I had my stress echocardiogram today

Wishing for the best

by athena123 - 2024-05-29 18:46:25

Gemita, Im glad you had your tests done and i know it must of been uncomfortable but were all here for you through thick and thin. You are a strong willed individual with a heart of gold and i will be thinking of you in my prayers. be well my friend im sure everything will turn out fine.

Sending Good Thoughts

by Andiek11 - 2024-05-29 19:46:16

I had the equivalent of the same stress test about 10 years ago.  I think I now know what a heart attack would feel like - the pressure in my chest was unbelievable!! And it triggered a migraine.   I'm glad to hear that they got some useful information from the test so that the discomfort was worth it. 

I'd urge you (or anyone for that matter) not to jump to too many conclusions until you get the official interpretation.  While additional meds is never a fun experience to look forward to, as long as there are options you're still ahead in the game.   *sending you  gentle hugs of encouragement*

glad to hear this is now behind you

by new to pace.... - 2024-05-29 20:26:35

Glad they heard me say no to bike.  At our age it is better for the knees, Sorry for the pain in your ribs  to get the pictures.  Now if any of us are going to have this test .  We will know what to expect.

get some rest .

new to pace

Glad it’s over🌺🌸

by Lavender - 2024-05-29 21:33:12

Hugs. You had a stressful day-no pun intended. Once when I had an echocardiogram, the tech actually rubbed the skin off a rib in a small tear. Ugh. I know that they strive for good pictures though. 
We want to know what's going on so we can deal with it and make things better. I'm sure once you get the report to MyChart, you'll delve into the wording and come up with a ready list of questions for your cardiac team at the June 12 visit. 
I always am glad to let those who are learning watch and participate with tests. We need more professionals!

Hope that you're not too sore and sleep well. What an experience for you today‼️

Prayers!!!

by USMC-Pacer - 2024-05-29 22:53:16

Hoping like you said it's not as bad as you think. Hoping they don't keep you waiting too long and that they now have the information to help you. 

Best wishes

by Repero - 2024-05-30 05:20:47

Wishing you all the best Gemita.

Another day, another test

by piglet22 - 2024-05-30 05:27:28

Gemita 

Good to get these things out of the way. 

As I said recently, the care we actually get is far better than I remember my parents having. My father had heart problems during his working life and later, but I'm not aware of much more than "family doctor" care.

An ordinary echocardiogram can be hard on the ribs, but throw in the medication induced stress and I can imagine it was pretty uncomfortable.

I think I would have gone for the bike option, but that might have meant coming off the Bisoprolol for the duration.

I too would be reluctant to take yet more medication and all too often it's a quick fix.

Hope all goes well.

Glad It's Over

by SeenBetterDays - 2024-05-30 08:04:36

Hi Gemita

That sounds like a bit of an ordeal, I'm so glad you have got through it and also obtained some useful visual images which can be used to better inform your future treatment.  I was looking at Micro Vascular disease on the BHF website when I was trying to determine the source of my chest pain and, from the case study, it sounded as though medication could really help.  I understand your reluctance to increase or add to medications but if it can help you to feel better and function day to day with less pain it might be worth considering.  Anyway, I guess that is jumping the gun on my part as you will need time to fully analyse the results and do your research.  Knowledge is power and I really hope that armed with this information you will be able to get some positive outcomes.  I know that whatever the results you will face the situation with courage and resilience - you are an absolute angel in giving the time and energy you do to all of us here in this Club and I so hope that you start to feel better soon and finally get some clarity on your health issues. Hugs and love winging its way to you lovely Gemita x 

Thank you to each one of you!

by Gemita - 2024-05-30 08:53:46

Oh what lovely comments from caring members who have been through so much themselves.  Thank you all.  It is easy to have a heart of gold when I am surrounded by such warmth and encouragement.

I think I will be okay.  My main concern is that I feel my symptoms are not only due to heart issues but also to gastric ones and I hope I can have the opportunity of getting this point across when I speak to my EP on the 12th June, so that treatments can be tailored to suit both conditions.  I am known to have oesophageal spasms and intermittent swallowing problems.  Some of the meds proposed - antiplatelets/statins - may well cause worsening gastric symptoms, particularly as I am already taking an anticoagulant for Atrial Fibrillation, but we will work something out.  We always do, don't we? 

I slept so well last night.  After being off Bisoprolol, I resumed it before going to bed.  Worked a treat.

Best wishes

by Flo - 2024-05-30 09:52:11

I am glad you posted Gemita.  Warm wishes to you.

Gastric Issues

by benedeni - 2024-05-30 10:10:46

Hello Gemita,

I am happy your ordeal yesterday is over and you can now relax a bit while considering what you will discuss with your EP on June 12th.

