Hi Jill: Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes. You will do fine :) The staff will monitor your BP and EKG while you complete the test and if you cannot go anymore, they will let you stop. They like to get your heartrate up so they can see your heart working under the stress of exercise.

Take something to read. My biggest issue was it took hours and most of it is hurry up and wait. Glad I had a book with me.

I think it depends on whether they use a dye or something right? I just had a plain stress test and it took just under 15-20 min I think and I was done. If you are on any beta blocker, ask the doc if you should stop it first. I was on metoprolol and it prevented my heart rate from going as high as they wanted. So, it messed up my test.

Oh, it said that on the paper about meds, I am on a calcium channel blocker, ubiquinol, vitamin D3, magnesium and one baby aspirin. I can't imagine needing a book, but guess I should just bring my tablet or kindle so I can play angry birds, or some other stupid game. LOL! It might actually help me if I have something dumb to distract me. Don't know if I could focus on a book enough to read, too nervous.
I was told to wear jogging shoes. You all don't know how nuts this makes me. I mean, I get anal over the whole darn thing. Should I wear my New Balance, or my brooks green silence shoes. Regular versus minimalist. I don't have any jogging clothes. that I'd wear out of the house anyway. I lost a lot of weight and they all just look like I'm wearing someone elses clothes. I was wearing size 12 pants, and I bought a pair same brand a few weeks ago, and the size 6 fit me, but now they are a little bit baggy. I swear it's all the darn veggies I've been eating.
It's a good thing, so I shouldn't complain too much about that.
I have no idea if there is dye involved, I don't think so.
What do you all do with this darn monitor? During the day I can hook it on my pants with a biner clip, but at night I had no where to put it. I kept waking up all night trying to locate it and make sure it wasn't on the floor. Or me laying on it. And nevermind trying to put a bra on. LOL! I gave up on that and just wore a jacket today. And then of course, the sun had to come out. So much for the viscious storm we were supposed to be having.
thanks all

Just want to add, I'm over analyzing this aren't I? You can tell me the truth, that I'm just wigging out.

Like I said, i don't recall it being an all day deal. 20 min and it was over. But as I said, I recall people with dye have to wait around a lot for results before they can go home.

I remember running on the treadmill and then they increased the incline quite rapidly until finally I thought it was going to throw me off. Mind you, I'm not in shape for sure. Whenever you tell them, they will stop it and you are done. They were trying to get my heart rate up to a certain amt and it wouldn't go that high due to my metoprolol. Just ask them if you have to stop any meds the morning of the test?

Mine was a nuclear stress test so dye was involved. They told me to reserve 6 hours and it took 5:45. I wore sweat pants, a tee shirt, New Balance shoes, and hair in a ponytail.

Okay, I'm quite sure then mine is not with dye. Only a couple hours. Light breakfast before coming. Guess I'll find some jogging pants or something, oh hey, I can just make mine smaller I think. Duh, sewing machine time. I really wanted to make a peasant top though, ha ha.
You all are making this sound not so bad.
I like the cardio office by the way, they were all so nice to me, I don't know that I want to switch to Kaiser now. I've finally found drs. that I actually like, take a lot of time with me to discuss things, and this was the bonus for me, siince I didn't go to a dr. since last nov. unless you count that crappy clinic where she kicked me out. I paid 45 bucks for them to weigh me, and then tell me they couldn't do a thing with me. So, I want to stay here at least for now.
With my husband retired, he doesn't really want to go back to his old job, but the medical insurance will be over 800 month. So, we are going to find our own. If anyone likes their insurance company let me know, as I'll be shopping around soon. right now I'm with United Health/ formerly pacificare. With a $30 co pay.

Jill,
This is not a test to see how well you can walk/run on a treadmill. You do not have to study or do any preparation for it. It is also not a test to measure your stress level. It is simply a test to see how your heart reacts when it is "stressed" by an increased heartrate that is produced by exercise. There is no pass or fail. They will not make you do any more than you can tolerate. Some people can't even do the treadmill at all and are given medication to increase their heartrate. The people conducting the test have seen athletes to avid couch potatoes and are not there to judge you or your fitness level, so relax!

I think I knew that, but I was worried that what if I can't go too far. She's making it sound like I have to walk up these stairs for an hour.
I haven't kept up with any activities since the afib, and I haven't even walked up too many stairs unless there is no choice. I panic when all I see are long flights of stairs. I know I piss everyone off in my family but I can't help it. I still park the furthest away possible when I go to the store even if it's raining. I haven't surfed, boogie boarded, ran or anything.

Wow this is all so interesting and it really points out what partners we are in our health situation. I mean we are partners with our doctors and staff. For my own situation I wonder how long it would have taken to get me straightened out IF my husband and I were not aware enough to play around with my atenolol dosage and timing to get rid of my light headed ness and at the same time still protect me from a fib.
Good for you having all of this knowledge and caring enough about your situation to keep tabs on it all.
Good luck with the stress test.
Peg

Gosh I replied to the wrong thread. In any case good luck with Your stress test too.

I know you will be fine. Because I was taking a beta blocker, my HR was 48 when I went in for my test. It took a longer time for my heart rate to rise, so I kept trotting away and finally..just as I began to think..'oh golly, gee whiz' or 'something' like that, lol..It was over. I wore my oldest most comfy gym shoes, and comfy tee shirt and comfy pants..be comfortable..it is all over so soon!!!! My best cheering wishes for YOU!!!

Don't stress over the stress test! Its no big deal. They hook you up to an ekg so they can see your heart beats and they take your blood pressure during the test.

You slowly walk on a treadmill. They make it more difficult by increasing th speed and the tilt.

Go to www.youtube.com and type in stress test in the search area and you can watch some being demonstrated.

I agree with everyone. If you don't have the dye, it's not bad at all. Over in minutes. Just make sure to ask them if you have to stop any meds. Then just go at it. Mine started out at fast walk and when to a run very quickly and the incline like they said. I guess it depends on who runs it.