You’ll get through this.

Good luck on both.

It isn’t good for you.

But with monitors attached, to see how much air you can take in, and how much oxygen is getting absorbed in your blood. Stuff like that. The hardest part is when you have to keep exhaling even when you feel like there's no more air left, lol.

Fingers crossed Peggy!

I knew I was full of hot air but not that much! LOL

As all your DU family, I’ll be thinking of you over the next week and will be with you in spirit during your tests.
💕❤️

🦋 wordstroken

Sending healing energy and may you be surrounded by a healing white light. Peace and health.

my keyboard to the ears of all the gods of The Universe.

Last edited Mon Nov 10, 2025, 12:02 PM - Edit history (1)

and so did my husband. His was 30 years ago. Mine was 2 years ago. I was seated in a box and they put a hose/mouthpiece on, and positioned me a few different ways and told me how to breathe. It didn't take long.

My husband's experience was similar, but we were unfamiliar with the procedure. I sat outside the test room, while a tech tested him. I was surprised and amused when I heard a powerful female voice urging him on: "Harder! Deeper! Harder! Deeper! for several minutes. After we left the hospital, we laughed like fools. I haven't shared this much, but thought you'd get a smile to take your mind off the next few days.

I wish you well on all of your testing and upcoming surgery.

I edited to add the the box was clear plastic with a seat. Reminded me of a quiz show isolation box, but it wasn't sound proof or sealed in any way.

Laughter is the best medicine.

I missed your original post. Very, very best wishes dear Peggy, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

I know it's hard to keep positive
but keeping positive really helps
keep driving the negative thoughts in your head out
trust that these procedures are what you need
+++ vibes
peace/love

and will say a lil' prayer

You will certainly be in my thoughts, CaliforniaPeggy. Please keep us posted.

I will be praying for you - both that the tests are easy for you, and that you ace them (which I fully expect).

All the very best!

Along with all those good vibes I have left over from my request a few weeks back!

Best of luck CP!!!

And I know it’s easy to say, Don’t be nervous about it. If your cardiologist thinks you’ll do fine, then you probably will. Think of all the positive energy coming your way from us here at DU!

Positive thoughts and energy to you. We're all rooting for you!!

It is understandable that you are nervous. The pulmonary function tests are probably the same I had with my lung issues. It isn't bad--you have to clamp your nose and blow out hard and long as possible several times (into a machine) and then they average the results.
My wish is for you to get this all behind you as soon as possible and that we all get our wish for the holidays--the protection of ACA subsidies and everyone eats.

Wishing you all the best tomorrow, Peggy.
Take care. We are with you on this journey.💙

I have a pulmonary function test, and others, on December 23 (Merry Christmas, eh?).

Sending good vibes and prayers that your tests will go well.

The first one, if I'm on track, will test you heart under stress by introducing a drug that speeds up your heart. They do that for people who can't safely do a treadmill. They will look at you before with a radiologist camera that goes back and forth over your chest. Then they will do it again after they give you the isotope in an IV. That medicine will make you feel like you are peeing yourself and like you have been running. Some people I know panicked because you feel some chest pressure too. But the feeling doesn't last very long. But you will have to do a lot of waiting between parts of the test.
The pulmonary test is quite the trip. I hope you have a funny tech because there is a lot of difficult instructions involved with how to breathe and when. You are in this funny glass enclosure doing it. Nothing painful and you will get a wealth of information from the tests. Good luck and bring a book to the first test. Good luck lovely one.

I will keep you in my prayers for health and good outcomes.

============

You are right, the pulmonary function test is much easier. They are both relatively easy from your perspective in that not much will be required from you. As a matter of fact, the pulmonary function test is more work intensive for you lol. If you fail the stress test, before any decisions are made, they may recommend a heart cath. They did both of your procedures to me and they were quite painless and gotten through with ease.
I pray you will find my words reassuring, comforting, and most of all true CaliforniaPeggy. God Speed and please know we’ll be with you in spirit and prayer.
Love, John

nt

As mentioned the PFT is just measuring forceful breathing. The NM stress test is mostly boring! I had one - the pharmacologic stress medication might make you feel weird for a minute- some people feel nothing and others think they’re having a heart attack for a few seconds. Symptoms, if any , don’t last long. The nuclear medicine that creates the image doesn’t have any side effects. The worst part is the mandatory waiting times between the injections and the imaging.
So best of luck for good results! We’re pulling for you!

How do I know?

Everybody here at DU knows you've got a GOOD HEART, my dear CP.

I had it twice. You pretty much lay there while they watch on a screen. Best of luck.

Sending good vibes your way.

It's your force field!

Looking forward to good news.

Take care.

May you pass the tests with scores like no one has ever seen before. The doctors will be amazed! !Bigly!

I hope your doctors are correct and you will sail thru these tests, and then on to the big one!

We’re here for you. Take good care~

will be with you, your husband, family and care team this week. Holding positive thoughts for the best outcomes on each test. Hoping this will all be taken care of quickly and painlessly .

I am getting the pulmonary one in a couple weeks. I had a heart attack in 2017. It is one of a few tests I get to check my heart . This one I had a few years ago.

