S
sonya489
I didn't see figures at the end of the echo only the measuring going on during it and #'s on the the left hand side I have to stop it so I can read it.....
Thanks,
C-YA
Sonya
Thanks,
C-YA
Sonya
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JimL
Well-known member
I have a question about echos; perhaps I can tack it on here.
I had a regular echo twelve days ago; all went well; my EF is 69%, which is good. I was supposed to see the cardiologist today at 9 AM.
Yesterday, his office calls to tell me that I'm scheduled for an echo at 10 AM, a TEE afterwards, and I can see the cardiologist at 3 PM. No apology for screwing up my schedule, no explanation for why they're doing this. I can't wait to talk to him about the people skills he and his people don't have... I compromised with them and went for a repeat echo this morning, and I'll see the cardiologist on 10-29, when he can explain why I need a TEE, if I really do.
Anyway, I went today for a repeat echo, and learned that the one thing he was concerned about was the velocity of the blood passing through my St. Jude valve. On both echos, it is measured at 3.1. I have no idea what units that is measured in, which probably doesn't matter, but I also don't know if that is good or bad, high or low.
Does anyone know? I searched several other sites, and learned that the Doppler echo is used to measure it, but that's all. Thanks.
I had a regular echo twelve days ago; all went well; my EF is 69%, which is good. I was supposed to see the cardiologist today at 9 AM.
Yesterday, his office calls to tell me that I'm scheduled for an echo at 10 AM, a TEE afterwards, and I can see the cardiologist at 3 PM. No apology for screwing up my schedule, no explanation for why they're doing this. I can't wait to talk to him about the people skills he and his people don't have... I compromised with them and went for a repeat echo this morning, and I'll see the cardiologist on 10-29, when he can explain why I need a TEE, if I really do.
Anyway, I went today for a repeat echo, and learned that the one thing he was concerned about was the velocity of the blood passing through my St. Jude valve. On both echos, it is measured at 3.1. I have no idea what units that is measured in, which probably doesn't matter, but I also don't know if that is good or bad, high or low.
Does anyone know? I searched several other sites, and learned that the Doppler echo is used to measure it, but that's all. Thanks.
Johnny Stephens
Well-known member
Jim, velocity is measured in meters per second (m/s). Here's an interesting link with lots of raw physics and equations behind some of the echo measurements: http://www.harcourt-international.com/crawford/chapter09.pdf
J
John Cochran
Hey Johnny, are you positive about velocity being measured in meters per second? I was sure it was measured in "warp speed!"
(Filling in on the screwball role while Ross regains his energy, or restocks his dilithium crystal supply
)
(Filling in on the screwball role while Ross regains his energy, or restocks his dilithium crystal supply
)
Johnny Stephens
Well-known member
It's good to see we have 24x7 screwball coverage here at vr.com. Yes, I'm positive, but I'm a pumphead so take anything I say with a large grain of salt!
JimL
Well-known member
Thanks, Johnny, for the link. I've got some reading to do.
This is an excellent article for explaining the meaning of the velocity across the valve that I used to have. It makes the critical number 3.0 meters per second; below that is better than above that.
I'm not sure though how that relates to the velocity across the St. Jude valve I now have, which was measured at 3.1. Does that mean that this number is something to worry about? I'll be sure to ask my cardiologist in four weeks.
This is an excellent article for explaining the meaning of the velocity across the valve that I used to have. It makes the critical number 3.0 meters per second; below that is better than above that.
I'm not sure though how that relates to the velocity across the St. Jude valve I now have, which was measured at 3.1. Does that mean that this number is something to worry about? I'll be sure to ask my cardiologist in four weeks.
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M
McCln
Sonya
Sonya
I am sure that everyone can agree on one thing, you have to feel comfortable with the cardiologist. He seemed to have the poorest bedside manners. Glad that you are seeing another cardio. Good luck, hon. I had one once that tried to get me on blood pressure medication when I did not need it. He claimed my bp was 500 over something, never said over what. I just felt the bp rising as he tried to get me convienced to take the med. I did not when I went to my PCP and had it checked out. It wasn't till a few years later when I learned I needed a bypass and my wornout aortic valve. There are crazy, lazy, rushing doctors' out there. Good lukc on the Oct. 9. I am sure you will be alright. At least, you are trying to take care of your heart problems. Hang in there and keep the faith.
