Echocardiogram

[sjh67]

Do they tell you there and then if they can see anything when having an Echocardiogram? Or do you have to wait for your follow up appointment. Got mine today and curious :-)

It probably depends who does it. When I had one once I think I had the proper discussion with the GP at a different appointment, but when I had the ecg I could see the reading as they did it so had a chat about it with the nurse. I had the most ridiculously slow heart rate imaginable (which I knew and was not worried abotu) but she did say reassuring things about how it was okay for it to be that slow! I'd have seen if there was anything irregular in the pattern.

@BarnacleBeasley I'm having the opposite issue, mine has suddenly got ridiculous fast! Ok great, thank you, I'll ask questions while they're scanning :-)

I had one on Sunday (not my first) & they aren't allowed to discuss any findings with you but it's my understanding that if they see anything very bad they suggest you go to A&E immediately

Good luck, it's a really awful wait to see a cardiologist

I had one yesterday at the GP by a health practitioner, it was viewed remotely immediately by a doctor somewhere who sent a message saying it was fine, I was advised to go to A&E if I feel faint or have further worrying symptoms.

An echocardiogram is not the same as an ecg which is an electrocardiogram

I had an ultrasound on the heart - echocardiogram? Already had previous ecgs. They didn't say much, so need to wait for the follow up appointment.

I had one 3 and half weeks ago at 3pm on a Friday.....was admitted that night, transferred to the Royal Brompton on Sunday and had a tumour removed from my hearts upper left chamber on the Monday morning (so they very much can discuss with you straight away @LostThestral )

Oh and all completely unexpected- was going along for the echo as had suspected angina

@Thunderpunt oh my goodness, how scary!!!! I hope you are all ok now?

I had one and she told me then and there that it was all fine. I was extremely anxious though and I think she took pity on me.

The GP rang about 2 weeks later (!) to say it was all fine.

@Thunderpunt - I hope your doing ok. Thank you, your reply has helped put my mind at rest that there isn't anything extra to AFib going on, the wait to see the cardiologist gives me so much anxiety at times

My first one showed serious damage so I was immediately admitted. Subsequently I have had one every 6 months and I am told the results there and then.

I had a significant new finding on mine and sonographer kept completely schtum about it. They have to get on to the next echocardiogram and it wouldn't be fair to give you news and then immediately wave you on out of the door. The person doing the scan is also not usually the right person to discuss what any results actually mean.

I later heard about the results from my cardiologist. If you are having an appointment with a cardiologist in which they perform an echocardiogram themselves, they would be more likely to discuss results with you there and then.

When I subsequently had a repeat echocardiogram with the same sonographer, he was happy to tell me there were no changes. But I can completely understand how he was not the right person at the right time to tell me the results at my first echocardiogram.

Obviously, if they find something that means you immediately need some kind of management (eg shouldn't go home) then that's different but I should think that's exceptional.

@sjh67 @LostThestral I'm home and recovering thanks, it was all a bit of a whirlwind tbh.
The sonographer didn't give me the news, he obviously must have sent it straight over to the cardiologist and asked me to wait back in reception. About 20 minutes later the cardiologist came down and took me into another room with a couple of nurses and broke the news. I guess the point I'm making is, if it's serious and potentially life threatening they don't just send you home. Mine was described to me as not sustainable and the risk was it could embolise (?) and travel to another part of the body with 'catastrophic results' (his words) Hence admitting me immediately to monitor until I could be operated on.
I hope you get positive results and I have found the British Heart Foundation website a great resource if there's anything you're unsure of.
Good luck!

That does sound so scary. Luckily they found and it could treat it. I hope you're recovering well.

My mum had open heart surgery and a very rare heart condition, it was the scariest moment of my life! But luckily she's still here today, those surgeons are amazing.

Mine went okay, my heart rate was very high but he said he could not see anything 'too exciting' and now I just need to wait for the follow up with the cardiologist.