Why would a doctor order an echocardiogram??

[Memoo]

I was admitted to hospital a few weeks ago with various neurological symptoms. No diagnosis was made but I am to continue seeing a neurologist as an out patient until they figure out what's wrong.

Today I received a letter giving me an appointment for an echocardiogram which has confused me. Why on earth would the doctor ask for that!? Nobody mentioned anything to do with my heart when i was in hospital. Im worried now they're not telling me something.

Any ideas?

try not to panic, as I understand it ECGs are a routine test for people who have had some sort of fainting episode (or in my case because of high blood pressure).

My dh had a "faint" and had an ECG done. It's routine I think.

I think any time they get a patient who is a bit tricky to figure out, they order every test they can think of, just to see if they find anything interesting which might be relevant. Did they giove you a contact number to call with general queries? I'm sure they'd be happy to explain and reassure you that there isn't something they have kept from you.

It might be just to make sure they have not missed something - a ruling out process as part of an investigation protocol. I had an echo done when I was in hospital and I think it was because I was ill but they did not really know what was the trouble. The test itself it simple and non invasive, but I too worried - I already had dodgy lungs was my heart falling to pieces too type way.

I think they told him it was to find out if it was an electrical "back firing " of his heart or just a simple faint.

Hi memoo - it's a fairly standard test when investigating someone with unusual neurological symptoms. They will be looking at the structure of the heart and function of the valves as very rarely you can develop a clot or infection on the heart. If pieces of the clot or infection break off they can travel up into the blood vessels supplying the brain causing neurological symptoms. However please don't worry too much - both of these scenarios are very rare and the test is usually just part of a standard work up. Hope that helps.