Arrythmia and stress test

Posted by Denise on April 19, 1999 at 22:09:50]P{After having chest pains for several months, I was given ]br{nitroglycerin to ease pain. Generally it appeared to work ]br{until last week. The pain is sharp, probably a 6 on a ]br{1-10 scale. My left arm felt very heavy and achey (achy). My ]br{doctor had previously done an EKG which was normal. This ]br{day she felt after listening to my symptoms and heart, ]br{that I should have a stress test right away. I am a 42 ]br{year old woman. My blood pressure was 130/110. ]br{Immediately prior to starting the test, my blood pressure ]br{was 156/98 and my resting heart rate was 114-120. The ]br{cardiologist said the test was normal. My qestions are ]br{the following.1) Why did the word }arrythmia} keep ]br{showing up on the monitor? The test lasted 4 minutes and ]br{the repeats of very different beats and the word ]br{}arrythmia} happened every few seconds. 2). Is arrythmia ]br{normal during these tests? 3). How come the test caused ]br{me to have a violent headache, dizziness and chest pain? ]br{Other people I know never felt this at all? 4). Why ]br{would the nitro work? (I generally hate taking meds but ]br{found these helpul- I stopped taking even with continued ]br{pain). 5). Finally, I had an uncle die from an arrythmia ]br{induced stroke (per my mother) and my mother almost died ]br{when she went into cardiac arrest from arrythmia. My ]br{mother has had difficulty managing her arrythmia and has ]br{been hospitalized numerous times due to this condition. ]br{How would a person know when to pursue a normal stress ]br{test further or when to let it go?]P{]P{]HR WIDTH=}75%} SIZE=}4} COLOR=}#000090}{Posted by ]a href=}mailto:beverly.***@****}{beverly rounds]/a{ on April 20, 1999 at 14:15:58]P{I've been on several different meds for a-fib, but I an still having bouts of it. ]br{]P{]P{]HR WIDTH=}75%} SIZE=}4} COLOR=}#000090}{Posted by ]a href=}mailto:beverly.***@****}{beverly]/a{ on April 20, 1999 at 14:19:50]P{I'm coPosted by Denise on April 20, 1999 at 19:56:42

Thank you for your prompt response to my post (someone else is also posting). Since the test was normal I see no reason to return to the doctor and miss more work- I had just hoped my curiousity would be satisfied. Oh well. Anyway, thanks again.
Denise
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on April 21, 1999 at 10:25:59

You could probably just call your doctor and discuss the results on the phone.
CRC