Stress test

[Whiskeydan]

We'll I spent all day in the hospital undergoing test due to a sudden chest pain I experienced yesterday. Denial made me put it off 'till this morning around 4am when Tabby took me to the er.

After today, I have even less faith in our local hospital.

The intermittant pain remains. Going for a stress test asap.

Anyone else had one lately and maybe tell me what to expect?

[t walgamuth]

I think they basically put you on a tread mill with wires and sensors strapped to your chest and start inclining it while you walk briskly.

It is a little stressful emotionally so don't let them do it until you are serene with it all.

Good luck.

Do you drink a lot of coffee?

Tom W

[Pete Geither]

I think they also inject you with some kind of radioactive isotope,,, honest. I hate IV's, and when i went to take the stress test they had to put an IV in me because of the above. You asked.

[Dee8go]

I had one last year. It's not bad at all. The real stress is thinking that they might find out something that you don't want to hear. Mine turned out okay. I asked for it repeatedly until they finally gave me one. I have a history of heart disease in my family and didn't want to take any chances.

You'll be okay, Whiskey. Try not to worry about it.

[Whiskeydan]

I drink coffee only in the mornings. Maybe three, four cups.

Being a RA sufferer I've had my share of the odd aches and pains. Yesterday aaround noon I had a very sharp pain just below my left nipple. It went away about as fast as its onset. I was at the ranch working on the tractor moving some dirt. I got off to take a break and water some pecan trees.
Just standing there with the hose is when it happened. By the time I made it back to the tractor I had another one so, I came home and took it easy.

This morning it woke me up with an intense pain around 4am. Tabby took me in about 5.

The ER did some blood work, an EKG and attemped to do a CT scan but the scanner was down. They did a chest x-ray (several) after I inhaled a radioactive gas and was injected with a dye. I was told the blood work indicated I had a clot somewhere and they suspected it was in my left lung was the reason for the imaging.

They moved me to a room where I spent several hours not knowing what was going on. The nurse call button was inop and there was just a lack of communication all around. I finally demanded to see the doc (an intern) at 3pm.

Long story but, I am not convinced they ever knew what was going on. Test "seemed" to be normal as they put it however, they scheduled a stress test. I continued to have four or five more pains and each time I was told the monitor looks OK.

They told me if I continue to have these pains return to the ER. Why?

Then sent me home.

I've had two this evening so far. Now a massive headache. I don't think I'll return to that hospital.

We'll see how the stress test goes.

[Skippy]

I did a stress test twelve years ago. It was to evaluate a heart murmur that had just been discovered. They hooked a bunch of electrodes to my chest and had me run on a treadmill for a while. Yours will probably be a little different, since I was 18, in pretty good shape, and having no symptoms at the time.

[Whiskeydan]

I'm still alive and kickin' this morning.

I suspect its a hiatal hernia or some sort of wierd gastro issue up high in my chest cavity. I took two antacid tablets late last night and the pain didin't return until 4am this morning. Although, it doesn't feel like any acid reflux or indigestion I've ever had in the past. It feels more like a 'stich' located just below the left nipple. Comes on fast then gradually goes away for no reason.

[dynalow]

Originally Posted by Whiskeydan

I'm still alive and kickin' this morning.

I suspect its a hiatal hernia or some sort of wierd gastro issue up high in my chest cavity. I took two antacid tablets late last night and the pain didin't return until 4am this morning. Although, it doesn't feel like any acid reflux or indigestion I've ever had in the past. It feels more like a 'stich' located just below the left nipple. Comes on fast then gradually goes away for no reason.

WD,
Get a stress test. Today. I walked around for years in denial. Hiatal hernia. Ulcer. Smoking.Whatever. Fact is it got so bad I couldn't walk out and get the paper in the the morning without angina. Went to see a gastroenterologist first. After 6 weeks of no change on his meds, he suggested I have a stresss test. The day I had the stress test is the day I went in the hospital, only to leave a member of the zipper club. Times 5!

Get'r done. Today. And find a good cardiologist.

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by Whiskeydan

We'll I spent all day in the hospital undergoing test due to a sudden chest pain I experienced yesterday. Denial made me put it off 'till this morning around 4am when Tabby took me to the er.

After today, I have even less faith in our local hospital.

The intermittant pain remains. Going for a stress test asap.

Anyone else had one lately and maybe tell me what to expect?

Sorry to hear that, dan. I don't have any experience with them (chest pains or stress tests) but I have been putting them off as far as a proactive plan goes (my maternal grandparents have had a slew of health problems, especially my grandfather-heart/blood pressure issues). I've always had it in my mind that once I hit 40 (only 2 years away now ) I'd dive into everything. I suppose I really shouldn't put it off.

