Question:
cardiac stress tests

I know that we all need a stress test before banding and I'm schedueled for one. Most of us are out of shape and are not used to exercising , How did everyone do? Does the MD who does the test take this into consideration, this is weighing heavily on my mind. Thanks Donna S.    — felucia52 (posted on November 14, 2006)

November 14, 2006
Though I am going to undergo the Roux-en-Y procedure, I believe most patients of weight-loss surgeries of various kinds must undergo a stress test just to ensure the heart is in a place to tolerate the high levels of stress that will be placed on it after the surgery. Of course, the medical professional who is administering the test must take into account our weight and current medical condition. Therefore, we are not expected to complete a marathon as part of the test requirements. The medical professional only needs to stress your heart to such a level to get good readings on it. Because most of us are overweight and are less prone to exercising, getting our hearts to their target heart rate will be fairly easy. I was a bit concerned about my stress test. The nice thing for me was that I began exercising arduously in preparation for life after my surgery. So, by the time I had my stress test, it was not so bad even though it was exhausting. Most of what they put me through I was accustomed to due to the biking and jogging that I had been doing. Also, the nurse administering mine simply told me that I needed to go as far as I could but within my limits. If I could make it all the way through the tests, then great. If I could not, go as far as I could go, so really, there was no pressure. Again, the goal was to obtain consistent results from the heart under stress. I would suggest that you keep that in mind. Do as much as your body can take (without killing yourself), and let the rest go. I am fairly sure that your medical professional will be able to get a good reading from you just from that. I hope I was able to help you some.
   — Xavier Smith

November 14, 2006
Hi Donna, Before I could have my Lap Rny I needed a stress test. I didn't pass the test and no they don't take into account that you are heavy or out of shape. I thought I'd be able to pass as I had been exercising but I couldn't walk on the treadmill for the length of time needed to get pictures of my working heart. They found a blockage and I went to the hospital the next day and had a angioplasty with a stint placement done. They put me on plavix which is a blood thinner and told me I couldn't have my WLS for 6 months. I begged, and begged and they said if I could wait 6 weeks then I could have it done. I did that and finally had the surgery on November 7th. If I were you, I find a treadmill and walk, walk, walk. Hopefully they won't find anything wrong with your heart and you will pass the test. Good Luck!
   — Virginia M.

November 15, 2006
I had my surgery (gastric bypass) as scheduled on August 7th but I did have to have a last-minute stress test. What was supposed to be a routine appointment with my regular Dr. (I have an HMO) just to get final clearance for my surgery, turned into a nightmare for me. Unfortunately, my regular Dr. was out on maternity leave so I had to see another Dr. I had never seen before. This was 10 days before my surgery. All she was supposed to do is look over all my pre-testing for surgery and sign off. All of me pre-testing came out perfectly and my surgeon saw no need for any additional testing. Well - this Dr. decided that I better have a stress test at the last minute (more so just to protect herself from a lawsuit if I happened to have a heart attact during surgery!!). She didn't know my history at all and because I told her I get winded from walking up a flight of stairs (hello!! I am over-weight!!) she thought I was at a high risk for a heart attack!!! Then she explained that it could take weeks to get into a cardiologist and that this could delay my surgery!!!! A surgery I had been waiting a year for! So you can imagine how upset I was. Well - luckily (mostly because I caused a huge stink), I was able to get in for my stress test 4 days before my surgery. As you can imagine - I was already very stressed just because of the whole situation. And I hadn't been excercising so that was an additional stressor for me. So I went to the test expecting the worst. But I have to tell you - all they did was have me walk on a treadmill for maybe 3-4 minutes. He monitored my blood pressure - watched it go up - then watched how quick it went down after I got off the treadmill. He said I easily passed and he gave me an all clear for surgery. I was amazed how easy the test actually was. So - long story short - try not to stress too much about it. I'm sure all cardiologists are different - but unless you have a blockage or something actually wrong with your heart - I think they are aware of the weight-loss surgeries and that the reason you're having the surgery is to improve your overall health. Good luck - I'm sure everything will be just fine. :)
   — kathlene

November 15, 2006
Aloha Donna, I had a LapBand on 9-5-06. Prior to my surgery, I had to undergo a myocardial perfusion scan, which included injecting some stuff into my veins, scaning my heart, and then putting me on a treadmill. I only lasted two minutes. What they are looking for is evidence of heart disease, or ischemia, that could put your life at risk in the operating room. Each physician is different, but I think the testing is so that they know what condition your heart is in, so that they can take any needed precautions before and during surgery. If you have concerns, talk to your doc. He/she should give you the straight truth. Best of luck!
   — gtali1954

November 15, 2006
I don't know where you are or who your doctor is, but my husband and I are both lap-band people. We had 2 days of testing. The stress test was done with an IV that injects a medication (not harmful) while your slowing walking on the treadmill. Since we're out of shape and not athletes, we are not going to be able to get our heart rate where it needs to be to see how it performs under stress. The medication does that for you. We had a scan after that which shows the heart when it's not stressed, takes about 20 minutes. The next day is called an ECHO, or a sonogram of the heart. It's totally painless as is the stress test. I was just as concerned as you about the stress test until I called them to get the details. Ours was done in a heartcare center that does these as a matter of routine. When my husband use to have them done, it was at the hospital, running on a treadmill and the doctor with the blood pressure cuff checking him. That's not the preferred way to do this. We are in Scottsdale Arizona and I highly recomment the people we are using. My husband's surgery was done over a week ago and he didn't even need pain medication after the 23 hours in the hospital. Carole M Good Luck to you....
   — carolem

November 15, 2006
I don't know where you are or who your doctor is, but my husband and I are both lap-band people. We had 2 days of testing. The stress test was done with an IV that injects a medication (not harmful) while your slowly walking on the treadmill. Since we're out of shape and not athletes, we are not going to be able to get our heart rate where it needs to be to see how it performs under stress. The medication does that for you. We had a scan after that which shows the heart when it's not stressed, takes about 20 minutes. The next day is called an ECHO, or a sonogram of the heart. It's totally painless as is the stress test. I was just as concerned as you about the stress test until I called them to get the details. Ours was done in a heartcare center that does these as a matter of routine. When my husband use to have them done, it was at the hospital, running on a treadmill and the doctor with the blood pressure cuff checking him. That's not the preferred way to do this. We are in Scottsdale Arizona and I highly recomment the people we are using. My husband's surgery was done over a week ago and he didn't even need pain medication after the 23 hours in the hospital. Carole M Good Luck to you....
   — carolem

November 15, 2006
Donna, I have had 3 stress test over the years. I have a bad back. So the first two were I think called neucular, they but this stuff in you to make you heart speed up to at least 131. But my last one I had to run on the treadmil and it was awful, I won't ever do that again no matter what. I should of said something. I didn't make it to 131 like they wanted, so I ended up with some questions so I ended up having to have a cardia catheration which is easier than the stress test. But anyway you have to realize that I have/had heart problems. I had quadruple bypass in 2003. So before the surgeon would do the WLS I had to have a complete work up and okay from a cardiologist. It was great because I had to have 5 stents put in my groin and legs so now I can walk much better. All in all it was a very good thing.
   — ccstann