Echo Time Again

[ITSINTHEBAG9]

Having the annual meltdown over an echocardiogram on Thursday. Yes I have severe aortic valve stenosis but am asymptomatic. Received very nice letter from my Cardiologist saying that at the moment they will just closely monitor. What I'm terrified of is that the reading will be awful, so awful that they will keep me in. Having said that it's a local hospital and any valve replacement would be done in London. I'm hanging onto the fact that as I'm asymptomatic they won't want me taking up a bed. And to be honest with Covid I'd really rather not be laying in hospital especially as I'm a carer for my husband who is on the extremely vulnerable list, add to that one daughter and a flock of sheep with the shearer coming Saturday. Sorry for rant, do feel free to tell me to shut up x

[Ebo50]

Rant away. I’ve only recently started posting here and have found the support and advice wonderful. Sending you lots of love and support.

[ITSINTHEBAG9 in reply to Ebo50]

Thank you. It's annual rant again sadly. 😒

[Nic25]

Hey Itsinthebag9, just to say good luck! If it's any help I was 'severe' for many, many years. I actually couldn't tell you the precise number as I was diagnosed in my teens and finally had an AVR in 2018 aged 50. It was a very gradual progression, from mild to moderate to severe. I went for a load of years having annual checks, even occasionally being switched to once every two years, and then back to annual and then it became every six months and then, wham, you need an op. Even though I could see the direction of travel, when I was told it needed to happen it was still a shock!

Obviously these things progress at a different pace for everyone, but hopefully it will be gradual for you too. The other point of course, is that it is much better to be on their radar and being regularly monitored than to not know anything about it and only find out when you wake up in A&E post-op!

Like you I was asymptomatic all the way through or, at least, thought I was. It was only after having had the AVR that I realised how different my heart function felt to how it had been before, even though before I wasn't, as far as I was aware, getting any breathlessness or feeling I was being stopped from doing anything.

But, with coronavirus and, as you say, your caring responsibilities it is a very worrying time all round, so my sympathies for you and really hope it goes well. I'd imagine from what you say it's unlikely you'd be kept in unless things were really, really bad (in which case it would be with good reason) but fingers crossed for you that it goes well.

I also had my op in London, in St Thomas's, and they were awesome. So sure you'll be in good hands when it does happen - and hopefully many years from now.

Best Nic x

[ITSINTHEBAG9 in reply to Nic25]

Aww thank you so much Nic. Well my GP reckons they won't keep me as I'm too fit. Husband very frail so would have to get back to him and then return. My sensible head says that I'll have the test. Come home and go for my booked appt in November. I will just warn anyone going for any hospital visit that it's a rigmarole and rightly so at the moment

Attend on own if possible

Only arrive 5 minutes before appt

Have to wear face mask

Temperature taken before you go in

It's for these added reasons I don't think they will hang onto me which I'm pleased about.

[080311]

Had AVR and bypass 4 years ago so I have annual echo, each one I have I am thinking what if? but so far so good. I really feel for you the same as you, I am my husbands carer so the worry is for both of us!

I wish you lots of luck👌

Best wishes Pauline

[ITSINTHEBAG9 in reply to 080311]

Pauline thank you so much for your reply.

[ITSINTHEBAG9]

Wendy thank you for your kind reply. I'm so glad I wrote on here this morning. It's really helping to calm me down...