Stress echo

[sprocket00]

Hi, I had a stress echo last week and was wondering how useful it is in diagnosing problems. I was on the bicycle to have my echo but after about 10 minutes it was stopped because my blood pressure went too high. Can anyone share their experiences please especially if you have experienced the same. Obviously I'm very anxious about this but will have to wait for results so any information would be welcomed. Thankyou.

[Dralex]

I'm having a stress echo this Thursday, so I will let you know my experiences later. I have been told the "stress" will be induced by medication, not on a bike or treadmill........

[sprocket00 in reply to Dralex]

Hi Dralex,Thankyou for replying, I look forward to hearing from you, I hope all goes well with yours on Thursday.

[Pussacat]

I have a stress echo booked for 28th and have been told the stress will be drug induced not physically. I am not looking forward to this as I know they are hoping to push my heart rate up to near what it was during my HA and that hurt.

[sprocket00 in reply to Pussacat]

Hi pussacat,I hope all goes well for you on the 28 th, and I hope it dosent cause you any problems. Thankyou for replying let me know how it goes and of course good luck.

[Dralex]

I had my stress echo carried out yesterday. I have to say it was not a stressful experience at all, and the whole procedure was carried out in about 90 minutes. Two doctors and a sonographer were present; one employed injecting dye/contrast and the dobutamine accelerant via a cannula, one supervising the whole process, and the sonographer operating the wand. I was fully wired up to the machine, and first of all they recorded some images and data at my resting heart rate. They gradually injected dobutamine in stages, recording the situation at each level, up to my target heart rate of 123. The doctor continually checked with me for any discomfort or pain, and eventually took my heart rate up to "near 130". I could feel my heart thumping away, but thankfully there was no pain.

Part way through the process one of the doctors said to me "you have a visitor", and when I looked round I saw my cardio consultant had walked in and was checking the screens, so I got an unscheduled meeting with him too! He said when all the results had been analysed he would call me back in and go through them with me. He did add that everything appeared to be satisfactory..........

[sprocket00 in reply to Dralex]

Hi Dralex, That sounds positive I'm glad it went well for you and was not stressful. Fingers crossed results are good.