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Original poster

Echocardiogram - will I need to take my top off?!

68 replies

MissAtomicBomb1 · 22/03/2023 21:36

I'm due to have one at the beginning of April. Presumably I'll have to be completely topless for them to perform the procedure?
I'm slightly anxious as the letter says it could be performed by someone of the opposite sex. Things like this don't usually bother me but when I was in A&E recently I was asked to strip off for an ECG by a nurse. Wasn't offered a sheet to cover up & just a flimsy curtain around the bed which she hadn't even closed properly. I felt really exposed and self conscious with other patients wandering around a few metres away. I know the sonographers have seen it all before but I don't like the thought of having my boobs out for 20mins in front of a strange bloke...
Would it be weird to take DH with me?

OP posts:
doublethelove · 22/03/2023 22:38

I've had quite a few done due to a heart condition I discovered I had about 18 months ago. The first time I had one I was asked to undress from the waist up behind a curtain, the guy left the room then came back, and put on a gown which opened at the front. I have G cup boobs which aren't exactly perky so when I lay down, they were all over the place lol. But the guy doing it couldn't have given a shiny shit tbh. The lights are also dimmed which helps the awkwardness. Be prepared to possibly be asked to lie on your side facing away from them and have them wrap an arm round you while holding the wand thing and moving it around sometimes under a boob, they often need to do this to get images from different angles, which feels a bit...different. I've had this done by both male and female sonographers. Guess it's kinda nice like a hug depending on how you look at it haha. I'm sure you'll do fine. Try not to worry :)

CornishGem1975 · 22/03/2023 22:40

I had one recently. I has a hospital gown on but with the opening at the front so yes boobs out but they tried to retain my dignity as much as possible. It was a female who did the scan but I wasn't really bothered. I had the same at a CT last month, but they were all men and they were even more aware of trying to keep my as covered as possible but when looking at the heart it's pretty hard not to show a boob!

CornishGem1975 · 22/03/2023 22:43

You might have to bare an ankle too. This was explained to me as there are fixed points where the leads must be placed, but then optional further ones can be used too, and putting one somewhere more peripheral can improve the readings (hope that makes sense, and is indeed at least passingly correct!

That's an ECG @Ethelswith not an Echo. Echo is ultrasound.

Username721 · 22/03/2023 22:45

I had one a few hours after giving birth. It was completely topless but took a maximum of 5 minutes. I don’t think my opinion counts for much since every ounce of dignity had already left the building.

Climbles · 22/03/2023 22:47

I’ve had them both with and without a top on. Always a female nurse though. I’d feel self conscious if it was a male nurse and ask for a female.

ExhaustedUnhappyPigeon · 22/03/2023 22:52

My daughter (aged 20) had one last year and she was absolutely adamant she was not going to be naked on her top half. She she took a zip up hoodie and wore it backwards - we explained to the person doing the test that she had anxiety and didn’t want to be naked and they were more than happy for her to wear her zip up hoodie for the test. They just reached under it and there was no issue

HereComesTornadoSeason · 22/03/2023 22:53

MissAtomicBomb1 · 22/03/2023 21:47

Thanks for your replies - seems as though it depends who you get! I don't mind going topless if I can cover my modesty a bit with a gown or towel.
Just don't like the thought of being completely topless with a male doing the echo!

Ask for a front opening gown. There is zero reason to be completely topless,whether it's a man or woman doing the test.

Original poster
MissAtomicBomb1 · 01/04/2023 11:20

So I went for the echo today & it was absolutely fine.
A very nice lady did the scan and I was offered a front opening gown. It was very up close and personal as others have described!
As I was putting my clothes back on she said it will be sent to the cardiologist who will send for me and 'see what he can do for you' hoping that was a turn of phrase rather than she found something terrible!

OP posts:
Cicily · 02/04/2023 04:04

Except it’s not a random blood but a trained sonographer. I’ve had loads due to a genetic condition, I wear a gown open at the front. This year I was just relived they saw me as the waiting list for urgents is bloody awful. Hope all okay op.

BobaTea · 27/04/2023 19:59

Can I ask those that had echo or due to have one, did your GP refer you or it has to be a hospital consultant?

CornishGem1975 · 28/04/2023 09:56

Your GP can refer you @BobaTea. I was referred by a cardiac nurse and consultant at A&E however, I will need follow-ups in the coming years and cardiology discharged me (despite having heart issues!) and I spoke to my GP about it as I was annoyed and he told me can refer for echo so not to worry about it!

