saw the specialist, they still used the old Amyl Nitrate which I was previously told was obsolete. Apparently not.

I have however had a stress test(EKG), it wasn't near as bad as I expected. If you really want an interesting story ask Burt about his stress test!!

Pam

[Lisa Salberg]

I would not worry about the stress echo - if you feel troubled by the treadmill ask them to use a modified Bruce Protocol and keep the treadmill flat.
Are you taking the verapimil??

Lisa

[Labbey]

stress echo

Hi Eileen,

I also had a stress echo. I thought it was really hard, just my opinion. Just because it is so hard to keep going. But they are right there to help you. I think they were gaging my facial expressions! At first I was trying to be my funny self, and that lasted for about 20 seconds! haaha

The person, tech, whatever, was right there and kept asking me how I was feeling. Man, it is amazing, I only went for 5 minutes and my heart was beating so bad. I thought I was going down. The nurse and the doctor carried me to the bed.

I am sorry, I should be more positive. Just sharing my experience. I say, if your doctor wants it done, it could help you. There is a reason it is being recommended, right?

It is not that bad, it is just scary to think you have to exert yourself, harder than what we would allow in everyday life. BUt you can say STOP whenever you want.

It's really not that bad, just a little difficult. It will pass and the test will be over!

Good luck
Lisa a.