Transoesophagael echocardiogram

[foxglove]

Has anyone had a transoesophagael echocardiogram? if so how was it? Thanks

[Yumz199725]

Can see from your other post you have heart failure? Is this why your having the Transosephageal echo. I have never had one but I hope it goes well x

[foxglove in reply to Yumz199725]

Not really sure why I'm having it! Thanks for your good wishes anyway

[Hidden in reply to foxglove]

Just had one

No problem at all. I was concerned but it went well and no realdiscomfort I did not have sedation as it lowers bp and they wanted to see flow properly. But with a bit of sedation it would be a walk in the park

[BigMel]

I have had 6 or 7, most were ok, one was uncomfortable but that was due to not having enough local anaesthetic sprayed into the throat. I wasn't sedated for any of them.

It's a banana flavour anaesthetic so ask for as much as you are allowed to have and you will be fine.

Hope this helps.

[Weetabixie]

I haven't had one, the closest thing I've had to it is a gastroscooy, was unpleasant but not painful. Best of luck with it and I hope everything will be ok

[Anon2023]

hi. I’ve had loads of them. They sedated me with midazolam before them but I was still awake but relaxed. Like BigMel says they spray banana anaesthetic into your throat and it numbs the area. I only had one occasion when I was sick and that wasn’t nice but it wasn’t painful or anything. All of the other times I was absolutely fine. You’ll be ok although I understand why you might feel anxious. It won’t be anywhere near as bad as you are imagining it. X

[Etzel]

I had a TOE about a year ago and to be honest it rated so low on the discomfort scale that I barely remember the details! If I remember correctly they numb your throat and tell you to swallow, bar that nothing stands out 😀

[Art-99]

I had this procedure about 4 years ago , several months before my heart valve operation. I don’t remember being in discomfort or traumatized by it and am sure I had sedation. I was brought a light meal sometime afterwards and remember having a sore throat for a few days. Good luck !

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

i was told they were doing a TOE to check out the mitral valve, with a good view from ‘behind’ the heart.

[RumblingChest]

I didn’t sleep very well the night before so I fell asleep as soon as they sedated me 😀. Only side effect was a slightly sore throat the next day.

[Beatles1956]

I had the sedation, expecting to be drowsy, but awake. The doctor said I could close my eyes if I wanted to. Out like a light, came round and it was all done, so didn't feel anything. Little bit of drool, though.

[spinningjenny]

It’s not exactly a fun day out but it’s not too bad. You have anaesthetic spray to the back of your throat so really don’t feel much. The procedure doesn’t last long and the staff all know you are apprehensive and they will be very kind.

[clagmeister]

I had one a couple of years back under general anaesthetic as part of a heart surgery procedure. My throat felt sore for a day, but otherwise all OK.

[TriumphLover]

Yes, definitely not as bad as it sounds. The happy pill chills you out ( think I nodded off at one point ). You’re aware of what’s going on but no pain.

Wouldn’t worry about it, you’ll be fine !!

[foxglove in reply to TriumphLover]

Which happy pill is that?....sounds just what I need......!

[TriumphLover in reply to foxglove]

Not sure what it’s called. Had it before my TOE and the morning of my surgery also, works great 🤣

[Velena]

I had one in 2018 before surgery to repair my mitral valve. My surgeon wanted it to give a better picture than a standard echocardiogram can. I was nervous about it beforehand, but mine was done in a private hospital in Málaga and I was given a short duration general anaesthetic (propofol) so knew nothing about it which was marvellous. My throat wasn't even sore afterwards.

[linnielizzie]

Hi I will be honest and say it was not the most pleasant of experiences but if you insist on sedation and RELAX it will be fine. Good luck. They need to do this to have a good look at the back of the heart.

[foxglove in reply to linnielizzie]

Thanks to you an all who replied, seems it isn't as bad as I was fearing Message seems to be relax and do as told Fingers crossed!

