T O E?

[BenThom-Wood]

Hi,

You all ok? I’ve just returned to a letter from the hospital inviting me to a Transoesophageal Echocardiogram.

Anybody tell me what to expect?

Ta

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hi

No personal experience, but here's a link to an article by the Royal Brompton Hospital on the subject

rbht.nhs.uk/our-services/tr...

[BenThom-Wood in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Thanks. Hm, I know the consultant wasn’t exactly happy with the MRI scans.

[IrisCarter]

I have had a T.O.E.

Some hospitals do it under a general anaesthetic, others use sedation, mine didn’t give me anything.

They sprayed my throat with local anaesthetic and once it was numb I lay on my side and I was asked to swallow the tube. That was much easier than I thought it would be! You are asked not to swallow once it is down but they make sure you are comfortable. The whole thing took about 20 minutes.

I was dreading the whole thing as I sometimes get panicky if I can’t swallow, but it was actually OK. It is uncomfortable but I found it bearable even wide awake.

I did have a sore throat and a feeling like heartburn afterwards but it didn’t last long.

I hope that it all goes well for you.

[BenThom-Wood in reply to IrisCarter]

Thanks Iris, I’m just curious but I’d rather know than not.

[Meme50]

I had this procedure done. They sprayed my throat with anaesthetic and explained that I would have quite a lot of saliva afterwards...which wasn’t the case. I was given sedation but not general anaesthetic so I cannot remember anything only being woken up afterwards.

Best wishes to you.

[BenThom-Wood in reply to Meme50]

Yeah, this is a slight concern too. I’m sure my body will produce saliva to try to get the tube (obstruction) out. I’m foreseeing swallowing with the tube in..

[Meme50 in reply to BenThom-Wood]

I was particularly worried about this swallowing process but i don’t remember even being asked to swallow. I was sleeping after the throat spray! Try not to worry. Explain your concerns on the day and your nerves will be eased. It will be O.K. 🙂

[Stevo1979]

Hi, I had quite a few of these when I was in hospital, not as bad as I thought it would be but not going to lie was glad when it was over! Takes about 20 mins and as always the doctors, nurses and all the staff will make sure you are comfortable before they do anything.

[Hidden]

Hi, just had a T.O.E last week. Nothing to be worried about. I had mine at Wythenshawe hospital in Manchester UK. The staff were brilliant. The actual procedure took about 40 minutes. I had the sedation which was offered. There was just a bit of discomfort, but not painful and as I say the staff will be talking to you and comforting you through the procedure. Best wishes

[BenThom-Wood in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, my Old Man used to work in Wythenshawe.

[kasinc88]

Hi. I had this procedure two years ago. I was terrified beforehand and my gp told me the hospital would try to make me just have an anaesthetic spray but he advised me to insist on being sedated. I had a bit of a battle on the day but as I was shaking like a jelly they agreed to sedate me and actually gave me the anaesthetic spray as well. I was very glad I had stuck to my guns as I was half asleep throughout the procedure and it was nowhere as bad as I had expected. Personally, I found the angiogram much worse because I was wide awake. Good luck. I hope it goes well for you.

[BenThom-Wood in reply to kasinc88]

Thanks, I’ll bear that comment in mind.

[Fredders]

I had a TOE before my heart surgery. Hospitals vary, but I was offered sedation which at my hospital meant staying on the ward for a couple of hours until it had worn off, or just having the throat spray (which tastes of bananas) which meant I could go home after about 10 minutes. I went for the throat spray but they put a cannula in just incase they needed to sedate me during the procedure. The only problem I had was swallowing the tube to start with as I have a strong gag reflex. After that I was fine and it was all over with in about 20 mins.

If you’re a nervous person I would go for a sedative, I meditate so was able to make myself relax. Good luck.

Wendy

[BenThom-Wood in reply to Fredders]

Cheers, I wonder what my TOE will show.

[Fredders in reply to BenThom-Wood]

Indeed. The TOE gives an unobstructed view of the heart as the ribs aren’t in the way. With regards to the saliva, the nurse had a suction tube which she used to remove the excess saliva (like at the dentist) and as you are laid on your side you will probably dribble some out of the side of your mouth.

[BenThom-Wood in reply to Fredders]

Yeah, well they’ll probably see my bicuspid aortic valve more clearly & be able to see how bad it is. Also how large my heart has expanded due to the regulation.

Then there might be some fun!

[BenThom-Wood in reply to Fredders]

Hope I get to lay on my right side. My heart doesn’t like me laying on my left.

[Fredders in reply to BenThom-Wood]

I think you’ll be on your left, I was and they always have me on my left for my echoes too. Tell the doctor what the problem is before he starts, so he’ll know what to look out for.

I’ve had two AVR ops, the last one in 2017 when I had a mechanical valve fitted. There’s plenty of support on here if you need surgery, between us we know all the do’s and don’ts!

Keep us posted.

Wendy

[BenThom-Wood in reply to Fredders]

Thanks pal, will do.

[Alison_L]

Hi Ben. I'm afraid I didn't enjoy mine at all. They did the spray down the throat, but I started choking as soon as they tried putting the camera down, so they gave me a sedative. That didn't do anything, so they gave me some more. They finally managed it after the 3rd lot of sedative, but I was still very aware of what they were doing and it was extremely distressing.

[BenThom-Wood in reply to Alison_L]

Thanks Alison, I think I’m more concerned about what they’ll tell me after the TOE but I’m sort of not looking forward to the TOE now too!

[Alison_L in reply to BenThom-Wood]

Don't worry, the majority of people who've replied here had no problem.

And I'd go for the beer!

[BenThom-Wood in reply to Alison_L]

I’ll feel better in the morning, after a beer or a cup of tea. Whichever happens first!

[Fred1954]

I had a TOE along with my (unsuccessful) cardioversion as they were worried about clots. Just had the banana spray and a mild sedation and remember nothing more before being pushed back to the ward.

[BenThom-Wood in reply to Fred1954]

Cheers, that actually makes me feel better. I can take oblivion any day of the week!

[Smarticus]

Banana spray - by god it is vile and the worst part of the whole procedure! Just relax, from my experiences, you will go on a ward (holding area) first, have a cannula put in and then a quick chat with your consultant (who will do the procedure) Then into a room with a few staff and your consultant and given a sedative and lots of nasty banana spray. You will be lying on your left and your consultant will ask you to swallow the tube, dont try and resist! just swallow like you would food (easier said than done I guess) If you can gulp normally you should be fine. once its in, its terribly boring in a dark room... some people go to sleep (which is fine) I have always been fully awake and interested in whats going on, sedatives dont tend to work on me any more lol. It should be over within about 40 mins and they will want to keep you on the ward or a discharge type area to keep an eye on you and remove the cannula. You are not supposed to drive after, but I was right as rain, just a sore throat for a few days where I guess the tube scrapes on the back of your throat. Honestly, its fine and you will be in good hands.

Edited later as my curiosity got the better of me... Youtube video from the BHF youtu.be/X_E9HqXHFSA(Not working as expected?)