Stress Test

I am hooked up to a halter again. I am still having palpitations, extra beats, skipped beats, maybe even PVC's. Not sure, hence the monitor. I should be able to take it off on Monday.

Going in for a stress test on Monday. Just to make sure everything is ok. I was supposed to have it before the pm was implanted but it seems the complete heart block they caught while on the monitor put the stress test on the back burner for a while.

Can anyone tell me what to expect. Is there an IV? I think I heard something about dye being injected. How do they do that? Also I am sick, head cold and a cough. Do you think that will impact my pass or fail? Should I consider rescheduling so I can do my best?

Thanks,
Wenditt

9 Comments

Bruce test

by jimmy412 - 2009-11-20 11:11:53

I had a Bruce test last week, it was kinda like a stress test, but no IV, just on a treadmill. In the stress test they inject stuff into you when you are walking fast to check how your heart responds to beating fast. I did not think when I had a stress test it was that bad, just makes you sweat. I also get a holter monitor on Monday for 24 hours. I have been having similar PVC's and having trouble when my heart rate gets around 100. I am hoping they get it straighted out. Good luck! :)

PVC ~ Abbreviations

by Carolyn65 - 2009-11-21 03:11:37

RONALDO: Look on the left side of this PM Club page. Look under "Information" where you will see "abbreviations". Any abbreviations you might need are listed under that. All titles on this PM Club page are very helpful in "learning/teaching yourself a lot more about PM/ICD's. I love it when people post to the "Jokes".

Have a great holiday ~ Carolyn G. in TEXAS ( :

Wait Until You Feel Better

by Bionic Man - 2009-11-21 08:11:51

Hi Wenditt,
I would wait until I felt better before doing the test. I had a chemical stress test last year. They injected me with dye and then took photos after the test. My knee was bothering so instead of doing a regular stress test they did the chemical test. I went down in flames.
They changed my medicine and did some pacer adjustments. I have no doubt I could ace any physical test they through at me now. As much as I hated the chemical test, it helped them to pinpoint my problems.
Bob

PVC's

by ElectricFrank - 2009-11-21 11:11:23

The information under abbreviations is a good place to start.

What they don't mention is the sensations and the cause of them when having a PVC. Since a PVC contraction occurs quite early compared a normal ventricular beat, the ventricles do not have time to fill. The partially filled ventricle results in a weak pulse which we generally don't feel. Since the early PVC has used up the hearts energy the next regular beat doesn't happen and the heart waits for the following interval to contract. This allows a longer than normal (usually 1.5 times) time for the ventricles to fill so the next beat results in a very strong beat which gives that feeling of a "thump" in the chest.

There is a statement in the abbreviations that multiple PVC's that occur in a row have a risk of tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. This is not universally accepted.There is also evidence that using meds to treat PVC's is more risky than leaving them.

A Google search on PVC will turn up a lot of information on them, often conflicting.

frank

Stress Test

by ElectricFrank - 2009-11-21 12:11:56

There are two ways of running a stress test. One is like jimmy412 describes where you are on a treadmill and your heart monitored. Sometimes they inject a dye tracer to allow them to measure blood flow.

The second type is usually referred to as a Chemical Stress Test. Instead of putting you on a treadmill they inject a med which causes your heart to respond as though you were exercising. With this test they usually inject the tracer dye. The chemical test is meant to be used in cases where the patient isn't capable of doing the treadmill. It is also used when a pacemakers rate response would control HR and mess up the data.

With your description of head cold and cough I would certainly wait to have the test. With either type of test you will have times when you need to be able to breath deeply and easily. The cold will certainly make you miserable during the test.

Delaying may have another positive effect. It will give a chance to review the results of the Holter monitor before doing the stress test. Unless it is an urgent situation I always try to sequence tests so I can consider the results. Over the years I have saved myself having to go through several tests this way.

frank

dear frank part 3

by lenora - 2009-11-22 05:11:25

Accidentally held down "add comment" too long. I'm not THAT mad at you!!! Love Lenora

Dear Frank

by lenora - 2009-11-22 05:11:51

I love you but I've got to say this: you have never seen a PVC land on a Twave and set off ventricular tachycardia which untreated can rapidly become ventricular fibrillation and THAT untreated leads to CARDIAC ARREST. You know I've been a cardiac intensive care nurse for 30 years and I have participated in many a code situation that started just that way. Current research shows that frequent multiple PVC's can also be damaging to the heart muscle over time. We still use lidocaine in CVICU to suppress frequent PVC's depending on the patient's underlying condition and evaluation of the rhythm strips. Lenora

Dear Frank

by lenora - 2009-11-22 05:11:51

I love you but I've got to say this: you have never seen a PVC land on a Twave and set off ventricular tachycardia which untreated can rapidly become ventricular fibrillation and THAT untreated leads to CARDIAC ARREST. You know I've been a cardiac intensive care nurse for 30 years and I have participated in many a code situation that started just that way. Current research shows that frequent multiple PVC's can also be damaging to the heart muscle over time. We still use lidocaine in CVICU to suppress frequent PVC's depending on the patient's underlying condition and evaluation of the rhythm strips. Lenora

Lenora

by wenditt - 2009-11-22 06:11:03

I am interested in learning more about these PVC's. I have not been diagnosed with them yet....but "something" is happening. Would my halter pick up the PVC? Would the stress test? Is it something that happens all the time or just once in a while?

How would someone get diagnosed with PVC's?
Thanks,
Wendy

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