Worried about a stress ecocardiogram

[Allheart64]

Good morning harties, I hope someone can advise me , I'm due to go for a stress ecocardiogram in a couple of weeks and I'm really worried about it , can some one who has had a stress eco please reassure me as to what happens during the test .

[Tos92]

Good morning  Allheart64

I hope you’re well today.

A stress echocardiogram is done in order to see how well the blood flows to your heart under exercise or stress.

A stress echo will either be performed by either running on a treadmill or using a bicycle, or having a stress agent administered in you to mimic the effects of stress on your heart.

Do you know if you’ll be having a stress echo which requires you to exercise naturally or will they be administering a stress agent?

You can expect chest pain, which may radiate to the back and arm, very similar to angina pain. You may also find yourself getting very breathless, sweating and even abdominal pain.

The test usually lasts a couple of minutes, somewhere between 3-4 minutes I think if using the stress agent. There are doctors around you monitoring the whole time so you’re are not alone.

You might benefit from looking at this link.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

I am usually anxious before having any test as well, especially if it is a new test that I haven’t had one before. However, the test will be over with quickly. I suggest you take someone along with you to the appointment, including your GTN spray if you have one just to be safe.

Try to not overthink it. It is an important test and will show if you are having issues with blood supply to heart hopefully.

Let us know how you get on.

All the best.

Tos

[paulmac68 in reply to Tos92]

I was due to have a chemical one, but I after I told them I was back to walking up to an hour a day, they put me on the treadmill. It might be worth asking if you can use the treadmill instead.

[Allheart64 in reply to paulmac68]

Thankyou paulmac28 for your reply, I think I may do that as its really worrying me although i have had some very good advise and reassuring replies from others that have had it done . I'm just so worried about it .

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,You have had some good advice already.

I had my last stress echo last September.

A few points to add.

I was asked to undress from the waist up and put on a hospital gown. This meant taking my bra off, which you may find uncomfortable.

My skin was cleaned with an alcohol swab and the 12 ECG leads applied.

Then an echocardiogram done.

There is a Cardiologist and technician with you at all times.

A Blood pressure cuff is put on your arm and your blood pressure is checked every few minutes.

You start off walking at your normal pace then the speed and incline of the tread mill is slowly increased.

I was asked each time if I was happy for this to be done.

I certainly didn't have to run.

I had another Echocardiogram when I was at the peak of exercise and my heartrate increased as high as I could manage.

The test took about 20 minutes.

I didn't have any chest pain during the exercise part of the test. I did however develop chest pain afterwards which is normal for me as I have vasospastic angina.

I was kept under observation in the department until I felt ready to go home, my ECG checked several times.

The staff were lovely and took great care of me.

Good luck for your upcoming test.

[Allheart64 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thankyou so much for your advise it realy helps and reassures me that there are trained staff there at all times . Think I should put my big girl pants on and get over it 😀

[Allheart64]

Thankyou for your reply it realy has helped me to understand from a patient perspective, I'm haveing the type of stress test that's done with a solution and not on a treadmill (which I think I would handle better ) because I use the treadmill regularly , I think it's the thought of not having control and being able to stop when it gets too much as you can on a on a treadmill, but ur insight has helped thankyou

[Jackabee]

Hi, I made myself sick with worry about the stress ECG and wrote a similar post to you at the time. I was so frightened that I almost didn’t turn up for it. I did though and it was nothing like I imagined, silly me. I would never be nervous of that sort of test again.

[Allheart64 in reply to Jackabee]

Hi jackabee. That's so reassuring that I'm not on my own thankyou for your reply , I'm losing sleep worrying about it and I only got the appointment through on Thursday 🫣

[dunestar]

Mine was a bit different to the above. I was semi reclined and pedalling a bike which was part of the bed, if you know what I mean. The echo was being done as I was pedalling. It was OK, well looked after etc. I was told when I had a nuclear stress test last year that it can make you feel a bit funny if your heart is being stimulated using drugs alone. This is because your heart is going like the clappers but everything else is at rest. But I'm sure you will be looked after.

[Allheart64 in reply to dunestar]

Hi dunestar thankyou for your reply , they may not need to do anything to get the heart racing as its going to be going like the clappers anyway 😄 but on a serious note i realy appreciate all the advise reassurance you and others have given me

[mjadkinson]

Hi I had a stress echo done a few weeks ago and it was nothing to be worried about at all. - Not allowed anything to eat before hand. Pulse taken catheter in the wrist then they took a few readings then had the adenosine injected having been prewarned I would feel really hot for a bit. That worked well as the doctor said my face was the colour of my red trainers. Quickly faded away with the 2nd injection. Then off for 30 minutes to eat sandwiches sausage roll and some crisps - you need to bring these with you.Apparently this improves the images of your heart working. Then just halfway into the scanner while a camera moves around you taking pictures takes about 5 minutes. then into the open tube for about 30 seconds not claustrophobic at all. Then you are all done. Asked to return within two weeks - this time no injection. Eat the food up you have been asked to bring with you wait for 30 minutes then back to the scanner for an exact repeat of the first scan then you are done. Results came through in 3 weeks. Totally painless experience.

[Allheart64]

Hi mjadkinson thankyou for your reply , I was not aware that there were 2 injections and that I would have to return for more scans 2 weeks later so thankyou for making me aware of that , maybe they will explain that when I go for my first appointment, I will be sure to take some food with me awell , it's good to hear from people who have actually been through it and I'm feeling a little more at ease

[dunestar in reply to Allheart64]

Not sure mjadkinson is describing a stress echo. Sounds more like what I had done for a nuclear stress test with CT imagery. The nuclear stress test lasted all day and I had to take food to ensure the nuclear isotope gives clear pictures. A stress echo is a much simpler and shorter procedure. It only lasts the same time as a normal echo.

[Allheart64]

Ah ok I thought maybe it was a different test , thanks for clear that up 🙂

[tannery]

An excellent reply. My experience has been while a bit of a hard workout on a tredmill the staff are continually monitoring you and talking with you about how you are feeling. The stop button is a simple enough from you to end the test.

[Allheart64]

No problem but thankyou anyway Blossomsinspring .

[Terri14]

Hi I had a stress test where you get injected with adrenaline, You have at least three people in the room with you and one is a doctor. I just laid their and let it happen , your heart goes at a faster rate and they want to see if you experience pain or anything else . I didn’t get any and mine was done for leaky heart valve . Just try and chill if possible, all the best

[Yumz199725 in reply to Terri14]

Hi Terri14 I also have a leaky valve mine is severe what made them do this test were you experiencing any symptoms??

[Terri14 in reply to Yumz199725]

I just think they were testing how heart was under stress and how my valve was working , had only just been diagnosed then (2018). So was ok then .

[Purpled]

Hi

I had a Dobutamine stress test. You just lay on a couch and you have a nurse and a cardio Doctor there whilst they take the echo of your heart then they put the Dobutamine drug through a Canuler in your arm whilst doing another echo. You will be asked to tell them when you feel your chest Starts pounding or any pain then they will stop the solution going through and you will be back to normal rhythm in a few minutes. One of the easiest tests I have had done x