Echo-Stress test

[Anxious4ever]

I have a stress test in a week or so and wanted to know a few questions if you guys don't mind.

I have read they use the Bruce protocol, is this correct?
Also I'm so confused about the grade% I want to see how I can do this same test at my gym but
I can not find each grade/incline difference.
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/bruce.htm

Is the test pretty tough, how long did you last?

I like to try my own that way I won't be surprised and raise any anxiety when I have this test, this kinda crap
makes me nervous.

[is_something_wrong]

By the way, it was not my intention to offend anyone regarding my "bet" earlier in this post. It was most of all a figure of speech, meaning "I'm very sure...". Just wanted to clear that up, as I know there may be differences in the way we express ourselves in Norway and US/UK :-)

[is_something_wrong]

OK, I understand, but doesn't a normal echo (resting echo) rule out structural heart disease?

[MichelleP_3811]

The stress echo is not used to determine if there is an arrhythmia present unless it does show that it is exercise induced. If they were only looking for arrhythmia they would only do the stress test but generally the stress echo is done to rule out heart disease so the doctor can safely say that any symptoms you are having are benign, regardless if they are able to catch or diagnose what those symptoms are.  When people complain of heart symptoms the rule is to verify that the heart is structurally normal and then from there what actions need or don't need to be taken.  It is generally the way for doctors to know there isn't anything to be concerned about regardless of symptoms.

[is_something_wrong]

Stress echos are very rare in Norway. Instead, ordinary stress EKG testing is performed and you are pushed until complete exhaustion (max heart rate) and if the test is inconclusive, the next step is nuclear stress test and then angiography if CAD is suspected, or Holter/heart monitors and then EP study with arrhythmias.

Honestly I don't understand why the original poster is getting a stress echo instead of a normal stress test, if the point is only to reveal SVT.

I'm willing to bet 100 dollars that the original poster suffers short runs of atrial tachycardia, simpy "some PACs in a row". It doesn't sound like a reentry tachycardia like AVRT or AVNRT, the rate is too slow and the duration is too brief. If that's the case, EP study with artificial pacing to reveal reentry circuits would reveal nothing. But loading up with isoprenaline/adrenaline would possibly reveal something.

[MichelleP_3811]

It could also be a simple run of pacs.  A dozen or so beats of pacs can sometimes be called svt though it is not unheard of that a run of pvcs can be caused by high anxiety but if the results said svt then I would suspect a run of pacs over pvcs.  

[tom_h]

....and by the way Anxious4ever describes his events, it sounds more like NSVT instead of SVT.  Short duration, a dozen beats or so,then drops out to NSR.  Has a professional actually seen a trace of an event, or are they making a diagnosis based on the patient's description?