[Letsallhope1]

my 17 yo daughter had it, went very smoothly with local throat anaesthetic and very mild sedation , you will need to be conscious because you need to swallow the tube otherwise they won’t be able to do it.

She is normally quite nervous but she said she did what they asked and it was quick and pain free.

She has a minor heart defect which was spotted during a normal echo but they wanted to be sure there was nothing else that they were missing so they also had the transoephagean done.

[Plum44]

Hello 😊 yes I had one a couple of weeks before my surgery. It was fine 😊 you are admitted to a bay, take all your obs etc. Then you go into a treatment room. There are x2 people in there, the specialist that “ does” the procedure, and someone who “ takes the photos “ not with a camera! They are at a computer screen. The worst bit ( as far as I was concerned) , and only because you have to concentrate on what they say is when they explain how to breathe in whilst they spray your throat with the numbing spray , then they give you a light anaesthetic…….. and the rest is a blank!!😄 I came too when it was all over. They then monitor you in a bay until you are fully awake, and they even gave me a sandwich! (Obviously you’re not allowed to eat for a period of time prior to the procedure )

It was very straightforward and the team were lovely I felt very well looked after.

Hope all goes well 😊

[foxglove in reply to Plum44]

Thanks!..look forward to the sandwich!

[Plum44 in reply to foxglove]

Sorry only just saw this 🤦🏻‍♀️ Hope it’s all been done for you now 😊…… and you had a sandwich! 😀

[SinbadCFC]

Hi Foxglove. I had a TOE about 20 months ago the measure the size of my Atrial Septal Defect (hole in the heart) . To be honest the worst thing about the procedure was the awful taste of the spray used to numb the back of the throat.

I was sedated (wasn't given a choice lol).

You'll be fine

[foxglove in reply to SinbadCFC]

Thanks, hope fine is what I'll be!

[Deejay62]

Hi I think I’ve had this years ago. I had to have it before a procedure on my heart. I think they were checking there were no clots at the back of my throat.

I couldn’t deal with them trying to put the thing down my throat and I kept heaving. The more they tried the worse it got. I don’t know what happened but I woke up sitting upright in bed tucked in not remembering how I got there. It was quite funny. I had a cup of tea and biscuits brought to me.

All the best.

[foxglove in reply to Deejay62]

Thanks - good old tea and biscuits sounds just the job!

[Deejay62 in reply to foxglove]

😂😂

[BenThom-Wood]

I needed one as the ICD & stent made the ultrasound less practical. Woke up part way through which was interesting.

[foxglove in reply to BenThom-Wood]

I'm curious....how was it interesting?

[BenThom-Wood in reply to foxglove]

Well, I find a constant state of curiosity helps with this world & my journey through it. I think I’d be really insane if I took all that has happened to me, in anyway, seriously.

[foxglove in reply to BenThom-Wood]

Yes, it is good to keep the wondering of a child! no one really knows WHY?

[Mitchum]

I had one prior to heart valve re-placement. I had no sedation, just a throat spray and I was fine! Look upon as a necessity for your "cure" and be positive. Good luck.

[foxglove in reply to Mitchum]

Thank for reply and positive good wishes proposed!

[JulianDH]

You have probably had it by now but I found that it was better than I was expecting ....... good dose of the throat anaesthetic some sedative, and they were suddenly finished! This was mid-August whilst I was in Cardiac ICU to check whether I had heart infection.

[foxglove in reply to JulianDH]

Not yet....next Tuesday is the day........fingers crossed you and others have been very encouraging, I've also to have an endoscopy for another prob., been in hosp with breathing difficulty, home now and waiting for a date for endoscopy....will it never end!

[JulianDH in reply to foxglove]

Yes... the TOE established it was not my heart but my lungs that had embolism and effusion....... my heart was fine .... which made TOE the most reassuring scan I had!

[foxglove in reply to JulianDH]

Will they ever get it right first time ?