HELP - ECG AND ECHO WAITING ON RESULTS

[TS22]

Hi All,

I wondered if anyone may be able to help at all? I am a 23 year old female (healthy BMI if that is of any use).

Recently, I've been having several breathing problems. I discussed this with my doctor and long story short, he advised I purchase a oximeter and if my oxygen levels fall below 90 to go to the hospital.

The breathing issues can come when I am moving/exercising, sitting down or even wake me up when I am asleep.

I was doing some work in my bedroom and started being unable to breath. I used the Oximeter and my oxygen was 81 and heart rate 156. Sometimes the oxygen can drop to 73 (worse case) and can come out of no where and the heart rate can increase largely.

I had an ECG at my doctors and it was completely normal.

I was referred to a heart specialist and following a conversation with him, I was invited for a ECG at the hospital.

I then had one at the hospital and i've not heard anything regarding results. However, within 6 weeks of the ECG I was invited for a transthoracic echocardiogram which I had this week. The test lasted around 30 mins.

I wondered if this is common procedure or if it implies that the ECG at the hospital has shown something?

Further, the gentleman carrying out the Echocardiogram did ask if I used to do a lot of sport (Which I did) until this all happened. Is that a common question?

He did say I will be sent out the results in the post.

Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

Thank you so much in advance!

[Henry20]

Hi

Your oximeter reading seems very low indeed and you need to talk to your doctor or practice nurse urgently. When I was in hospital and it went into the high 80s region for a short time they seemed concerned until it came back up.

One point though on using an oximeter - I can get variable results if I move or restrict the blood flow in any way.

Good luck - hope all turns out well

Henry

[TS22 in reply to Henry20]

Thank you Henry for taking the time to reply, much appreciated.

I hope everything is well with your breathing now.

[Mart25]

Good morning. Your ECG will tell the cardiologists about the the electrical pulses that the heart delivers to the heart muscles. It sounds (from what you say) that this looks OK.

The Echocardiogram will show whether your heart is beating normally (with the different areas contracting the right sequence), it will also tell them about the thickness of your heart muscle walls, the operation of the valves, the amount of blood ejected per beat (the ejection fraction) and more.

So ECG and Echo are quite different and are both part of givng your heart an "MOT" to try to explain why you are having breathing problems The fact that you have been sent for an Echo does not mean that something in your ECG is concerning.

The question about sport probably suggests that the sonographer found your heart was in great condition, which I think you would expect of most active people of your age.

I think they are still trying to work out why you are having breathing problems. They might ask you to have a 24 hour monitor next - this is another part of a heart "MOT".

I know its a bit frustrating that everything seems to take so long - but that seems to be the way it is. I've been told to wait 4-5 weeks for my echo result.

[TS22]

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply and give a comprehensive answer. It is incredibly beneficial and would be easier if the doctors/hospital explained this.

I hope everything turns out well with your Echo results!

[TS22]

Apologies, I did say this week but should have been more specific. I had the test on Tuesday the 12th of Oct so not long ago. I did suspect it would take a while but 2 months seems like a long while to wait for results.

Given the current climate, it is understandable.

Thank you for your response and I hope all was well with your results.

[TS22]

No problem at all, I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Oh god, that is awful! Really sorry to hear you had that experience! I hope things are much better for you now.

If I do not hear something within 4-5 weeks (a comment above said they were advised to wait that long) I will contact my doctor.

I was just told a few weeks so I think after 5 weeks would be a suitable amount of time to contact them.

Thank you once again.