Survived part 1 of my nuclear stress test....

I had the 1st part of the nuclear stress test today, at Hahnemann. I was so nervous inside, like I was crying inside. I started out in the waiting area, waiting for them to call my name. I see this good looking bald male nurse/tech - with a goatee, and I prayed he was not going to be my nurse.... I really wanted to die when he called my name! Out the door with humiliation! He told me he had to get me weighed!!!! - I WANTED TO PUT A GUN TO MY HEAD!!! He was really nice, and turns out, his twin sister had gastric bypass a few years ago; I was so embarrassed, initially, to be around the medical staff but it seems as though more and more, there are people everywhere who've been through it or know someone who is, and these people you're embarrassed to be around, turn out to be really nice and not look down on you... Next they put the IV in my arm. Laid me on a table, and hooked me up to all the heart monitor wires. They prepped me for what to expect while the Adenosine was injected into the IV. They said the affects would only last 5 minutes, but to be sure and speak up if anything felt funny. So, they start. And at first, I just felt a strong warm sensation in my chest, about a minute later, I felt it going down my legs.... Then it got warmer and warmer and a weird feeling inside, I can't even explain. I felt sweat dripping down my forehead, as the nurse Michelle even said "how you doin', I can see your face is red, so I know its working." It started to feel like something was sitting on my chest; I was so scared I was having a heart attack and spoke up the whole 5 minutes - saying how warm it felt and that it felt tingly and heavy, they just kept saying, you're doing good, and counting down the minutes of time left. When they said I was done, I was so relieved. I just kept saying, you're sure I'm not having a heart attack? After that, they told me to go down to the cafeteria and get something to eat. And come back in an hour for x-rays. I felt so nauseous and wiped out. It turns out the receptionist at the cardiology desk had gastric bypass a year ago - she showed me her drivers license picture from last year - she really has lost a lot of weight. She told me a lot of positive things. We talked until it was time for me to go back for x-rays. They strapped me on this small board that was ½ the size of my butt, another embarrassing moment, I was so scared I was going to fall off! Anyhow, the x-ray machine moves over you for about 20 minutes and takes pictures. Then I was done. I was so emotionally drained afterwards. On Monday, I have to go back for more pictures. Now I wait... for the results, and pray that they are all clear. I asked the doc/techs if they could see anything wrong, they said they couldnt from the dye test, that the pictures tell that. Do you think my symptoms were normal or show a sign of something might be wrong w/my heart?

I had this done a few years ago...its not required for my lap band. Your symptoms are normal......ummm how do I say this? Okay no offense here, because I am in the same boat. You are out of shape that is why you felt the way you did....they knew as you were doing it how you fared...if there were danger, you'd have been kept there. Your just fine.....paranoid like me...but fine. I can totally relate to how you felt!!! they dye makes sure that the blood pumping is going where it should.

Thank you! No offense taken... : ) I thought that maybe since I was able to feel the tingling/heat feelings in my legs, that maybe I do not have any blockages, that the medicine they injected made it all the day down to my legs... but I'm sure that's just a silly thought.

Actually, the tingling is a chemical in your muscles......starts the fat burning process....first comes the heat....then the tingly feeling. Its a good thing!!!!!

Thanks! I feel better about it now - and maybe won't worry so much on the possibility of negative results!

omg you poor kid, all these tests they are putting you through!! but you will be fine, and i want to wish you best of luck michelle. next time we chat you will be on your way, hooray. i wore polish by the way, i think as long as its not dark dark dark polish you should be fine. hugs, jacki

Thanks Jacki! As much as I tried to prepare myself, when I began this journey, for what to expect along the way, I still had to deal with some things I didn't expect to happen. Never in a million years did I think anything of the cardio clearance appt - never had a fear - never thought they'd find a problem - thought I'd go in, get an ekg in the office, and be on my merry way....