HappyHolidai · 28/04/2023 10:04

I had an echo earlier this week and had front-opening gown. Male sonographer who asked if I wanted a female chaperone but I've had loads of echos (heart condition) so said it was fine. He was just starting when a young male doctor popped his head round the curtain and asked if he could watch as he was learning about echos. 😸

WolfFoxHare · 28/04/2023 10:05

I had one recently and could keep my bra on.

WolfFoxHare · 28/04/2023 10:06

I had it done at my GP’s! I was referred by the asthma nurse.

BuzzyBusyBee · 28/04/2023 10:10

I have had an EGC at least once an year, every year since I was born to monitor a congenital condition. Reckon I must have had approx 50 and every single one has been topless. Felt awkward about it as a self-conscious teen, especially as I was under a male consultant but as others have said their eyes really do stay firmly fixed on the screen - that is where in the interesting stuff is happening!

Coxspurplepippin · 28/04/2023 10:12

I had one last week and kept bra on. You can also ask for a chaperone, no-one will mind. NHS staff in these situations are usually very understanding of people's worries.

Plantgeumstoday · 28/04/2023 10:13

They’ll probably get you to wear a gown and the electrodes can be put on very discretely without exposing you.

Insist on remaining covered.

They’re supposed to respect patient dignity.

HeidiUpTheMountain · 28/04/2023 10:15

Plantgeumstoday · 28/04/2023 10:13

They’ll probably get you to wear a gown and the electrodes can be put on very discretely without exposing you.

Insist on remaining covered.

They’re supposed to respect patient dignity.

That’s an ECG - the electrical test. OP had an echocardiogram, which is a moving ultrasound scan of your heart. It does need skin contact across the whole of your chest and round the left side. Completely different test.

CornishGem1975 · 28/04/2023 10:23

Yes lots of people are confusing ECG and an echocardiogram. However, both of which I have been topless for

Challengedbutenlightened · 28/04/2023 10:25

HeidiUpTheMountain · 28/04/2023 10:15

That’s an ECG - the electrical test. OP had an echocardiogram, which is a moving ultrasound scan of your heart. It does need skin contact across the whole of your chest and round the left side. Completely different test.

Show quote history

Certain hospitals perform ECHO’s with cardiac monitoring at the same time, I had one on Tuesday, ECHO plus 3 wire continuous monitoring, my ECG’s are normally 12 lead plus high and low front and back perimeters,

CordyLines · 28/04/2023 10:32

Whatever about dignity, I found that they really DIG that probe in and I squealed ha ha. And at my age (old) the boobs ave gone south to the Antarctic but They are professionals and their only job is to get the best images for the cardiologist. Doesn't take long.

A trans eosophageal scan on the other hand .... be glad it's just an echo!

Hottoffeesauce · 28/04/2023 10:33

I have ECGs and echocardiograms. Am topless for both. Have had both male and female nurses doing them and always been given the utmost care and attention. They truly have seen everything and it is in their interest to perform the best trace/ultrasound for the cardiologist to examine. Try closing your eyes and visualising being somewhere else - it used to help me when I first started having them and I felt shy and embarrassed. I've had so many now and can relax and watch the process. The nurses are professionals, they want to help you and will talk you through everything if you tell them you are nervous.

BobaTea · 28/04/2023 10:39

@CornishGem1975 the hospital decline my referral despite me having 5% burden of ectopic heartbeats. So I'm going to ask my GP for an echo.

CornishGem1975 · 28/04/2023 10:57

Yes definitely ask @BobaTea. Hospital say they never need to see me again regardless of the fact I have a dilated aorta (also known as a silent killer...for a reason, no symptoms until it ruptures!)

SummerCycling · 28/04/2023 11:33

I am very shy about my body but I have found the echoes fine.

I do have to take my clothes off from the waist up, but they give me a private part of the room with the curtains closed, and a gown to wear (opening at the front).

I've done 4 or 5 echoes, all with male staff, but they have been really kind and gentle, very discreet. I felt completely at ease and comfortable each time.

My first was before I started cancer treatment, then the next two while on chemo. Then one soon after surgery when I had a seroma from the mastectomy, and the most recent after radiotherapy.

I realised my surgery wound that had been stretched by seroma then made red by radiotherapy would be unsightly for them to see, but I am sure they've seen far far more mutilated bodies than mine and it doesn't phase them at all. I found it just made the most recent person even more caring and he checked several times whether it was ok (I had promised I'd tell him if it hurt, which it didn't).

They have been so thoughtful about making me feel comfortable, I don't feel stressed at all when I know I've got an echo appointment.

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