Anxiety over Stress Test...

Hi N.,
My mom had this test performed when she was about 84 yrs old. Dr. thought she might need a surgery and wanted to be sure her heart could stand the stress. Neither Mother nor I knew what the test was so we were not anxious beforehand. My mother is a very nervous person. I am certain that had we known what would happen we would have been more concerned/anxious. They had her lie down then injected the solution to speed up the heart. She got hot and red in the face. She said her heart was beating like crazy and was afraid she was having a heart attack. It was then they told her it was due to the test which is designed to do that. I would say that it was disconcerting, but not at all painful. The test only runs for a few mins. I would guess that the most uncomfortable time lasts only a minute or two. I was with my mom the whole time holding her hand so she was reassured. I suggest you encourage your mom during testing that she is doing well and it is almost over rather than saying something to feed her worry. After her test they watched Mother for a few mins to see she was fine. We left there and ate lunch. Had my mom been unduly upset she would not have been able to eat. We went shopping afterward. She never mentioned it again. I hope it goes this smoothly for your mom.

Good Morning N.;

I had those test last year for the first time<<<I'm 72.
Actually it was pretty interesting and tell your mom that
after the test she will be in an exclusive club>>They even
will give her a card to show at the airport that says she
has been radiated!!
If she wants to have some fun, she can go where ever they
have those walk thru metal detectors and watch it go off
when she walks thru it!! The court house is a fun trip!
Tell Mom it isn't bad at all!
Best,
B. C

Althiough I have had a regular (treadmill) stress test,not a Persantine one, myself, I have monitored probably, thousands of them, with NEVER a bad result. I am a retired RN, who used to work in the CCU of a major regional medical center; it was hospital policy to send a nurse with a patient having a stress test of any type. Also, I never had a patient complain about the experience. To my mind the main concern here is do you and your mother have faith in the MD who is ordering the test? Heart disease is much more common in women than even breast cancer and one of the biggest risks is undiagnosed heart disease. If she is already known to have heart disease the test will tell what she can safely do, when it is interpreted by her doctors. If her MD's are considering any symptoms she may have, in the light of you mother being " a very nervous person to begin with", The test will help them sort things out. Years ago when I began my career as a CCU nurse, many
cardiologists would downplay a "nervous" female's report of her symptoms. By the time I retired, this attitude was , thankfully, much less common.

Fran,Retired RN

My dad had numerous heart procedures in his life time. This one included. He said that it wasn't bad at all. It will probably feel a litte strange, but won't hurt. (It has been years ago, so I'm trying to recall everything.)

Maybe get on the internet and look up information on the procedure, what to expect, etc. We will keep her lifted in prayer. Re: your kids... my mom kept our kids for us, too. It was what kept her going and she loved it, in spite of whatever stress it may have caused. Talk to your mom about this before just taking her grandkids away from her (even though your heart is in the right spot.)

Please let us know how everything turns out. God has her in His hands!

Blessings,
M.

I am pretty sure that is the same test my mom had and it went fine. She is also very nervous, and even if she wasn't, this is pretty much something that would make anyone nervous. She later had to have the angio test (short surgery) as well, but they found no blockages and she also did fine with that. I know these things are nerve racking but I think they come with getting older, and help to prevent a lot of things that caused people to die at a younger age years ago - hence the average life span has gotten so much longer now.

Pray for reassurance, and it will be over soon. Maybe have your kids (well, maybe the 3 year old) draw her a picture to give her to let her know they love her too? Something to keep her mind off of it - and if she is caring for your kids at least that may keep her mind busy so she doesn't have as much time to worry.

Take care!

WELL I AM ASSUMING THIS IS BEING DONE JUST AS A TEST, & SHE IS NOT HAVING ANY "HEART PROBLEMS". I HAVE TO HAVE THIS DONE EVERY YEAR AS PART OF MY YEARLY CHECK UP WITH MY CARDIOLOGIST.IT IS NOTHING TO THE TEST EXCEPT IT TAKES SO LONG TO FINISH. THEY START AN IV, GIVE YOU A LITTLE INJECTION & LET YOU REST 15 MINUTES & DO ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF PICTURES, LET YOU SIT AGAIN & THEN DO A DIFFERENT SET OF TESTS & THEN BACK & REDO THE FIRST 20 MINUTES OF TEST AGAIN TO CHECK WHAT YOUR HEART IS DOING AFTER THE MEDICATION HAS WENT THRU HER HEART & IS NOW SLOWED. BET SHE WILL BE FINE.
GOOD LUCK TO THE BOTH OF YOU,
D.

Hi N. ,,
both of my parents have had them both kinds and most of my 16 aunt and uncles there is not a thing in the world to worry about they will be monitoring her every minute i've seen them do the tread mill kind on my mom i was in room with her so was the person doing it ,,,,it is a very common thing they need to check her heart ,,this is the only way that they can get some of the many answers they need,,,nothing to worry about ,,so ya'll just take as few breaths and calm down all is well and ok
my prayers L.

Hi N.,
I had the same type of stress test 2-3 years ago. The staff was very helpful to explain what the procedure was and to let them know if I felt faint,pain, etc. to let them know immediately. They monitored every step of the procedure and it went off without a hitch. If she has any questions, tell her to ask them before the procedure and the staff should be more than willing to answer any questions or concerns she has prior to the procedure. It really does sound like a scary procedure, but it sounds worse than it actually is. I wish your mother good test results and hope she is able to feel more confident about undergoing the test after talking with her physician and the staff performing the test.

G.

I had such a stress test last year. I thoughgt I would be walking when I got to the test. They explained that I would be having this shot to take the place of walking. It increases your heart beat, so they can get that kind of result without putting you through all the testing. It was over in no time and was nothing as far as I am concerned. Tell your mother she has nothing to worry about as far as the test goes.
C. K

I have had this test done numerous times. Of, course the first time I was scared. However, I was so overweight that I could not walk on the treadmill so this was the only other thing offered to me. I had the first one lying down, however, I found that sitting up was much easier on me. You feel hot, your heart is beatting fast, but remember there is usually a doctor present that can take care of you if there should be any problems. My husband who was 86 in January had his second one this year and he had no problems. I will be 70 soon and had my first one in 2001. Let her be nervous, it is just a part of our nature and will help us should we need another later in life.