Print out of Cardiologist diagnosis etc

[Gooner1947]

The problem I am having is that I saw cardiologist 2 months ago now and he told me I had Aortic Stenosis. This confirmed by echocardiogram.

But I don't know how severe or moderate. He said I will need a coronary angiogram. Am awaiting an appointment for this.

I have no idea if I will need a new heart valve or not.

My Ejection Faction was 63%. I found that out by asking my GP.

Cardiologist arranged for me to have Whole Aorta CT and Carotid Vascular Ultrasound. Had these 3 weeks ago.

I am trying to find out if I can get a print out of the diagnosis and recommended treatments by the cardiologist. I have left a message on answerphone of his secretary to ask.

When I saw him I found it all difficult to take in.

Does the cardiologist actually do the coronary angiogram or someone else?

[SandraLlew]

My angiogram was done by a doctor as they had to slow heart down that was the cardiac angiogram, the coronary and femoral artery one - in my case- was just a normal CT scan.

Go back to the secretary and ask for a copy of all reports you are entitled to them in the UK, but sometimes you have to ask.

[SandraLlew]

Is it possible to take someone with you? I always take my son, he sits and listens and we run through it all again later on, then I make a record of dates, times, who said what and any details of tests etc.

If you have a smart phone you can ask in a consultation if you can record the chat to review later, or ask there and then for some written information about the consultation.

This is all clearly adding more stress by your not knowing what is going on, ask if you can have access to a specialist nurse to talk to about concerns. They are usually very good.

[Gooner1947 in reply to SandraLlew]

Yes, I did ring cardiologist secretary by leaving message on answerphone re getting a print out of stuff he spoke about during consultation. That was last Thursday. She'll probably call me during next week hopefully.

[Taviterry in reply to SandraLlew]

Sandra, that's excellent advice. Often I'm still considering one point that's been made to me when the doctor is talking about the next. And sometimes afterwards I think of something I'd wish I'd asked, either for clarification, or a further question.

Back in 1995, I was given the results of a brain scan, with no fewer than three staff in the room (perhaps one or two of them were students) and invited to go for a walk and come back if I had anything else to ask. I declined. In those days there was nothing in the way of patient access to records, I can't recall receiving a detailed letter and hardly anyone had Internet access. (This was just as well, as the description I was given of my condition was extremely vague, and even puzzled a cousin who was a nurse in another hospital and her doctor there. Had I known more about the prescribed op, I would have been very worried.)

[SandraLlew in reply to Taviterry]

In all of this journey this year I have received 2 formal reports. It is always good to keep your own records just in case something goes wrong.

[Taviterry]

My various scans were carried out by what I took to by radiographers and the like, and no cardiologists were present, though obviously one reviewed the findings. Looking back at my records for last year (my valve was replaced in July 2023), I had no report on the various findings until all had been completed and I had had an appointment with the senior consultant. Then I got a letter summarising them and the way ahead.

I spend a lot of time with Dr Google, but even I baulked at trying to analyse all the different readings, which have to be looked at collectively rather than individually. Looking at the results, I can see no reference to my ejection faction.

It can take a doctor some time to review all the findings and have an appointment with a patient. Last year I had an MR scan of my head (nothing to do with my heart) on June 18, I enquired about the result on August 21 and received a reassuring letter on the 31st.

[TasteLessFood4Life]

It is a bit unprofessional if they dont give more detailed feedback. Could be beacuse of lack of resources.

But my rule of thumb would be that if you need more invasive type of angiogram, it is probably more pressing or more serious. But only the cardiologist can confirm this.