Question:
Seeking A Facility for a Stress Test with Treadmill that will accomodate 400+ lbs.
I live in the Niagara Falls N.Y. area.The hospitals that I have tried all have weight limits. Also how is a Dobuttamine Stress Echo different? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks loads, Gods Blessings, Debi — Debi H. (posted on August 1, 2003)
August 1, 2003
Because I was so large 350 and I had a bad leg muscle the hospital did what
they call stress test in a bottle.It made me feel like I had a hangover ten
times over for about 8 minutes.The test totally duplicates you running 12
minutes at 16% incline.Although this is a very rough test it gave the
Doctor all the information needed and was agreat help in getting my Surgery
approved.I hope this helps...
— Lisa B.
August 1, 2003
Dobutamine is a drug that increases your heart rate to simulate activity,
so all you do is lay there, no trotting on a treadmill. After they get a
target heart rate they do the echo or EKG.
— Sungurl B.
August 1, 2003
I live in Pittsburgh, PA and all the surgeons here would operate on someone
of your size. This area is actually known for its bariatric surgery and
one of our surgeons was an inventor of the Lap rny process. The names of
the locals that I know would operate are Dr. Giselle Hamad of Magee Womens
Hospital, Dr. Philip Schauer and associates of Magee Womens Hospital, Dr.
Anita Courcoulas of UPMC Shadyside Hospital, and Dr. Quinlin of UPMC St.
Margrets Hospital. The UPMC hospital system has places to stay post op in
Pittsburgh for patients that are far from home.
Amy
— Amy S.
August 2, 2003
my doctor ordered a stress test for me. i agreed becuase the last time they
did this awful IV test that is lie ka treadmill with drugs to spead up your
heart (it was terrible i said never again) when i got tot he test the
doctor there told me "you are too fat for this test, "when i
replyed " is there somehting else i can do then?" he siad
"there is nothing else we can do for you!" and turned and walked
out! i was so mortified. i will never forget how horrible it is to be a
Super morbidly obese person and how horrible people tend to treat us.
— janetc00
August 2, 2003
I also was sent to do a stress test last year which was not related to my
quest for WLS. When I arrived the doctor who was to perform the test said
that he couldnt do it because of my size. Apparently in Michigan there is
a state law that prohibits anyone over 350 undergoing a stress test due to
the fact that it has caused serious problems and even death in some MO
patients who have had them. The doctor just did an echo on me instead to
make sure my heart was ok. In a way I think that may be a plus to helping
get WLS when the only way to get proper medical teatrment is to lose
weight.
— ImANewDee
August 2, 2003
I had the Persantine stress test done. It was not a pleasant experience,
but it only takes less than 10 minutes for the "stress" portion
of the test. Some people have no symptoms. Others, like me, have some
pretty intense symptoms such as flushing, heaviness in the chest, headache,
nausea. I think as long as you are prepared to have the worst of the
symptoms, you can make it through. The test is performed in a very safe
environment and you are carefully monitored. While you may feel like you
are dying, rest assured everything will be ok.
— Nancy B.
August 2, 2003
Hit the internet!!! My internist's nurse supposedly spent 2 weeks trying
to find a place. I was 442. She could not find one. Took me 1 search on
the internet and 1 phone call to find a hospital 80 miles away. Took a
total of 3 calls to find one 20 minutes away. She didn't try real hard. I
had insurance I could go anywhere, so that should have made it even
easier.
<p>I did a "WI Hospitals" search, which gave me all the
hospitals or by areas of the state, I don't remember. I then started
calling the Milwaukee hospitals as I figured the big city was my best bet.
I called the main hospital number, asked for the area that does stress
tests and then explained the situation to the person in that department.
They were very helpful and could get me in within 2 days. I then called a
hospital in Green Bay and they told me their table had a limit of 400 lbs
but that one in Appleton had a table that went quite high. Indeed they
did. That was the 3rd call. They also could get me in within 2 days.
Needless to say I gave the nurse a piece of my mind and told her to
finalize the paperwork for the appointment. I had the Cardiolite Stress
Test. Both hospitals that could do it prefer to do it over 2 days on the
SMO. They said they get better results. I actually walked on the treadmil
but if you are not able to do that then they can do it with drugs for that
portion. Everything went find and I got my okay.
<p>So don't take no. Just do the legwork yourself. You may have a
hassle with insurance but the bottom line is if the facilities that are
in-network cannot accommodate you then they have to cover an out-of-network
facility fully. If they say no, fight them hard. Otherwise they are
denying you medically necessary treatment and for that you can sue them.
Good Luck! You can do it!!!!! Chris
— zoedogcbr
August 4, 2003
I had the dobutamine echo, and I will say that the pressure that they had
to put on me in order to get good pictures was very uncomfortable. The IV
drugs didn't make me sick (like some said), but the my breastbone and ribs
were bruised from the pressure they used trying to get good pics. My BMI
is in the mid-fifties.
— Christy L.
August 4, 2003
I had a dobutamine stress test 5 yrs ago when I was just under 400 lbs. The
drug are great, you do become symptomatic during testing (flushing,
sweating, shortness of breath, chest pain) but you are there with a
cardiologist aside from the tech doing the imaging, HOWEVER, as I found out
from a BETTER cardiologist this year anyone - especially women close to 400
lbs should not have these tests. Aside from the fact that their tables
aren't able to hold the 400 lbs - the excessive weight DEGRADES the images.
A previous poster stated they had pain and bruising from where the tech has
to push so hard on your body. And as women we are harder to image due to
breast tissue. I'm 443 and waiting for surgery approval. After the
explaination from the cardiologist (who specializes in female cardiology)
and reading the research she cited I ended up having a heart cath and an EP
study. Due to my size, current medical problems, medical history and that
of my family medical history it was decideed these 2 tests would give the
best picture of my heart. They can also measure the pressures in your
heart which is especially significant info. for your anesthesiologist. You
didn't specify why they want you to have a stress test but I would strongly
suggest you get a second opinion and wish you luck finding a facility that
can test you. I would still be suspect of their findings. E-mail me if
you have any further questions. I wish you well.
— Deborah F.
August 5, 2003
The Cardiolite Stress test doesn't have any machine pushing against your
body. You are injected with a medication, but not the stuff that causes
the heart to work harder, just to help them see things clearly. Then you
lay on the table and they position the x-ray/camera, or whatever it is over
your chest and it's placed quite close but does not touch. The table and
machine are very open so no chance of clostrophobia (sp?). It depends on
how you are built also. I do not have a large chest and therefore did not
have tons of breast tissue to cloud the picture. Also the tables that are
rated for higher weights have different systems to get through the fat and
get clear pictures. I would find out which test they want you to have and
be sure it has a pretty good chance of working well or ask about some of
the other tests available. Chris
— zoedogcbr
Click Here to Return