Had my electrocardiogram, now been referred by Ipswich hospital for an echocardiogram

[OhDeere]

Hi

I joined a few weeks back and then fell off the face of the earth, the replies I received were gratefully received, so please don't think I'm rude if I don't respond straight away.

A reminder of my situation: My father was referred for appointments to find that he had a birth defect (Bicuspid Aortic Valve) which then my sister and I were referred for tests.

I've had my electrocardiogram; I wasn't kept behind at the doctors once the tests were shown however, I've now been referred by a doctor at Ipswich hospital for an Echocardiogram. All the research I've done (yes including Google!) suggests that an echo is used to diagnose the problem, rather than confirm there's nothing wrong? Am I correct in seeing it this way?

I'm very realistic about the whole thing, it scares me slightly; if I have it, I have it and would rather get it sorted asap. However, I'm getting told little to nothing about any of it! I wasn't even told I was being referred by the hospital until I chased up the results!

Any advice or personal opinions/history etc.. much appreciated.

Kind regards

Sarah

[Ashleigh_BHF]

Hi OhDeere

An echocardiogram (echo) is an ultrasound scan of your heart, it can visualise the blood flow through your heart and your heart valves and how well they are functioning (and if your aortic valve is bicuspid). An ECG just looks at the electrical conduction through your heart, and whilst some ECG changes may be seen if you had a bicuspid AV, you will still need an echo to get pictures of your valves to definitively rule out a bicuspid AV. Hope this helps-in short, don't worry too much as it is a normal investigation for heart valves and your specialists will want as much information as possible-it will also help to 'rule out' a valve problem as just an ECG can't give them all the information they need.

Best of luck,

Ashleigh

[Daisy55]

Hi , my husband has recently had a heart scan at Ipswich , they are an excellent hospital . It looks at all the heart , and blood flow , you will get a report a couple weeks later when it has been looked at .

[Jlc1984]

Hi Sarah

I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, didn’t find out till 2002 when I turned 18 then had surgery in 2013 and 2017, none of my family have any problems and I understand you feel like you have not got enough info I felt the same but until the cardiologists are certain there’s something there’s nothing they can say, but I completely understand that makes everyone anxious, as for moving forward go one step and one test at a time and i hope it comes to nothing but if it does it’s better hey know and intervene when or if needed, Good luck

[lifelover55]

Hi. I had my echocardiogram at Ipswich Hospital. I was also born with a bicuspid valve (I'm 57). I was diagnosed with MVP in 1992. I had been "watched" by doctors over the years but I was never warned about the possibility of needing surgery. I was brought into A&E (Ipswich) and suffered a cardiac arrest and after an echo was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and moderate to severe mitral valve leakage. I was in Ipswich Hospital for almost 5 weeks and was in awe of the excellent care I received there from both doctors and nurses (and many others). I had surgery at Papworth in April and am healing quickly. Never once was I in a lot of pain.

Best wishes with everything. Let us know how it goes!