Thank you to everybody who has replied regarding the time they have waited for an echocardiogram. It seems to be very varied, from a short time to a long one, depending on where people live. Some people have kindly commented that a long wait means that there is not much heart trouble to worry about. This is really useful. However, I have always been of the opinion that knowing exactly what is wrong, bad or not, is easier to deal with than not knowing. I feel that so far I have been prescribed medication, sometimes with awkward side effects, without any further information given as to how much I need it, if at all. This is, I know, to protect me, but I will take your advice and phone the hospital again to try and get some idea of where I am in the queue for a consultation. Thank you again for your very kind replies.
Echocardiogram delay: Thank you to... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Echocardiogram delay
Put yourself on the echo depts cancellation list. People do cancel for all sorts of reasons and then you will be called to fill the gap. Cancellation lists are pretty standard in most hospital depts and I have done this many times and mostly it works. You may only get a few hours notice but occasionally it is a day.
Thank you 10gingercats, I will try this. The hospital is only just down the road.
I’m not sure about a long wait means not serious . My husbands ejection fraction was only 33 percent after his stroke last July . We have only just got an appointment for nov 20th come through . Dreading results in case no improvement . We’re your last results worrying ?
Dear Jackiesmith7777,
I have only had a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation after an initial ECG. Since then I have had a 24 hour ECG and an echocardiogram and am waiting for a consultation for the results. I’m very much a newcomer and feel, upon reading other people’s experiences that I am in the non-urgent bracket. I hope that your husband’s situation improves, I’m sure you must be very worried about him. All the best.
Thank you . You’ll have to let us know your results . I’ll keep you posted if my husbands has improved , take care
You too Jackie.
To improve heart failure, you might investigate D-Ribose. Many people say that it makes a big difference and you can get it at health food stores. Thanks.
I have just bitten the bullet and booked a private echocardiogram for next Saturday. Cost £375.
Results will be given the same day in a consultation with an EP.
Even better, when I booked it, the EP actually rang me and I had a brilliant discussion with him for 10 mins, answered a number of questions that had been on my mind for a while.
I do have to travel a fair way and although it’s not cheap I reckon it’s worth it.
Dear Goosebumps,
I had my cataracts done privately as these had accelerated considerably and it was brilliant. As far as I know I’m in the early stages of atrial fibrillation and so, though I would like to know more, I feel that it is early days, in my case, for private healthcare. I think that your case is probably more deserving than mine and I wish you all the best for tomorrow.
I hope you get your feedback quickly now to your echo. It seems to me that the NHS keep us all waiting too long. I had my first echo done under NHS in 2019 and they said it would be 3 weeks to get the results. I paid for a private consultation with the cardiologist to short circuit that wait, only to be told that I had an enlarged Left Atrium and an ablation wouldn’t work.
I’m doing an echo again now because my left atrium appeared to have shrunk last time I had an echo in 2023 and the EP I spoke to last week was much more positive about the chances of a regular ablation working. The NHS won’t look at me again for an echo until later in 2025, I’m not prepared to wait that long.
I’m sure that if anything was really serious they would have contacted you earlier regarding your situation.
Thank you Goosebumps.
A perspective after one year!
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A Reflective Piece - Living with Uncertainty
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