Question:
Anyone fail their stress test before surgery?

My EKG with the cardiologist showed abnormal at baseline so she scheduled me for a stress test and an echocardiogram. She told me today that my stress test showed a possible blockage. She said it could just be my breast in the way. I am having another stress test tommorrow and the pictures will be taken by ultrasound instead of nuclear pics like the first time. My echocardiogram was fine. This is the last thing I need to be cleared for surgery. I am sick with worry. If I do have a blockage, I will have to have surgery to have a stint put in. I am also so discouraged, it feels like this surgery will never happen. Have any of you been in this situation, and the stress test was fine once it was repeated? I've been so hopeful and excited to have surgery and improve my health and life. Today just really knocked me down and I really need support. I am sooooo tired of fighting for this.    — marcia5000 (posted on February 23, 2009)

February 23, 2009
Hi, I can't say that I am going through what you are giong through with the cardiologist but I can say this. The day that I was scheduled for the cardiologist eval, I had a panic attack I was so scared. I was scared that I was not going to be able to pass it for some reason but thank goodness I did. I can relate to you though in the fact that you are tired of fighting for this surgery. I am on medicaid so I had to do a 6 month supervised diet with my pcp. o I did it and guess what? It was done wrong. So I had to do it all over again. That is 1 year of diets and what are you doing to lose weight? and all of those ridiculous questions. Now though, I am cleard for surgery through all tests (Thank you lord), and I am waiting anxiously to hear the date for my decision visit. With everything I am saying, I am trying to tell you that YOU CAN DO IT!!! I know right now it seems like everything is going against you and when you take one step forward, you get knocked back 2 steps. Trust me, You can do it. You will make it and don't let anyone or anything stand in your way!!.. Ok I am gonna get off of my soap box now..lol BTW, I am here for ya if you need to talk. Take care.. Emelinda
   — Emelinda D.

February 23, 2009
Hi Marcia, I am actually going through the exact same thing right now. I have everything done, approval everything. I went to the cardiologist last Thurs. for my stress test and echocardiogram and he thinks there is a blockage. I really did not care about the bypass so much when I heard that. I got very upset the day I heard it but the next day when I was more rational I called the cardiologist and he actually called me back. He said it looked like a blockage and he could either do a cat scan and that is 90% accurate to confirm a blockage or I could do the more invasive angiogram and that is 100% accurate and as long as he could fix it with the balloon or a stint he could do that then. I asked him if it looked like more than one blockage and he said no 1 if that. There could be a 20% chance it was nothing but he thought there was and another dr. confirmed what he said. So this Thursday I get my angiogram. I can let you know what happens and what he says then but yours may not be like mine. Hopefully yours is just a shadow and they will find nothing. Better safe than sorry! Your heart is the most important thing right now. I am disappointed about the bypass too but I need this to be fixed right now for my own peace of mind. We only have one heart. As long as everything goes well Thursday he should clear me for surgery. And the insurance approval is usually good for 3 to 6 months even if worse case it drags out a little longer..... Best of luck to you ....Hugs....Donna
   — gonnabethinfinally

February 23, 2009
Hi Marcia, I can certainly understand your frustration, but the previous person said it. Your heart is more important and you're lucky to be getting it checked out and taken care of rather than the alternative. I have a co-worker who was diagnosed with breast cancer and had some pre-op testing that revealed that she had HAD a heart attack and didn't even know it, so she had to have a shunt put in before her cancer surgery. Who would have guessed? Some things can be a blessing in disquise. I wish you the best with everything. Regina
   — Bigwyfan1964

February 23, 2009
When my sis had her EKG done it looked like she'd had a mild heart attack though there was nothing wrong. She was also told her breast probably had something to do with it. Completely freaked her out, but she just had to do a two day stress test. The only real problem was that waiting for the extra appointment set her back a few weeks.
   — snickersblk

February 24, 2009
MARCIA, I JUST WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING, THEY CALLED ME 14 HOURS BEFORE SURGERY AND CANCELLED TO THE SOMETHING THAT THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST THOUGHT HE SAW A BLOCKAGE AND WANTED A CARDIOLOGIST TO SEE THE STRESS TEST RESULTS. SO I HAD TO MAKE AN APPT WITH THE CARDIO GUY AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE DIDN'T SEE ANTHING THAT WARRENTED CANCELLING THE SURGERY. AND THAT WHAT THEY COULD BE SEEING IS A FAT POCKET. IT HAPPENS WHEN HEAVY PEOPLE LIE DOWN FLAT AND THE FAT MOVES AROUND. SO DON'T GIVE UP HOPE. SEE THE CARDIO GUY AND KNOW YOU'LL BE IN ALL OUR PRAYERS. MY SURGERY IS ON TUESDAY. GOD BLESS. CATHY DUNCAN
   — CATHYSDAN

March 1, 2009
I had a scare that a couple of years ago with a stress test but and they did an angiograph or something like that. Everything was flowing nicely. I keep a good thought for you that your results are good as well. Blessings. Gail Gore
   — Gail G.