Nervous about an upcoming stress test

[mmedina2395]

Hi everyone! I suffer from occasional PVCS, PACS, and have had tests done already on my heart within the last year. I have had multiple ECGS, a 48hour holter monitor, resting echocardiogram, chest x-rays, and blood tests. Everything came out good and my doctor told me that I am overweight and out of shape and should start walking more to build up my endurance. I have a very good blood pressure when I am resting: 108/68 and a BPM of 65, oxygen saturation is usually between 98-100%. However I feel constantly short of breath, I know that this is mostly caused by my terrible anxiety since it will go away when i calm down and dont think about it. I recently had an appointment with my cardiologist and she wants me to come in for a 7 day event monitor as well as a stress ECG to rule out anything else since I have shortness of breath on exertion and this can induce some PVCS. She wants to rule out POTS as well since I have veinous insufficiency that I just found out about. I am NERVOUS. I get so out of breath just thinking about being out of breath (thanks anxiety). I am anxious to exercise and run on the treadmill since I have not done any form of vigorous exercise in months due to my constant anxiety. I am nervous of getting symptoms while there (even though of course thats the whole point) and I am scared that the test will trigger me to go into a panic attack. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as this test is very new to me. Thank you!

[Hidden]

Good morning, Try not to worry you sound like you are in good hands and being throughly checked out. Do you take any meds for your anxiety, personally I find that my anxiety can cause more issues than my actual condition .

Wishing you well

Elaine ❤️

[mmedina2395 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for the advice. I just keep reminding myself that I will be in the best possible place if anything were to happen. Unfortunately I’m not taking anything for the anxiety right now. I don’t have the best relationship with my PCP and I am currently waiting to begin therapy with a new therapist.

[Ianc2]

I would be very reluctant to take any test that requires me to sign a disclaimer to absolve them from any blame or future legal action, especially if you are overweight and short of breath.

You might find a an appointment with a registered nutritionist more useful so that you can drive your weight down. 2lbs/kilogram you are overweight is like carrying round a bag of sugar. 1 stone overweight = 7 bags of sugar, 2 stone =14 bags, etc.

Have a look on the LCHF site which is part of Health Unlocked, it may help to think about possible courses of action.

[dunestar]

Have you been told you will be running on a treadmill? I was lying down pedalling a bike which may or may not be better. I was very unfit but managed it OK. The worst part was the automatic blood pressure machine. Just when I least expected it the cuff would tighten to what felt like bursting point.

[Qualipop]

The treadmill starts off slow just like an exercise machine and slowly builds up with monitors tracking everything. It can be stopped at any point. They don't push you to the point of exhaustion. Mine was stopped half way because I was in serious pain from my spine. I was having erratic beats but it showed nothing. Luckily they left the electrodes attached when I sat down and suddenly had a bad bout which it picked up. Explain how you feel beforehand. They will understand. By the way it showed that mine were completely harmless and caused by anxiety.