Nuclear Stress tests

[Hank1039]

I am a 29yr old male, Since 2005 I Have had symptoms when preforming cardio related activities, I have never had angina, but would sometimes feel dizzy, and sometimes feel sick to my stomach. I had a nuclear stress test in 2005, and the doctor only did a stress portion. He then told me that everything was fine. Earlier this year I had a syncopal episode after working out and then when I woke up my hear was racing. In 2005 the doctors put me on a Toporl 100mg and last year they had to increase this to 200mg. After the syncopal episode I was reffered to several doctors including a cardiologist different from the 2005 doc. I then learned that all nuclear stress tests are done with a resting and a stress portion. Low and behold I have some Ischemia in the bottom of my heart and the new Doctor has ordered a Cardiac Cath. I am overweight, but have not had hyperlipidemia untill the last two years. What are the chances that this current stress test is a false positive. And what shoud I think abou the first Doctor?

[Kyleman]

Hank, I had a Nuclear stress test done this year. I was told I had a mild/equivical result at the "Apex" of my heart which is at the bottom of the heart. I was refured to a Cardiologist who said this was indicitive of a false positive. He did a Stress Echo and said I had regular movement in that part of my heart. He did not want to do a Cath. Was your ischemia in that part as well? Did yours say Equivical or mild, or did it show more severe?

[Tarheelguy1967]

Don't know about the chances of the test being a false positive.  The nuke stress test has been a blessing for me and has been a very accurate test in finding my problems/ischemia.  If you are concerned about a false positive, you should discuss this with your doctor.  You are really young for this, but it can happen so don't discount anything because of age alone.  Don't know what to tell you about the first doctor - not sure what test exactly he was giving you.  With the nuke stress test, I've always had a stress followed by a resting portion (sometimes a resting portion, followed by a stress, followed by a resting portion).  Good luck with your problems, and if you have the cath let us know how it turns out!