Anyone had a Bicycle Stress Echo?

[Susan BAV]

I had a stress echo done today, unlike any stress test I've ever had but it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as the treadmill was to me. They did a thorough echo first and then strapped my feet into a bicycle thing at the end of the (same) echo table. They continued to do some echo pictures while I was bicycling and then took more pictures once I'd reached my peak.

The cardio said I did "great," so I'm really happy about that ; it's been ten months since my bicuspid valve was replaced. He said that the valve and heart and lungs are all strong and healthy . Another nice thing was that I didn't feel sick after the test, like the last time that I was on a cardio's treadmill, with the old stenosed valve .

One other thing was that my mitral valve has mild to moderate regurgitation; I was hoping that it would be all better with the new aortic valve.

My EF was 55% resting and only 65% stressed! With the old valve, it was 75% resting!!! Much better now !

Toward the bottom of the report it says that complete stress data and findings are on a separate report. I don't have a copy of that yet so I'll have to call for it I guess and then try to figure it out later.

SO, HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THE BICYCLE STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAM?

 

[Susan BAV]

And wow , am I sore today, on both sides of my scar... Ouch! Really sore!

No one else has had the bicycle stress test/echo...?

 

[Susan BAV]

Thirty-seven peeks so far and nobody else has ever had a bicycle stress test? Has anyone else ever heard of them? I hadn't, that I recall, before yesterday.

 

[Harpoon]

EONS ago... Like 1982 or 1983 I think...

I remember going to Buffalo Children's Hospital (where I had my first OHS after I was born) and, after a variety of tests including an echo, they strapped me up and stuck me on a stationary bike for a while.

I remember doing it, I remember getting to see my heart on the monitor for the echo (they used to expose medium format type film cartridges to the monitor to make still images of the exam) and a few other details, including losing a little catalog of G.I Joe merchandise out the window of the car on the drive home.


So yes, I was on a bicycle for a stress test once. Beyond that, I can't tell you much about it. I was only 9 or 10 years old at the time... =)


I think most places use treadmills now because it's a little easier for folks who might be overweight/obese to get on and off them rather than a bike. Plus there's a stability thing, it's easier to catch yourself on the siderails of a treadmill if you get wobbly than maintain your balance on a bike.

It's probably easier to get someone off a treadmill in an emergency than it is a bike too.


Plus, some people can't ride bikes very well but most people can walk.


Wonder what they would do to give a paraplegic (or a quad) a stress test.


Hmmmmmm.....

 

[Susan BAV]

I appreciate you posting, Harpoon! Thanks !

I think this test was different from what you described though. The top end of the table was where I was lying for the echo and at the bottom end of the table was something like an exercise bike. After they did a thorough echo, I stayed on the table and they strapped my feet to the pedals and had me pedal, while lying on my back, directing me to continue a certain revolution, approximately once a second, and every minute they adjusted the machine to become more difficult. So, there was no balancing on my part needed.

The technician said the machine was made especially for them and, as I had never seen or heard of one before, I wondered if any of you have ever seen one or heard of it. Lying next to the echo machine, they were able to continue some echo photos as I operated the "bicycle," and they could immediately see my heart's response to the exertion, which became pretty intense (as are all stress tests of course). They were simultaneously running an EKG and had a blood pressure cuff on my right arm.

In another room they had an older lady on a treadmill and that's actually what I thought I was going to be doing.

Also, this bicycle thing either wasn't nearly as unpleasant as a treadmill or I am that much better with the new valve. Because, aside from soreness today around my sternum incision, I'm fine !

