After ecg and echo I now have a phone consult with a cardiologist. What questions can I expect from him? what questions should I ask?

[Granny472]

This is my first ever consult regarding my heart. I have no idea what showed up on my tests.

[Shazzy46]

Me too, on Wednesday. I've made a list of symptoms, so I don't forget anything. I'm a bit nervous to be truthful.

[RufusScamp in reply to Shazzy46]

Good luck. Hope you get good news.

[Shazzy46 in reply to RufusScamp]

Thank you

[Granny472 in reply to Shazzy46]

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[Shazzy46 in reply to Granny472]

You too.

[Jamie1995]

From one granny to another, I find it helps to make a note of main points. Presumably you have had a heart attack? The echo and ECG will show damage but an angiogram is needed for more detail of damage. If you’re new to this it all sounds baffling but you’re given lots of help from the cardiologist and nurses. This is a brilliant website and everyone is so helpful and kind. I had a NSTEMI a year ago and am still awaiting surgery because I need a new valve, perhaps you need stents which can be performed immediately. I hope it’s the latter.

Please let me know how you get on.

Sue

[Granny472 in reply to Jamie1995]

Hi Sue,Umm no I haven’t had a heart attack. My physio became concerned about sudden onset of breathlessness, referred me urgently to my gp who noticed a big increase in my blood pressure and so referred me for ecg and echo.

[Beehive73 in reply to Granny472]

My apologies, jumping the gun! Your reply from RufusScamp is far more logical. Wishing you the very best, whatever the results. Sue

[ETHEL103 in reply to Granny472]

I'm same as you Granny. Ec ho on Thursday and have had ecg. My local hospital ca t see me with a cardio till at least Oct so I we nt private for 2 visits. He will now be seeing me on NHS. So fist call not till e nd may. Not sure how long it will be before I see him. As someone previously said. Write a list of a few questions. Be thinking of you.

[richard_jw in reply to Granny472]

It seems like you have at least some narrowing in the coronary arteries. The echo will give a better idea of how the blood supply to the heart muscle is and therefore whether any intervention is needed, or whether medication e.g. Ramipril will be adequate. Things like ramipril widen arteries and therefore lower blood pressure increasing the supply of blood to the heart. The cardiologists (well the ones I have come across) are all helpful and friendly.

They will ask you about your symptoms, like when do you get out of breath, what happened to make both your physio and the GP concerned. BTW GPs in particular are very conscious about heart issues especially now.

If the cardiologist thinks that intervention is needed after he has seen the echo, he might recommend an angiogram. This is the gold standard for looking at the coronary arteries.

So what you want from him is basically the next step, i.e. a clear idea of what the problem is and how he/she will treat it, or any further tests (e.g. an angiogram or possibly an MRI) to enable him to diagnose and treat you

Hope this helps and good luck

[Granny472 in reply to richard_jw]

Thank you Richard. This is very helpful, everyone here has been so kind

[RufusScamp]

First, write down what you want to ask, and be ready to make notes of the answers. If s/he uses terms you don't understand, ask for clarification. My suggestions:Did the ECG show anything of concern? How serious is it? What treatment is available? What outcome is likely?

What did the echo scan show? The usual result is the ejection fraction, which tells you how efficient your heart is. (55% is good, to prevent the scare I got, thinking it needed to be 100%!) Again, what treatment, possible outcome.

Depending on the results, what steps should you take?

I would recommend looking through the information on the main BHF website on the procedures. All the best, and let your fellow hearties know how it went. We care.

[Granny472 in reply to RufusScamp]

Wow!! That is a great answer, thank you so much. I’m away to make notes now!

[Janouska in reply to RufusScamp]

I also have my first telephone consultation with a cardiologist today about recent high bp and back pain etc. I am also nervous and do not know what gp has sent. This advice from Rufus very helpful. I always forget to ask questions so this is an excellent prompt! Thank you. Good luck Granny.

[Mememe11]

I’m similar to you Granny472 I’ve been having similar symptoms, I was sent for ecg, which came back abnormal (inverted t waves) and I am having an echo scan tomorrow and then seeing cardiologist following that.

Do you know if ecg was normal?

[Slloydt]

Ask your doctor for a copy of your ECG they can print one for you, it will list potential concerns with your heart. Then when you have the consultation you can ask him/her what they mean (prognosis) and treatments then plan the way ahead.

[santisuk]

The cardio will probably ask you questions aboit your lifestyle ( particularly re smoking, diet and excercise). He may need to decide how much of any treatment plan can be lifestyle changes and how much drugs.

If he thinks you need an angiogram ask him why not a Coronary CT scan? The latter is non-interventionist (ie non-surgical) and can be just as revealling, but he is more likely to go straight for an angiogram if he thinks you score high on risk factors like smoking, high cholesterol diet and sedentary lifestyle. Either way his answer should be revealing.

Don't fret if you need an angiogram. Many of us hearties have had it and it's one of those routine mini-ops that cardiac units do in their thousands a year

[Granny472 in reply to santisuk]

Thank you, I shall be prepared with the answers to these questions! Hopefully I won’t need any of the tests you mention (🤞🏻) but it is reassuring to hear you all speak so easily about them.