Nuclear treadmill test...OUCH!
#27
Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Minnesota/Arizona and between
Bikes: Bike Friday All-Day (ebike), Terry Classic, Serotta FIerte, Trek Cali carbon hardtail, 1969 Schwinn Collegiate, Kona Explosif hardtail, Catrike VIllager
The worst for me with medical tests is waiting in anxious anticipation. Good to see that there was a cancellation. I also have asthma and on exertion I will get burning lungs and cough, exercise induced asthma. I worry that sometime I will have a heart event and think it is asthma.
Good luck!
Good luck!
#28
Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: North Granby, CT
I had the very same test a few years back after a single incident of A-fib that resolved on its own. The test was nothing and if I recall if it glows it's good! The nurse kept asking if I felt ok but the treadmill felt like being 5 miles into a 50 mile ride...piece of cake.
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,082
Likes: 24
From: Southern CaliFORNIA.
Bikes: KHS Alite 500, Trek 7.2 FX , Masi Partenza, Masi Fixed Special, Masi Cran Criterium
Well . . . I kinda miss the read meat but don't mind too much since I actually like chicken and have gotten to prefer it. Every morning m/f I have this at 8:00 am;

That is the time Raul's taco truck gets to the workplace, so I lunch early, then snack on fruit the rest of the day. Pollo asada del carbon. I would pack lunch, but that is not always easy on the bike, so I have modified the "Subway Jarred" diet. This is roughly equivalent to his 6" turkey, though a little higher in monounsaturated fat and lean protean, and lower in carb. I get a most of my carbs from fruit and energy bars eaten in the saddle.
That is the time Raul's taco truck gets to the workplace, so I lunch early, then snack on fruit the rest of the day. Pollo asada del carbon. I would pack lunch, but that is not always easy on the bike, so I have modified the "Subway Jarred" diet. This is roughly equivalent to his 6" turkey, though a little higher in monounsaturated fat and lean protean, and lower in carb. I get a most of my carbs from fruit and energy bars eaten in the saddle.
#30
Well . . . I kinda miss the read meat but don't mind too much since I actually like chicken and have gotten to prefer it. Every morning m/f I have this at 8:00 am;

That is the time Raul's taco truck gets to the workplace, so I lunch early, then snack on fruit the rest of the day. Pollo asada del carbon. I would pack lunch, but that is not always easy on the bike, so I have modified the "Subway Jarred" diet. This is roughly equivalent to his 6" turkey, though a little higher in monounsaturated fat and lean protean, and lower in carb. I get a most of my carbs from fruit and energy bars eaten in the saddle.
That is the time Raul's taco truck gets to the workplace, so I lunch early, then snack on fruit the rest of the day. Pollo asada del carbon. I would pack lunch, but that is not always easy on the bike, so I have modified the "Subway Jarred" diet. This is roughly equivalent to his 6" turkey, though a little higher in monounsaturated fat and lean protean, and lower in carb. I get a most of my carbs from fruit and energy bars eaten in the saddle.
#31
a77impala
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 13
From: Central South Dakota
Bikes: 04=LeMond Arravee, 08 LeMond Versailles, 92 Trek 970
I had chest pains several years ago, had the nuclear test, doc said nothing wrong with my heart! On my own stopped my prescription meds, pain went away, culprit, Hytrin, for enlarged prostate. I haven't taken anything but OTC meds since.
Good luck to you!
Good luck to you!
#32
Si Senior
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 11
From: Naperville, Illinois
Bikes: Too Numerous (not)
I had one a few years back --and I was in the middle of training for a marathon. A normal stress test showed exertional PVCs so they ordered a nuclear. Because I was in training and it was a teaching hospital the room was crowded with med students wanting to see a marathoner on a treadmill test. Or maybe an accident waiting to happen. Getting the nuclear injection wasn't bad. Weird part was being strapped to a table immediately after pushing to exhaustion. Sweating like crazy and breathing hard while gyrating around with a giant sensor all around me. Being in a hospital you should be quite safe no matte what happens. That's what they told me.
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Summerville SC
Bikes: 2012 Caad 8 105; 1994 Trek 5500
#35
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
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From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
I can relate about heart trouble but I haven't had the nuclear test - mine is in the left chamber and they can do Doppler with the ultrasound to get the flow rates. I understand that the nuclear dye is to look at the smaller passages like your coronary arteries.
I've had treadmill + echo which worked ok - I had a moment to recover while I lay down and I lost some of the stress for their picture.
I've had "cycling" echo which was a fiasco. In theory they can take the shot while you are pedaling. But the rig had me flat on my back and the pedal strokes kept me jiggling too much to get a shot. It was intended for people who can't even sit up, I guess. Waste of a whole morning to go downtown and wait and do the test.
I've had treadmill + echo which worked ok - I had a moment to recover while I lay down and I lost some of the stress for their picture.
I've had "cycling" echo which was a fiasco. In theory they can take the shot while you are pedaling. But the rig had me flat on my back and the pedal strokes kept me jiggling too much to get a shot. It was intended for people who can't even sit up, I guess. Waste of a whole morning to go downtown and wait and do the test.
#38
Beer Knurd
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Just over your left shoulder...
Bikes: CIÖCC (1996 Mirage)
"Alcohol is the anesthesia by which we endure the operation of life" ~ George Bernard Shaw
Hope all went well today!
#39
UPDATE: I had my test procedure done yesterday. As I sat under the imaging machine, while it took pictures of my heart, I couldn't help but be amazed at the minds of the men and women who devised the device and figured a way to use it to take images of a person's heart. Modern medicine, especially modern diagnostic medicine is truly something to marvel at. I felt as if I was in the sick bay of the USS Enterprise.
The test itself went fairly well. As the cardio cranked up the speed on the treadmill, he remarked that most cyclists hate running on the treadmill. I agree, I would have much preferred to take the stress test while riding a stationary bike, but oh well.
The treadmill test went well. The doc turned the monitor so that I could see how my heart was doing. I am used to riding with a HRM, so I know where my heart rate is at various part of the ride. But that is nothing compared to seeing the actual electrical impulses from my heart running across the screen, from right to left, as the doc took me up to 85% of my maximum rate. I am a tech-geek at heart and all of the medical gadgets really catch my attention.
The stress test went well and I only experienced mild chest discomfort towards the very end, after I had been at 85% for a little while. The doc kept talking to me during this part of the test and I was able to maintain, somewhat, a conversation with him.
I am scheduled to meet with him tomorrow morning to discuss the results of the test. The fact that he did not march me into the OR right after the test is a good sign--I think.
I will keep you posted on what the cardio tells me. I am hoping that the angina I have been experiencing is not a symptom of a bigger problem and that it can be taken care with some lifestyle changes and medication.
Thank you for your concerns, this is a wonderful community of Internet friends.
Dudelsack, I told my cardio: No pie For me.
The test itself went fairly well. As the cardio cranked up the speed on the treadmill, he remarked that most cyclists hate running on the treadmill. I agree, I would have much preferred to take the stress test while riding a stationary bike, but oh well.
The treadmill test went well. The doc turned the monitor so that I could see how my heart was doing. I am used to riding with a HRM, so I know where my heart rate is at various part of the ride. But that is nothing compared to seeing the actual electrical impulses from my heart running across the screen, from right to left, as the doc took me up to 85% of my maximum rate. I am a tech-geek at heart and all of the medical gadgets really catch my attention.
The stress test went well and I only experienced mild chest discomfort towards the very end, after I had been at 85% for a little while. The doc kept talking to me during this part of the test and I was able to maintain, somewhat, a conversation with him.
I am scheduled to meet with him tomorrow morning to discuss the results of the test. The fact that he did not march me into the OR right after the test is a good sign--I think.
I will keep you posted on what the cardio tells me. I am hoping that the angina I have been experiencing is not a symptom of a bigger problem and that it can be taken care with some lifestyle changes and medication.
Thank you for your concerns, this is a wonderful community of Internet friends.
Dudelsack, I told my cardio: No pie For me.
#42
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 10
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From: Grant, AL
Bikes: '11 Giant Defy 1, '09Specialized CrossTrail
Yep, we had a crappy treadmill on the 623 down in LL missile too, along the starboard side. It sat up high enough so that I always hit my head on a light fixture. Still have that scar.
Eja - Hope your test results came back with good results. My cardiologist always sends me away with a "keep doing what you are doing". Hope yours does too.
Eja - Hope your test results came back with good results. My cardiologist always sends me away with a "keep doing what you are doing". Hope yours does too.
#43
It's MY mountain

