Nuclear Stress Test.. not so good

Okay, I have been having cardiac concerns for a few weeks now.  With the 911 call and two days later a visit to the ER a few EKG's, and MRI, and more, I knew a cardiologist visit was soon to follow.  A week ago Monday I had my first visit.  Loved him!   He asked a million questions, was proactive and really wanted to get to the bottom of what is going on.  So... last Wednesday and Thursday I spent the days sporting a fashionable and quite trendy heart monitor.  Let me tell you... I can rock a holter!  ha!  Being the clausterphobic person I am, it was not fun... but I just did it.  I knew it would give more information to figure out what was going on.   I thought.. whew!  If I can do this the rest will be easy.

Silly me.

This past Monday I was scheduled for an Echocardiogram with bubble (sounds fun, huh?  I love bubbles!) and a Nuclear Stress Test.  The doctor said to expect about a 4 hour visit.   Jerry went with me... cause you know this is causing him to worry and panic.... and all was off to a good start.   

I was hooked up to the cath thingy in my arm.  Radioactive stuff was sent in.... then off for the Echo.   Well... during the echo the cath sprung a leak.  Nothing like a little blood going all over me and the room.  Very exciting.  People came running, trying to get it to stop.  Jerry looked like he had had enough at this point.  I felt fine... just hoping it wasn't getting on my cute little skort.  (You know... that is important during all of this!  PRIORITIES!)  They get the geyser to stop and continue the test.  What should have been about 10 minutes ended up taking about 40.  The good part of this was we only had to wait another 5 minutes before the Stress Test guy came to get me.

So... into the big revolving chair I went.  This is not designed for short people.  With my arms above my head, feet dangling, I was told it would be about 20+ minutes I had to sit completely still in this machine.  SO... I tried to get comfortable (ya right!) and find my Zen like place to ride out this part of the test.  I did it.  No problem.   Things were looking UP!!  

Next, they took me to the treadmill.  I was hooked up to my second set of electrodes for the day.  The fun part this time was when they used the human sand paper to make sure they had a good contact.  It hurt!!!!  I was tough and joked around the entire time.  They explained to me that the test would contain an initial 3 minute warm-up walk and then the treadmill would get faster and be on a more steep angle.  They would be monitoring my vitals and give me more radioactive "stuff" when I reached optimum heart rate.  They said the test could last as long as 30 minutes.   So, I get on the treadmill and start walking.  I fell confident.. and somewhat athletic.  (I think I look GOOD walking all confident and tall.)  Less than 2 minutes into the test the Dr. starts acting quite alarmed.

Well... my heart decided to jump to above the optimum rate in less than two minutes.  This is virtually unheard of for people of my delicate age.  The Dr. sent the Tech over to me.  He asked how I was feeling... and then my ears went numb.  Hmmm... guessing this isn't a good sign. ;-)  So.. the Dr. decided that was it!  Test done!   In less than 3 minutes my Nuclear Stress test was ended.  

No clue.

I go back next Monday to discuss results and to figure out the next steps.  They offered me no information, insight or options.  

I am thinking it will be fine.   I know it is probably something that a little pill can help.

No worries... just don't want to do that stress test again.  It tends to scare everyone around me.  I was fine, but everyone else in the room was not.

I don't like to make things easy for people.