Echocardiagram and ECG

[BryceQuinlanTheFirst]

Hello,

Can anyone tell me what to expect here, will I be topless, wearing gown?

Thank you!

The little stickers go on and under your boob and down a bit further (I think!).

I had a dress on in A and E so had to take it off and covered my lower bits with a cardi 😳.

If I knew I was going in I would go blouse as you can re arrange so you don't feel so exposed. And a cardi to drape...

I've had both these in the past year.

ECG was done by a nurse, the echo by a technician (male). Both were very respectful and for the echo i was given a gown (topless underneath) although it was open at the front. I was lying mostly on my side and it wasn't as "exposed" as I feared.

As I said, both members of staff were very kind and acknowledged it might feel very awkward for me, and it was actually ok on both occasions.

Thank you both. Just nice to feel prepared

I'd definitely wear separates though, so you keep your bottoms on.

I had a wrap dress on when I had an ECG in an ambulance, which was fine to pull aside for the top half, but then had to pull tights down so they could get to the tops of my legs!

Agree with what others have said but if you want anymore info it is :

Pain-free.

Two stickers to your upper limb/shoulder.
Two stickers to your lower limbs
Two stickers to your chest, above boob area.
Four stickers to your left underboob/rib area.

Can leave bra on.
Probably wear a cardigan or blouse as someone suggested or just take your t-shirt off.
Ideally don't be covered in suncream or freshly put on moisturiser as it can stop the stickers adhering correctly.

Takes 5 minutes or less, the tracing only takes 10 seconds

• only problem I have ever encountered doing an ecg is hairy men.... you have to shave patches in their chests or prepare them for a free sticker wax at the end!

(ED nurse.. wouldn't care to think how many ECG's I have done!)
Take care X

Echo I was naked on the top but open fronted gown to protect my modesty. Tech left the room whilst I got changed. Had three of these and it was the same each time.

ECG have mainly been done with my bra still on. Once a male dr asked me to remove my bra, that was one of the first ones I ever had so didn't know it was completely unnecessary for me to remove it.

@FTMFML
Good tip on the cream front as I usually wear a lot! Good tip thank you!!

Much appreciated everyone.

I had an ECG last week by the nurse at my local gp surgery, I had to take my t-shirt off and roll my trouser legs up. She placed the stickers around my bra, tugging the bra strap to life my boob for the stickers when needed.

Thank you. It's in Harley St so I'm hoping to be positioned on a chaise lounge wearing a gown of spun silk ☺️

If they don't take the ECG sticky pads off for you (I'd expect that included in Harley St😉) ... then take them off sooner rather than later... the sticky gel gets warm with body heat and they turn into a horrible gooey mess!

Oh and Echo they will ask you to lie on your left side. I've recently returned home from a stay in hospital with Pericarditis and have had 2 echoes and more ECGs than I can count recently! Both are fine and painless and if you're lucky and the sound it turned up you'll get to hear the lovely squelching sound your heart makes on the echo!!

I’ve had both recently.

I had a gown open at the front for the echocardiogram and was on my left side for most of it. The technician was female. She struggled to get a good view of the left side of my heart though, because my left breast was in the way, so I had to have a cardiac MRI last week.

A trainee did my ECG so I was topless covered by a paper towel, but I didn’t mind because she was female and they all have to learn.

ECG is pain free, for sure, but I have an annual echo and I find it can be quite uncomfortable. They can dig the scanner thing (about the size of a roll-on deodorant) very hard into your boob flesh. Men technicians tend to be worse at this than women.

In terms of modesty, it’s fine. As others have said, you have a gown on, open at the front.