Caroline
09-13-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve
Sonya
I am sure that everyone can agree on one thing, you have to feel comfortable with the cardiologist. He seemed to have the poorest bedside manners. Glad that you are seeing another cardio. Good luck, hon. I had one once that tried to get me on blood pressure medication when I did not need it. He claimed my bp was 500 over something, never said over what. I just felt the bp rising as he tried to get me convienced to take the med. I did not when I went to my PCP and had it checked out. It wasn't till a few years later when I learned I needed a bypass and my wornout aortic valve. There are crazy, lazy, rushing doctors' out there. Good lukc on the Oct. 9. I am sure you will be alright. At least, you are trying to take care of your heart problems. Hang in there and keep the faith.
Caroline
09-13-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve
S
sonya489
Thank you all so much for listening to me ramble on & on but people from Texas have a tendacy to ramble....and thats where I am from!!!!
Thanks,
Sonya
Thanks,
Sonya
A
ALCapshaw
Jim,
I'm wondering how you got your Echo numbers...
Every echo technician I've encountered told me they are NOT permitted to reveal any results to the patients.
Did you get a paper copy of the results?
Just curious. I'd like to have all of my test results for a better understanding of what's going on and wondering how to go
about getting that info.
'AL'
I'm wondering how you got your Echo numbers...
Every echo technician I've encountered told me they are NOT permitted to reveal any results to the patients.
Did you get a paper copy of the results?
Just curious. I'd like to have all of my test results for a better understanding of what's going on and wondering how to go
about getting that info.
'AL'
J
John Cochran
Al,
Just ask your cardiologist, and he/she will give them to you. The technicians can't give it because they are trained in collecting the data, not analyzing or intrerpreting it.
--John
Just ask your cardiologist, and he/she will give them to you. The technicians can't give it because they are trained in collecting the data, not analyzing or intrerpreting it.
--John
W
wlaldridge
Yes, I would just ask for copies from the cardio's office.
I did that in July and it took two weeks for them to work out the "correct paper work", what a joke. I had to sign and have witnessed a "release" document allowing "release to MYSELF".
But, they did do it. My PCP provides ALL documents related to my files in his office.
That is, in fact, the way I found out that the echo test I requested in February had been "lost" I was seeking all paperwork related to my physical and cancer surgery followup from the Jan/FEB time frame. These places are not the most wonderfuly organized. That needs to be another THREAD.
Best wishes,
Bill
I did that in July and it took two weeks for them to work out the "correct paper work", what a joke. I had to sign and have witnessed a "release" document allowing "release to MYSELF".
But, they did do it. My PCP provides ALL documents related to my files in his office.
That is, in fact, the way I found out that the echo test I requested in February had been "lost" I was seeking all paperwork related to my physical and cancer surgery followup from the Jan/FEB time frame. These places are not the most wonderfuly organized. That needs to be another THREAD.
Best wishes,
Bill
JimL
Well-known member
I just asked, and I received.
I think I have done that in the past as well. I've always watched the echo on the screen; the technicians don't seem to mind.
I went to my echo a few weeks ago with the goal of learning two things: (1) my EF; (2) whether my heart had returned to normal size. Jeff, the technician, had no trouble telling me both things.
When I went for the second echo, the technician asked me one of those throw-away questions about how I am, and I answered in all seriousness than I was confused and curious. Why am I here today? So she told me, in a couple of words, more than the cardiologist had told me, viz, the card was concerned about the velocity over the atrial valve. She then told me the number was 3.1. Now I still need to learn whether that is a good number for me or not, in other words, what was the card so concerned about.
I think I have done that in the past as well. I've always watched the echo on the screen; the technicians don't seem to mind.
I went to my echo a few weeks ago with the goal of learning two things: (1) my EF; (2) whether my heart had returned to normal size. Jeff, the technician, had no trouble telling me both things.
When I went for the second echo, the technician asked me one of those throw-away questions about how I am, and I answered in all seriousness than I was confused and curious. Why am I here today? So she told me, in a couple of words, more than the cardiologist had told me, viz, the card was concerned about the velocity over the atrial valve. She then told me the number was 3.1. Now I still need to learn whether that is a good number for me or not, in other words, what was the card so concerned about.
