Question:
I am so worried, has anyone had this done?

For clearance to have WLS performed, the cardiologist requires me to have a Nuclear Scan Adenosine test due to what he preceives me as a "high risk catagory". I know they will find something as I have been very heavy for a number of years and I am 56 years old. I can not deal with another health problem. What is this test like and exactly what does it reveal?    — Janet M. (posted on February 19, 2002)

February 19, 2002
Adenosine stress testing is a non-exercise stress test that involves radioactive material, either Thallium or Cardiolite, to make pictures of the patient's heart. In most cases, it can determine whether the patient has has coronary artery disease or has had a heart attack in the past. Coronary artery disease is a condition in which deposits form in the blood vessels that supply the heart. When these deposits become severe, they can cause chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. The Stress test is used to assess the presence of coronary artery disease. This test does not involve walking on a tread mill, instead it involves a medication given through a vein in the patient's arm that will simulate exercise by causing the heart to beat stronger and faster. During this test, the patient will be attached to an EKG machine so that the heart may be monitored. Blood pressure readings are also taken at regular intervals. Most importantly, the patient will be asked throughout the test as to how they are feeling, therefore, it is very important for the patient to report any chest discomfort or other symptoms during the test. At some point in the test, the Nuclear Medicine Technologist will insert the medication, into an I.V. tube which was previously inserted in the patients hand or arm. The patient will not feel any different at this time, as the medication has no side effects. The medication is used as a radioactive tracer that enables the imaging camera to take the pictures of the heart. It is not a drug, nor dye of any sort. One may have heard of people having reactions to iodine-based dyes used for angiograms and other procedures. Those types of side effects do not occur with this medication. Because it is radioactive, the patient will receive a dose of radiation, however, it is comparable to that of an X-ray or CAT scan. There is no evidence to indicate any danger from receiving these low amounts of radiation.
   — Deborah W.

February 19, 2002
I had this stress test done prior to my WLS because I was having heart problems. I weighed about 300 pounds at that time, so it was decided to do this stress test rather than one on a treadmill. The nurse said injecting the liquid into my arm was like "exercise in a bottle" in that my blood pressure and heart would react in the same way exercise would cause it to react. I don't remember there being any discomfort, except for a little pressure in my chest area. The cardiac surgeon was there all the time, but I was okay and the test didn't show any problems with my heart. Good luck!!
   — [Anonymous]