AF paranoia - echocardiogram: Part 2

[Buffafly]

Brief recap: I had a slightly unusual AF episode - pain in throat and neck and strange Kardia recording plus feeling quite ill for a couple of days afterwards which led me to request an ECG at my gp surgery. That was followed by instructions to go straight to A&E as I appeared to be having a heart attack, but after a thorough examination it was declared to be Left Bundle Branch Block ie ventricles a bit out of synch for some reason. But I was offered a quick referral to Cardiology where I was faced with a very off-hand consultant who made it quite clear he thought it was all a fuss over nothing which seemed very unfair as I hadn’t made any fuss myself! However he did reluctantly say he would put me down for an echo.

Roll on 4 months, I had the echo and the sonographer seemed to be very intent on certain areas and took quite a while, then stated she had taken lots of pictures and the doctor would be in touch. I had a little panic and posted Part 1 here, where I was reassured at length that I was definitely imaging things.

A few days later I received an appointment for a telephone consultation today. I then had a copy of the consultants letter saying that I had fluid next to my right Atrium and Ventricle but it was not impeding my ventricle action so he is not worried about it, also that I had good biventricular function and no sig nificant valve disease. I would have liked more detail and am going to ask for a full copy of the report. I am not being discharged and can have a repeat echo any time I have breathlessness again.

So, good and bad news. I have had a pericardial effusion (assuming that’s what he meant) a couple of times before so know that it can be a fatal condition and I’ve been lucky it has apparently resolved on its own. I’m not happy about that but I am very happy that the grumpy cardiologist has more or less had to eat humble pie. I have also been given a prescription for furosemide to use when I notice any fluid build up, pleased about that too. Also that I can now walk up the hill to my church all in one go without feeling as if I’m going to die 😅

[baba]

”very happy that the grumpy cardiologist has more or less had to eat humble pie”

Me too!

I’m glad about the good news bit too and don’t hesitate to get help if you feel you need it

[BobD Volunteer]

Good for you especially the hill. It takes me five minutes to climb to the top of my garden and that is with sticks. Only a couple of years ago I used to push the mower up there. Now we need sheep!

[Cliff_G in reply to BobD]

Beware Clarkson's Farm's experience of sheep mowing grass. Large overheads. Better to get a man in.

[JaneFinn]

Oh Buffafly, I don’t know whether to be pleased or sorry for you that your suspicions about the sonographer finding something new were proven correct! But I’m wholeheartedly glad the disbelieving cardiologist will have to face up to the fact that others were right to be concerned, and his own radar was ‘off’. I hope it makes him respond differently to patients from now on. (I’m optimistic!)

I’m so sorry for the diagnosis, but thankful that you survived the pericardial effusion without intervention. Hoping that they watch over you well now. It sounds like your access to diagnosis and treatment is much better. (And hope that you can continue to walk up the hill to church without needing rest breaks or a miracle!)

Take care, Jx

[Luludean]

good grief Buffafly !!!!!!! You have been through a griss amount of hurdles and vome out resilient !!!!! And able to walk up hill overcoming other’s blase’ treatment of you and the arrogant consultant !! NO mean achievement !! And you’ve fought for it !! 👏

[Cavalierrubie]

Worrying time for you Buff., and glad you have finally got to the bottom of it and on the correct treatment. It doesn’t help when the medics make you feel as if you are wasting their time, l recently had a similar experience. Let’s hope it humbled him. Take care.

[CDreamer]

Glad you have some answers and I hope the humble pie left a nasty taste in the mouth of the offhand consultant! These days there is nothing that annoys me more than a doctor being even mildly dismissive! Take care.

[secondtry]

Yes many consultants need some careful handling with some pre-appointment planning 🤔.

I had an echocardiogram last week and took along a copy of my last one 11 years ago on first diagnosis together with the EP report at the time. I thought a comparison may be useful. The EP didn't even want to glance at it in a brief consultation (which was private) and then the follow up letter included reference to ' a long discussion' - I don't recall any aspect discussed at length!

Morale of the story: 🙏🙏 write down all your Q's before the appointment and don't leave until you have discussed sufficiently and written down all the answers as it is all too easy to come away feeling 'short changed' and then the bill, which doesn't help anxiety and by extension AF.

[Ppiman]

LBBB is a worse problem than many internet sites suggest - at least in my case. It causes me symptoms and makes my home ECG misreport PACs and AF as VT on occasions.

The "heart attack" report would likely have been owing to the AI used by the surgery's ECG which, because of the LBBB, wrongly reported "ST Elevation". My home ECG (Contec PM20) does this - quite wrongly but apparently even an expert can be fooled by a LBBB ECG.

Steve

[Buffafly in reply to Ppiman]

My report was ‘wide QRS’ for some time but now my R/s have narrowed I get ‘Unclassified’ instead.

[Ppiman in reply to Buffafly]

Like me! "Wide QRS" = a bundle block. "Unclassified" was why I bought the Wellue AI device, (but with LBBB that sometimes mis-reports AF / PACs and ventricular in origin, even as VT) so now use the - rather excellent - Contec PM20 / May 6L.

Steve