I'm starting you a new thread so you don't get buried. ~MM
My Dr hasn't said anything about an ekg or stress test, he has listened to my chest the three times I 've seen him. When I first found out about this the hep c he also told me I had high iron and could have hemachromotosis, and that I also was a carrier for a gene that predisposed me to copd and emphsema, at that time he also wanted a chest xray and I looked at him like he was crazy, I mean I got told all at once I had hep c, maybe hemachromotosis, and a gene carrier, I said not right now let all this sink in first. I mean thats alot of crap for someone to take in all at once. I didnt want a chest xray to show that I might have something else (yes I was scared) anyway do I need an ekg?
Yep. This is very important as it gives the Drs a baseline (something to compare to) if any complications develop during treatment. It also assures them that you do not have an underlying heart condition that is untreated or that bumps you into a high risk category. Treatment is famous for magnifying underlying/hidden problems.
When I became super anemic during my treatment, I became very short-of-breath and had chest pains any time I walked a short distance. Then my thyroid went crazy and sped my heartbeat up to the point I had to be placed on heart medication until it calmed down. When the Drs compared my current heart tracing to my baseline cardiac workup info, they could tell my chest pain was not from a heart attack and that there weren't any changes. -This doesn't happen with everyone, but it is good to have if complications occur.
By the way, my workup was easy. -No needles and a lot of sticky electrodes and a treadmill test. :) ~MM
oh yeah, tons, it is important and its because of the riba I think, they just put little pads on certain points and count the beats withing a certain amount of time. I had it done before and after taking meds as well for the study I was in.
its a good thing and doesnt hurt a bit you just lay down and relax