Echocardiogram Procedure

[trt]

My daughter of 42yrs, with a 5yr boy has been told she has to have a Echocardiogram, and it will probably take about a month for the appointment.

Seeing it seems a long time to wait, I have offered, with her permission to pay privately, as I feel that its an important procedure, and of course she has her son to think of.

She went to the docs in the first place, because her heart kept racing now and again, Has anybody had one, and for what reason were you told to have it, as I am very worried for her.

Have made a few enquires this morning, and according to their websites, its about £300.00, which dosent sound to expensive.

[Sqad]

My thoughts ?
From what you say I wouldn't bother about an Echocardiogram and ECG would be my first thoughts.
If she has seen a Cardiologist and he has requested the Echo, then that is fine and it is no big deal, just an ultrasound which takes about 30 mins.

[trt]

Thanks Sqad,

I think she may have had an ECG, but would have to check when she gets home.

Can it be something serious, if patients are sent to have a Echocardiogram?

[Sqad]

trt...you haven't given me many details but from what i gather and what i am going to "presume" based on my limited knowledge is that it is unlikely to be anything life threatening and at the age of 42 yrs could be due to a "leaking valve" which again is no big deal.
Don't worry trt.......if you can afford the Echo then go ahead, but in my books if her heart has now returned to normal rate and she is not short of breat or has chest pain, I would wait the 4 weeks.

[Bazile]

If as sqad says , it has been requested by a Cardiologist , then he/she would have been told how long it's going to take and if said Cardiologist , thought that it was urgent and too long to wait , then i would have thought said Cardiologist , would expedite the appointment

[trt]

## if you can afford the Echo then go ahead, but in my books if her heart has now returned to normal rate and she is not short of breath or has chest pain, I would wait the 4 weeks. ##

Sorry Sqad, It hasn't stopped, its just a couple of times a day, her heart beats faster and she gets very tired, which is unusual for her.

## If the £300 is not a burden to pay then, personally, I would pay for the examination for peace of mind rather than necessity. ##

Thanks Bella,
I'm retired, dont have any debts, and if it was a £1,000.00, I would pay, as she is my daughter, and even though she is 42, she is still my little girl, and the mother of my grandson :-)

But I do worry!

[Sqad]

Well let me help you further trt.

If the Consultant Cardiologist has advised an Echo.......then pay.
If the GP has advised an Echo, then use the money that you would spend on an Echo to see a Consultant privately.

My opinion.... in a case of rapid heart rate an Echo is not particularly helpful, unless ordered by a Consultant cardiologist.

[trt]

Sqad,

It was the Consultant Cardiologist who has advised an Echo..

Will let you know later if she had the ECG.

Thanks

[Bazile]

//It was the Consultant Cardiologist who has advised an Echo.. //

So has he/she said if it needs to be done earlier ?

[Sqad]

trt....ah!

A Consultant Cardiologist would never suggest an Echo without first having an ECG performed.

So........pay for the Echo.

[trt]

## has he/she said if it needs to be done earlier ? ##

Not that I am aware of Bazile, will have to ask, and the same about the ECG Sqad.

[EDDIE51]

I had an echo cardiogram it is easy. Just one of those Ultra sound scanners similar to the ones that show you pictures of the baby when you are pregnant, except the picture is of the heart.

[jno]

you can read about them here

http://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/directory/e/echocardiogram

I had a stress echocardiogram, which wasn't a lot of fun, but I assume your daughter is just after an ordinary one.

[campbellking]

I've had an echo done as I was having episodes of SVT, (which was causing a resting heart rate of over 160 bpm). The SVT was easily captured on ECG as I was at work,it went on for over an hour the first time I noticed it and I happen to work at a hospital! It sounds like your daughter' s fast HR was self terminating, and unless she happens to be near an ECG machine when it happens, it can be difficult to show precisely what is happening. An echo in my case was done to rule out structural faults, the cardiologist did not expect it to show anything, and I waited a month for it as it wasn't seen as a priority as the problem was seen to be down to 'faulty electrics'. The SVT kept happening, mainly self terminating, and the second time I ended up in A+E as it wasn't stopping I was started on beta blockers which seem to be pretty much controlling I and am on the waiting list for an ablation (where the faulty pathways are burnt off) . My cardiologist tells me that abnormal HRs are very common, and generally nothing to be too worried about.
Hope this helps.

[trt]

Found out that she had an ECG after seeing the consultant, and if they found any probs, they would contact her, which they haven't, and she has told me to stop worrying as he said it is nothing serious.

So thanks for all the advice folks.