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Stress test

Posted , 11 users are following.

carlene22578
carlene22578

Due to chest pains have to do stress test next Thursday. I am on 13.5mg pred....take 10mg in morning and 3.5 before bed. Cannot have anything to eat or drink 12 hrs prior to test. Told I can take the morning pred but won't b able to have any food with it so afraid of getting sick. Any advise appreciated!

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • jones10939
    jones10939 carlene22578

    Posted

    TYou might try a spoonful of yoghurt - my GP suggest this for a medication which wa to be without food.
  • lynda62707
    lynda62707 carlene22578

    Posted

    Hi Carlene, have u taken prednisone before with no food? I have a Very Sensitive stomach ( I'm nauseous quite often), but even I don't seem 2 have a problem taking 16.5mg. in the am on an empty stomach. We're all different, but just wondering if you've actually tried taking it w/no food? Btw....have you ever had a stress test before? I had one a few years back, and almost Killed myself! Lol, lol!

    • carlene22578
      carlene22578 lynda62707

      Posted

      Have never tried without food but will give it a shot. Never had a test before but certainly not looking forward to it. Lol. Thanks for the info. Will let you know how it turns out.
    • lynda62707
      lynda62707 carlene22578

      Posted

      Please do keep me informed (both of the prednisone AND the stress test! ....sorry, I didn't mean to "freak" you out about the test....it's not painful or anything like that! It's just that I'd never been on a treadmill before and almost "crashed" a couple of times! Also, I was SO danged outta breath at the end, I thought I'd die! Believe it or not, I passed!! Lol lol

  • MariGrace
    MariGrace carlene22578

    Posted

    I have done that (failed it....thought I did o.k.!)

    Was allowed to take the pred with a sip of water. My dose is 10mg today, adding a new 5mg tonight due to a worsening flare.

    Have been going through many CT scans, an angiogram, EGD..all in the last 6 weeks. The doctors allow me to take my synthroid and the prednisone with a sip of water a few hours before the tests. It isn't a great solution because of the need to eat with the pred, but it is better than going without.

    Found out my heart is misbehaving possibly due to sleep apnea. Get the cpap next week. There is a valve issue, too.

    Two cardiologists are tag teaming the tests.

    Hope you get answers.

    MariGrace

    With the goal of getting better!

    • carlene22578
      carlene22578 MariGrace

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. Hope they can all help you! And I was dreading to have just 1 test. Have never had a heart issue so hope all is well. Good luck to you!
    • MariGrace
      MariGrace carlene22578

      Posted

      Thank you. I was kind of down a while today. My neck cranked up and my teeth hurt so with cold foods. I have had a disk replaced in the c spine, plus have had steroid injections in my spine before PMR. Now, on Eliquis for blood clots and a heart med because of skipped beats, they won't put me to sleep for the EGD to check the ulcers.

      It is distressing.

      Don't mind the tests until I have to stay awake. No more spine injections because I cannot stop the eliquis. Grrr.

      Thankfully, my friend, prednisone, helped the neck pain. Was up all last night pacing. Tonight, I will take 5 mg to see if sleep is possible.

      Have to learn to navigate this journey. My crp was up, but I resisted raising my dose. Uncle.

      So far no diagnosis of GCA, but do have some symptoms. The jaw, neck... sigh. Will be proactive ..

      Get a bit cranky for a short time, then... get over it. That doesn't help.

      Too many people in my family need a healthy me. That is the goal. Fighting, aggressively, is a good idea.

      You will be very carefully monitored during your stress test. I was afraid of the angiogram, but it was not difficult. The unknown is the issue.

      MariGrace. 17 months in the journey.

    • lynda62707
      lynda62707 MariGrace

      Posted

      Oh MariGrace, I'm soooo Sorry to hear of all your troubles. You've really had a full plate put before you. I can SO relate to much of what your problems are. I too, had a bleeding ulcer about 5yrs ago. Had to have 11 units of blood transfused! Actually, that's when my Long Journey of health problems began. While in the hospital, I had 2 have a central line as they couldn't get a good vein. During this process, they nicked my Phrenic nerve which goes 2 your diaphragm and helps in controlling your lungs and your ability 2 breathe. The upshot is, I now can't walk more than 100ft or so without getting completely winded, (much less climb stairs or do laundry etc!) We happen 2 live in an upstairs apt!😕. My oldest daughter and I live together. She has a seizure disorder, so my life is Never dull! Then, a few years ago, I was dx w/Crohns disease...Ughhh....and now, 2 1/2 mo. ago, pmr!! God, we all have our stories don't we?? Anyway, I know all about trying to be the Best you 4 everyone else!! And I'm also VERY mindful of not being grouchy, snappy, sick, or most of all, EMOTIONAL! As hard as I try, sometimes I fail miserably! All I can say is "hang in, don't give up and Just keep Swimming, swimming, swimming!! We're all in this together! Hugs to you....Lynda

    • MariGrace
      MariGrace lynda62707

      Posted

      Wow.  I am so sorry you have had such a hard time.  Thankfully, they caught my bleeding ulcer (in the esophagus) and the medicine the endo put me on - worked.  You are an over comer!!  

