Recent ecg results - would appreciate your feedback.

[Whatamug1]

Hi - hoping for some input as I see the Good Doctor this week.

I have written before and my question is - Do I ask my GP to be referred to an EP.

At last I've received a letter from the Consultant Physician in stroke meds.

His last letter 03.10.14 said :- the echocardiogram shows mildly reduced left ventricular systolic function. The scan was difficult to read due to frequent couplets, triplets and bigemini occurring during the scan. Right Ventrical is normal in size with a normal right ventrical function. There were no valvular lesions noticed on the scan.

I've just received a letter re ecg :-

The ECG shows episodes of bigemini and numerous ectopics. There is no evidence of PAF. She had 3 manual recordings which do not show any abnormalities.

Ok that's the results of Echo & Ecg.

The other thing I get on a regular basis (along with the echos which are always there) is Bradycardia & associated symptoms. Thx Ann

[shirlygirly]

The only thing I could add is that it was the cardiologist who suggested

referring me to EP. This was after two years of diagnosed bouts of

af caught on ecg. Hope that helps.

[jennydog]

Hi Ann, my referal to an EP was the same as Shirley's - via my local Cardiologist who thought that an ablation was the way forward for me. Seeing one would undoubtably put your mind at rest, and his opinion would be worth having.

Best wishes.

[Whatamug1 in reply to jennydog]

I know it would - hopefully the Dr will come up with a suggestion as far as the exhaustions concerned. We'll see. Thanks so much

[Hidden]

All I'd say is, if you have an arrhythmia then you should see a heart rhythm specialist (an EP), it's their job. That's my view. I get numerous ectopics as well (no AF to speak of) and I'm under an EP.

I was referred to an EP by my GP, at my request. I also chose the EP. But he had worked on me 10 years earlier so maybe that paved the way?

Koll

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[Whatamug1 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for taking the time. It's only been the last two & a half years that they've been a bother - & they're with me all the time. I've only noticed the Brady in the same time span & it's dibilitating to say the least. Just no energy & if I do push (just normal things) I get nauseous and giddy. They did catch several of these while I was in hospital - from 31 BPM (lowest) but notice nothings been said about these so perhaps it's not a problem !?!

[rosyG]

I think 31bpm should be looked at if this is during the day- not sleeping !

[Whatamug1 in reply to rosyG]

Thx for reply - I'm 60 in January. The 31 BPM were clocked in A&E. Prior to that when the were discharging me following an endoscopy where it's written HB 37-41. Plus the reason I ended up having the echo/ECG was because during a hospital assessment the nurse clocked a pulse of 36 & they took me down to A&E internally. I'm sure it's a frequent occurrence & it's whats keeping me housebound pretty much - I keep losing balance when I'm lightheaded. Sorry it's pretty late. Thx again.

[rosyG in reply to Whatamug1]

Yes I think you are right- I'm not medically trained but think if your rate is often 30 in th daytime they may think a pace maker would help- Mine is 40-50 at rest and they say no pacemaker yet- implying they expect sometime I will need one. 30 asleep is one thing but I think it is too low in the daytime so do talk to your consultant about it

[Whatamug1 in reply to rosyG]

Thank you Rosie - prior to all of this (couple of yrs ago) I was so lucky - low BP & 60 - 70 HB & I was so active. I don't really like being as I am now. I've had to put everything on hold (apart from knitting) ....so I am hoping there's a straightforward answer. Ann x

[Whatamug1 in reply to rosyG]

Thx for reply - I'm 60 in January. The 31 BPM were clocked in A&E. Prior to that when the were discharging me following an endoscopy where it's written HB 37-41. Plus the reason I ended up having the echo/ECG was because during a hospital assessment the nurse clocked a pulse of 36 & they took me down to A&E internally. I'm sure it's a frequent occurrence & it's whats keeping me housebound pretty much - I keep losing balance when I'm lightheaded. Sorry it's pretty late. Thx again.

[iris1205]

Having waited four years to get proper help, despite intense increasing episodes of AF, I now tell anyone and everyone - seek the best doctors at the earliest opportunity. If the situation intensifies you will be better set to have the best doctors in place. Best wishes with your search!

[Finvola in reply to iris1205]

Agree wholeheartedly iris - excellent advice.

[iris1205]

Having waited four years to get proper help, despite intense increasing episodes of AF, I now tell anyone and everyone - seek the best doctors at the earliest opportunity. If the situation intensifies you will be better set to have the best doctors in place. Best wishes with your search!

[heather-7]

I've never had pulse that low but with mine in 50s, my Dr. said to notify him if I either fely dizzy or lightheaded. What you describe as feeling like you might fall is a good time to contact your cardiologist and seek out an EP.

Heather R

[Whatamug1 in reply to heather-7]

Many thanks Heather - Your Dr sounds very sensible. Let's hope mine sees it the same way because I'm fed up having to hang on to things or pretend I'm checking the bottom shelf in the supermarkets. Ann

[Rellim296 in reply to Whatamug1]

This giddiness sounds a bit like postural low blood pressure. Have your blood pressure checked sitting down and then stand up and see if it is significantly different when it is taken a second time.

[Whatamug1 in reply to Rellim296]

Thx - they did this a couple of months ago in A&E - I had to lay still for 10 mins then stand. My BP went up but this was when they got the 31 reading. What worries me is that none of this was on anything sent to my GP - as I received a copy of the others. I do wonder when it may all 'come together' or do I have to make it happen. !?!

A few weeks ago my New Dr phoned to say he was chasing up the ECG & had asked for it to be read by someone else as the Cardio had produced the Echo but had gone on holiday, & he'd call me - this never happened but received the consultants copy on Saturday. I'm not feeling comfortable about it if I'm honest but will see what the locum says

[Rellim296 in reply to Whatamug1]

I'm sometimes impressed - I went to my GP a couple of days after being in A & E and he already knew about it. On the other hand this week my EP's secretary wanted to know if I had had the 24 hour ECG he had asked for and it had been done in September but no results had got through to her...

I think Heather is right and being assertive may move you forwards, Ann.

[Whatamug1 in reply to Rellim296]

Yes - it's the same for me. The results came 32 days apart yet I'd had both on the same day mid way through September so it's obviously a system failure & guess the Doc asking for someone else to read the ECG didn't have any influence either as it was read by the same guy. Oh well guess it's fingers crossed.

[heather-7]

Since the test for postural blood pressure was negative; something else is going on. I would call cardiologist and preferably see an EP. You have to be assertive with most Drs.

Heather R