ECG

[Worriedkat]

I had an ecg today, quite surprised as I thought the appointment was for an echocardiogram. This was a heart trace that apparently has to be done before the ultrasound.

The nurse said it looked normal, but she didn't know a lot about reading the trace's. I asked what the downward peaks meant and she didnt know. I was referred there due to sharp brief chest pains and the GP heard a faint heart murmer.

Echo not due until end of July. Should I try and get a cancellation or does this sound ok?

Eh? You shouldn't have to wait that long for the echo! Didn't you already have an ECG at the GP surgery?

Isn't an echo and an ECG the same thing?

ECG looks at electrical impulses of heart. Just stickers attatched to wires on chest.

Echo looks at pumping function/blood flow. Ultrasound like.

ECG is a trace of the electrical activity which makes your heart beat, echo is an ultrasound scan which shows how the chambers of your heart are working and blood flow throughout etc. They are used for different things but often interpreted in conjunction iyswim- which I imagine is why you've had both.

Downward spikes would be on a normal ECG. I would hope that although the operator who took the ECG couldn't interpret it, that someone would be looking at it sooner rather than later.

Whoever orders a medical test in General has a responsibility for chasing and acting on a result.

Did your GP initiate these tests? Perhaps have a telephone conversation with them if you can and ask if they have been sent the ECG result.

Try not to worry- chances of having a problem as a young ( I am presuming) person are very slim.

Sorry chesty- x post!

Nope, no tests before today. I did get an appointment for the echo part for 2nd July but postponed it til 22nd so I don't have to take a toddler with me.

Today's heart trace (EKG?) was done at my gp surgery by a nurse, so I would hope they could manage to pop it next door to the gp wouldn't bet on it though

The echo test is going to be in the gp surgery across the road from mine, looks like a private company does them from the headed paper I got in the post.

I am 39 nearly 40, had random sharp but brief left chest pains, gp detected a faint heart murmer hence the referral for tests

Sorry to hear your news.
as a cardiac patient myself, I am interested by your post.
has your GP following his diagnosis, referred you to see a cardiologist? As they will be able to advise you better what an ECG and echo findings explains, and possibly do more investigations.

Definitely give the gp a quick call then and make sure they've seen it. Will set your mind at rest..

No referral to cardiology yet. Perhaps gp can read the results? Symptoms very mild and intermittent so maybe they think not urgent (heart murmer could only just be heard by gp). Gp thinks pain not related to heart as my description seems more muscoskeletal

if you asked what the downward spikes meant, and the nurse said she didn't know, but also said it looked normal, it means she hasn't the first idea what she is talking about. anyone who doesn't understand the basic principles of the ECG trace is not in a position to offer a qualified opinion on whether the trace is normal or abnormal.

chances are it WAS normal, and as others have said, the downward spikes are an entirely normal part of the ECG...most ECG machines these days also run a fairly crude diagnostic, and will often print their findings (if any) on the ECG trace - one would hope that if there were any major concerns, you would have heard of it before you left the building.

Generally you won't need a cardiology referral unless either the ECG or the echo show anything up. When you have an echo the results are interpreted by the hosp and sent back to your GP- your GP doesn't have to interpret it.