r/cfs•
normal_ness

Phrasing/wording help for a medical appointment

Advice

Hi everyone, some advice wanted.

I have a stress test booked later this week.

Firstly, don’t panic. I won’t be stressing myself! I know these have made people bedbound etc.

I can safely walk short distances when slow and flat, and as long as I don’t have to do any other walking that week.

Eg once a week I can get myself to a chemist, in and out to pick up meds. I do that most weeks at a large chemist and I’m fine, I don’t crash.

I argued with the cardiologist who booked the test re ME & the dangers of exercise and the registrar agreed I didn’t need a stress test but we both got overridden by the consultant cardiologist.

I kept saying “I can’t walk for long.” And the cardiologist said they can use the data they get from any part of the test.

So, ok, I’m happy for them to collect the data of my body walking for my safe limits.

I have arranged to get the hospital golf cart to pick me up from the parking tower and take me to the part of the hospital where the tests take place, so that’s a huge exertion removed.

I tried to change time of day of the appointment due to my heat intolerance (we’ve just come out of a bad heatwave here) but they can’t do that due to doctors schedules.

The clinic staff I spoke to on the phone said I can tell them to eg make the treadmill flat if I can’t do hills etc.

I plan to say "I can only walk slowly safely at my pace and I will not be stressed by this.” But if anyone has a better way of saying this, I’d really appreciate it.

I’m in Australia and the official guidelines for MECFS are technically being updated but doctors knowledge here is very GET/CBT so I the only safe way to approach appointments is to assume I will not have a knowledgeable doctor doing the test.

TL;DR Anyone have a good way of saying “I will do a stress test but will not stress myself”?

Posted Dec 1, 2025, 1:28 AM UTC

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