A stress test does not have to be too stressful, but it does have to be done carefully. We will tailor your examination to you so that your referring provider gets the best possible information as soon as possible. Exercise and Lexiscan (Regadenoson) exams are done routinely. The results are faxed to the referring provider the next business day.
INSTRUCTIONS TO PATIENTS:
Your procedure could take up to 3 hours. For women over 200 pounds and men over 250 pounds, your test may be done over 2 separate days.
Please bring your medications or a list of your medications with you.
Unless your physician tells you otherwise, please take your medications the day of the procedure, as you would normally do. PLEASE NOTE THIS EXCEPTION: Be sure you check with your doctor if you are having a stress test that does not involve the treadmill and you are taking oral persantine (“dipyridamole”) or theophylline. You need to do this three days prior to your procedure, since you might have to stop the medication in order to take your test. If this is not okay with your doctor, we will schedule another test.
Patients with diabetes: please take one-half of your prescribed diabetic medication if this is okay with your doctor.
Please, absolutely NO caffeine or decaffeinated products for 24 hours before your test. No regular or decaffeinated coffee, tea, soda, or chocolate. Many over the counter medications, such as Excedrin, also contain caffeine, so please check labels carefully. All patients may have a small meal 2 hours prior to the test, such as a piece of toast and juice or a small sandwich and fruit.
Please wear comfortable clothing, such as jogging shorts, sweat pants, or slacks. You will need rubber-soled shoes, such as tennis shoes, if your test requires you to walk on a treadmill.
If you are a female under the age of 60 and you are to have a Nuclear exam, you will need to come to the office 2 days prior to your procedure for a pregnancy test. (Exceptions: If you have had a hysterectomy, tubal ligation, or are in definite menopause, a pregnancy test is not required.) Active menstruation is not a valid means of determining the absence of pregnancy. Please do not wear a shirt with metal snaps or an underwire bra.
If your insurance requires authorization, it is your responsibility to make certain it is done.
If you have any questions, please call us!