I will have you in my thoughts. I do enjoy seeing your beautiful photos you take. ❤️

you in my thoughts 🙏🏻

My spidey sense tells me that you’re going to do just fine on these tests, and we are looking forward to hearing the good news soon!!!

Keep the faith and keep calm. We are all thinking of you!!!

Best,

PC

For years, reading your posts and viewing your photographs.

I will now add you to my prayers for your good health, that each test result leads to continued improvement.

🙏

You are a DU favorite, much admired.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((best DU vibes for California Peggy)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

and you can get your surgery. Hang in there. ❤️

The best of luck. Hugs

🍰

I hope this came through as a piece of cake since I used iPhone emojis.

All will be well, dear heart

PM me any time for translations or commiseration.

Getting older sucks even worse than our folks told us it did.

These tests are more time consuming than painful. I've had the pulmonary test since I was a former 2 pack a day smoker.
I had cancer surgery a couple of years ago and am doing ok so far. I hope everything goes well for you. You do so much to brighten our days with your lovely photos.

I hope the tests go well and they get that damn cancer out of you and have a full recovery.
In my thoughts for the very best possible outcome.

Her main cardiologist fought us, because of her onset dementia. He wanted a dementia test. They more than 6mths out! Nope! Went over his head. Long story short, my sis had textbook surgery, and doing beautiful. Dementia test clinic still doesn't have an opening, but the cardiologist asked after her 6mth follow up. Cripes, what difference does it make? Lol
Best of luck to you, Peggy
You're gonna be golden 🥰

outcome continue being sent to you. You know that your whole DU family is here for you.

Healing vibes to you♥️

And a complete recovery.

I survived them all and so will you if that's what's called for. Your tests, I take it, are to screen for suitability for pretty invasive surgery. My pulmonary test diagnosed my COPD. The cardiac stress test was post myocardial infarction. Most interesting part of the cardiac test was the drug induced stress. They use a very fast acting, and short acting drug that is very effective in making you feel like you're near the top of Mount Everest and running uphill for about a minute or so. The worst of all was the radiation on my neck for a tumor at the base of my tongue. That was preceded by a surgical biopsy that took a month to heal, and Surgical insertion of a gastrostomy tube. radiation and chemo were concurrent. The chemo was the best of all procedures, I really enjoyed it. They give you a cocktail of drugs along with the anti-tumor agents and I was feeling no pain during chemo plus the nursing is most excellent. The radiation, on the other hand- that was downright medieval. 6 months after the conclusion of treatment I am still in oral function therapy for swallowing and lymphedema. I am trusting your outcomes throughout the coming year are going to be the best that they can be. May your path forward be blessed and a blessing.

Only the best to you with hopeful wishes, CaliforniaPeggy.

You'll get your steps in AND a medical test tomorrow all at the same time.

We love you.

and healing vibes.

All the best that each step you have to take to battle your situation are positive and healing.

A hug from me, and definitely a group hug has come your way from all your DU friends.

while you undergo these tests, and for a positive outcome.

and hoping all goes well, Peggy!

You will be in my thoughts.

you pass both with flying colors!!!! Rooting for 2 “A” pluses so surgery can happen. You have a whirlwind of support from all of us! We care so much! Hope you can get some rest tonight. Love and hugs dear heart!🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

planning the radiation. Physicists!!!!

For the procedures and results.

May all results be favorable. You got this! Love to you!💗💗💐🙏🏼

And a healing recovery! 😊

Stay strong.

and I hope the angels hold you in their wings

DUers on our posts!

...a radiotracer, probably ^99mTc, to image blood flow in your heart's myocardium, during mild stress, like a treadmill. This is my best understanding based on a preview of a few papers in the literature.

I believe I may have had a similar test some years back owing to some unusual features of my EKG, which it turns out are permanent because of scar tissue in my chest. (I always warn techs, nurses and new doctor's that it's there and I am not having a heart attack.)

The test itself seems to me to be low risk, and is designed to measure the risks of major surgery.

Good luck. We all admire you and we wish you the best outcome in this frightening episode. Come through well and bring us many more years of reports from Manhattan Beach.

As you go through the process and for positive results. Healing vibes to you Peggy…

Thinking of you and saying a prayer for the best results.

💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓

sending you hugs I'll be praying for you.

... and you get the "yes" for surgery and are soon on the way to recovery!

... to bounce right back!

I’ve had that nuclear stress test twice. They’ll put some meds in you, hook you up to record data and then start the test. You’ll sit on an exam table. Part way through the first phase you’ll feel hot the a minute or so later the first phase is done. They’ll have you rest for a few minutes maybe have a soda and some snack like peanut butter crackers then they repeat the test with no meds. You’re done about five minutes later

They wanted me to walk a treadmill until my pulse reached a certain level, but got frustrated when it refused to get as high as they wanted. If your test is walking a treadmill, you should ace it like DJT does his cognitive tests.

-- Mal

I’m scared shitless over having my knees replaced. The first happening in a couple of weeks.

You've got this! Positive vibes heading your way!

There are tons of people pulling for you, from all across the nation.....Our thoughts are with you, as you face this.......

My wife has been battling Stage Four Cancer for over ten years this month......There are many new medical things that are helping, one of which is everyone thinking about her and caring.....................and you have all of us thinking and caring about you at this time.......