I got to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale about 10 minutes early. After checking in and waiting for 15 min., I was led to a back room. After changing into a gown-top (it was like a short smock, so I was able to still wear my bottoms), the exercise physiologist asked me a series of questions and took my blood pressure. (which was, btw, 90/62...pretty low, but that's normal for me) She then stuck a whole bunch of stickies on me and also fitted me with a fancy-shmancy heart rate monitor for the test. I thought ok, let's do it, time to walk...but nope, I had to wait for the ultrasound tech to come in and take photos/video of my heart.
THAT part was the long part. The tech took a lot of photos/videos and I was able to watch it on the monitor. It was almost kind of cool and creepy at the same time to watch my heart beating and contracting right there on the computer screen. It was also somewhat uncomfortable with her pushing around with her little wand that was covered in goo.
After the ultrasound was over, time for the treadmill. I figured this would be a cakewalk (no pun intended)...I mean, really, I am a self-proclaimed gym rat who exercises religiously, how bad could it be? The exercise physiologist started me out walking slow at no incline...easy peasy. After a couple minutes, she took my blood pressure (while I was walking) and increased the speed + incline. The target heart rate they wanted me to get up to was 159, and it was still hovering around 110, so a long ways to go. After another couple minutes, she increased the speed + incline yet again. Not too bad..I could still hold a conversation. Heart rate was climbing, but still not even close to 159. After 11-12 minutes, the speed + incline was increased to the point where was I had to run...ok, let me tell you, I'm used to running...BUT NOT at a 16 incline and NOT wearing a hospital gown that was flapping open, exposing all to see (and no bra). Shit, now this was challenging...running at such an intense incline (fast) while trying to keep my gown together with one hand...ok, not easy. In fact, I was starting to get nauseous, but thank god, my heart rate was up and beyond 159. The exercise physiologist asked if I could go another minute and I was like, um NO...so she slowed it down (rapidly) and I immediately had to roll over back onto the table for more pictures. (literally stop drop and roll within 5 seconds before my heart rate dipped back down)
After this was all done, I was able to get dressed in my normal clothes and wait for the cardiologist to examine the results and get back to me. I didn't have to wait too long, only long enough for me to down 6 oz. of V-8 (low sodium version, yuck) and read a little of an outdated issue of Cosmo. The doc came in and was delighted that everything looked great. She even said I was 'quite fit' since it took a long time to get my heart rate up that high...with out-of-shape people, it only takes a couple minutes for this to happen, and with me, it took almost 15 minutes. I was glad to hear that...maybe I'm not to out of shape after all! The best news though, was that the echo looked good and there was nothing on the pics to be alarmed or concerned about. She just told me to start taking a baby aspirin daily to avoid blood clots. Cool, I can do that!
So, all in all, it was a good afternoon. I am happy that nothing was wrong and that I got a clean bill of health. This of course, is no excuse to go live all indulgent (I still have super high Cholesterol), but I can now worry less and still continue on with living healthfully. Rock on!
BG
