stress test

[denno1957]

hi there been told need to go to hospital for a isotope treadmill stress test ,, can anyone shed light on what is involved ,, length of test ,, pain//discomfort,,, thanx in advance

[DaveTR]

Hi there, I had a stress test to determine what happened with my arrhythmia with exercise. I was fitted with ECG leads and then asked to get on the treadmill. I was on it for no more than 6 minutes and the test was done at walking pace (no running). The incline got gradually steeper and therefore harder. No pain involved. The staff talked me through the whole test and were reassuring throughout.

[Bassman65]

This sounds like the myocardial perfusion scan that I had in December, but I could be wrong....

They inject you with the isotope and then you eat and drink something to stop it getting to your liver. After approx one hour you have a scan whilst connected to ecg.

You then do the stress bit: connected to a full ecg they start you walking on a tread mill on an incline for 3 minutes before increasing the pace and incline (I think they need you to do at least six minutes but no more than 12) they will inject you again with another isotope 1 minute before the end of your last 3 minute block. Once again you go off for something to eat and drink. They then do another scan.

The whole thing for me took between 3.5 and 4 hours, it wasn’t painful, but the treadmill wore me out in six minutes, you might be able to do 9 or even 12

Hope this is useful, you can get info on the procedure here :

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[denno1957 in reply to Bassman65]

thanx for the reply very helpful,, that doesnt sound like fun,,, had plenty tests at rest after heart attack / 2stents fitted / then 2 cardiac arrests all on the same night last May,, still get bouts of pain accompanied with breathlessness so dont know if i,ll be up to the test

[Bassman65 in reply to denno1957]

To be honest I didn’t think I’d be able to do the stress test but I managed the required 6 minutes

[sd1953]

I am wondering if this is the same as an Exercise Tolerance test. I had two stents fitted in March 2018 after a mild heart attack. I was off sick from work for 4 months. Because my job is classed as Safety Critical, I am a Signaller on Network Rail, they had me do this test before I could return. It was on a treadmill, 3 minutes as though on flat surface, 3 minutes as if more a slope, and a final 3 minutes more steeply. Nothing to worry about really, if this is the same test you are doing. Stew Devine

[denno1957 in reply to sd1953]

thanx for the reply,, i had heart attack last May 2 stents fitted and then 2 cardiac arrests ,, still get bouts of pain and had plenty tests at rest ,, if i,m in middle of pain attack when the test date comes then i dont think i,ll be up for completing it as get breathless pretty quick