Dan, you are probably right. Why not establish a base line to be sure? Occasionally, a few times a year, I will get a very brief, a second or two, shooting pain in the area of my left breast. I don't bother doing anything about it. But then, I see my cardio and my arrythmia guy to check my AICD (pace/defib) 2x each year and have that stress test every other year.
I know the ground I'm standing on.

In reading their milestones and innovations, it looks to me like a very good cardio department.

Some thoughts for you in question form:
Do you have a family/primary care doctor? Have you spoken to him since yesterday? Can he recommend a good board certified cardiologist (FACC?)?
Do you need pre- approval for stress tests from your health insurance company?

They instructed you to return to the ER if you have any more pains. You have, yet you haven't. Why? Just the bad vibes from the local ER? Not a good reason.
I do wish you the very best outcome from this.

Whiskey- Best to get this checked out a.s.a.p. I had periodic chest pains (no don't even go there) and had a stress test done a few years back to establish a base line. Turned out to be exercised induced asthma. The stress test takes about 25-30 minutes and be prepared to run your a&% off on a treadmill at different speeds and inclines. Every 5-10 minutes they will take heart rates and pulses to determine where you are on the scale and see if anything abnormal comes up. Wear comfortable cloths and good tenny runners (sneakers). Let us know how it goes and your smart for not letting this go undetected.

__________________
"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

My boss had one done some months back and it was, well - stressfull but ultimately not to bad. And frankly if he could handle it anybody should be able to.

I've had a heart murmur since I was in high school and have been living with chest pains intermittantly since I was about 20. Don't see what a stress test would do for that sort of pain.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Whiskey,

Good for you for taking the big step of getting yourself checked out. I never did, and my first inclination I had problems was a trip to the ER, and helicopter ride to Washington Hospital Center's cath lab. ***NOT*** an experience I would care to relive.

My first stress test came about a month post implants of 2 stents in my right coronary artery. I went through a pretty long rehab program, and made major dietary & lifestyle changes. Today, I feel stronger & more physically capable than I have been in many years. I wish I had taken the initiative to get checked out before I suffered a heart attack. Good one you for doing so

You've had a warning... Better heed it! Get more tests!

Tim Russert just died from a heart attack!

SYMPTOMS >

• Crushing, squeezing, or burning pain, pressure, or fullness in the center of the chest. The pain may radiate to the neck, one or both arms, the shoulders, or the jaw. The chest discomfort lasts more than a few minutes. It can diminish in intensity and return.
• Shortness of breath, dizziness
• Nausea, heartburn, or upset stomach
• Sweating or feeling "the chills"
• A weak, fast pulse
• An irregular heartbeat
• Cold, clammy skin, or a gray color to the face
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Fatigue

I did a cardiac stress test a couple years ago. No IV, just electrocardiogram wiring and treadmill workout, which left some interesting bald spots on the chest temporarily.

The outcome of the different levels of speed and incline didn't produce any unsual findings, but the rate of recovery was slow enough to have the doc suggest increasing my exposure to exercise on a regular basis.

Dan, Google CSANT. As cardiologists go, those guys are head and shoulders above the rest of 'em. In particular, I recommend Dr.s Finegold and Thelman at their Grapevine location.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

I called the North Texas Heart Center to schedule the stress test. I got the "there's no one available to take your call at this time" message so I left my number and a detailed reason why I was calling.
No returned call so, after two hours I called another cardiac doc. They put me on hold for 15 minutes then said they would have to call me back to schedule an appointment. Nothing was ever heard from Dr Richard W. Snyder's offfice. Great, off to a good start...

I was able to get an appointment with my family care physician tomorrow at 10:30 to she if can get me in somewhere for a proper diagnosis.

Crazy.

Thanks! I see they serve patients in a few hospitals nearby.

I would like to welcome you to the club! Not to worry but get the stress test done asap.

I woke-up to stabbing pains in my chest about 2 weeks ago. I had terrible neck pain that ran into my jaw. So, I am thinking this is the 'big one'. I get to the hospital and they hook me up and the heart is just fine. Cardiac enzymes, ekg are all good but they will not even let me think about leaving the er until I have a stress test. My throat is burning so they give me a GI cocktail and all the pain just goes away. The stress test was a breeze, bunch of wires and a trip on the treadmill. All is ok with the heart.

I get an endoscopy and find out that I have a hiatus hernia and esophagitis. I have been taking very good care of myself lately and I had just stopped drinking wine and coffee. Stress could have set it off. I could have had the hiatus hernia all my life but the combination of the two can lead to symptoms much like a heart attack.

Raise the head of your bed four to eight inches, do not eat 2 hours before bed, liquid antacids work best. Get to the doctor for the stress test. Get to the doctor for the endoscopy. Find out what you are dealing with.

I was very uncomfortable for about 2 weeks but things seem to be getting much better. I am back to running, weights, and my nordic-trac machine.

Good luck!

__________________
79 240D (no name yet) 203K Miles Maple Yellow
98 2500 4x4 HD Dodge 24 Valve Cummins TD
83 Chevy Van (Dead-Trans. shot)

While I had my Dad in for a mild stroke a few years ago the doc (a good friend) suggested I get a stress test. I told him that I felt great and had no problems. He stated that was a good time to get one so if and when something did go wrong in the future they would have a good, healthy baseline.
I wound up getting a stress test and a complete physical (including the infamous Butterfinger procedure-and I'm not talking about the candy bar...) and things are fine.
Your situation is slightly different, but in mine, since I had been having no symptoms, the entire thing was out-of-pocket expense. You might check that out.
Congratulations on moving forward.

__________________
1983 M-B 240D-Gone too.
1976 M-B 300D-Departed.

"Good" is the worst enemy of "Great".

Has anyone ever been here?

http://www.daviddrew.com/


They advertise extensively on the radio in the DC area. The advertising and the web site information give you the impression that what they do is a lot more than you'll get under the common routine physical.

But you do have to make a substantial investment in your health. Looks like something just under $5000.

I'd rather drive a 25-year-old car and have this test done than drive something new with payments and never get tested.

I will be interested to find out what you come up with WD, I get the same thing a few times a year. I always rationalize it as something other than the heart. A very sharp pain that sometimes coincides with a deep inhale. Will "ping" sharply a few times and then go away.

Keep us posted.

Ken300D

__________________
--------------------------
1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

Another ekg and more blood work done yesterday by my family doc. Today they are going to have a look with an ultrasound and make sure I'm good to go ahead with the stress test.
We also discussed the possibility of this being whats called "Pericarditis"
since I have RA. It can occur due to rheumatoid arthritis attacking the pericardium (tissue sac around the heart).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_pericarditis

In the meantime, I'm starting a prescription of 20mg of Omeprazole for stomach acid to rule out any gastro problem.

We'll be thinking about you, Dan. I hope everything turns out all right.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles