Pulmonary Hypertension?

[CantThinkOfAName8523]

Hi there,

I’ve name changed for this but am a long time user. This is long winded so I apologise in advance.

I was in hospital over Christmas and diagnosed with Pneumonia and Flu. I was sent all my results through MFT NHS Patient Portal.

I’ve been much better since but this morning had a notification that I had a new test result which was strange a month after leaving hospital.

I logged on and it was X Ray results.

It says the following:

‘Cardiomegaly. Cardiothoracic ratio 51%. Satisfactory mediastinal contours.

Prominence of the central pulmonary vasculature in keeping with underlying pulmonary hypertension.

No consolidation or pleural effusion is seen.

Impression: Cardiomegaly. Appearances of pulmonary hypertension. Correlate with echocardiogram.’

Now as it is Sunday, I’ve been losing my mind and googling. Bad I know. From my understanding, Cardiomegaly is an enlarged heart and it looks like I have Pulmonary Hypertension and need an echocardiogram to confirm.

Do I need to ring to arrange this? Do I ring the hospital where I was discharged or my doctors surgery or will the referral have been done? I am going out of my mind and have obviously read all the worst stories.

I don’t understand why this has just been updated a month later and am left feeling confused and worried. I’m a mum of three young children and I am terrified.

Best bet is to book in with your gp for a chat as soon as you’re able. They have your medical history and can have a discussion about symptoms and any tests needed. Hopefully you will be reassured .

unfortunately radiology can update some
time later -although I’m a
little surprised those results update to
you straight away. Our gp vets them and advises a phone consult before Releasing if abnormal.

Thanks for your reply. I’ve spoken the receptionist this morning and she has said this is routine and not urgent so she will ask the doctor to ring me tomorrow but doesn’t know what time. Feeling very anxious!

Hi there, I just wanted to check in and see if you heard anything back from the doctor? I have just been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and I am freaking out a little....

Hi! I have my echocardiogram on Thursday. Hope you’re okay x

Good luck with your echocardiogram. I've just started medication and will be out of hospital tomorrow I hope. My understanding is that after your echocardiogram, if it shows signs of PH, you need to get a cardiac catheterisation to confirm your diagnosis. I had this a few days ago and then they started me on treatment immediately. Definitely push for appointments and further checks as the faster you start treatment the easier it is to stop this disease in its tracks. There is no cure but treatment can make a huge difference. Let me know how you get on...I will be thinking of you..

Thank you! Sorry to hear you’re in hospital and hope you get home soon! How long after your echocardiogram did you get the results and do they give you any indication on the day? And how long was it between the echocardiogram and the catheterization if you don’t mind me asking

Please ask me anything at all! I want to help if I can. The problem with my advice is that I don't live in the UK anymore (if that's where you are based?) I live in the Czech Republic, from what I hear the NHS might not be able to respond so speedily. Here They had the results of my echocardiogram immediately, then put me in for a CT scan to rule out clots (there were none). They then sent me home for the night, then readmitted me the next day where I had lots of tests - blood, x ray, ultrasound etc and then finally my cardiac catheterisation. The doctor was actually able to talk me through my results when I was lying on the operating table. So as far as I knew all my results were immediate. They then started me on medication a day later, kept me in hospital for 3 more days to see how I would react and I got out today! It feels so good to be able to breathe.
The care here is different in that the hospitals look old and there is very little bedside manner, but the treatment is faster and more thorough because they don't have NHS restrictions. If your results from your echo come back with suspected PH please push for appointments...make sure they schedule you for a cardiac catheter - it is important to get a definitive diagnosis.

But I'm sure you will be fine...I have started meds and feel better already so I am hopeful.

Hi @CantThinkOfAName8523 , I just wanted to check in and see how you got on?