stress echo

[Jako999]

Well that wasn’t what I expected, I had a stress echo yesterday and I thought it would be on a bike or a treadmill. No and I’m sure many have had one here but I had to lye on my left side then they speed your heart up with drugs, upping the dose each time so up goes your heart rate.

I started off ok but when I got to around 130 beats my neck and jaw started with mild discomfort and I could feel my whole body pumping, it even felt like my eyes were popping in and out, then one last dose, one last push. Then bang it all went a bit pear shaped, my heart rate was at 155 and I had angina attack it felt like my whole body was going to explode and I got the feeling of doom. They soon sorted everything out but I spent yesterday feeling rough and today hasn’t been great.

You just think after the quad GABG all would be sorted but obviously not so on to the next test.

I don’t want anyone to get worried over going for this test it could just be me?

I have to say all the tests and anxiety are still worth it , I know just how close to death I was and that I really shouldn’t have made it but I did and things have got better but not back as they were, just being alive makes everything worth while.

Thanks

[pasigal]

I had a stress echo test like that. It was... Not Fun. But I'm amazed at what modern medicine can do.

[deniseinmilden]

That doesn't sound much fun. Glad you're OK and will get better from it!

[meadfoot]

I had the same thing a few years ago. Of the many many tests I have had over the years that was by far the worst, never again thank you very much.

When I got back to the ward, eventually, my other ward mates asked how it had gone and admitted they had been the same but didnt want to scare me in advance. Had to be done though.

[Tos92]

Hi Jako999 ,

Sorry to hear your echo stress was a bit challenging.

I have had a stress echo before and due another one soon. I too expected it would be on a treadmill however, I was wrong. I was also induced with a drug to mimic the effects of stress on my heart. The first time they used dobutamine, which I had a really bad reaction to. Pulse rate shot up very quickly with subsequent chest pain. It was then cancelled and stopped and I was rescheduled but with a different drug the second time and I got on much better.

I was exhausted the same day after having the test which I believe is completely normal. Just a shame that it can trigger angina in some people.

Definitely not always a nice experience however, like you said, these tests are still worth it!

Good luck with the results

[whisperit]

Similar here, Jako. I felt like I'd been hit by a truck after mine. But maybe not everyone has that experience. Alongide me was a bloke who looked pretty rough to start with and I thought, "He's going to struggle here". Twenty minutes later, he got up from the couch saying, "Right! I'm starving. Where's the canteen?"

Now I've got a stress cardiac MRI on Tuesday and dreading it. But maybe I should focus my thoughts on the canteen afterwards...

x

[Jako999 in reply to whisperit]

Good luck with it, they said my next step will probably be a stress CT?

[Yumz199725]

That definitely sounds stressful well done for making it through! 😔😮