Hey It's Just a Test

This morning I went for a stress test at the hospital. Here are some of the instructions.

Do not eat caffine for 24-hours. Okay, no problem, since when have I had to monitor caffine till at night you realize that you did in fact eat a Hersehey Chocolate bar. This test is doomed!

Wear loose fitting clothes. Do I own loose fitting clothes that I can wear outside my home?

No water or food after midnight. Why water? Well, I asked that question. They put this radioactive dye in your IV when you get there and then put you through a CT scan. I guess that is to show how your blood is moving through your heart (and possibly every place else). Then they put these probes on your chest, ask your bra size and a lot of other questions and then say "step up lady, you are going for a high tech walk/jog!". (Yes, I did ask why they wanted to know my bra size.) At the top speed of your upward jog, they give you some more dye. I guess, from how they explained it, all that dye heads to your heart instead of your stomach had you eaten or had water. So, all I could figure out is this dye wants in on the action and find where great amounts of energy are being extended.

No blood pressure medicine for two days. Well, if it wasn't high before, it is now.

Let them know 24 hours ahead of time if you can't make this appointment. I dreaded this appointment. How to get out of it.

Well, back to the CT scan. Another 15 minutes of not moving, sneezing, twiching, nose scratching, hiccuping, gaging, just plain hold your hands above your head and freeze. You may have intermitent breathing but to a bare minimum.

So, for all you who would like to spend a good part of your morning trying to find visitors parking and then the radioloy area which is hidden quite well and then pay big bucks to run again, may I suggest getting a stress test.