My mind has a very hard time wrapping itself around all the coronary issues as they seem so very complex.  I'm getting better though.  The one thing I understand far more are gastric problems.  Like you, I am plagued with having esophageal spasms.  They SO very much mimic some heart conditions,  I am hard pressed to know whether to stay calm and drink my GI Cocktail or hightail it to the ER.  Fortunately in the past 30 or so years these dreaded esophageal episodes have not proven to be coronary.  I fully understand your dilemma.  Medicines that worsen these gastric issues are a real concern and I hope you get answers that satisfy both your coronary as well as gastric problems on the 12th.

Stay strong my friend,

Stress Echo

by Xtrabeat - 2024-05-30 14:48:12

Hi Gemita 

Glad your test went OK and that you are alright. From what you say it sounds like it will need some interpretation by an expert cardiologist. I am not sure whether dobutamine stimulation is as useful (from the physiolgical standpoint) as an exercise test so a bit difficult to say the significance of the chest pain. When I had my stress echo some years ago I was told that my LV apex exhibited some ballooning (significance unknown) and then went on to have a functional  MRI which was OK - so no conclusion drawn but small vessel disease was considered . I think the MRI Iexcluded it - but like all tests has its limitations. I have since learned that some apparent abnormalities of LV function are not uncommon with stress echo and particulalry if drug stimulated. In your situation would a perfusion scan help? or before that at least some way to visualise the coronary circulation if this has not already been done  - it would determine whether your symptoms are ischaemic which would open an entirely new avenue of enquiry. The gastro element just addds to the confusion. Good luck.

I hope the stress echo will be definitive

by Gemita - 2024-05-30 18:16:36

Flo, Benedeni, Xtrabeat, thank you all for your kind wishes.  I have to say I have never been challenged quite as much as I was yesterday.  They were quite brutal in trying to find the cause for my symptoms and they certainly didn’t hold back.  I am fairly confident that it was a useful study.  

I will wait patiently until I can read for myself what was actually seen and then question my EP at length.  If I am not confident about the diagnosis, I will ask whether I could have further tests, perhaps a cardiac magnetic resonance or PET scan to look for coronary microvascular disease.  I would prefer not to have another invasive coronary angiogram which I had in 2017 which showed normal coronary arteries.  

I don’t want to start meds to try to assess any benefits from treatment before getting a proper diagnosis.  I think this is what they tend to do today with our age group rather than perform invasive procedures.  They tried to do this with my husband suggesting that he might like to start conservative treatments to see if it helped with his symptoms.  We refused asking for the gold standard assessment (angiogram) of his arteries.  They discovered he had an almost total blockage of his LAD artery.  He subsequently required 3 stents, two in the LAD artery, one in the RCA.

Stress Echo

by AgentX86 - 2024-05-30 23:49:28

It seems that they suspect something, if they're pushing drugs already.  Even still, it's odd.  Your appointment with your EP is only a couple of weeks away. Let us know how it's going.  We learn from all guinea pigs here.

When I had my PET scan, I was wondering how they could possibly do a treadmill/bike stress test. I asked my cardiologist, too, and didn't get a real answer, other than "chemical". OK, I guess I asked a stupid question.

You seemed to have had quite an audience.  Other than my first stress test, I don't remember anyone but the technician in the room. That one led to my CABG, so I think they were a little more concerned than normal. 

Yeah, the echos aren't a lot of fun.  I have an echo (non-stress) at least once a year and a doppler echogram my carotids once a year.  Poking the ribs isn't a lot of fun. Neither is the neck. The goop is cold, too.

Stress test

by islandgirl - 2024-05-30 23:55:26

I am looking forward to hearing about your testing and hope your results are helpful.

Hope it's an easy fix. 

AgentX86 and Islandgirl

by Gemita - 2024-05-31 11:40:11

AgentX86, yes, I don’t think they would be pushing for me to take additional meds without a reason, but I don’t want to go rushing in without some answers and a full discussion with my EP or GP first.  Nothing yet has come through but I appreciate they have to do some detailed calculations.  

I probably could have asked a few questions during my test but I was so uncomfortable by their seemingly aggressive methods to get a result.  They seemed surprised that I was hurting so much.  I see the probe has to go in between the ribs to get good views.  I think they used some pressure to obtain the images.  

Islandgirl, I see you are having a number of tests too for chest pain and that you have raised troponin levels with your heart failure.  Apart from your heart failure, many acute illnesses can cause a rise in troponin levels.  I can get raised levels after a long AF episode, particularly if the heart rate is high.  I hope we both get satisfactory answers and some respite from our chest discomforts soon.  Take care

Stress test

by Aberdeen - 2024-06-01 16:08:40

I am sorry to hear that it was uncomfortable for you. I hope your results on June 12th are positive!

Love and best wishes!