Stress test reaction

[interestedinu2]

Everything I read about a nuclear, chemical stress test was to insure me that it was "a piece of cake." I even talked with two friends who had one and they indicated there were no problems. When I had mine, I had to sit for six minutes having, what I thought, might be an actual heart attack. I had extreme pain in my chest and was gasping for air the whole time. I was actually wondering if my heart was being forever damaged by the test! I've never heard of anyone else experiencing this but the nurses said it was not out of the ordinary. By the way, my stress test came out normal, but I'm still having the same pain as before the test. My question is...was my reaction normal?

[achillea]

I had one a few months ago, and although I had been worried, the supervisor talked me through it, and it turned out to be a piece of cake, apart from feeling just a little funny for a few minutes.  The guy explained to me that while my brain thought I was just lying there in a remarkably comfortable contoured chair, my heart was going to believe I was actually climbing a moderate flight of stairs.  That was what it actually felt like:  Not a biggie.

In reading about adverse reactions, as they are called, I see that in very rare cases, the injected material (there are several different ones) can sometimes trigger an irregular heart rhythm or an actual heart attack.  However, doctors ordering this test are supposed to know that it can be risky for people with heart disease that is known to be pretty significant.

[Eddie65]

I had one of these yesterday 3-23-16. If was the worst thing i have ever had .Within 5-15 seconds i was gasping for air and couldent catch my breath ,,They though I was going to pass out.They had to lay me back and lifted my legs up .my pressure went down to 108 o er 49,...It seemed to me like a full panic by the staff for about 5  minutes ,,It was bad ,they invected  me with a counter measure. I started feeling better ,I wonder it they injecter to much into me to fast ..I later read it should injected o er 4-5 mmnites , i hade a reaction in like 15 seconds and all hell  broke out ..I guess I will never knkw if the tryed to do if to fast are not but I thought everyone was in a full stage pnic..It was very  ery bad

[interestedinu2]

For sure, I am a couch potato. I have quite a bit of arthritis so my MD had me do the stress test that is not on the treadmill. My fitness level is probably a "0."  Perhaps that is why I so strongly felt the stress that was produced during the test. The nurse and EKG tech (no doctor present) were watching the monitors at the same time they were watching me hyperventilate and moan with chest pain, but kept saying I would be o.k. I kind of had a gut feeling that my problem before the test was due to being so out of shape, although my two friends who had the test were no athletes and they didn't have any concerns. Who knows, maybe I had more of a reaction from the chemical with which they injected me.

Good luck in your quest to better heart health! All the best to you!

[Flycaster305]

I had a stress test two days ago, and lasted one minute and fifty-five seconds before reaching my maximum heart rate, and at that point I experienced a very strong angina attack, which manifested itself on the ecg as a s/t depression of three millimeters.  The stress test indicates three blockages and Ischemia to part of my heart that has been unaffected, I'm just four months past an angiogram and stents. I go to the hospital Tuesday for another angiogram and either more stents or bypass surgery.   I mention this because it sounds like someone was monitoring you carefully and didn't see your heart reacting negatively to the stress you had put on your heart and probably/possibly  your heart is healthy.  I work out aerobically at least five days a week and my motivation for seeing the doctor was that I saw a very sudden change in how I do while working out.  Please keep in mind that I'm not a health professional, just someone who has been battling CAD for quite awhile and have had a lot of stress tests.  If you aren't aerobically fit, stress tests can be a very daunting experience.  My brother in law is overweight, smokes and finds the beer and potato chip diet attractive, and had a stress test that just about had him crying, but his heart is healthy.  
If you have doubts about the results of the stress test, I'd lobby for an angiogram, it's the best way to really know what is going on with your heart.  It's important that you have peace of mind, I'm sure.  Jon certainly gave some wonderful advice.
Good luck and best wishes.

[erijon]

I think much of how one reacts is due to their level of fitness. I know the first time I took one I was 47 yrs old, out of shape and went 10 minutes and felt a little woozy afterwards, but no pain. The next time I had started working out on a treadmill, how ironic, was doing 45 to 60 minutes a day and had lost 60 pounds so when I took the test I could have gone on much longer but they stopped me after 20 minutes because they needed the room and I felt pretty good afterwards. I think it was only because I was better conditioned. BTW, after my first test came back normal my doctor also prescribed Aciphex, a PPI for Gerd which worked for me, hopefully it will for you as well. What many people don't understand is that esophageal pain affects the same nerve bundle that angina or MI pain affects, thats why nitro will also take away the pain from Gerd or esophageal spasms which is why its difficult to distinguish between the two.

I hope it all works out for you, keep us informed and good luck.

Jon

[interestedinu2]

I had the test because I was experiencing moderate chest pain upon exertion. The pain I had DURING the test was like the pain I was having before the test only magnified about twenty times. Since the test outcome was normal, my doctor prescribed medication for Gerd, which I have been taking for a month. I suppose I will have to go back for further evaluation. I'll just feel a lot better if I know some other people experienced what I did. The nurses kept telling me (as they said "only three min. to go," "only two minutes to go," etc.) that all people reacted differently and some even vomited during the test and I would begin to feel much better at the end of the six minutes (yeah...if I'm still alive, I thought!)  As you say, my reaction wasn't the norm, but I'm just wondering if it was in the norm of things that can happen with a "normal" test. Hmmm, hope that's not too confusing!

[erijon]

I have had 2 nuclear stress tests in the past 3 years and this is not anything I experienced. Why were you having the test, was it for yourchest pains prior to the test?

I know this is not something that I would want to hear, but is it possible you experienced an anxeity attack, this certainly sounds like one. Your experience was not the norm, so you may be looking at further testing if you are still having pain. The accuracy of these tests are about 85% which so you could have a false negative, although that is very rrare with these tests.

Good Luck!

Jon