Echocardiagram

dragonfly46 when I had mine I had to lie on left side in a back opening gown and the radiographer lend over me with the wand after applying gel and after she moved it about then did it on my back. It's all painless and not embarrassing. It's how they found out some was wrong with my heart. I had to have a bubble echo.

You lie on your left side in a front opening gown. A cannular is put into your right arm with 3 ports. 2 syringes are fitted to a port one empty and one with saline. The nurse passes the saline between the syringes to make micro bubbles which are injected into the vein via the other port once the radiographer has the wand in the right position over your heart. If they see bubbles it means there is something wrong with your heart if no bubbles then there is no hole or anything.

I heard the words well we can see the bubbles but not where we expected. The test was done twice more. They had me panting and holding my breath . At the end he said because I stayed still they had got really good pictures.

Turns out at the ripe old age of 62 I was born with a heart defect. This was last May. It's not a hole but something else because of Covid further testing has been put on hold. But will be speak to cardio team soon again as I now have eptopic heart beats. But not worried about having a heart attack it's just annoying as I can hear my heart beat in my left ear. I had jaundice 4 years ago and left like this.

I had to laugh in my life I have had 5 operations under general anaesthesia. The last operations lasted over 4 hours and had to have 4 bags of blood all with a dodgy heart.

Hope this helps.

I had one in hospital before my pacemaker. Absolutely nothing to it. I have to have another one in early September. Should have had it already but the letter telling me about the appointment came the day after the appointment should have been!
Seriously, it is just like a prenatal ultrasound with the cold jelly on and then the handset is moved over the area.

I’ve had several of these. I was very apprehensive before first one, they are absolutely painless. I’m overdue one due to Covid. Must get it chased up.

There must be so much life and work experience on here. I feel better now after a few words of reassurance by visgirl.

What a brilliant mine of information GN is!!

Thanks visgirl.

silverlining48

Visgirl I have a very Slow Heart rate 49/50 am overweight and get breathless when walking up even smallish hills and rate triples. My feet get very cold too even in thick socks. Would an echo cardio gram confirm my heart is ok. There was talk of a pacemaker.
Sorry if this is out of turn but it is a bit of a worry,
I am awaiting an appointment for a 24 hour ecg,

24 hrs tape will give you the answer. If Consultant feels this hasn't, yes may well order one to see if its something else.
Just trust your Cardiologist they have all tests available.
Hope you are OK soon.

dragonfly 46, good luck with your echocardiogram, I too am having one in September , so also feeling a little anxious!

Visgirl I have a very Slow Heart rate 49/50 am overweight and get breathless when walking up even smallish hills and rate triples. My feet get very cold too even in thick socks. Would an echo cardio gram confirm my heart is ok. There was talk of a pacemaker.
Sorry if this is out of turn but it is a bit of a worry,
I am awaiting an appointment for a 24 hour ecg,

I was before I retired an Echo cardiographer in a major Hospital in South of England.
All Echocardiograms are done by Cardiac Physiologists or Doctors both groups take the same exams, both groups do the reporting, it's a instant diagnosis once report done. The consultant will add this report to your individual problem and the way forward.
They are totally painless, an ultra sound beam views the structure of the Heart, picks up Doppler sound wave to check flow throughout the valves and assess the condition and heart function, one of the most valuable diagnostic tools available in the NHS.
You also get advanced invasive Echoes but that would be discussed with you.
I'm still working part time in NHS, but gave up my accreditation to British Society of Echocardiographers but my colleagues are working flat out to maintain the high standards expected from them.
This service was also a invaluable contribution to the patients on ITU during Covid.
When I was asked to return, I dropped Some skills and
I'm now sticking with Pacing and Devices (implanted Defibrillators etc)
But always proud to say I'm Cardiac Physiologist.
You will be fine nothing to worry about.

You are not a wimp! You are a dragon (fly)

Thank you all for your help. I didn’t used to be such a wimp!

Hello dragonfly, had a few of these, the worst bit was taking my clothes off ??

Honestly nothing to worry about, totally painless and tbh I found it rather interesting as I had a technician who was happy to tell me what she was looking at.

Dragonfly, here is another video, which may help.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y4ICNw2JnI

DH had one after his stroke. It was fine. Didn't take long and just like a scan. I believe they did it from front and side. He had a 5 day ecg which was worse as it kept alarming when a lead became detached and he was given spares so he could have one shower and I had to replace the leads - was really nervous despite doing ecgs at least once a week as a nurse!

There is a video on that website which I found particularly helpful. Good luck, dragonfly46, and perhaps if you will come back afterwards to let us know how it goes.

I’ve had one a couple of times, once as an inpatient and once as an outpatient. You will need to remove your underwear but you will be given a hospital gown. The technician was very respectful and I enjoyed looking at the images, since my pregnancies predated scans! Thinking about it, I was only able to see the images when this was performed whilst I was a patient in hospital, when a portable machine was brought to the bedside.

Try not to worry - it will provide your cardiologist with useful information about your heart. Perhaps this link will help to reassure you:-

www.nhs.uk/conditions/echocardiogram/

Sorry, I just realized that an ECG is obviously a different procedure!

I had an ECG at my GP surgery a while ago. The pads were stuck on the front. I didn't have to remove my bra, so you don't need to worry. It was all over in minutes and the duty doctor had a look at the results while I waited afterwards. Good luck!

Dragonfly, I have had a fair number. I had to lie on my side and it's a bit like having a pre natal ultrasound. It is absolutely painless and over in no-time. They were very gentle and I'm sure will do their best, not to hurt any tender areas.

Unfortunately I was vomiting badly, same with my CT scan, which was done just before it. Not a pleasant experience for all involved. ?

You have nothing to fear.

I had one a couple of years ago but can’t remember it so assume it was nothing extreme. Certainly no need to be nervous dragonfly. Good luck ? don’t worry.

I think my son had one. It was just an ultrasound scan while he lay on his back. They just moved the sensor over his chest and took pictures and watched the heart in action. That was it.