Who has experience with cardiologists, stress tests, etc.?

[Miggs]

I had my consult with a cardiologist today. Mostly because I occassionally get some sharp pain in my chest, have a family, and have some family history of heart issues.

My ekg tested out fine today and I am going for an Echo next Tuesday, doing a stress test (no nucleo) the next day, and will then meet with the cardiologist again the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. if the tests come back meh (which I expect them to; my cholesterol blows), I will do some sort of calcium test to test my plaque. I think if that too goes poorly, he will have me take the nucleo dye test.

Anyone have any experience with this? I'm not worried. I'm 41, in fair shape, and if I do test out poorly, it may be for the best, because I see me becoming vegetarian and eating crazy perfect in some American Psycho type of madness way.

So, any experience or words one wants to share?

 

[JazzGal]

I've had several EKGs, an echo, a stress test on a treadmill, a nuclear stress test, and a right heart catherization this year (plus some other stuff thrown in). The tests aren't too bad. My diagnosis is bad (an incurable and life-threatening problem with my pulmonary artery), but my heart is okay so far other than having premature heartbeats sometimes (sounds like it skips beats). I take a pill every day that has really helped lessen the incidents.

Good luck with your test results. Hopefully if you have anything at all it will be something minor that can be helped with medication and/or lifestyle changes.

 

[LogGrad98]

I get an EKG every few years as a result of one chemo drug I had for cancer treatment. It is called adriamycin and there is a lifetime limit on it. I reached a point during treatment that they went beyond my limit and would perform an EKG then if it showed normal then I got another round of chemo. They did this until the EKG showed signs of heart damage. Now as a result of planned damage to my heart I get one every few years just to keep an eye on things. So far, so good, although I have high blood pressure so they get on me about that, but otherwise my heart looks good. I echo JazzGal, good luck. Turning vegetarian or even just limiting your proteins to fish and fowl is not a bad idea regardless of the test. I have been thinking about something along those lines myself as I really need to lose weight.

 

[MVP]

Just don't fall for biggest scam of 20's century and do not start taking statins. They killed more people than "terrible" cholesterol. . Read this book and throw it in your doctor face if he ever suggests statins.