 

[M&M]

Yes - I had a bike echo

Yes - I had a bike echo

Hi Susan, I had a bicycle stress echo - I think it was in March of this year. It was shortly before my surgery. I had, had a regular echo - just laying down - but I didn't think it was accurate and I had no faith in the results. I think the reason being is that when I just layed there I could breath fine. It was when I exerted myself that my 'breathing' became very difficult. So I told my EP doc - this test isn't any good. I did some research and finally suggested we do a stress echo - I thought they were going to put me on the treadmill when I arrived for the appt. I soon found out they had a bicycle. I had never done that kind of echo. I think it gave a much better picture of what was happening. My EF was much lower and I showed NO increase in my EF rate as I exerted myself. The doctor who read my echo - stated he things were getting worse for me as far as my ability to exercise.

I think they put me on a bicycle - because the docs are always afraid I'll go into VT and I generally did when I got on a treadmill. They always 'stopped' the test - I guess they were afraid I'd get 'shocked' while running.

On the bike I still had a couple vt's at the ending - but of course I'm sitting - so I think the felt it was 'safer' for me.. I don't think I've had many vt's since I had my vavle replaced. Its amazing how 'quiet' everything is.. I hope it lasts. But "Right" after my surgery I had some arrhythmia - but I have hardly any arrhythmia now.. Couple of flib flubs is about the extent of my arrhythmia.. Its soooo much better - I hope it lasts forever like this..

From now on if they want any more echos on me - I'm going to ask for the bike or the treadmill. NO more echos just laying there. They just don't give an accurate picture for my lifestyle. It took me several mos to try and figure out why the regular echo was showing good - but yet I couldn't walk, talk and breath some days.. and why wasn't the echo showing this. I even went so far as to tell my doc - I won't have anymore echos - I don't have any faith in them.. He was rather upset and said I had to have echos in order for him to tell how my valve was. Well, I said - my valve is lousy - and your echo isn't showing the true picture. I want a stress test.. I didn't know they could do stress echos.. Learn something new everyday.. It certainly answered alot of my questions and his. I highly recommend this type of echo - bike. I think the treadmill would have shown my valve worse. As somedays I couldn't breath at all and others I was fine - I think this was due to my vt's... I had so many some days.

I hope all is going well for you. It looks like your EF has improved since your surgery.

Best Wishes

Runner
Marilyn, **** and Judy

 

[Susan BAV]

Thanks so much for the post, Marilyn! I'm very glad you are so much better after your surgery. Isn't this a terrific site to share experiences?

Best wishes!

 

[M&M]

Yes Susan, this board has been wonderful. I've learned alot, laughed alot and even managed to cry once or twice - but most of all I've shared some 'wonderful' experiences - with some wonderful very caring people - some day I should meet you all.

I wrote my last message so quickly - I should have mentioned I had moderate to several mitral regurgitation diagnosed from a "regular echo". But I think the bike echo was 'really' more informative. Even though my numbers on my regular echo were not good - and more than qualified me for surgery - I think the bike echo was more accurate.
I'm sure to have 'echoed' you out by now..

I hope this information was helpful. I like to share info with others as I've learned so much from so many.

I'm so glad things looked good on your recent bike stress echo test.
I have alot of confidence in the bike 'echo'..

Plus, biking is FUN..

Best Wishes
Marilyn, **** and Judy
Runner

 

[Abbanabba]

I had a bike test in '97, but it was a regular exercise bike.... I've never heard of anything like the one you had.

Unfortunately I've dislocated my knee on several occasions, so bikes and I tend not to get along very well and I had to stop the test fairly early on - not because of my heart, but because my knee wasn't coping at all.

Anyway, the cardio that did my "second opinion" wrote my exercise capacity didn't apprear to be diminishing because I performed better on my last stress echo (a treadmill earlier this year) than on my '97 test. Because he didn't bother to talk to me about this, he has no idea as to WHY and thus deemed that I'm fine and dandy and am just working myself into a state about nothing.
GRRRRRRR!!!!!

There were a few other things he took completely out of context, but that's a whole 'nother thread..!!!

Harpoon -
Re your cheeky question about paraplegics..... maybe they give them an adrenaline shot to get the ol' ticker racing.....(..just a thought..).

A : )