2 day stress test??

Hello...  I was wondering if any of you all had a two day stress test before your surgery??  I am scheduled on next Monday and Tuesday for one.  I have never had one of these and was just curious....I called and they said it was on the treadmill....I am so worried about this...because I fall constantly....but I checked with my surgeon and this is the kind they want....soooooo....I am in the last stages of my 6 month waiting period for my insurance....I am hoping to have surgery around Easter...so it is getting close....

Jaimee

I had a two day stress test, but it did not involve the treadmill.  I was given a nuclear medicine that produced stress on my heart like exercise would and then I sat for a while and then the pics were taken.  The next time I went in I was given a different med, sat for a while and then the pics were taken.  One was under stress the other no stress in order to get a contrast.  Neither was terrible.

I didn't do a two day stress test, but the one I did do was on the treadmill... I was so big that I was afraid that I would break it or something.... let me tell you it didn't take much for them to get my poor little heart pumping on it....

~Namaste~

I had a two day stress test that included the treadmill.  The first day was the treadmill portion and when I was talking to the nurse while reviewing my medical history, I advised her that given that I could barely walk, and cerainly not quickly, due to the pain of fibromyalgia, arthritis, and other knee issues,  I didn't know that I could get up to the required speed or maintain it for the duraton needed to perform the test.  She took care of it!  I was given a shot of something that increaed my heart rate and then got on the treadmill.  I didn't have to push myself nor was the duration an issue.  Basically, my gait  was just slighty above leisurey stroll pace (not a walk in the park for me, no pun intended, but not excrutiatingly painful, either.  I was able to carry on a conversation with the medical staff the entire time I was on the treadmill.  I went back the second day for the images of the resting heart.  Call the radiology facility in which the test is being performed and they should be able to better explain what is expected and if assistance, like mine, is an option.  It's something they deal with daily for a variety of issues, and the cardiologist/nuclear medicine staff may be able to better understand your issues and address them appropriately.

Amy

PS:  I just found this article which may better explain the function of the exercise stress test as well as the variation I performed due to my medical issues.  http://www.answers.com/topic/exercise-stress-test

Just yesterday (Friday the 13th!) I underwent required nuclear stress test as part of needed pre-op cardiac clearance for my 3/31 gastric bypass surgery. The cardiology center did an EKG last week and I met the cardiologist, who ordered the stress test. It was set up; I was expected to pay $360 upfront as my 20% portion of BC/BS. I could have no caffeine for 24 hours and was warned it was a 4-5 hour test. It involved IV-injection of the nuclear medicine that is used for the 40-minute camera shots (done while prone on narrow metal table with arms above head holding a strap, could not move & had to shallowly breathe). After the first camera session (I JUST fit into the camera tunnel thing that slowly circles around your prone body), I had to wait 30 minutes, drink 3 cups of water, and then the worst part. I was led to the treadmill (I chose to slowly walk for five minutes during the chemically induced "stress" with some horrible chemical that starts with the letter 'a'); a blood pressure cuff and EKG electrodes are constantly being monitored. After the IV-injection of the drug, within seconds I felt so very awful...so hot, flushed, broken into sweat, cloudy-headed, and nauseous...I was encouraged to keep walking and focusing out the window to help me during the medicine's effects...only 4-5 minutes. It was bad. Then I drank 3 more cups of water, and 30 minutes later underwent the second 40-minute camera shots while prone & still. Afterwards, I felt woozy and slightly sick, still sweaty despite the camera room being very cold. I sat in my car, blasting the A****il I decided to drive home (it had been 5.5 hours, 2:15pm, and I hadn't eaten anything since the night before). Then I decided to drive home (only 6 miles)...I made it to my street when I first felt the telltale salty saliva taste...and then I began to dry-heave...and then glow-in-the-dark yellow liquid came up, and I began to feel better right away, now that a great dosage of the toxins had been expelled. I was told that I would remain radioactive over the weekend, setting off metal detectors in government buildings or airports. I feel normal today after peeing dayglo a few times!

I truly hope that your test is nowhere near as horrible as mine; I do believe I had a particularly adverse reaction to the chemicals as I tend to get sick easily from most pain killers and other strong drugs (making me very wary thinking about how I'll feel coming out of anesthesia and with the morphine afterwards). Two guys also having the test also experienced queasiness and nausea, but lots of peeps don't. Best of luck; I had to relate my experience as it was timely, but by no means mean to scare you as most peeps don't feel such drastic side/after-effects!

Thanks guys for all of the information.  I am really not looking forward to my test on Monday and Tuesday..  I had a colonoscopy on Friday.....the prep was the worst part of it....I wasn't sure I could handle it...but it went okay...on Monday I also have a pap test.....and then the first part of the stress test...and then I am finally done!!!!!!!!  Thank goodness...I know there has been lots of tests and visits....but I feel really confident with all of my providers...from my primary care to my nutritionist , my surgeon and all of the rest in between....Thank you to everyone for all of the information you all give me.....it is most helpfull....I am just looking forward to getting it done and starting my new life.....

Jaimee