I had a stress test yesterday.

[milestogo]

It was a medical stress test, the kind where they hook up leads to you and make you walk faster and faster on a treadmill. I couldn't achieve the maximum heart rate they set for me.

So the requirements for the test are- stop taking your beta blocker (that I take for migraine), no food for 4 hours, no water for 2 hours. And then you are supposed to do vigorous exercise. When they told me that I had to stop the beta blocker, i said you're setting me up for a migraine headache. Four migraine triggers.

Sure enough, four minutes into the test I had a throbbing headache and demanded to stop. My vision was disturbed and I felt nauseous. It also made me angry that I predicted this and nobody was willing to adjust the test.

Fortunately the data they got was sufficient to evaluate my heart. It was a 45 minute drive home and when I signed into MyChart the result was already there. Everything was normal.

Still dealing with the migraine today, but I'm so happy the test is over and everything is ok.

[Hope22]

1. That is so frustrating.

I’m glad they got a good look though! I can’t imagine getting the results so quickly. Great news. I hope you can get your headache under control soon.

[milestogo]

2. Its wild, isn't it?

The nurse told me that a cardiologist was always in the next room in case something happened. So I guess he read the results immediately. Of course they cant tell you anything about your results during the test.

I like seeing my own results on MyChart - when its good news.

But if it were bad news I'd rather hear it verbally from my doctor. I can't imagine getting a really tough diagnosis by reading something on the internet.

[multigraincracker]

3. I'm having a Chemical Stress test in a week or two.

Never had one of those before, but with my pacemaker I can't do the other.

Anyone else had one of those and let me know how they are.

[MiHale]

8. Not too bad...

I was scheduled for a treadmill stress test a follow-up on the heart bypass surgery. I was usually barefoot or in Crocs at that time, so I went out bought a pair of cross trainers, jogged up hills did whatever I thought in my feeble brain would be good to pass that test.

When I arrived I was told it was going to be a chemical stress test because of the aortic aneurysm
residing in my chest. It wouldn’t be prudent to have me bouncing on a treadmill possibly rupturing the beast.

I sat for the whole thing…something was injected and as warned a very warm “glow” enveloped my body. The feeling was not uncomfortable just warm it dissipated in about 15 minutes or less if memory serves. When I described it to my wife she told me “Now you know what a hot flash feels like”.

I passed…the aneurysm got fixed…now I have another one coming soon…treadmill or chemical…don’t know.

Good luck MGC.

[panader0]

15. I had a chemical stress test three weeks ago. I hadn't taken that particular chemical

in thirty years. It turned out OK except my face hurt from grinning for hours....

[multigraincracker]

19. Thanks for the info.

[multigraincracker]

20. Thanks for the info.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

26. I had a Chem test in 2015. Nausea, shakes, misery. Given a choice, I'd take the treadmill

But I understand you don't have a choice with the pacemaker.

The good part: the ill feeling doesn't last very long.

[2naSalit]

4. Why didn't they treat your migraine?

[milestogo]

6. I had my own medication to abort the migraine with me.

I always carry it, but I was pretty sure this was going to happen.

This was at a clinic in an office building and I really doubt they would have had the needed medication.

Modern medicine is so compartmentalized. You have to go to a different doctor/clinic for every organ system.

[Evolve Dammit]

14. Hope you're ok. And you're right about the medical field. They rarely communicate. Take care

[werdna]

5. Can you take a chemical stress test?

https://www.hendrickhealth.org/services/radiology-diagnostic-imaging/chemical-stress-test/

[milestogo]

7. I probably could.

Since they got the results I don't need to. If its ever recommended again I will ask to alter the protocol or have a chemical test. I went into this without knowing very far ahead of time what the requirements would be.

The waiting time for a lot of clinics is really substantial. It takes weeks or months to get tests done. I think some of that is because people delayed care during COVID. I waited 6 weeks for this one.

[Grasswire2]

9. that's what I was going to ask, too.

But he might have needed to stop the beta blocker for that as well.

[milestogo]

22. Well, the fewer migraine triggers, the better.

Vigorous exercise always gives me a pounding headache/migraine.

[Grasswire2]

24. sure, understood

Vigorous exercise for me puts my heart into an undesirable rhythm.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

12. I've had a chemical stress test.

It felt weird, but it was a piece of cake.

[Grasswire2]

10. I LOVE mychart.

Often, results are in my chart by the time I get home from the test or appointment.

Love it.

And I can communicate with my doctors via the messaging there. Ask questions, get advice, yada yada.

Love it.

[Gore1FL]

11. I'm glad your test had good results.

I get stents on Tuesday.

[Evolve Dammit]

16. Best wishes for that. Hope it goes smooth and you come out feeling better.

[calimary]

13. I hope you can take it easy all day!

Get feeling better, and sooner.

[milestogo]

17. Thanks, I am.

[rso]

18. Stress Test

The old stress test has been replaced by many cardiologists by a test called the Calcium Score. It’s a simple X-Ray of the heart, focusing specifically on the 4 coronary arteries and measuring the amount of calcium deposits, which is indicative of the presence of plaque in the arteries.

[ga_girl]

21. Had my treadmill stress test last week

My cardiologist did an ECG the week before, and said it was clean. However, since it was 5 years from my nuclear stress test and I do have a high calcium score, he wanted the treadmill test. Made it to 5 minutes on the treadmill and the nurse said I could stop at any time. Doc was happy with the stress test.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. I Had One Of Those

I was around 50 and had chest pains. Enzyme test was negative, and I went 13 minutes on the stress test. I only had to stop because I had a sore foot (stubbed my toe a few days earlier) and the speed got too high to keep up. I ran out of arm!
Cardiologist said it wasn't a heart attack half way through.
Turns out it was esophogitis. A few days on Maalox and never happened again.

[Skittles]

25. when I had one

after a few minutes on the treadmill I asked them what I was doing, they said they needed my heart rate to increase - I laughed and said, at THIS speed? I walk an average of 15,000 steps a day, I swim across lakes for fun....they put the speed up much higher for me

[milestogo]

27. I bet you passed with honors.

[Skittles]

28. I have a loose heart valve

but it causes minimal problems