Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Test Results
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Re: Test Results
by CCF CARDIO MD APS, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on October 19, 1998 at 22:31:03:
In Reply to: Test Results posted by Kay on October 15, 1998 at 19:54:43:
Hi, I had a stress test done two years ago, I moved soon after that and never got the results. Recently I requested my medical records and took them with me to my Dr. He looked at them and told me I have a heart blockage. The test results said " Abnormal study suggesting apical and distal septal ischemia ". My Dr. said in two or three months he will send me to have another test and we'll go from there. ( I also have COPD, I'm having a hard time right now and he wants to wait until I'm a bit more stable ). I wouldn't be concerned except he gave me nitrosat. I always thought the chest pains were from fighting so hard for a breath. I'm almost 40 years old, my dad died of a sudden heart attack at age 60, his father died after his 5th heart attack. What exactly do my test results mean, should I be worried? Is there any chance that my next test will be ok, or is this something that doesn't go away? We are going to lose our insurance in a few months, if I need to do something about this then I need to do it now. Thank you.
Kay
____
Dear Kay,
The 'abnormality' on the test that you had some years ago could be real and it
could be a 'false positive' and honestly there is no better way to find out then
to do a stress test again (possibly one that minimizes the false positive rate which
tends to be higher in certain women.) It is not clear to me why your physician is
waiting to do the test because if you can not handle the treadmill version b/c of
your COPD, a stress echocardiogram is an option. If not for that then at least ask
him to do it sooner rather than later b/c of the insurance issue. And get a second
opinion if necessary, not b/c you disagree with his/her decision, not b/c I am wondering
why he/she is waiting to repeat the stress test, BUT only b/c a second opnion is always
in the patients best interest. This would of course involve another complete history and
physical by a whole other physician, maybe even a cardiologist. Until the answers are sought
Yes I do believe there should be some concern on your part,if only to ask your current
physician what his plan is in waiting and how this might adversely affect you (since you are
about to lose your insurance.) Your family history alone make it concerning that you could have
as yet undiagnosed coronary artery disease which of course is not treated if it is as yet undiagnosed.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general medical informational purposes
only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnosis and therapies.
Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire
online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your problem.
In Reply to: Test Results posted by Kay on October 15, 1998 at 19:54:43:
Hi, I had a stress test done two years ago, I moved soon after that and never got the results. Recently I requested my medical records and took them with me to my Dr. He looked at them and told me I have a heart blockage. The test results said " Abnormal study suggesting apical and distal septal ischemia ". My Dr. said in two or three months he will send me to have another test and we'll go from there. ( I also have COPD, I'm having a hard time right now and he wants to wait until I'm a bit more stable ). I wouldn't be concerned except he gave me nitrosat. I always thought the chest pains were from fighting so hard for a breath. I'm almost 40 years old, my dad died of a sudden heart attack at age 60, his father died after his 5th heart attack. What exactly do my test results mean, should I be worried? Is there any chance that my next test will be ok, or is this something that doesn't go away? We are going to lose our insurance in a few months, if I need to do something about this then I need to do it now. Thank you.
Kay
____
Dear Kay,
The 'abnormality' on the test that you had some years ago could be real and it
could be a 'false positive' and honestly there is no better way to find out then
to do a stress test again (possibly one that minimizes the false positive rate which
tends to be higher in certain women.) It is not clear to me why your physician is
waiting to do the test because if you can not handle the treadmill version b/c of
your COPD, a stress echocardiogram is an option. If not for that then at least ask
him to do it sooner rather than later b/c of the insurance issue. And get a second
opinion if necessary, not b/c you disagree with his/her decision, not b/c I am wondering
why he/she is waiting to repeat the stress test, BUT only b/c a second opnion is always
in the patients best interest. This would of course involve another complete history and
physical by a whole other physician, maybe even a cardiologist. Until the answers are sought
Yes I do believe there should be some concern on your part,if only to ask your current
physician what his plan is in waiting and how this might adversely affect you (since you are
about to lose your insurance.) Your family history alone make it concerning that you could have
as yet undiagnosed coronary artery disease which of course is not treated if it is as yet undiagnosed.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general medical informational purposes
only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnosis and therapies.
Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire
online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your problem.
