I survived my stress test

Well my stress test came back normal.  It was pretty easy until I got to the last level, luckily I hit my target rate pretty fast.  They did say that my ekgs are always slightly abnormal, something about my S T wave is lower than normal.  But they told me sometimes that happens in women and not to worry, so I am not!  Blood pressure has dropped because I lost 10 lbs.  Quit taking atenolol 2 days ago and have not had one PVC.  Whats up with that?  Anyone else ever have more PVCs while on beta blockers?  Anyway thanks for listening to my rant and I am glad I found you guys.  It makes life easier when I am having a bad day!

[KLB32]

That's good news.  I have only taken beta blockers during pregnancy and don't recall getting any PVC's at that time.  I have heard they can make PVC's worse in some people.

[smc246]

Glad to hear it!!  I have to go for one tomorrow.  It is a cardiolite stress test--the thing that has me freaked out is the stuff that they are going to inject so that they can take the xrays of my heart!!!  

[Momto3]

GREAT news!  I knew you could do it.....Now, kick back a little and rest from the hard day's work : )

[scouser costa rica]

Good news.
         You can check your performance level at www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/bruce.htm
                                           Regards Ian

[va_tony]

Juniorfan32

That's fantastic that you passed the stress test and your heart appears healthy!!  Congratulations. I'm sure its a tremendous relief to you to get that behind you.

All

I had a nuclear stress test last Monday and ran into a couple of problems.  First, my achilles tendon started acting up over the weekend but I decided to go ahead with the treadmill part of the test anyway. The heel pain forced me to quit after 7 minutes even though I think I had the aerobic capicity to go at least 10 (I usually go the full 12).  Fortunately,since I was in afib,  I was at a heart rate high enough for the nuke test. The second problem was the nuke results came back "abnormal" (some blockage in the right coronary atery). The cardiologist thinks it's a false positive but to be sure I have a noninvasive 3D CAT scan (multislice CT angiogram) scheduled for this comingTuesday.  Suddenly, my chronic afib seems not so important -- CAD is a bigger concern.

My cardiologist wants to establish that I have no blockage before he'll increase my rythmol dose and cardiovert my afib. Rythmol (and flecanide) has a tendency towards proarrhtymia for those with coronary artery blockage. So for those with CAD, sotolol is indicated for afib according to my cardiologist. So at this point the cardioversion is put on hold while we resolve the possible CAD issue.

Best wishes

Tony

[juniorfan32]

Good luck with your tests.  How frustrating to have a fib and possibly a clogged artery.  Anyway good luck and let us know how you do

[va_tony]

Thanks juniorfan 32 and Connie for the support!!

Knowledge is power and so I'd rather know if I have CAD.  Then I can take the precautions necessary to minimize it's progression (statins, weight loss, better diet, etc.).  And if the 3D heart CT scan comes back negative, well that's even better. Right now, I'm not too concened. I really don't have any of the usual symptoms of CAD.  I'm in pretty good physical shape so it's hard for me to believe the nuke test is not a false positive at this point.

If it does come back negative, then I'll probably be griping over the $900 this test is costing (my insurance won 't pay. They only pay for a cath angiogram). If it's positive, then its $900 well spent (in any event, it's worth paying that to avoid a cath angiogram IMO).

Tony

[Momto3]

Good luck with your upcoming tests!  Hoping this is just a minor setback.

[scouser costa rica]

Tony
      Good luck.You were right that the Rythmol dose was too low.Now up to 2 by 225gm. So far so good.
                                Regards Ian

[tanns]

When I had my CT-A done they told me my insurance wouldn't cover it.  I called my insurance with the necessary codes, they said they wouldn't cover it.  I called my doctor's office back and they told me that they could only recall 2 CT-A's that had been covered by insurance but they were willing to try and fight for it anyway.  That was in the morning, by afternoon they had gotten insurance approval.  Even they were shocked.  

Maybe your doctor's office to try to fight it for you.  

Good luck, the worse part for me was the hives it (the contrast) gave me four days later!!  A small price to pay for piece of mind.

[va_tony]

Thanks for the advice! Good suggestion.

I am trying that -- I just assumed it wouldn't work in the end. My cardiologist has promised to call the insurance doctor today and argue for covering this. This test actually would save the company a bundle over say the usual cath angiogram, which requires a hospitilization.

Best wishes

Tony

[tanns]

I will keep my fingers crossed for you!!

I know, it makes no sense that they'd rather pay for an invasive procedure than something that could possibly save them thousands.  My doctor said that because the test is relatively new most insurance's don't have confidence in their results yet or in the experience of the doctors reading them.  My doctor said it is just wise to choose WHERE it is done and not go just to somewhere that has it if they don't have the doctors that read quite a bit of them.

Again, good luck and I wish you the best.

[tanns]

I forgot to say that my cash price for the CT-A, had my insurance NOT covered was $1,050.  But, since my insurance DID pay, they were billed over $4,000 for the procedure!!!!  I was responsible for about $440 of that!!    If they would have billed my insurance the $1,050, I would have owed a little over $100.  CRAZY!!!

[anacyde]

Just wanted to say I'm glad to hear the good news!

[va_tony]

I've rescheduled my test to Thursday on my cardios advice.  More time was needed for the insurance company to review my case. They have heard my cardio's argument, asked for my records and will hold a formal review during the next 48 hrs.  So there is a chance that the cost of the multislice CT-Angiogram will be covered!

[va_tony]

I've rescheduled my test to Thursday on my cardios advice.  More time was needed for the insurance company to review my case. They have heard my cardio's argument, asked for my records and will hold a formal review during the next 48 hrs.  So there is a chance that the cost of the multislice CT-Angiogram will be covered!

[tanns]

My fingers are still crossed!!  Good luck!!!