Bad experiance during stress thellium test.

I just had this test today I had not had one for 5 years. Last time during the exercise part I walked the treadmill. This time because they thought the PM might interfere with the readings they decided to inject the chemical to increase heart rate.
I told them last time I had no problem with the treadmill but they insisted, I think mostly to save time. I told them i have VasoVagal Syncope and I thought it was a bad idea. But I was assured the side affects are minor at worst.
NOT MINE!! My blood pressure dropped out of sight, I got sick, went into a hard sweat and my vision got very blurry. My PM is set for rate drop it took off and tried to solve the problem but it wasn't enough. As the pacer rate drop went down I got hit again. They stopped the procedure and it took over 15 minutes to come out of this. The RN said she had done this for 20 years and never saw a reaction like this. So just a warning to my friends out there with VVS or NCS look out for Vagal dilators this is a very helpless feeling when you have the reaction I did. Bowlrbob

4 Comments

Oh Bob...

by Pookie - 2010-04-14 10:04:46

I am SO sorry to hear what you just went thru.

OMG. That is terrible.

Guess they didn't listen to you when you told them it was a bad idea and IF it was meant to save time, well, that really irks me.

I know it's over and done with, but I'd be writing a letter to someone. WHO decided the PM "might" interfere with the readings?? That doesn't make sense to me. In that case EVERYONE with a pacer would have to have the chemical.

I hope you're feeling better now. And thanks for sharing as this is good information to have!!!!!!!!!!!

Take care bud,
Pookie

Chemical Stress Test

by ElectricFrank - 2010-04-15 01:04:48

Exactly the same story I got. I refused to take a chem stress test after doing some research on the web. I was told that a treadmill test couldn't be done since I had a pacemaker. This was patently false since my DDD mode of the pacer tracks normal HR changes with exercise. In fact the treadmill test is actually more indicative of exercise tolerance than the chemical test.

I also found that the potential adverse effects are greater than I was told. I got the usual response that I should just leave it to them.

This just points up the need to take responsibility for your medical care. If you have any misgivings about a procedure and it isn't immediately necessary then refuse it until you get answers.

One thing that works well is to read the release form that states the potential outcomes of a procedure. Don't accept verbal statements that the form overstates the adverse reactions etc. I just tell them "fine,I will write my understanding on the bottom of the form and we both will initial it". They want you to take all the risks while they cover their back side.

for what it is worth,

frank

Nuclear Stress Test

by ChicagoKim - 2010-04-15 02:04:42

I just had the nuclear (chemical) stress test. Luckily, it went well for me. I got short of breath and felt light-headed, but just for a minute or so.

What I want to share is that they used something relatively new on the market called "lexiscan" instead of adenosine, which is used most often. The techs said that the side effects of lexiscan are not nearly as bad as adenosine or the other options.

Sorry you had such a bad experience. I did not do the treadmill part as I was having chest pain on exertion at the time.

Kim

Sue

by ElectricFrank - 2010-04-16 02:04:18

Good going! I realize it is difficult to be assertive when you are laying on the table hooked up. Just look at it this way: if you were told to walk across a freeway during rush hour and told the warning signs were just procedure, would you do it?

I know I am strange (different). One ER doc jokingly told me that if were lying on the table in full cardiac arrest and dying, he would expect me to be telling him what settings to use on the defib. You know he is right! I become the most actively involved when it is the most important.

frank

You know you're wired when...

You need to be re-booted each morning.

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Hi, I am 47 and have had a pacemaker for 7 months and I’m doing great with it.