Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram

[Enwau]

I was offered a Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram today and told to stop my beta blocker (Bisoprolol) 48 hours beforehand. It’s on February 14th at 3.30. I take Bisoprolol at 8am and I rang to ask whether I should it on Sunday as I take it in the morning. They seemed to be unsure but decided I should take it, so that means I will be taking it on Sunday morning and having my test at 3.30 on Tuesday. I am very happy about that but now worried that I may influenced them unduly as they seemed to be hesitant. I wonder if anybody has been in a similar position.

[Tos92]

Hi Enwau

I’m not sure if this will be of any help to you however, I was told to fast before my appointment and I do not remember taking my medication before the test either. I believe I completely stopped eating and drinking before my appointment and had my last meal and medication the night before the scan. I think I too was concerned that it would influence the test so I stopped the medication. I cannot quite remember if they had asked me not to take it though.

Could you call the hospital and ask them to clarify again?

Hope it goes well! Good luck

[Enwau in reply to Tos92]

Thank you very much for replying. I will ring them again on Monday.

[whisperit]

Hello Enwau

I can only share my experience, which is that I have a stress MRI scheduled for Tuesday and also take bisoprolol (and candesartan and dapagliflozin). The standard instruction leaflet I've been given says to take all meds as normal - including on the morning of the test. So I suspect it's down to the protocol that particular department operates. I wouldn't worry. Unless there's a very pressing reason to think they are wrong, if they say its OK to take on Sunday, it's OK. x

[Enwau in reply to whisperit]

Yes you’re quite right I’ll go along with that. Thank you for your help. Quite worried about the whole thing. I gather there have been cases of heart attacks as a result of the procedure - but very rare. Also strokes - even rarer.

[whisperit in reply to Enwau]

Not going to lie, Im dreading it for similar reasons! But these things are always about a balance of risk - it would be risky NOT to have the investigation too, because we might miss some important problem or solution. It's a worrying business alltogether isnt it? But the medics are doing their best for us.

[Enwaua in reply to whisperit]

You’re quite right and I’m comforting myself with the thought that if I’m to have a heart attack I’m at least in a very good place to have it.

[Enwau in reply to whisperit]

Thank you for replying. I am sitting in the hospital waiting for my stress test.

[whisperit in reply to Enwau]

Hope it's going/gone well. Mine was very uncomfortable for about 5 minutes, but that passed off. So a lot better than I had feared. Now the wait for the result! x

[Jako999]

How did you get on? Had one last week, not the nicest test I thought I was going to explode and at the end it brought on angina. Hope yours went better then mine.

[Enwau in reply to Jako999]

Dear Jako, I’m glad you’ve had it and it’s over and done with. I didn’t do as well. I’m afraid heart rate went up to 117 before they could even start, and as the aim was to reach 120, that only left them three beats for observation. So, back to the drawing board I’m afraid. I stopped the Bisoprolol for 48hrs as requested but that was obviously too much. Next time I have been told not to stop and take half the dose on the day itself.I’ll have to wait another month now. I really want to know before I book my holiday in Cyprus.

[Jako999 in reply to Enwau]

sorry to hear that, I’m sure they will get it all sorted.

I’m going to post later about what’s happening with me