I am going to the Cleveland clinic and got my appointment scheduled today. I was told the doctor reviewing my records wants me to have a Stress Echocardiogram, something I haven't heard of but the nurse tells me is much better in identfying heart problems in women then a normal nuclear stress test. I've read about it tonight and it is exactly what it sounds like a stress test but insted of nuclear testing before and after exercise they do an echocradiogram before and after exercise. It is supposed to pinpoint much more clearly the areas of ischemia and is way less invasive then a nuclear stress test because there is no injection which means no IV and no exposure to a radioactive isotope.
Have any of you had doctors ordering this? I am assuming because this is the Cleveland clinic (the number ! rated cardiac hospital) they know what they are doing.
I am also very excited because the doctor I am seeing is a female !! and have been told already expect to spend a long time with her as she takes a very long time with her patients going over thier complete history and complaints! (like an hour they tell me actually meeting with her).
hopefully I'll get some answers this male dominated and geared profession who is quick to assume things about our gender, hasn't given me thus far.
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Stress Echocardiogram???
- By heartache301
- Posted April 20, 2009 at 8:03 pm · 8 replies
- In Experiences with medical treatments
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Exercise Heart disease Heart transplant Heart attack Sweating Stress Cardiomyopathy
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- By Linda-CT
- Posted April 20, 2009 at 8:09 pm
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Hi heartache, I have heard and had the echocardiogram, but didn't even know that a stress, echocardiogram even exists. I learned something new today. I wish you the best. I would be excited to have a woman Dr. and since having my heart event, I wish I could find a woman Dr. I do know of one, but she's a bit away, in a town I don't get to often, but I'm still keeping her in mind as she came with a high recommendation.
I hope to hear how you make out with this test. Linda-CT
- By martzj
- Posted April 20, 2009 at 8:34 pm
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"Stress Echocardiogram, something I haven't heard of but the nurse tells me is much better in identfying heart problems in women then a normal nuclear stress test."
You need both these tests for a more accurate picture of your total heart functions.
Glad you are looking forward to your first appointment. My experience with female cardios has been they are worse than male. But that is my local experience. CC may be very different....it is supposed to be one of the leaders in heart medicine for women.
Let us know how it goes and what you think about your visit.
Good luck
Jaynie
- By heartache301
- Posted April 20, 2009 at 9:23 pm
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I have had like 4 nuclear stress tests, 3 caths and many echocardiograms but they were all at rest. I am interested what this will show if anything different.
my experience with the CC thus far has been excellent, was really easy to speak directly with a nurse and got an appt and explained what to expect for my day down there in a lot of detail. I am hopeful the fact Im told this particular doctor takers a long time with her patients is a promising sign. I'm not going to the main CC in Ohio just the regional one in my state but from what I understand they are all part of the same insitution. (it's still an overnight stay though and like a 5 hour drive each way) The doctors I am seeing have had training or fellowships in some of the best insitutions in the country and seem very well qualifed. A google search on them also shows they are very involved in events and education on womens heart disease in the community, which is also encouraging. I really feel my current cardiologist just assumes certain things about me, especially the "emotional" component because I am a women. I'ts not that I don't want a doctor to look at the whole pciture including my emotional health but it seems he drones in on that more then real objective findings. I dunno I really think I would have been treated very differently as a man. At least at the CC I feel they are approaching this from a womens health perspective and I will be taken a lot more seriously. The nurse told me the doctor reviewing my records was generally concerned with the fact there was such a difference of opinion between doctors during my last hospitalization that we didnt come to a solid conclusion and she thinks this doctor and this test in particular may help do that. I'll let you all know about my experiences. From what I understand both the CC and the Mayo clinic have hospitals all over the country and they are the two leading hospitals for heart disease in the country. With the whole attention of Red Dress campaign, and recent studies showing statistics in heart disease in women, I think that these insitutions are in the forefront in advances in cardiology for women... let's see if I am correct.
- By Annie7
- Posted April 21, 2009 at 7:15 am
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I have had the stress echo twice. One of these times I was injected with a drug called Definity. Definity is used to define areas of the heart that may be obscured (sp) by Breast Artifact. I had a bad reaction to that drug and was paralyzed from the waist down for 20 minutes. (drug only lasts for 20 minutes) This reaction is very rare. Next time they used another drug to define Breast Artifact and I did not have a reaction. I did well on this test and lasted 11 minutes on the threadmill. Nothing more alarming showed up that did not show up on my Adenosine/Cardiolite Stress Tests. This afternoon I have a Dobutermine Stress Test. Good Luck To You.
- By mboopy65
- Posted April 21, 2009 at 10:16 am
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Hi Heartache,
I, too, had a stress echocardiogram and was advised that it is quite accurate in determining the functionality of all of the components of our heart - stress while working, length of time for recovery and picking up on any areas of blockage/narrowing.
Good luck with your test and let us know - I agree with the less invasive testing and no exposure to radioactive dyes, etc.
- By Winglover
- Posted April 21, 2009 at 11:19 am
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Welcome Heartache,
I have had a stress echo three times and it really is no big deal. You do the same treadmill test except when you are at your maximum target heart rate they have you stop and quickly lay on a gurney. (Yes, you will be panting like a dog and sweating! ) Then they do the echo while your heart is still working hard. Not sure in your case how hard they make you go. I do not have a heart condition, just a very poor gene pool. My brother had a massive heart attack at 22. Both parents had bypass,CHF, Hypertension,etc. Along with my 16 year old son who has Dilated Cardiomyopathy. I have asked since my brother died in 1984 to be worked up for fear it was something familial and was laughed at! Most doctors just thought that I was being neurotic. I was sure I was going to die before my 23rd birthday. Well, hear I am 45, and it took both my parents deaths to get someone to take me seriously. And I am a nurse for God's sake working in an ICU. Go figure! I prefer this type of stress test any day. My son just had one that included a pulmonary function test and he had to run with all sorts of tubes in his mouth and his nose plugged. I would have gagged the whole time. Best of luck to you!
Lisa
- By kathybg
- Posted April 21, 2009 at 2:34 pm
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Dear heartache-have had several stress echos done & will have more periodically because I'm on heart transplant list. They have you do the treadmill w/supervision of course & an echo is done prior , during and after. Not bad, just tiring & info gained is more revealing than alot of regular tests. Let me know how you make out. Good luck & blessings, Kathy
- By beckym
- Posted April 21, 2009 at 8:58 pm
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Hi Heartache--I am one more who has had the stress echo and my cardiologist (who happens to be a woman associated with CC) believes it is the best at showing how the heart is functioning and that's good enough for me. I have been told that the nuclear tests are notorious for giving false positives in women, but if they aren't accurate, why do they do them??
Good luck with your test and isn't it nice to have a test you don't have to study for. Becky
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