topic Cardiolite Stress test question in Wellness

Cardiolite Stress test question

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 16:46:41 GMT

My DH has this stress test scheduled for next month....the treadmill test has him a tad stressed.....he has AFIB and with medication he is still having issues.

We walk all the time, uphill, downhill, etc...I do not understand his concern about the treadmill. I 'think' he thinks they will have him practically running uphill the entire test!

I am not always sympathic to his concerns and he thinks is going to tell the doctor that he won't do the treadmill part of the test, but opt for Lexiscan administered thru the IV for the stress portion of the procedure.

Can anyone that is familiar with the test or has had this test explain to me how the treadmill portion works?

Yes, he has a doctor, yes, he will discuss this with him, but first hand experience/advise is also important. thank you

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Mz iMac — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:17:46 GMT

The test is timed per age group.....

The dr will start you off slow on the tredmill & gradually increase its speed. The tredmill test is timed. The goal is to see if you can "run" at a top speed for a certain length of time for your age group.

The last stress test I took, I was 65. I am in the 40-45 age group. I am pretty healthy & thin. That being said, my legs hurt after completing the run-leg cramps. I was surprised cause I am a swimmer.

Told my dr, not to order any further stress tests cause I will NOT be going.

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

mac116 — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:22:42 GMT

I had the treadmill stress test because of afib at age 65. The treadmill started out slowly, then increased speed on a slow and steady basis. When I felt that I could not continue, the treadmill was stopped. I was more fearful of the IV medication that can be given in place of the treadmill.

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

I am still oxox — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:35:26 GMT

I have had both and when they administer the heart medication you feel as if your heart is going to jump thru your chest, I had a nurse talk me thru the whole thing and it only lasted maybe 30 seconds

The test with the IV medication there is no walking the tread mill

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:46:30 GMT

@I am still oxox Thank you...I will tell him about your experience with the injection.

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:47:54 GMT

@mac116 I don't understand his fear about the treadmill....I am sure they do not force the patient to run...which at 79 years old he does not run!

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:49:30 GMT

@Mz iMac , If you care to answer...why would you not have another stress test....were the test findings not a benefit to you?

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Pook — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 18:02:09 GMT

I have had several over the years and had no issues. The test was actually less strenuous than my daily workouts! You are monitored the whole time as it becomes faster or harder in case of negative issues. Several I know with AFIB have breezed through it. I would think that the nontredmill test would cause more concern for someone with AFIB.

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

corita — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 18:29:22 GMT

@I am still oxox wrote:
I have had both and when they administer the heart medication you feel as if your heart is going to jump thru your chest, I had a nurse talk me thru the whole thing and it only lasted maybe 30 seconds
The test with the IV medication there is no walking the tread mill
----------------
Due to bad knees, I have had the injection stress test twice. The first time I did think that my heart would jump out of me and it was somewhat painful and I hated it! But the second time was not as bad....maybe because I knew what the test was going to feel like...

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Mz iMac — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 18:44:57 GMT

@Mom2Dogs I've had a total of 4, 2 IV & 2 tredmill stress tests twice a year & the results were always the same, normal for age group 40-45. I always completed the tests w/no issues until the last one.

I started the tests at age 55 & stopped at age 65. I am currently 69 yrs young.

The tests were "required" because I was taking 2 different "triptans" for my migraines.

After the leg cramps from the tredmill, I was DONE! My neurologist took me off of one my 2 "triptan" pills & put me on 1 "nasal spray" triptan which required no stress test.

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 19:12:51 GMT

@Mz iMac , thank you, I appreciate the response.

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Still Raining — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 19:25:49 GMT

Based on my experience with the chemical, I would say it is not walk in the park.

In the weeks between two very different cancer surgeries, the cardiologist want a chemical to make sure I was up to it since I was already medicated and on blood thinners.

It was fine for a couple of minutes until it triggered the seizures left over from my stroke. I had to have two doses of the antidote and it was not fun.

Treadmill sounds better to me.

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

hckynut — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 22:56:52 GMT

@Mom2Dogs

I have had many types of treadmill stress tests, including the Cardiolite. Had the Lexiscan twice during my weakest times. I find it hard to believe, from my many Stress Treadmill Tests, that anyone, regardless of their physical condition, needs to run to reach the Cardiolite Heart Rate based on one's age.

Every treadmill used for my many stress tests had an incline of a minimum of 25%. If there is someone in my age group that had performed either The Balke or the Bruce Protocols, and got to 25%, I have never heard of the

Most hills many think are steep? Probably are about 8%, compare that mentally, with a treadmill at 25%. And running during one of those Protocols from Zero % up to 25%, starting with treadmill BELT SPEED of 2-3mph, and increased by 1mph every 3 minutes, along with the incline? I would have to see it to believe it.

