echo results

[Kwar1]

Hi I was taken to hospital with pneumonia and showing a left bundle branch block. From that I had to have an echocardiogram where I was told my gp would explain results to me. I received no call from gp, just a copy of a letter from consultant of general medicine to a cardiologist saying the echo had shown left ventricular systolic dysfunction. I called gp surgery when I found out this means heat failure and was told they couldn’t help as it was a consultant to consultant letter and I should hear from a cardiologist with an appointment. Does anyone know what the timeline is for seeing a cardiologist? Thanks

[JHutton1994]

Routine is probably 3+ months, urgent is 2 weeks, depends what urgency the consultant from cardiology triages it with.

[Kwar1 in reply to JHutton1994]

Thank you

[Lowerfield_no_more]

It seems to me that there is a postcode lottery which governs waiting times, and this varies from NHS Trust to NHS Trust. So I suggest you contact the hospital where your cardiologist is located, ask to speak to a cardiology medical secretary to first ensure you are on their books, and then you will be advised of the likely wait time either by the secretary or the cardio appointments team, and you may even be offered an appointment if you are lucky. And if you are able to attend at short notice, offer yourself up to be put on the cancellation list assuming there is one.

[Kwar1 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thank you for the info. I will try this way tomorrow.

[DinoCat in reply to Kwar1]

Yes, I would definitely echo Lowerfield’s suggestion to make contact with Cardiology to make sure that you are registered on their list. There is sometimes even a wait to process referrals to include on a Consultant’s waiting list & (sadly) not unheard of that individuals ‘fall through the gaps’. If you’re able to attend at short notice, you could even ask to be registered for ‘cancellation appointments’ which can sometimes reduce the wait. Good luck

[Kwar1 in reply to DinoCat]

Thank you for your help

[happyrosie1]

as JHutton1994 says. Or you can go to the NHS app and put “waiting times” into the search box. Then you find you hospital in your region and then the speciality - cardiology in your case.

How accurate this is is anyone’s guess, though!

[Kwar1 in reply to happyrosie1]

I did look at website and it says 42 weeks from gp referral. Nothing about consultant to consultant. Thank you for reply

[PinkKizzie]

Hi Kwar1, I saw the consultant within 5 mins of my echo, it was to tell me I was in the severe category for heart muscle failure with an EF (ejection fraction) of 25%, LBBB, and left ventricle impairment. I would imagine if there had been anything really really bad, the consultant would have seen you immediately, I'd like to think that anyway. Hopefully the waiting times for your health board are not too bad. Wishing you well going forward.

[Kwar1 in reply to PinkKizzie]

Thank you

[VelvetSky]

Sorry , I’m just a tad cynical, if you can afford a couple of hundred pounds pay to see a Cardiologist, you’ll see one in a couple of weeks.

[john5438]

Initially I had a problem getting the echogram results from the GP. It took 5 days. I had to point out that it was not lawful to withhold information from the patient. When I finally got a cipy of the echo I sent it to a cardiologist (privately) who charged me £60 to tell me what it meant (over the phone), I thought it worth it.

[Rainyday2024]

Hello Kwar1, I was very interested to read your post as last April I had to have a check-up, including an ECG, prior to an eye operation with a general anaesthetic. I had never had an operation, nor ECG before and I was told I had a left bundle branch block! No-one explained what it was and whether it was serious. They obviously thought I was OK to have the general anaesthetic but I was left wondering what the hell was this condition and was it serious, should it be treated, etc. I had no feedback from my GP and the only time it was mentioned again was during a health check by a nurse, when she performed another ECG. She did call in another medic, who more or less said “well, at least you are aware of it now…….” and it was left at that. I don’t know whether I should be worried or not!!

[Manderson27 in reply to Rainyday2024]

I have an LBBB too. Quite a shocker to find that out at first but it was explained to me like this. The nerve that goes down the middle of your heart branches off right to left. This nerve send electrical signals to each side of the muscle wall of the heart to tell it to contract (beat) With a LBBB the signal can't get through so the body compensates by sending the signal around the outside of the heart muscle instead which initiates a contraction in the muscle and causes it to beat. It is not quite as efficient as the usual path so sometimes you can feel the beats. So I see it as an electrical fault that has been diverted but still does the job. The important thing is to find out if there is any other underlying heart issues causing it. In my case their isn't so no meds or other intervention needed and I just carry on as usual, I have probably had this issue for decades because I have always had palpitations. It sounds as if they are not concerned about your LBBB but YOU are so I would push for more information on your condition.

[Rainyday2024 in reply to Manderson27]

Hello and many thanks for your reply. I liken it to a car only firing on three cylinders instead of four! I’m hoping that if there was anything serious, they would have followed it up, but who knows, think it depends on your doctor! I do get palpitations occasionally, but usually when I get stressed! Thanks again, G

[Manderson27]

The term heart failure covers a lot of conditions some of which, like Left bundle branch block is not necessarily a problem in itself unless there are underlying heart issues. I have an LBBB which was investigated over a period of a year which showed no underlying issues thank goodness and no other symptoms apart from sometimes I can feel what seems like missed beats or palpitations. So as others have said try contacting a cardiology secretary and push for information. Usually if there is something urgent they move with urgency.

[Kwar1 in reply to Manderson27]

Thank you, that puts my mind at ease a bit. Like you and others have said if it was urgent something would have been done by now.

[momander]

Hello,

I think the time line depends on a lot of factors. Where you live, what hospital you went to, how long the waiting list is, and how many people are in front of you, how good the communication is between each health care professional, how busy the cardiologist is......and the list goes on. It could be weeks, or it could be months.

If you feel you have not heard anything after some time, then a call to the cardiology department is entirely acceptable, just to find out where you are on the list. I do hope you do not have too long to wait

[Alicant]

well I think that your GP should be involved with your health..

[Kwar1 in reply to Alicant]

Thank you me too. I’m totally hacked off with them.