Stress Test

[Tgodwin]

So I went to my new cardiologist today and he was pretty upset that my old one didn't order any tests for my pvc's other then a holter. So he is giving me a echo and a stress test next week, well i'm pretty scared to do the stress test I havn't ran since my pvcs because i'm so scared i'm just gonna fall over. How long do they make you run for? and how fast do they make you run? And is there going to be a dr/nurse there to do CPR if anything bad happens? Lol some dumb questions but my anxiety is at its all time high right now, just thinking they are going to find something bad in these tests.

[AaronBa]

I echo everything that everyone has said about your stress test.  Don't worry about it.  They won't let you go too far and think of it this way, even if something were to go wrong, you're in the just the right place.  Not only will they be there to help you, but they will actually catch some very valuable information on their equipment that they can really use to help you with in the future.  That may not sound very encouraging, but it is meant to be.  Unfortunately freaking out it is kind of natural, but not the good natural.  Choose the light over the dark.  You have a lot to be encouraged by.  Everything will be all right.

[heartstrings_41]

I am a little confused as to why you think you will be getting bad news. You are 17 years old and have been told that you are having PVC's, no other sustained arrhythmia. These ectopics are experienced by just about everybody. I doubt very much that the chest pain you are experiencing is related to anything else other than anxiety, admitted by your original post. Anxiety alone can bring on just about any symptom.

As for the stress test, I would imagine the Dr has ordered this for no other reason than to give you peace of mind that there is absolutely nothing wrong with your heart. If he were really convinced I think he would have done a nuclear stress test.

I think the best thing you can do is to relax, and read some posts on this forum of others who have real heart disease and arrhythmias. You are way to young to plague yourself with cardiac neurosis.

[Tgodwin]

Hey, I will let you know, i'm kind of depressed right now because of the new symptoms i've had over the last week...occasional chest pain and i've had really bad achey arms the past week and im just expecting the worst at the doctors visit....this whole week i've been preparing myself to hear what what I think he's gonna say...I just don't know how i'm going to handle the bad news. But I will keep you updated.

[rbeans]

Please let us know how the stress test goes. Do not worry its a peice of cake! Good luck!

[Tgodwin]

Yes its a big cardiology building with only cardiologists there.

[rbeans]

They only let you walk/run as fast as you tell them you can. If it gets to hard for you they will stop. Yes, the results should be given to you right there by your Doc.
Are you having it done in the Doc office?

[julesluvsdrew]

Hey there,I think you will do just fine!I had my one and only stress test when I was around 22 I think??I had to end up doing it right after I got off a 8 hour shift on GRAVE YARD...so you can only imagine!Well its not bad at all,I promise you..you may not have an IV either...I didnt ! They just hook you up to the machines so they can monitor you while running..it honestly doesnt go too fast...I wasnt active when I did it and I was still able to do the max 12 mins..if you have any prob they will stop the test right away so that you wont have to worry about at all!Just think how relieved you will feel once its over with and you will have some peice of mind!Keep us posted how it goes!Take care:)

[Tgodwin]

hey thanks for the reply, If they see anything abnormal after the test will they tell me right then? and also how fast do they make you run?

[rr2465]

Yes, there will be plenty of people there to make sure you're OK.   I'm not a needle guy and I actually passed out and hit my head on the wall when they were putting the IV in - prior to the stress test.  I freaked the nurses out.  I insisted on getting the stress test done after that and the cardiologist agreed that it would be a good "worst case" scenario.  So I still got up and ran on the treadmill for them.  I want to say that I ran for 15 minutes.  But they're monitoring you BP/HR etc so don't worry.  They're not going to kill you!  You'll be fine!  

[rbeans]

Yes a Nurse should def. be in the room the Dr. should be close by. Don't worry I had my stress echo with my pvcs and after having VT. You will be fine. They will stop the test if they see anything. Your heart will be monitored the whole time.

They had me on the tread mill for about 10min total. The tech and nurse will be with you.