How often should I have an echocardiogram?

[Misstibbs]

How often should I have/expect to have an echocardiogram following an HA in 2019, I’ve had one a year ago but is it part of an annual check?

[Hidden]

I had a HA and angioplasty 6 months ago, after three months I had an appointment with the cardiologist who "signed me off"......I guess I'll never see them again, well I hope I won't!!I get a call to visit my GP once a year for a "healthy heart check", I was diagnosed with angina 8 years ago....it's just a basic weight/BP check and chat about how I am and a medicine usage review.

Twice in this period they have done an ECG and let the GP check it before I've left, on one of these checks they discovered that I'd got a left bundle block.... something that no one seems concerned about.

[Misstibbs in reply to Hidden]

Thanks John H perhaps I shouldn’t be too optimistic then but make the most of my annual talk to my GP.

[Hidden]

I don’t believe that there are any guidelines, so it would be at the discretion of Cardiologist.

[Misstibbs in reply to Hidden]

OK thanks heartpunk cheers

[Chappychap]

As far as I know an echocardiogram is not part of the standard annual GP check up for heart patients.

Back in the era of face-to-face appointments you would see your GP or a specialist practise nurse and each year have a basic ECG, a suite of blood tests, you would be weighed and your pulse and blood pressure would be noted, you would also have a general life style chat (are you overweight, are you doing the recommended 150 minutes per week exercise, etc), and your medication would be reviewed.

The last two of these that I've had have been done via telephone, and the majority of people on this forum report something similar. Consequently it's advised that you get yourself a decent home blood pressure and pulse monitor, (one from the Japanese company Omron is often recommended).

Is this care package sufficient?

We're all different, with different needs, but for the majority of patients I think it probably is.

For those of us with atherosclerosis (obstructive heart disease-by some margin the single biggest cause of heart attacks and strokes) we'll have our heart disease for life. The best we can do is slow its progress to an absolute crawl with a combination of medication and life style changes. The doctors have offered us the medication, and any life style changes are up to us. So for many of us there's not a huge amount extra that the doctors can do, our future is more in our hands than their's.

Good luck!

[Misstibbs in reply to Chappychap]

Thank you Chappy chap, I’ve picked up and noted your advice and wisdom and monitor my BP (which is lowish 88/56 -90/58) and make the most of my annual GP check.

[080311]

Hi Misstibbs

I have an echocardiogram done yearly ( pandemic allowing) but I have a tissue replacement Aortic valve. So it’s to check how that is functioning pressure wise.

My yearly check is with my GP surgery where they take bloods check blood pressure weight and urine.

From what others have said it all depends on your GP.

Best wishes Pauline

[Misstibbs in reply to 080311]

Thanks Pauline it tells me I need to make the most of my annual check with my GP but always conscious of there time

[Lupaal in reply to Misstibbs]

I recently had an annual BP review, had blood tests taken a couple of weeks before then she took BP, chatted about everything, would have done an ecg but I'd had one a few days before as I'd been blue lighted to hospital with a bad Afib episode. As it was a specialist BP nurse I didn't feel under the usual time restraints of a gp appointment.

[Misstibbs in reply to Lupaal]

Lupaal that’s good to hear wishing you a good recovery

[marigoldb in reply to 080311]

Like you I have a replacement aortic valve, an Edwards one, and also single CABG, carried out in 2019. My yearly check this coming Wednesday, echo and Holter. Not really sure what the latter is for?So always a bit anxious before, but so pleased having regular follow ups. See my cardiologist in Feb.

[080311 in reply to marigoldb]

Like you I get nervous before my echocardiogram just in case the pressure is dropping! I have my 5 year review 1st June, though it will be closer to 6 years, I know I will be very nervous come the day. Only human nature I suppose.

Take good care Pauline x