Nuclear Stress Test- Anyone Had One Before?

Hi All,

I'm currently in the pre-op phase, hoping to have my RNY in late May or early June. I had my cardiologist appt last week for clearance and he wants me to have a nuclear stress test. I'm scheduled for that this coming Monday. I'm a smoker, (quit date is April 2nd) so he felt it best to do the test, better safe than sorry. Just wondering if any of you have ever had one before? I'm more nervous about not being able to breathe on the treadmill than anything else.

I had a nuclear stress test before my surgery and there was no treadmill involved. My Dad had a heart attack at a young age (He was not obese) and they felt I also should have it 'just to be sure'. I was terrified. It took awhile and they inject stuff into you... and they use some kind of nuclear medicine to 'stress' your heart for like 2 minutes. It really wasn't as bad as I imagined it to be...just a lot of waiting around for each part and the nervousness. The cardiologist gave me the results right away and said I passed with 'flying colors'.... That was my experience, but maybe they use it with treadmills too, I don't know....

It is not used with a treadmill.  

Read below.  Mine was with the treadmill, but as White Dove says, a drug can be used instead.

These are from http://www.northshore.org/nuclear-medicine/diagnostic-tests/ cardiac-stress-test/

You will want to check with your location for specific instructions.

Cardiac Stress Test Preparation

The patient may not eat for four hours prior to the cardiac stress test.  No smoking for 24 hours prior to the scan. Caffeine may also be restricted during cardiac stress test preparation.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. If a patient is going to walk on the treadmill as part of the cardiac stress test procedure, be sure to wear sneakers or running shoes.

Cardiac Stress Test Procedure

For the resting portion of a cardiac stress test procedure, you receive an injection of thallium, a radioactive tracer. The tracer will circulate for 5-10 minutes and then pictures will be taken of your heart. This nuclear stress test imaging session takes 15 to 30 minutes to complete. This first session shows the resting blood flow to your heart muscle.

For the exercise test, small pads called electrodes are placed on your chest so that an electrocardiogram (EKG) can monitor your heart rhythm while you exercise. An intravenous tube is placed in your arm for tracer administration, which occurs about one minute before the end of the exercise session. The exercise consists of walking on a treadmill. As the exercise continues, it becomes more difficult (similar to walking up a hill).  As the exercise progresses, the heart rate and blood pressure rise. You will be asked to exercise as long as you can.

If a previous medical problem prevents you from exercising, your doctor may request using a special medication to replace exercise. Dobutamine, persantine or adenosine may be used. These drugs will mimic exercise and the second radiotracer will be injected during the infusion of the drug.

About 15-45 minutes after the second tracer is injected pictures of your heart are taken.  The imaging session takes 15-30 minutes. This nuclear stress test imaging session shows the stress distribution of blood flow to your heart muscle during peak exercise as well as the wall motion of your heart and the ejection fraction of your heart (the percent of blood the heart pumps out as it beats). 

Mine didn't use a treadmill either.  They used an injectable drug that made my heart race briefly. It was safer than trying to get me on the treadmill. 

Like other posters said there is no treadmill involved as a drug is used instead. It is safer medically for out of shape people because most of the time they can't stay on a treadmill at sufficient speed or duration to get their heart rate up.

Yot have received answers to your nuclear stress test question so I'm not going to address it.  However, something else you said in your post jumped out at me, your being a smoker.  You said your smoking quit date is April 2nd and your WLS will he in May or June.  

Is your surgeon aware that you are still a smoker?  I ask this because my surgeon won't perform WLS until the patient has been smoke free for a minimum of 6 months.  A nicotine test is done a couple different times during the period before surgery to be certain the patient is smoke free.

Yes, I have to be nicotine free for 6 weeks prior to surgery, and then obviously forever after that. Most likely my surgery will be in June, by the time I get the final clearance from insurance. I'm hoping to be at least 7-8 weeks nicotine free beforehand. 

I had one with a treadmill.   Worst part was not being able to breastfeed my baby for 24 hours.   

I had a false positive,  which is common in women apparently.  Still ticking along 12 years later so.. 

I had one with a treadmill.   Worst part was not being able to breastfeed my baby for 24 hours.   

I had a false positive,  which is common in women apparently.  Still ticking along 12 years later so..