Echocardiogram conclusions

[Quiltygirl58]

Hi, I had an Echocardiogram on Sunday morning. My GP surgery called me last night to ask me to call in the morning and a clinician would tell me the results. She just read what was written on the test results. When I asked her what it meant, she said she didn’t really understand it!!! I asked to speak to a Doctor and was told “none were available today” My online medical record has the results letter, which I’ve read, but I don’t understand them. Can someone tell me what an Akinetic & Aneurysmal basal inferior segment means. I don’t want to Google it as they tend to show the worst case scenarios. Thanks. I had a STEMI myocardial infarction October 2020.

[Prada47]

Hello,

Sounds like you are being let down by the system!!

I would suggest that you phone the BHF helpline and speak with a Nurse who will understand the letter, rather than getting lay people's opinions.

Sorry can't help further.

[Quiltygirl58]

Thank you, for explaining it so clearly. At least I know why I’m feeling so bad at the moment.

[Cruiser25]

Hi Quiltygirl58,

As Thatwasunexpected explained really well, I'd guess your Stemi was a blockage of the RCA, or right coronary artery, as this typically supplies the back, lower half of the heart. I guess this because this is exactly the Stemi HA I had back in February this year. Again, my two Echocardiograms showed the same lack of movement, although the second definitely showed signs of waking up, in the areas of inactivity before.

The good news....... yes you can typically recover really well, the meds will help immensely and when appropriate, the rehab. Believe me regular, gentle exercise and good dietary discipline, in accordance with medical advice will be of great benefit.

I'm now, 9 months later, back at work full time, still attend my weekly rehab exercise class and go to Parkrun on Sat mornings, lots of walking yes, but plenty of jogging as well.

Good luck with your recovery, yes a new you, so why not make this a better new you!

[Quiltygirl58 in reply to Cruiser25]

It was the Mid AV Circumflex Artery, 100% blocked.

[Quiltygirl58]

I was doing really well until about 20 months after heart attack, I also took up wild water swimming to help with rehabilitation My last swim was end of October when I started getting breathless in the river and couldn’t get out as the bank was too steep. I had to tread water until I could breathe properly, then swim to where I could get out. I went downhill quickly in the last month. I can’t even walk from bedroom to bathroom without getting breathless and sweaty.

[Cruiser25]

My bad, those 100% blockages can cause an issue, Sorry just making light of a really serious situation, hopefully you got the appropriate and timely treatment at the time. All the best.

[LindyMc]

III is a wonderful service if you can hang around for an hour or 2 for a call back. A couple of times since diagnosed with AF I have had symptoms that concerned me at night/at weekends and the call handler has either referred me to a nurse practitioner or consultant and they will literally take as long as necessary to reassure you. They are brilliant.

[Blearyeyed]

As others have said if you do not hear from them contact the Secretary of the Consultant whom ordered your follow up test and request a call back to discuss the results , and most importantly, if you need to make any changes to your current medication dose or activity.Wild swimming is amazing , so is a variety of exercise . But the breathlessness issue trying to get out of cold water in a steep location is probably telling you that you aren't getting your pacing right , you are trying something that is just pushing your body further than the point that it is at in your recovery. Pushing through doesn't work with health conditions , or in fact when you experience pain during exercise as a healthy human.

It doesn't make you better if you keep trying to push past the symptoms , it does help if you gradually work to increase your comfort zone of activity and have a good balance of all activity and rest during each day. Consistency and listening to symptoms speeds up recovery in any body part , including the heart.

So , unless your Consultant gives you specific advice about changes in meds or self care , try continuing doing what your enjoy for exercise but think about how long you do it , where you do it, and how you recover and prepare for your activity.

As the weather gets colder , you may want to hold back on wild swimming too as the heart at its current point in recovery may not react to the circulation needs of very cold temperature in the way it can in warmer water increasing the possibility of pain and breathlessness. Try moving your swimming to a pool over winter instead just until your heart has improved more.