[dynalow]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

Sorry to hear that, dan. I've always had it in my mind that once I hit 40 (only 2 years away now ) I'd dive into everything. I suppose I really shouldn't put it off.

Swamp. FWIW, I was 45 when this happened. And in hindsight I realize I was in denial at least ten years. As the arteries progressively clogged, the angina got progressively worse, until I was knock knock knock'n on Heaven's door.

Dan, do you have any tingling or numbness in your shoulders or arms ? FWIW, my pain was in the center of my chest. The fires of hell were just below the sternum. Almost the dead center of my chest.

I believe the human capacity for self denial knows no boundaries. You must overcome it.

[Whiskeydan]

Originally Posted by dynalow

WD,
Get a stress test. Today. I walked around for years in denial. Hiatal hernia. Ulcer. Smoking.Whatever. Fact is it got so bad I couldn't walk out and get the paper in the the morning without angina. Went to see a gastroenterologist first. After 6 weeks of no change on his meds, he suggested I have a stresss test. The day I had the stress test is the day I went in the hospital, only to leave a member of the zipper club. Times 5!

Get'r done. Today. And find a good cardiologist.

Now you're scaring me...

[Whiskeydan]

Originally Posted by dynalow

Swamp. FWIW, I was 45 when this happened. And in hindsight I realize I was in denial at least ten years. As the arteries progressively clogged, the angina got progressively worse, until I was knock knock knock'n on Heaven's door.

Dan, do you have any tingling or numbness in your shoulders or arms ? FWIW, my pain was in the center of my chest. The fires of hell were just below the sternum. Almost the dead center of my chest.

I believe the human capacity for self denial knows no boundaries. You must overcome it.

I'm 48, don't smoke and consider myself to be fit. I don't experience any shortness of breath, sweating, tingling or numbness with the onset of thee pain. Just a stabbing pain that last mybe a few seconds and slowly fades.
No idea what brings it on. Standing, sitting, laying or exerting any effort... it doesn't seem to matter.
Blood pressure is always good (125/79 Pulse of 65 at the moment) which all leads me to think (hope) its nothing serious.

Denial??? I'm just hoping it will go away.

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by dynalow

Swamp. FWIW, I was 45 when this happened. And in hindsight I realize I was in denial at least ten years. As the arteries progressively clogged, the angina got progressively worse, until I was knock knock knock'n on Heaven's door.

Dan, do you have any tingling or numbness in your shoulders or arms ? FWIW, my pain was in the center of my chest. The fires of hell were just below the sternum. Almost the dead center of my chest.

I believe the human capacity for self denial knows no boundaries. You must overcome it.

Even though I haven't experienced any signs or symptoms I just arbitrarily picked 40 as the age I'd really start getting anything and everything checked so that I could keep ahead of any potential problems. I suppose there's no real good reason to put it off, it's never too early to get proactive.

[mgburg]

Originally Posted by Whiskeydan

I'm 48, don't smoke and consider myself to be fit. I don't experience any shortness of breath, sweating, tingling or numbness with the onset of thee pain. Just a stabbing pain that last mybe a few seconds and slowly fades. ... No idea what brings it on. Standing, sitting, laying or exerting any effort... it doesn't seem to matter. ... Blood pressure is always good (125/79 Pulse of 65 at the moment) which all leads me to think (hope) its nothing serious. ... Denial??? I'm just hoping it will go away.

Dan:

Seriously, find out where a GOOD HOSPITAL is that handles heart cases...there are BAD HOSPITALS (too few cases to be effective in their treatments, let alone being able to dianose properly...) and there are VERY GOOD HOSPITALS...

We're lucky up here 'cause we're surrounded by Mayo-clinic style hospitals, plus Mayo is only 60 miles to the west of us...my wife, back in '04, was given the option of a helicopter hop over to Rochester if what they we're hoping not to find in her was actually there...luckily, we didn't need "Option 3" - Whewww! But, she had a 95% clogged "left desending artery" on the front of the heart...they inserted a medicated stint and she's been fine since. (She's had other pains, but those have all proven to be non-heart related)

Ask around and ask around fast...otherwise, your family will be hearing about what it was that was causing your discomfort...not you!

[Whiskeydan]

OK. You guys have me convinced (worried) I need to do something soon.

I'm going to call Medical City and see if I can get in to see someone. May end up just driving down to the ER there. I've heard good things about this place.

http://www.medicalcityhospital.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID=763652BB-DB75-43F1-B43E-8B0B89D35BEC