ECHOCARDIOGRAM

[Cat1108]

Hi, Ive finally got my appointment for the Echocardiogram which is taking place today. Ive been waiting approx. 3-4 months for this. My question is what does it show? In the last couple months i haven't had any palps or pains so now I'm thinking is it just a waste of time??

[Ageingfast]

Given your recent history, it’s a good idea to have an echo. This is an expensive procedure and In short supply at the NHS.Nice to know you are being monitored.

Hope fully you will not hear much. I had a few and then when something was seriously wrong I got a phone call 24 hours later. It does seem that no news is good news.

Colin

[Heather1957]

I had one prior to the angioplasty 2 weeks ago and it showed that my heart was quite good! Well that is what I was told. I suppose it depends what they are looking for, in many ways the echo is a way of eliminating possible problems.My issues were blockages inside the heart and the echo didn't pick up on any issues. The lady who did the echo told me my heart was looking good at the time she did it.

[Hidden]

Hi, As Colin has said you should have the Echo given your history, and they're also in short supply, so the appt shouldn't be missed.

I'll put it into context, one of best mates wasn't being monitored for anything and dropped down dead with a collapsed Heart Valve (he was in his 20s). It turned out later on that he'd had palpitations in previous months, but did nothing. Had he had an Echo, it would've been picked up.

If nothing else, it will show your heart is in good nick.

[Hidden]

Hello Cat. When having an Echocardiogram they are basically just checking the functioning of the Heart. e.g. The Size, how the Valves and Chambers are working and how the Blood is flowing plus checking the Rhythm. Usually, the Sonographer won't tell you the Result as it has to go back to the Consultant. That has always been my experience anyway and I've been having them since a very early age! Good Luck 👍

[Heather1957 in reply to Hidden]

That may be the usual way things are done, if the person doing the echo hadn't made her comment I still wouldn't know the result. I appreciate you may have been having them done for a long time but my post was truthful.

[Hidden in reply to Heather1957]

Hi Heather, I've always found Echos with no feedback, quite ok. The way I look at it, nil feedback = no problem. But, then again I've had some ugly ones, where I wished they'd kept the results to themselves and just left me alone 🤣

[Heather1957 in reply to Hidden]

Maybe it was because there was nothing worrying found that she felt able to tell me things looked good.

When I had the stress test 4 years ago I couldn't complete the 3rd level and said I had to stop, the nurse said 'No problem, you've done enough', I knew then and there they had found something. The same when I had the angiogram and the cardiologist said 'that's interesting'.

[Hidden in reply to Heather1957]

I know what you mean, I hesitate to say lucky, but, majority of mine, have been carried out by the same lad, for at least the last 20 years. I know what's he's like, normally chatty and when he gets serious and clams up I tend to get that feel that somethings amiss. Likewise if it's a long one, I get the same feeling and I'm normally right. The main thing is that I trust him to do his job.

[Hidden in reply to Heather1957]

I am NOT saying your Reply wasn't truthful. In fact, I didn't even see it!! If you read it properly, I said, in MY Experience!!!

[Heather1957 in reply to Hidden]

I may be wrong but I was the only person who mentioned the fact the person who did the echo told me my heart looked fine so it was strange you felt the need to mention 'in your experience, usually, the Sonographer won't tell you the Result as it has to go back to the Consultant. I did feel I was being put in my place by you and your experience of having been having them from an early age. Maybe intent and effect, but not as I saw it.

[Hidden in reply to Heather1957]

Like I said, I didn't even see it. The way you looked at it is entirely up to you. You are just NIT Picking. Please do NOT reply to me again. I have better things to do with my time. Have a nice Night!!

[Qualipop in reply to Heather1957]

I had an echo after my heart attack and was told right away that t.he damage was minimal and everything else looked fine.Now, 3 years later, I'm waiting for another one.

[Snackjack]

Definitely worth having as it would show the Cardiologist how your heart is working, I have had several of them over the years and the last one that I had did show that my heart is not functioned as it should. We all have to do what we feel is best for ourselves. No harm comes from having one and could alert to any early signs of any problems if there are any and get necessary treatment if needed. Best wishes. xx

[Lilypocket]

Here in France my cardiologist does the echocardiogram and he gives me the results verbally during the procedure ( also obviously in writing after) I pay but it is only about £90 so worth it. As mentioned above by other members it is a worthwhile procedure to check amongst other things if any remodeling of the heart has taken place due to Afib ( or other pathologies but I only have experience of Afib so am unable to comment on other reasons). If you have been offered one jump at the chance. I think of it as an MOT. 🙂

[Coper10]

Hi, I had an echocardiogram which showed my aortic valve had dilated to 5.8cm and I needed an urgent operation! I was very grateful it was done. Without knowing this, I was at risk of my sorta rupturing!

[Jocastina]

An echo is a painless procedure and can show quite a bit of detail in terms of heart structure and how well it's working, so why not have it?

[Loveswimmimg]

Definitely worth having as everyone has said. Whether or not the sonographer tells you anything seems to depend on who does it and whether it’s NHS or private. I had mine done privately when I had AF and she told me there and then that my heart looked fine apart from a slightly leaky valve which is very common as you get older apparently. At the follow up my consultant was also unconcerned. They are mostly looking to see that the heart is pumping enough blood and working normally. It is completely painless and doesn’t take long so take the opportunity while it’s offered.

[winniebago]

Be glad you’re getting this treatment on the NHS. This week my payments went just over £5,000 for private treatment since January this year when I was diagnosed with severe heart failure - left side function only 35 percent. 10 months later, one angiogram (£2,250) and two echocardiograms later (£474 total) plus numerous consultations at £140 a time, I now register 45-50 left side. Over the moon with the progress but to have received it on the NHS would have been wonderful. Good luck.

[Sadartery54]

Funny enough, I said that to the surgeon last Tuesday, I didn’t want to waste his time when I went down for my angioplasty, (I had the echocardiogram the Thursday before and told all looked ok) 3 Stents later what did I know lol. Also I was by far the youngest having the angioplasty that day and it turns out all the patients around me didn’t need stents. Never feel you are wasting anyone’s time, your health is as important as anyone’s.