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What's a nuclear stress test like? Is it safe?
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Oct 5, 2023 | Replies (70)Comment receiving replies
I know this is an older question, but I did not see anyone talk about any side effects. I just had one last week.
First of all, it is not safe. You are being injected with 'radioactive' tracer. It can cause cancer at some point in your life. It is much stronger than any type of x-rays. Also, I could not do the walking on treadmill so I was injected with more stuff. It took about 3 hours. I felt fine all day. By the end of the day, stomach pains took over. Then came the nausea. Diarrhea, throwing up, cold sweat, it was HORRIBLE. Then the diarrhea turned to blood. I was ready to die. I also did not sleep for 2 days. I did research about this afterward because NOONE talked about any side effects. Then I learned, that afterward, I was supposed to take a shower, continually wash my hands and stay away from children and pregnant women because I will give off radiation for a couple days. Well that second day, my boyfriend got sick and was throwing up too. I will NEVER get a nuclear stress test again. It certainly is not safe and the side effects almost killed me.
Replies to "I know this is an older question, but I did not see anyone talk about any..."
I agree! I’ve also had several brushes with death throughout my lifetime because of being talked into these ‘’special’’ dyes etc/ garbage being ‘’necessary’’! Now, I’ve learned to say ‘’No! that radiologist will just have to put on his bifocals’’! That goes for all the CT’s, MRI’s!….which, granted, are better than pneumoencephlograms in the 1970’s but come with a price. So I’ll have more life and eventually die not having such precise info. Fine tradeoff for me!
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Hi @saleha59. I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the nuclear stress test. While you are being injected with a nuclear tracer and radiation exposure can be linked to cancer, the research shows that it takes prolonged/repeated exposure or higher doses of exposure than are used in a nuclear stress test.
Everyone does react to medications and procedures differently, but typically exposure to others is not a side effect and drinking plenty of fluids flushes out any small radiation and the tracer itself with 24 hours. Each provider may instruct you to proceed differently following the procedure.
Many of the unfortunate side effects you experienced are listed as possible side effects, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/nuclear-stress-test/about/pac-20385231.
@saleha59, despite your bad experience with the test, were you able to learn anything through the results of your test?