Apparently my echocardiogram shows evidence of a heart attack!!

[FancyCatSlave]

Had an echocardiogram the other week to monitor a mildly leaking valve. The report says evidence of prior heart attack, which makes no sense as the previous echo was 9 months ago and said nothing about that. I’ve had absolutely zero symptoms.

What the actual fuck?! I’m 47, I have a 6 year old. How is this happening?!

Notes say referral to cardiology and GP surgery have texted me an appointment with GP for March - but it all seems a bit mad. They haven’t bothered to call me, just put the letter in the app.

I really don’t know what to think. I know you can have silent heart attacks but what the hell..

Sorry I have no real advice but couldn’t leave this unanswered. You must be feeling really worried but amazing news that it’s been picked up and will be dealt with. Had you not had the ECG then you’d have been none the wiser. No idea how accurate these things are so hopefully it turns out to be nothing but glad you’re being monitored. Take care and I hope all turns out ok

Silent heart attacks happen :(

Start eating beetroot etc. to increase your Nitric Oxide.

Ask if you should start taking baby aspirin.

It wasn’t an ECG, it was an echocardiogram - they are ultrasounds of the heart. An ECG is just where they trace your heart rhythm and you get a reading.

I’m completely freaked out that they have just
given me this news and left me for weeks with no information.

Silent heart attacks usually have other symptoms though, I’ve read about them and nothing resonates at all. It’s so odd.

I can’t have aspirin, it’s not compatible with my blood pressure medication.

Most BP medications are compatible with aspirin. The only thing I can think of is you've been told not to take brufen/aspirin like drugs with enalapril or lisinopril (or other ACE inhibitor drugs) because of the effect on the kidneys but 75mg aspirin is ok. It's not unusual to see old heart attacks on ECG or echocardiograms though.
Don't think it's great how you've been informed but hope appointment goes well.

Maybe it’s not the bp ones, might be one of the others. GP definitely said no aspirin anyway so not inclined to start taking any without asking. And I’ve got weeks for an appointment. Wonder how many more silent heart attacks I will have before then?!

When I was a lot younger I was told in the hospital after an ECG that there was evidence of a heart attack. I have had ECGs since which were clear. My doctor has it down on my record that I have Ischaemic heart disease. - a condition where there is reduced blood flow to the heart. That happened over 20 years ago and I am now 81. I do have some mobility problems (arthritis) but Ive never had any symptoms of heart attack. I hope that cheers you up a little.

Yes, sensible to wait. But ages to go. Must be worrying for you.

But beetroot can raise potassium and might not be recommended.

We should take medical advice from our own doctors.

Often it’s just the AI interpretation of the ecg which says this, it’s come up before for me on an ecg and the consultant just looked at it and went no, that’s just the lead placement plus the fact that you are overweight, the machine’s interpretation is oversensitive and the people generating the reports don’t have the authority to override it. So I really would try not to worry until an actual expert looks at it and gives you a proper opinion. Even if you have, the fact that you’ve had no symptoms suggests it won’t be anything major and they’ll be able to get you fixed up. Best of luck with the appointment.

I had an echocardiogram, not an electrocardiogram (ECG) and I have the results sheet. It’s nothing to do with leads, that’s a different test altogether. The scan images show significant areas of the heart muscle that are non moving (akinesis) as well as a reduced ejection fraction.

ECG’s can be done by a nurse, the echo was done by a cardiac physiologist. They are qualified to know what they are looking at and they specifically said both at the appointment and in the report that it suggests an MI an I need an urgent cardiology referral for angiogram.

That must be very frightening, OP. From personal experience, the wheels of cardiology grind very slowly. DH has got atrial fibrilation and we've bit the bullet and booked a private cardioversion as the NHS wait was ridiculous and the medication he's on isn't effective but they can't change it until he's had the cardioversion. He's going in in two weeks privately if you can afford to jump the queue to see cardiology, I'd suggest it.

I can’t. I can’t even pay the mortgage this month (stuck awaiting sale of formal marital home). There isn’t 50p spare.