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I am scared

I am scared of this echocardiogram test on friday I also have to wear a holt monitor for 24 hours on thursday
did anyone have to wear the holt monitor for 24 hours how does it work ?
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Avatar universal
This is extremely helpful i was thinking of getting an echo, because i get chest pains that my doctor tells are caused from anxiety.  I think even if thats true the echo will put me in a better state of mind, not to mention rule out heart problems.

I was actually considering going to school to become an echo tech.

It's basically the same as a sonographm non-invasive, no pain, just laying down for a few minutes, getting to see part of you that you otherwise probably wouldn't see lol.  and waiting for the results.  I was told that i might be put on a heart monitor as well, which i wasn't so knowledgable about.  And i appreciate the info on it, it makes the experience seem alot less abnormal...
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Avatar universal
Thanks so much for the information I will keep you posted on what happened with my appt.
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Avatar universal
Hi yes I have had an echocardiogram and a 24 hour monitor, a week monitor and a month monitor.  The echo is just an ultrasound of the heart.  They just take a stick like thing put some jell on your chest and just move the wand around and take mesurments and look at the heart.  No pain you just lay there.  You can watch if you want.  It is kind of cool to look at.  As far as the monitor.  You usually go into the office they prep your skin.  Which just means they rub certaint parts of your chest and belly to take the oils off your skin.  They then put the little sticky things on where they preped the skin.  They usually put tape on top of the leads so they don't come off.  They hook you up and basiclly you get a note book that you write down your activities and what you are doing at certaint times of the day.  Like excersized at 7am ect.  If you feel somethig there is a button you push and write down what you were doing so they can look at the book and the tape hooked to the monitor and see if anything was up at the time.  Its pretty easy.  You basiclly just go about your day.  The first time I was hooked up to the 24 hour monitor I was nursing my baby and had a 2 year old.  I did everthing normal.  Nursed her, ran after the little one.  I went to the movies.  I think the only thing you can't do is shower, take a bath, or swim for the 24 hours.  I just took my shower before my appointment and after I went to the doctors the next day came home and showered then.  I hope this helped.  Sometimes we get anxiety just because we don't know what is going to happen.  Let me know if you have any more questions.  Good luck
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