Stress echo

[Spinqueen59]

Just thought I’d update on the stress echo I had last week. I only managed 5 minutes and had to get it stopped due to extreme chest tightness and breathlessness. The good news the ecg and echo both can back good. The doctor said he thought it was lung related as I have asthma . My doctor doesn’t think that is the case as I have ever had a problem with my asthma and no wheeze or deterioration in the peak flo or spiro test. She’s writing to the cardiologist about the chest tightness I have even at rest.

On reading through some posts on here does anybody think it could be microvascular related ??

[Qualipop]

Do you have any arthritis or problems with your spine? I get shortness of breath and a really tight chest but it's all coming from my spine.Dried out discs press on nerves and make my chest muscles spasm . I feel as if I can't expand my chest properly to take a deep breath. It's very difficult to work out which is heart and which is spine. My GP got it wrong 2 years ago; said spine then I had a heart attack but since then it has definitely been spine causing it. Mine is two specific discs between my shoulder blades. I get husband to massage the muscles and rub in an anti inflammatory ointment which helps but not fully. IT's much worse when I'm upright; easier when bent over.

[Spinqueen59 in reply to Qualipop]

Thank you Qualipop . That an interesting theory and will def keep it mind after I’ve heard back from doctor and cardiologist

[Rostom]

Hi

At my recent Echo stress test, I was recently stopped at less than five minutes and told not to lift anything, cycle or even use the hoover as one of my main arteries, the LAD, had a problem and four of 17 areas of my heart were compromised. Erk!

I then had an expedited angiogram which showed only minor atheroma, followed by a pressure wire test which did send my heart into a bit of a tizz..

I was told that I would be discussed at a JCC meeting (which is, I think Joint Cardiac Committee) whereby many cardiologists sit and review various patients. The conclusion of that was that I am 'challenging' and need a further Holter tape but that probably not too much is wrong.

I write the above to say don't worry too much as these tests sometimes throw up minor abnormalities which are not a huge problem in the great scheme of things.

Oh, I have asthma and a minor arrhythmia and once asked a cardiologist 'is my breathlessness, which sometimes comes from nowhere, my asthma, lack of fitness or my heart' to which the response was 'good question'... but there was no further answer. Take your pick!

[Spinqueen59 in reply to Rostom]

Thanks you. I’ve never had a problem with my asthma in over 20 years since it started after a pulmonary embolism . I had unstable angina a few months ago and had a stent into a severe narrowing in the Lad.

I still haven’t been able to resume my fitness level from before all this

[Rostom in reply to Spinqueen59]

Hi Again

I, too recently had unstable angina (squeezing pain in arm) and was prescribed Isosorbide mononitrate and the pain has completely gone. Good stuff!

My breathlessness is also much improved.

I am sorry that your fitness has not returned but sometimes there are improvements but we just don't see them. Don't be too hard on yourself and give yourself time to slowly get back to how you were.

I hope that you feel better soon.