The Last Test....I Think

Today I completed what I think was my last medical test. It was the Stress Test. From internet research and tips from friends, I found out that this was nothing more than a treadmill test.

Last week I was called from the Chattanooga Heart Institute. I was told when to arrive and on what date. So, at one o'clock I headed to my car, and made the trip over to Memorial Hospital.

I had my work clothes on, so I quickly changed my clothes in the parking lot (in the car of course). I brought wind pants, a tee-shirt and my running shoes.

I walked through the door, into the building, and was blown away by a large indoor water fountain. Very nice. I explained to the help desk that I needed to take the stress test and they directed me to elevators. I was still distracted by the enormous fountain. The elevator opened up to glass, with a great view of the fountain. I headed up to the third floor.

After I checked in, I sat down in the waiting room. I looked around and noticed that I was probably the only one under 50. I also noticed that they had a small drink area. I saw cups for coffee, water, and small soda fountain. I think it had Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Dr. Pepper. I was surprised to see a soda fountain at a Heart Institute, seeing that soda is part of the obesity problem and obesity is a big cause of cardiovascular disease...but I'm sure it has it place.

5 minutes later I was called back by a mid twenties tech. He noticed my Red The Flash Shirt. He must of really liked it, because he mentioned my shirt to everyone we came in contact with. I laughed.

He lead me to a room that contained a computer, a treadmill, a bed, a large shelf with a chair, and one giant window. He had me take my shirt off. He then cleaned several areas of my chest with alcohol. He then placed little patches with metal buttons in certain locations on my chest. He then connected electrodes to these buttons and strapped the wiring harness to my body. Attaching all the wiring and watching it squish all my fat together, really made me think that I need to start toning. I'm sure it wasn't a pretty site. I also put on a blood pressure cuff.

To top it all off, He informed me that he was going to have a visitor come in and train. I didn't care. I know I don't have six pack abs.

The test then started. I was told to walk on the treadmill for as long as I could take or until my heart rate hit the target of 189 beats per minute. Every three minutes a new stage would be reached. This increased the speed and the height of the treadmill. By stage 5, I was jogging, and finally had reached my target heart rate. I then had to sit and wait 5 minutes. During that time, a doctor walked in, looked at my charts, said everything was great, signed the form, and then left.

I had finished the test. I left the room, headed back through the waiting room, back down the great glass elevator, out the door, and headed back to work. Once back at the TFP parking lot, I changed back to my work clothes and headed back in. One hour is all it took.

I now wait until Next Thursday....Orientation day...