Chemical stress test...

[Andy_A]

Hi all,

After seeing a cardiologist I was sent this week for a chemical/nuclear stress test, not the most pleasant experience I've ever had due to a few reactions but bearable and over fairly quickly...

I was told its a two part test, with 2 appointments being made, the first was the "stress" part, where an agent (sorry, didn't get the name of it) is put in by IV to dilate your veins as if you were exercising to full capacity, the second part was due to be done next week, which involved just the isotope injection with no stimulation.

A treadmill test is available which avoids this chemical bit, and had I been offered this I would of taken it, but I wasn't (not sure if that was down to an old back injury in my notes or whether its standard procedure).

During the test I had a lot of weird "side effects", most of which are described on the info sheet but stated as being very rare, the technician stated before the test that having side effects didnt mean that anything was wrong, and some people just get them, mine included hot flushing, a burning sensation from my central chest area upto my throat, some trouble breathing and a cold sweat (although as soon as they stopped the IV at the end of the test it all cleared very quickly as they had stated.

Now my question (I knew I'd get there in the end), the test was due to be a 2 part test, but at the first appointment they stated I may not have to attend the second one if they got enough information from the first bit, and yesterday they phoned to say I dont need to attend (which is good in one way as its 50 miles away), but now being the suspicious git that I am I'm worrying due to mainly to the chest pain I had during the test, so has anyone else had this test done, had pain and been told not to come to the second part?

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I already answered this... Where did it go?

[Andy_A]

Thanks for the missing reply Kristina, I know how frustrating it is to type something then lose it, it happens to me on another forum I use, so now I copy everything before I hit the post button, saves retyping if it disappears along the way : )

It appears to me that the pain I'm having is muscular, in particular in the joints of the ribs and inside the left shoulder, I'm not sure on the pain in the arms and other areas that come and go, so I'll just put it down to being one of them things and leave it at that for now, I had formerly been told I had Fybromyalgia (spelling) but Dr D'Cruz at St T's reckons I haven't, so it will go in the box as atypical muscular/cartlidge pain, until it disappears to be replaced with something else just as pleasant no doubt : )

Last night saw another symptom I haven't seen for a long time, I awoke around 4am with a cold sweat, soaked sheets and a raised pulse, half hour later it was gone and replaced with some chest pain that I'll put down to GERD, yet another of my random diagnosis' that I appear to collect as I go through life, which so far include, but aren't limited to (I forget some of them once I've finished chuckling at the randomness of the situation) Fybro, GERD, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (that one may be true), MS (without tests), a brain stem stroke (that one really was random), Diabetes (I've since proven I'm not diabetic), Lyme disease (ok, they were getting desperate at that point), good old fashioned depression, anxiety, along with "sometimes we tell ourselves somethings wrong when it isn't and we actually feel pain, the human bodies a funny thing", and my favorite, although not a diagnosis as such "I have 6000 patients and some of them are actually ill, but I'll work this Saturday morning and do you a referal letter to St T's if thats what you would like...