Echo appointment

[080311]

This morning had a letter to have my 5 year review from my AVR including echocardiogram. Great I thought have missed my yearly check last year due to the pandemic. So getting it this year, saw the date 1-6-2022 only registered 1-6 thought well that’s wrong have missed it will have to phone on Monday morning then it brain registered 2022! Oh well have got an appointment, it says if I need to cancel or change the date I have 7 days from the date of the letter, hope I don’t have any issues in 12 months 😂

[Hidden]

Call them and ask for July 2021 or a cancellation .

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Definitely. I get mine every 6 months!!

[080311 in reply to Hidden]

Can I ask have you had your valve replaced? Having an echocardiogram every 6 months when it’s been repaired wouldn’t happen here. It’s yearly had mine done over 4 years ago and pre pandemic it was yearly, haven’t seen my cardiologist since 6 months after surgery and discharged back to GP, would only see him if I was experiencing problems.

[Hidden in reply to 080311]

Yes. I have had 2 Valve Replacements last year. I have Rheumatic Heart Valve Disease with Moderate Aortic Stenosis and Severe Aortic Regurgitation. I've had this since being 17. Apparently, the kind I have is rare. I have always had 6 monthly Check-Ups. Maybe, it is very different where you live, I really wouldn't know sorry.

[080311 in reply to Hidden]

So you are different to me I just had a replacement Aortic valve and bypass done, so as the cardiologist said now I have a mended heart.😂 my echocardiogram is to check my tissue valve is pushing out the right pressure. So yearly is the schedule I was on.

[Hidden in reply to 080311]

Aww right. I am a lot better than I used to be mind and have been Discharged from the Surgeon and now been referred back to the Local Hospital and the Cardiologist there. There are quite a lot of Heart problems in my Family as well though so I think they just want to keep a close eye on me. All the best!

[080311 in reply to Hidden]

It’s funny my father had all the same symptoms as I had but had nothing done lots of years ago, after my surgery talking to the surgeon I said to much good living had damaged my valve and he said no it was just worn out! I was a bit taken aback I said I am 68, and it’s worn out and his reply was you are either born with good genes or your not! So yes agree you need to take care if you have heart problems in the family.

Best wishes Pauline

[Hidden in reply to 080311]

Thank you Pauline. I've lost most of my Family to Heart Attacks etc and, yes, it is frightening. Thing is, they didn't have all the Tablets and Tests that we have now though did they? At the moment though, my Ankles and Feet are swelling up again. Doctor has now increased the Furosomide from 40mg to 80mg. God give me strength ha ha!!They are going down though so that's one thing lol.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I'm just up and down the Toilet nearly all day!!

[080311 in reply to Hidden]

Me too, am on 40mg daily take as soon as I get up and then for the next 2 hours is crazy 😂 before my surgery I was in hospital for 7 weeks before being transferred to our specialist heart hospital, I was on a diuretic drip twice a day to get rid of the fluid I lost 67lb in weight! Not a good way of dieting 😂 so can sympathise with you. Have my Furosemide so my heart doesn’t have to work so hard. So will put up with running to the loo😉

Pauline

[Hidden in reply to 080311]

Hello again Pauline. That made me laugh 😀😀 so thanks for that. Seems like we have a lot in common then. I was in for a total of six weeks altogether, just one thing after the other! I remember when they finally got me to wake up in Intensive Care, I nearly passed out when I saw the size of my legs. I felt like a Baby Whale lol. They put me on a Drip too to get rid of the Water, apparently it's very common after OHS. I have been pretty good since but, now and again, it decides to come back and haunt me I think. So, just keep taking the Tablets and hope for the best!! 😂

[080311 in reply to Hidden]

I was the opposite before surgery looked like the Michelin X Man😂 after op fine, as I said have the furosemide now just so my heart doesn’t need to work quite so hard. Isn’t it amazing what they can do now? Just grateful for the very clever medical team that gave me my life back. So welcome to the forum and the very merry band of Hearties that we are.

Best wishes Pauline

[Hidden in reply to 080311]

It is truly fantastic Pauline. They've altered my Tablets so many times, I really don't take much notice anymore. They know what they're doing and I really can't fault the NHS one little bit!! You just have to accept things and learn to live with it that's all. Far more worse off! Take Care 💟💟

[nursenancy53 in reply to 080311]

Same here in Northern Ireland - I had an AVR in November 2018, check up and discharge March 2019 and seen nobody since. Phoned my GP 3 weeks ago to check when my next BP review is due to be told they should have sent for me 6 months ago - Covid has a lot to answer for in more ways than one! Take care everyone 😁

[Qualipop]

Disgraceful. The NHS is really going to have to do something drastic to catch up on all their patients. Here ENT and rheumatology are up to date and working without a 12 month wait, so why not the re st?

[road2ruin]

Nearly two years for me and never had a single check....should I have?

[080311 in reply to road2ruin]

Before pandemic had echocardiogram yearly check the pressure of the new valve, it’s a tissue one. Didn’t have one last year, not having one until next year. My letter said 5 year review it will be close to 6 when I have it. I am in Scotland so maybe we are a wee bit different here. Though you say nearly 2 years so that’s most of the pandemic so it doesn’t seem yearly checks were being done, and now they are playing catch-up. Maybe ask your GP to see if you are going to be called.

Best wishes Pauline

[road2ruin in reply to 080311]

Thanks Pauline. I had a mechanical valve, but I don't recall anyone saying anything about checks after. I will speak to the GP.

[Midgeymoo17 in reply to road2ruin]

Personally, I was on annual checks of my valve but requested it be reduced. My Cardiologist was fine with biannual checks so we changed it to that but longer (covid aside) was not an option. I tried her 3 year button.

[road2ruin in reply to Midgeymoo17]

Thanks for letting me know.

[Cat04]

On annual surveillance for BAV/AS and AoDilation - haven't missed a single echo due to pandemic. Also had CTCA thrown in for good measure. Different areas are certainly running differently!

[andy110519]

I would phone and check the date is correct as they are only giving you 7 days to change the date of the appointment.I take it your valve is tissue, mine is mechanical and haven't had any kind of check mentioned, only had it 2 years though.

Andy

[andy110519 in reply to andy110519]

Hadn't seen the replies, I've now answered my own question re type of valve.

[Aortic43]

Iv had my aortic valve replaced in dec 2013,had a 8 week appointment for discharge and have never had a check up since then

[080311 in reply to Aortic43]

Hi, My valve is a tissue, there does seem to be a difference between those who have a mechanical valve and those with a tissue one. Up to the pandemic had a yearly echo just to check the valve was still pushing out the right pressure, didn’t get it last year and not this. That’s the only check medication check and blood tests done through my GP.

Best wishes Pauline

[Sheeran]

Had a mechanical valve in 2018 & I was discharged last year after a echo cardio gram & advised I would have one every 5 years. I was born with a bicuspid valve.