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What's a nuclear stress test like? Is it safe?
I had an EKG and my doctor dictated that it showed the following: Sinus Rhythm 79 PVC Inferior Lateral ST Depression. My doctor has ordered a nuclear medicine stress test because I have some back problems and I was concerned about doing the treadmill stress test. I guess I have two questions/concerns and wondered if anyone might shed some light on either of them. First, what does this dictation that my doctor put in my record mean about my EKG? I have had a benign PVC all of my life but don't know if this is the same thing. I had been feeling like my chest was heavy and very tired, a little breathless sometimes which is why I went in to the cardiologist. Second, has anyone had a nuclear medicine stress test? I am concerned about the side effects and not being able to control them. I read about some of them and saw that the FDA had issued a warning about risks with nuclear medicine stress tests. Then I saw on the Mayo Clinic site that the nuclear medicine test may be more accurate and if the regular treadmill one isn't conclusive, I might end up having to do the nuclear one anyway. It was an ECO stress test I had many years ago when the benign PVCs were discovered. I am really afraid of doing the nuclear test. Please guide me if you can.
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Nuclear stress test is usually done to check for perfusion issues (blood supply to heart muscle) ie: heart damage. I had one several months after a STEMI heart attack. It does involve a treadmill or bicycle exercise to expected max heart rate or until you stop it so you won't avoid that, though they can induce the heart rate with an injection if unable/unwilling to exercise.
The nuclear part is an injection of a radioactive dye which gets taken up by the heart muscle and then measured (scintellation) to see how much is in sections of the heart. A count is taken and is proportional to perfusion. Less implies damaged tissue. If I remember correctly they do an injection, you hang for a bit, they measure (resting count). Then another injection and treadmill test (monitored with ekg) and they measure again. Took several hours.
They will have you sign off since you'll be radioactive for a bit. Injections may make you feel warm but (at least in my case) not uncomfortable. There are descriptions of the procedure on the WEB, best to check some out for more detail. This was my experience and it may vary for other uses.
If cardio indicated you need it probably has a good reason, might ask why needed and what results may mean for you. But in general it was not unpleasant and not painful. Treadmill does test you a bit. Good luck!
After a holter test my cardiologist put me on metoprolol and Eliquis, referred me to the EP team and scheduled a nuke stress test. never gave me a reason for the test I am 74 but I run 5 miles 3 X a week So I emailed him and said. I would rather do the treadmill. The nurse called me said that the doc said we did not need to do the test and canceled it never gave me a reason why I did not need to do the test.
It’s quick and easy.
It scared the dickens out of me. I had the stress test where you lie down. Having a drug/chemical make your heart race was a strange and frightening feeling.
A nuclear bomb goes off, and you have lots of stress and are tested how much. lol
Sounds like something I will not sign up for. I had a test years ago where they shot dye in my ankles. A girl tried 3 times and could not do right and the pain was ridiculous. THEN, they said, we will call someone who KNOWS how to do it. In other words, I was a guinny pig for someone doing the first time. I told them they had ONE time to do correctly, shot the dye in me and ran out of the room. Viola! He did it. But then turned on a machine. I felt like I was in a spaceship going to mars at a million miles per hour. Scared the heebeegeebees out of me.
After I got back to my room, they asked me to fill out my lunch menu. I said ¨I will not be here for lunch. She asked, Did your doctor release me¨? I told her if he doesn't, I will jump out of the window.
Another time, I was given a glucose tolerance test. Like eating three birthday cakes at once. The test was dangerous in itself. If you did not have diabetes before the test, you would after. After the test, I had a migraine which I have never had in my life before or since. It was like an elephant standing on my head for hours..
Just two examples why the only reason I go to a doctor or hospital is if I am hit by a bus and unconscious and cannot protest. I am 77 and take no meds, and walk up and down hills every morning.
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