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Nuclear Stress Test - Not accurate

Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (22)

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@tabicat03 Yes, it seems you are between a rock and a hard place. Your test results are certainly not clear...what you wrote sounds like only a cardiologist can interpret.
"Chest wall attenuation" can mean lots of things (yes, I googled it too, including "artifact") so not sure exactly how this applies to your cardiac health issues.
The good news is no infarction or ischemia. And your ST wave (EKG) did not show an "elevation" during your stress test exertion which is clearly an indication of ischemia/block coronary arteries requiring a coronary catheterization for further evaluation, possible stent placement or even possible by-pass surgery depending on your particular heart picture.
Waiting until December to discuss your test results in person is awful! But certainly not uncommon these days. A couple of thoughts: You can speak to the cardiac nurses working with your cardiologist, express your concerns and fears. They will take all your issues and "should" present it to your cardiologist and it would be the RNs who get back to you in addressing your immediate concerns.
Or - what about a telemedicine visit? I have found booking in person is often a far out appointment but telemedicine is usually within a more reasonable wait time.
And if your cardiologist "team" has a couple of disciplines working in the office - a Physician Assistant (PA, hopefully certified) or even a Nurse Practitioner (NP, again, hopefully certified) such staff might be the folks who do the telemedicine with you...which would be fine as you wait for your December appointment with the big guy. Such staff in your cardiologist's office would report back to him/her and all work together as a team (at least, they should be).
And another final thought: I more than hope you are working with a cardiologist who is "in tune" to heart disease in women and in "young" women like yourself. Just about every study done in heart disease was done on "men"...heart disease in women presents an entirely different picture than men. Big Time. I don't mean to scar you - but it is a fact. Heart disease is the # 1 killer of women in the US. More than all the cancers combined. And heart disease can and often shows up in women in your age bracket. Mine did...in my late 40s. I am now 71.
So, if you have a cardiologist (old school) who simply dismisses your concerns and your symptoms - think twice about staying with him. You want a cutting-edge physician who is skilled, understands and is top notch competent about women and heart disease.
However, your cardiac picture remains unclear at this point.
Hopefully you will get it all settled appropriately. I think you will!
All the best to you.

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Replies to "@tabicat03 Yes, it seems you are between a rock and a hard place. Your test results..."

@briarrose Thankyou for that response 🙂 My goal like everyone else is to be here for a long time!! I did actually speak to my cardiologist last week- I bothered him until He said come into the office and let's discuss!! He said like you said no infarction or ischemia. My Mets were 11.2- and that the fixed perfusion based off imaging was an artifact...even though in my brain it can go either way. "GOOGLE" can sometimes be our friend but can also scare the heck out of us. He did make me feel better as I had a whole list of questions for him!!! He told me he did not feel justified with a Cath at this time because my Mets of 11.2 were so good. (Treadmill) however, I have read top athletes can get an amazing test result and still have blockages. I did not have any chest tightness or feeling out of the norm while testing so I guess that is a good thing?!! So, if there is any type of blockage I guess we are at the beginning of a long journey!! He wants to put me on Rosuvastatin and a daily aspirin... (CAC score of 21.1) I just don't know what to do. Thank you again for your response!! Here is to long Gevity and trying to make it to 70!! I pray the good lord gives me many many more good years!!