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,168
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From: Mt.Diablo
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
I didn't spend much time in Missile Compartment LL (610), but I think I remember just a bunch of nitrogen pipes and bilge water down there... our crappy old exercycle was in upper level so I saw it on every trip back to the engine room... I think only one guy used it... an O3 that was in pretty good shape and trying to not lose it all at sea.
#45
BTW, the staff at the cardio's office is super friendly, they made the procedure as stress-free as possible. At times I tend to be wound up a bit too tight. The nurses there made a huge difference.
I asked the nurse who injected me with the radioactive dye if it would make me glow in the dark. She said no, it would just make me hot...then she paused for a bit and added, "even hotter than you already are."
She is cute and I turned 50 shades of red...I guess she enjoyed doing that to me.
I asked the nurse who injected me with the radioactive dye if it would make me glow in the dark. She said no, it would just make me hot...then she paused for a bit and added, "even hotter than you already are."
She is cute and I turned 50 shades of red...I guess she enjoyed doing that to me.
#46
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 6,647
Likes: 97
From: South Hutchinson Island
Bikes: Lectric Xpedition.
I asked the nurse who injected me with the radioactive dye if it would make me glow in the dark. She said no, it would just make me hot...then she paused for a bit and added, "even hotter than you already are."
She is cute and I turned 50 shades of red...I guess she enjoyed doing that to me.
She is cute and I turned 50 shades of red...I guess she enjoyed doing that to me.

__________________
Momento mori, amor fati.
Momento mori, amor fati.
#47
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2013
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From: SW Fl.
Bikes: 1999 DAHON Mariner, Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Anytime you get to go home after a stress test you're doing OK. Hope the results are super positive.
#50
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2013
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From: Oahu, HI
Bikes: 89 Paramount OS 84 Fuji Touring Series III New! 2013 Focus Izalco Ergoride
UPDATE: I had my test procedure done yesterday. As I sat under the imaging machine, while it took pictures of my heart, I couldn't help but be amazed at the minds of the men and women who devised the device and figured a way to use it to take images of a person's heart. Modern medicine, especially modern diagnostic medicine is truly something to marvel at. I felt as if I was in the sick bay of the USS Enterprise.
scott s.
.






