My Nuclear Stress Test

Today I had my first very nuclear stress test. It was done at my doctor’s diagnostic center instead of in a hospital. I was not afraid of it, but I would have appreciated knowing a bit more about it ahead of time.

Before the test I was given the usual set of instructions on how to prepare. I was told to not take my blood pressure medication the night before. I couldn’t’ have chocolate, caffeine, or decaffeinated beverages or herbal tea for 24 hours before the test. I had to refrain from all food for four hours preceding the test. I was encouraged to drink lots of water. I was told to bring a snack that did not contain either caffeine or chocolate. I brought a tangerine, Wheat Thins, nuts, and dried fruit.

I arrived at the diagnostic center at 10 AM as instructed. I was ushered into a room where I needed to remove my underwear on top, but was allowed to put my T-shirt back on. They hooked me up to the EKG monitor in the room that had the treadmill. They took my blood pressure. And they inserted an IV with some radioactive material into my right arm. I was surprised that the IV was a complete unit not attached to anything outside of me, and was only about 6-8 inches long. I could move from room to room without something big to which I was attached following me. After the IV was inserted, I was taken across the hall to the scanner. I needed to be hooked up to another set of EKG monitors (the others had been removed), and I was given two glasses of plain water to drink. The table on which I was to lie was very narrow and long. They made me as comfortable with pillows and support under my knees as possible. The only thing I found uncomfortable that I wasn’t prepared to expect was that my arms had to remain above my head.