Cardiology appointment

[pinkkoala]

Hi. Looking for some advice as i am worrying, i have a cardiology appointment tomorrow for an echocardiogram and 24 hr monitor. Anyone know what happens during the appointment. I have had all bloods done and sn ecg at gp, i have some little episodes where i go sweaty, clammy, drain of colour, feel very sick and then everything goes black like i am going to pass out. I also feel flutters or palpitations. And my heart rate at times seems to be quicker for me.
Mum has rapud and irregular heart beat and my dad had a major heart attack in his late 50s. I dont smoke, i am healthy weight and bmi and have a fairly physical job as a hca.
I am worrying about my appointment as not sure of procedure or what they will be looking for.

I had an echocardiogram some years ago, you undress top half, then have a scanner like you have for a baby scan which she runs over your chest taking measurements, it's very like a baby scan only in a different area.
The halter has sticky pads which they put on you and you just walk around like that for however long they have given it to you for. It's all very simple and painless. Hope it goes well.

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound, similar to a pregnancy scan. It shows the anatomy of your heart which wouldn't show on an X-ray for example as it is not bone. They can also take measurements of blood flow to get an idea of how well the chambers are pumping etc. It is painless and nothing to worry about.
The 24 hour ecg is trying to pick up whether your heart is beating erratically at times and causing your symptoms. Devices vary but simply you will have some ecg leads stuck to your chest wall attached to a little box which records your ecg over 24 hours at which point you will return the box to the hospital. It doesn't do anything so apart from having to carry it all day and the
Minor annoyance of the leads it should not impact you. You will be asked to push a button on the device if you feel your symptoms to see if what you are aware of correlates with abnormalities on the tracing. It is only a 24 hour recording so might not catch the abnormal rhythm if that is what Is happening but it might do and does give your cardiologist a lot of information. You won't get the results straight way. Both tests are usually carried out by technicians.

I have a serious heart conditions and have echo’s around every three/six months. They’re painless but can be a bit uncomfortable as you have to lie on your left side and the scanner does have to go under your left breast at times.

There will also be a stage when they switch on the Doppler and you can hear your heartbeat.

My echo is fascinating because i have a mitraclip (partial mitral valve replacement) and an ICD (pacemaker) and you can see the cables etc on the scan....

I used to be a cardiology nurse. Whilst you do have to uncover your to half briefly every area I've worked in they use gowns/blankets to keep you as covered as possible.

The 24 ECG is just a few electrodes and a box.

Whilst your symptoms sound frightening there's lots they can do to help and you are on the first steps towards that.

Sickoffamilydrama, thankyou for your reply. Do you have any thoughts on any possible answers, i have thought stress, as had 3 years of continuous stress that was really hard, being exhauated as working nights and not sleeping or an irregular beat.
How long does the scan usually take, if under your breast would they be looking for anything else other than heart. Haven't got a date for the follow-up appointment yet.

Hi @pinkkoala it could be stress out does raise your heart rate and can give you all the symptoms described.

It could be a rhythm problem like your mother but I couldn't guess what rhythm one as they can all cause the symptoms you describe. It sounds like your mum has atrial fibrillation or AF? I believe about 30% of People with AF have a family history of AF so there is a hereditary element but it's not fully understood at the moment.
It's much less likely to be a coronary artery disease like your father because usually you would have chest/arm/back or jaw pain, with the other symptoms in fact if they suspected that they'd get you to do a stress test (an ECG on a treadmill) but there is always the possibility and don't worry if they do this test it is often a process of elimination.

The echo only looks at you heart chambers and valves not anything else, although that is very useful information. It isn't usually painful but they can sometimes need to push hard.

I've had both tests a couple of years ago - the only annoying bit was that the sticky pads from the holter got really itchy and I couldn't wait to take it off!

The results do take a few weeks. Mine were ectopic beats, but I also have episodes of SVT.

Make sure you consider your lifestyle choices - water intake, diet (iron rich foods), iron levels, exercise, alcohol and sleep. I have found triggers for mine over the years but do also take medication now too.

Good luck op!

Good evening, i have had the echo and the chap said he can't see anything significant wrong, everything looks ok. My obs were bit hight bp 153/85, heart rate 106, sats were 100%. Bp and heart rate was high for me, my bp is normally normal. I now have monitor on and have logged a pounding heart and a flutter. Not sure when i will get the results.

Great news about the echo and that you've recorded something hope you get answers soon.

Hi op, was all okay? I have an echo scan soon and I'm really worried