Well, they’ve got new stress test that doesn’t require a treadmill. It’s all chemical. Some sort of radioactive material followed by a dye. This cocktail stimulates the heart so it reacts just like the treadmill, without the physical stress, the gasping for air, and the whining. It’s like a ct scan (cat scan), only more comfortable.
Of course, throughout this latest bunch of tests I never saw my cardiologist, only techs.
Now, after waiting for 24 hr while the Holter monitor recorded my heart activity, I get to wait for my cardiologist to read the results. And then, I get to wait for the results to be posted. -Let’s just say that waiting is not one of the things I do well.
I returned the monitor a few minutes ago and this dinky flight of stairs left me winded. There are only 18 or so steps, but I’m sure glad the railing is solid.

I think one of the problems is that the steps are not very high or deep. I assume this is to accommodate vertically challenged folks. But it makes them awkward for us normal people. I know that’s not much of an excuse but when it’s all you’ve got you run with it. — What do you mean 6’ 4” isn’t normal?
At any rate, the results of the ultrasound say that I have “Bilateral dependent basilar platelike atelectasis -no mass.”
As I understand it, this means small sections of the lungs have collapsed. So this little beastie (incentive spirometer) is what a nurse suggested. — The day I bought this it cost $30 on Amazon.

According to the instructions you inhale just hard enough to keep the yellow ball centered, repeat for a total of 10 reps, pausing every 3 or 4 breaths. Once an hour?
I’m not sure how such a gentle machine is supposed to help, but it makes me tired and makes my lungs feel like they’ve run a marathon. So I guess it’s doing something.
This is what happens when you don’t have the good sense to die young.
All that being said, I figure I’ve still got a few good years left.
So stand by for even more medical whining.