Cardiolite stress test....

For the first time, I had the Cardiolite (similiar to thallium) stress test after having some pretty severe chest pain off and on last week.
Normally, I have the standard stress echo and was wondering how many others here are having the thallium test rather then the echo? The cardio I saw during the emergency appointment (one of my Cardio's partners) stated that I can go ahead and cancel my standard echo for next month...but I'm wondering if I should? Info I've read states that both have different qualites and pick up different things...Cardiolite shows ischemia, "dead" areas and blockages, but the echo shows valves, the blood flowing in, around and out of the heart along with the blockages.
What do you guys think I should do??

As far as the Cardiolite stress test, everything came back just beautiful and I actually got my heart rate up to 160 and stayed on the tread mill the whole 12 minutes with ease! Not even out of breath...and not 1 PVC! I normally go into full panic mode and have to get off as soon as I reach my 85% mark at a bpm of 149 for 2 minutes, and I always had PVC's before and during cool down...This time nothing....

For those of you that have wrote me: My Pheochromocytoma scan came back clear but I still have abnormally high catacholamines and metanephrines levels, so were doing the wait and see approach. I was however diagnosed last week with Gitelman syndrome which is a genetic or inherited autosomal-recessive disorder of the Renal tubule that causes the kidneys to pass excess sodium, magnesium, chloride, and potassium into the urine...thus, my constant Hypokalemia and Hypomagnesemia.
I now have to take 40 mg's of Klor-Con (potassium) along with my 450 mg's of liquid Mag. a day for the rest of my life....and that's no easy feat for me..I'm just not good with pills of any sort, especially big "horse" pills!
I have to tell you all though, I am feeling physically great now! My energy level has come up about 70% these past few days and my PVC's, muscle cramps and ileus are almost nile.

I do have some very sad news though,.....My 7 month old nephew passed away on the 8th from SIDS.
I was a walking sobbing zombie for about a week and was so suprised that I made it through the funeral without having to go to the ER. I think now that the chest pain I had last week was a delayed stress response and I'm so thankful that I was able to be strong during the times that my brother and sister in law needed me the most.

Missed you all and hope your all doing well!

[Momto3]

I am SO sorry to hear the news about your nephew.  As a mom and an aunt, I can only begin to imagine how difficult this time must be for your brother, sister-in-law and the entire family.  I hope that in time, the loss is replaced with only wonderful memories and the knowledge that we are all blessed with one of God's precious angels to watch over us.  May time and memories carry all of you through to brighter days.

As for you my friend.....what's this about a trip to the ER with chest pain?  We just can't have that!!  I'm thrilled to hear of your good results and HOORAY for no PVCs!!!  

Is your upcoming test a regular echocardiogram or a stress-echo? What's the reason behind the annual echos?  If it's to assess function and valves, I'd go for it....If it's to test for ischemia, you may be able to skip it since the thalium test turned up such great results....All that said, if you want a "second opinion" so to speak...go for it.

So nice to see you, but wish your visit wasn't with such a heavy heart.

connie