Terrified of nuclear stress test

[greeneyescountrygirl]

I am 62 and have a history of one heart attack. 8 years ago I had a stress test with chemicals and ran into problems on treadmill. That day I was stented but doctor assured me it was not the chemical that caused the problem and was not a heart attack. I now have a pacemaker. They want me to do another nuclear stress test and after all I have read about the dangers of the nuclear stress test ie. heart attacks I am absolutely frozen with fear to do another one. I am not by nature a fearful person but the fear I felt when I had my heart attack never left me. Then the fear I felt when I was on the treadmill that day when I ran into problems only made my fear worse. Now I am terrified. My gut is telling me no stress test. I may add I failed my echo stress test last year but again I think I failed because I was afraid to keep going. I would go to see a counselor for fear of a major panic attack during test..but that does not reassure me I won't run into big problems again. Help :)

[greeneyescountrygirl]

Thank you for your reply. I have been trying to forward my comment as suggested but cannot seem to do it. I will re post in the section you advised.

[MichelleP_3811]

I can understand your concern.  Can you ask them why they need it?  What would it prove to them that they need to see?  Obviously if you failed the echo there are issues?  Can something more simple like an mri give them the information that they need.  I know stress tests test how your heart functions under stress but if your heart is already not functioning well based on the echo how helpful is the stress test.  Just press them on the issue and your concerns.  You might want to also post this in the heart disease section where people may have more experience and advice to offer.