That would be a Maximal Stress Test where the patient decides when they can no longer continue. Yes, I have ran on many Stress Tests, but they were all Maximal, along with being based on different Protocols. The Bruce and The Balke, and modified versions of both, were some of the Protocols I have experienced, going back to 1983.

Why your husband had a fear of this test, based on the walking you both do? Has he ever used a Heart Rate Monitor, not FitBit, but 1 that has the Heart Rate Pickup Strap on his chest?

Ones placed anywhere else on the body are not accurate enough to suit me. They put Electrodes on your chest in the hospital, for a reason, because they are accurate. I have worn a heart rate monitor since the 1980's, for training. I still wear one in every workout, and did today during my 2 hour ice skating session.

If I plan on doing anything that is going to raise my Beats Per Minute? I wear my Polar Heart Rate Monitor, period.

Closing this post. Tell your husband that there is usually a Cardiologist present watching his heart activity during these tests. If not, there are Medical Staff, that will stop the test if they see anything irregular happening with any of the critical readings, Blood Pressure or his heart. They DO NOT use a Pulmonary Cart for Cardiolite Tests.

Any questions for me? I will certainly try to answer them.

hckynut(john)

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 23:26:10 GMT

@hckynut , thank you for the response... I think he thinks he is expected to run on the treadmill, I told him I had no idea what they would expect him to do but I did not think running would be part of the test.

He has never used a heart monitor.....I shared with him the responses to my question, and I think it has calmed his concern. The test is early July, the eighth I believe.

Usually I do not have a lot of questions...I take things in stride, maybe it is head in the sand syndrome, I don't know, he tends to over think most things, especially health wise.

I did ask if he wanted me to go with him....he thought I should go to our work place and keep the office open....I felt I should be at the hospital with him.....

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Bibione — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 23:29:43 GMT

I recently had the treadmill test.I practiced walking on my treadmill for about 10 days prior to the test.

My test lasted 17 minutes,for me it was easy.At the end the speed was fast and I had to hold on tight to the handles.

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

mousiegirl — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 23:39:47 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
My DH has this stress test scheduled for next month....the treadmill test has him a tad stressed.....he has AFIB and with medication he is still having issues.

We walk all the time, uphill, downhill, etc...I do not understand his concern about the treadmill. I 'think' he thinks they will have him practically running uphill the entire test!

I am not always sympathic to his concerns and he thinks is going to tell the doctor that he won't do the treadmill part of the test, but opt for Lexiscan administered thru the IV for the stress portion of the procedure.

Can anyone that is familiar with the test or has had this test explain to me how the treadmill portion works?

Yes, he has a doctor, yes, he will discuss this with him, but first hand experience/advise is also important. thank you

@Mom2Dogs I would rather have the stress test than the test with dye, which is when the heart is made to race, terrible feeling. At least during the treadmill test, the heart doesn't race, or mine didn't. I felt like a million dollars after the one stress test I had, later in the day, never feel like that with all of the walking, up hills and stairs, etc,. that I do every day.

Has your DH tried Flecainide for the Afib? It has worked for me for over eight years to keep the racing at bay.

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

mousiegirl — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 23:41:07 GMT

@Bibione wrote:
I recently had the treadmill test.I practiced walking on my treadmill for about 10 days prior to the test.
My test lasted 17 minutes,for me it was easy.At the end the speed was fast and I had to hold on tight to the handles.

@Bibione I forgot and let go of the handles which brought an excited roar from the women running the test, lol.

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 23:55:35 GMT

@mousiegirl The drug he is currently on is not keeping the AFIB at bay, and he has been on it for several years. I would name the medication but he just ran out and the doctor did not want him to refill the prescription, so the bottle is gone

The doctor said he needs to change the medication beause a patient can only be on it for a certain number of years....that is one of the reasons for the stress test....he did not discuss what the new med would be, I assume that will come after the test. thank you

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

Jinlei — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:19:45 GMT

I had the medication in lieu of the treadmill, and the only thing that bothered me was it gave me a headache. I did not feel like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. I guess everyone is different. I cannot do the treadmill because I have bad knees.

Re: Cardiolite Stress test question

mousiegirl — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 00:59:17 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@mousiegirl The drug he is currently on is not keeping the AFIB at bay, and he has been on it for several years. I would name the medication but he just ran out and the doctor did not want him to refill the prescription, so the bottle is gone

The doctor said he needs to change the medication beause a patient can only be on it for a certain number of years....that is one of the reasons for the stress test....he did not discuss what the new med would be, I assume that will come after the test. thank you

@Mom2Dogs A person can be on Flecainide forever, as long as it is working, as it does not accumulate in the system. I was put on several meds by my internist, at the time, and then I told her I needed to go to the A-fib clinic at the hospital since the meds were not working and I was suffering, and that is when I was put on the Flecainide. Maybe your DH can mention this to his doctor and see what he says.