45 years old need stress test what is the cost

[nate86]

I went to my family doctor.  He ran an E.K.G.  He told me that It showed that it looked like I have a massive herart attack.  I am only 45.  I feel fine.  He told me that I need to get a Stress test.  What will this cost me?  I have a $7,000 insurance deductable.   Could you please refer me to a great doctor?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

[alleycat2]

My thoughts are stress tests are not worth a whole lot.  A nuclear  is what will tell you what damage there is if any. They could not tell me if I had a n attach until I had the Nuclear.

[kenkeith]

If there has been a heart attack as the doctor states, then an echo would be the appropriate test to determine the degree of heart wall impairment and heart pumping functionality.

The stress test is more appropriate to help determine the underlying cause, location and size of ischemia..  There seems to be a gap and disorder in the information provided going from massive heart attack, EKG and then stress test. The procedure for my heart event was chest X-ray, blood test (looking for biomarkers from heart attack, EKG, echo, then cath angioplasty.

[ChatterAlly]

I would think they would at least do an echo before ordering a stress test.  As for the deductible, my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer late January, had sugery to remove the tumor and is now going through chemo.  Not one agency has asked for a dime, other than the cancer center.  He has a $5,000 deductible.  He has a BCBS of Texas plan.  Not sure if that matters.  But he has been billed for his portion for most of it.  The only out of pocket expense to him right now has been $500 a treatment for the chemo.  Not at all close to the $12,000 a treatment it costs.  It's worth being seen if you have insurance.  They are not going to ask you to pay the deductible before proceeding from what I have seen. Take care and be seen. Ally

[kenkeith]

I agree with what has been said.  The reading from the EKG is an ST elevation (positive for a heart attack or vessel blockage)  and can be normal in young people and some middle age people. If you have no symptoms, the  ST segment elevation on your EKG,  is likely a normal variant.

As flycaster states it is highly probable you would have the symptoms of a massive heart attack...shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, etc. and you wouldn't feel fine.  However, there is a silent heart attack...no symptoms until the heart fails..that was my situation 6 years ago and felt well up to the time of heart failure.  Do you have a family history of heart problems? Does you health history indicate a possible heart condition?  It is quite unusual to be given an EKG without symtoms, history, etc. Is there relevant information left out on your post?

Thanks for sharing and if there are any further questions feel free to ask.  Take care.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

wow, i agree with flycaster, I would go see a cardio dr they can do another ekg and look at it more than a reg dr. and fly is right a lot of ekg are wrong. i went to my reg dr it said my ekg was not normal, went to my cardio dr and he said it was fine. i know of two people who had bad ekg said they h ad a heart attack and went in for a heart cath. nothing was wrong with them. so get a second if you can. the stress will make you have high bp now so do as soon as you can.

[Flycaster305]

I'd first get a second opinion. EKG readings show a lot of false positives.  If I were you, I' ask to be referred to to a Cardiologist with the mission for him to personally interpret that EKG and if necessary, run another EKG and interpret it.  A nuclear stress test costs probably two thousand dollars and if you feel fine, have no breathlessness, no chest pain, I'd get a better opinion first.