      My daughter, grandson and disabled brother live with us.  We call our home the "Rehab Inn."  We also call it "Dysfunction Junction" a lot of days!!  We are helping with my mother and father-in-law in assisted living.  My MIL has Alzheimer's.   Not complaining, we moved back home to do all this.  That was the plan.  The plan, however, did not include this new illness.  My husband and I would fly home to help our family and we decided that was not working.  We retired and moved back.

       

      This list has been a blessing as a new PMR learner.  The wisdom here is amazing.  Many have been on this journey a long time. 

      When my remission was entered with Behcet's I said, "I will never, ever take prednisone again!" 

      Well.  We see where that declaration ended.  biggrin  Now, it is my best friend for life and I'm not even worried about it anymore.  

      Life sure changes things.  Take care and thank you for writing.  My sincere hope is for the best for you and every other person on the PMR journey.  It has a life of its own - so many ups and downs.

      Blessings,  MariGrace  

    • lynda62707
      lynda62707 MariGrace

      Posted

      Lol lol....I'm gonna "steal" dysfunction junction if it's alright w/you!? It's PERFECT! Wow, sooo much in common. My sweet mom passed of Alzheimer's a few years ago. That IS one ugly, ugly disease! The day my mom didn't recognize me, I thought I'd die of heartbreak! I think that's one disease that's quite possibly harder on everyone else than the patient. Also, my pmr seems 2 affect me more in my neck, jaw, fingers, and wrists than many others I read about. Also my back....Ohhh my aching back! Anyway, so glad we connected. Please keep me posted!

  • margaret53690
    margaret53690 carlene22578

    Posted

    Hey!  When I had scheduled my stress test, they told me that obviously I couldn't do the physical one, so I got the chemical one instead!  

    • lynda62707
      lynda62707 margaret53690

      Posted

      What the WHAT?? What chemical test? No one told me about that possibility! I'll be darned. You mean I could've avoided all that Brutality? #Communication w/ your patient!

    • carlene22578
      carlene22578 margaret53690

      Posted

      That is what I will have also. I asked when they called to schedule. Just b glad when it's over!

  • nick67069
    nick67069 carlene22578

    Posted

    If it is a stress test for your heart/lungs function it is usually done on the treadmill or bicycle. Intensity is gradually increased until you max out - cannot do any higher intensity. During the test cardiologist monitors how your heart performs under load and if there is any change in the waveform.  There is nothing to worry about... I have done it every 5 years or so since I was 40 to make sure that I can exercise without any limitations/concern.
  • EileenH
    EileenH carlene22578

    Posted

    A single dose of pred taken with just water is unlikely to cause problems - it is long term use that can irritate the stomach.

    Is this a "physical" stress test? By that I mean on a treadmill or stationary cycle? Do you think you will be able to do it? One of the questions they are supposed to ask is whether you have any problems that might limit you - and. let's face it, PMR is a physically limiting disorder! I was able to to a fair bit on the cycle but not enough for the entire test so was then sent for the version they do with medication.

    Nick is right - it's nothing to be worried about but I know I couldn't do the treadmill version because I wouldn't manage to get to a high enough intensity because of the PMR. I did try the cycle version. So did my husband - but it was stopped early because it triggered atrial fibrillation in him! He felt fine - only the doctor was bothered. To be honest the physical test is less unpleasant than the medication version - it isn't too bad either but you are given medication to make your heart beat harder and faster. You are under constant medical supervision and as soon as they have finished they give you another drug to stop the fast heart rate but it does leave you with a very dry mouth for a couple of hours.

    • lynda62707
      lynda62707 EileenH

      Posted

      That sounds awful, however the treadmill almost "Killed" me, and that was BEFORE pmr!!

    • carlene22578
      carlene22578 EileenH

      Posted

      Thanks for the info....i. will b doing the chemical test. Will just be glad when it is over.My EKG and bloodwork was good when I went to the ER for the chest pain so hoping that is a good sign
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