Calcified mitral valve

I was phoned on Monday by a pulmonary specialist to whom I had been referred for what appeared to be lung problems.

He told me that the chest scan had shown calcification of the mitral valve and he was referring me for an emergency echocardiogram to try and find out what the exact situation was with the valve. He said I might need open heart surgery to replace the valve.

I'm 57.

I have been having symptoms that tie in with this for some years now and have chest pain and breathlessness, tachycardia and for a year now a cough that's all worse at night when I'm lying down. Previous attempts to get help from the NHS with these symptoms have failed.

I spoke to a nurse at BHF and was advised that a calcified mitral valve can be associated with hyperparathyroidism (which I now realise I have had many other symptoms for) and to get a GP appointment.

My GP surgery, Nexus, is refusing to make an appointment of any sort until after the echocardiogram in spite of the calcification diagnosis. I've been trying all week.

I have no time frame for what the NHS considerers an "emergency echocardiogram" and can't get any help or advice or even an appointment from my GP practice owned by Nexus in London.

111 say they can't do anything as it isn't an emergency.

Well I would really rather it didn't become one, but I'm not getting any help or advice at all.

Does anyone know how long an NHS "emergency echocardiogram" usually takes?

Or have any advice on getting help that doesn't involve my GP (effectively closed) 111 (emergencies only) or spending a lot of money as my business was destroyed during lockdown.

Thank you.

[10gingercats]

One thing you could do immediately is put yourself on the echocardigrams cancelation list so that if/when someone rings in and says they cannot make it for their echo...it does happen.... you are ready and waiting to slip into the slot.Sometimes you get a days notice of a cancelation or it may be a couple of hours.I have done this on numerous occasions over the years.

[Hidden in reply to 10gingercats]

Oh, thank you! I will find out how to do this!

[10gingercats]

You only have to tel. the dept.It is just possible they do not hold a cancelation list but that is rare.

[Hidden in reply to 10gingercats]

Getting anyone on the phone is quite tricky these days, plus I don't know which hospital it is here, but I will find out and call them on Monday. Thank you for getting back to me with such a sensible suggestion so quickly!

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Even back in 2017 between attending the Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic and having an Echo about three months passed! Obviously I do not know your financial status but here a private echocardiogram is about £250 and be done within a week (you may need a - ve Covid test). It is permissable to step out of the NHS system and back in again. In fact I have done this myself.

The other suggestions are all good as well.

[Hidden]

I’m getting quotes up to £560 in London, but then I’m told I have to pay a cardiologist to refer me