Treadmill stress test

My husband has appt tomorrow morning for a stress test.  He got his PM in February and does ok in normal circumstances, but is still out of breath when he climbs stairs or goes up any kind of elevation.  Last week the cardiologist suggested the stress test which we both were excited about.  It would seem that they would see just what is going on in real time.  Well, to make a long story short, he fell last Monday at work.  Did come home with a swollen lip and two bruised knees, but that was all. However, we both have noticed that he has not had shortness of breath since the fall.  I know this sounds crazy, but is there any way the fall could have changed the situation.  I am hoping that after six months maybe he isn't thinking about the pacemaker as much and life is becoming more normal.  This has only been going on for one week, but I sure don't want anyone to change any settings if we are finally making progress.  Sorry for being so long winded, but any comments will be appreciated.

2 Comments

stress test

by Tracey_E - 2019-08-20 09:17:34

Our brain can mess with us, anxiety is powerful. Maybe that's the cause, maybe not. I would still do the stress test so they can see what happens when he exerts. Settings changes during a stress test are idea conditions, not a guess, so they can only help. 

Do the Stress Test!

by CatDad - 2019-08-20 10:04:48

Plumbing ain't electrical. His heart may be merrily beating with Swiss precision but it still needs blood to pump and arterial blockage from built-up plaque can deny it sufficient blood. That can cause the shortness of breath feeling right quick.

I had 70% blockage of the "widow maker", the left anterior descending artery in the heart, and resultant bypass surgery 12 years before any electrical problem (bradycardia) was ever detected.

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Member Quotes

Sometimes a device must be tuned a few times before it is right. My cardiologist said it is like fine tuning a car.