Echo Frequency

[RWS]

Valvers, what seems to be the frequency for echo?s after surgery?
Good health, no problems, yearly echo?s ?

 

[Phyllis]

Dick's cardiologist did one at 6 months, post-op as a baseline and doesn't want to see him again for a year. Not sure if he will do one yearly after that or less frequently.

 

[Karlynn]

The first few years after surgery I had an echo every six months. After that it was every year until last fall when it showed a mild leak in my aortic valve. Now I'm back to every six months.

 

[Sierra Bob]

I had an echo 6 months post surgery. Annually after the first echo. This will continue as I have the St. Jude Silzone mechanical valve.

 

[tobagotwo]

They gave me an echo at six weeks. They may or may not give me another at six months. After that, they said annually.

 

[Rain]

Stress echos = more info.

Stress echos = more info.

My cardio didn?t think we needed to do one until one year after surgery.......... but I was still a little freaked six months post op and requested one. We?ve done them annually since then, including two ?stress echos?.

 

[Susan BAV]

Funny you asked... I was just wondering the same thing. I just got off the phone with my cardiologist's office to reschedule an appointment in September for a stress echo. Evidently they didn't have me scheduled for that though -- just a visit with the doctor! I'm glad I had to call and reschedule or I would have gone to the appointment prepared for (and dreading) a stress test, only to have to come back again later. That doctor is about two hours from my home, too, so it's not just a quick trip! So, the girl at the office is looking up my chart and orders, as I write this, and she's going to call me back (hopefully).

I had one echo done two weeks post-op, when I was readmitted for a-fib, and that's all I've had done since the surgery.

 

[Raverlaw]

I'm scheduled for a stress echo next month, which will be my six month anniversary. After that, if there aren't any obvious problems, the cardio says once a year will be enough.
The six month one is to establish a baseline of the valve performance once the heart is healed from the surgery, at least that's what the Dr. told me.

 

[Granbonny]

1 echo 3 weeks after surgery..another one at 6 months .Then 1 year. Schedule for Cardio visit in Sept. need to call before to see if I am to take another one..If so, would rather do before I see Cardio...then he can tell me results...I want one every year...They are expensive. even with my 20% copay...Worth the money.. Bonnie

 

[Granbonny]

Stess echo?

Stess echo?

Mine are always laying on table with tech running the thingy all over my chest...What's the difference in that and a stress echo? bonnie

 

[Mary]

Bonnie,
When I had a stress echo, they hooked me up to the echocardiogram and put me on a treadmill. They kept increasing the incline and speed of the treadmill to see how my heart responded.
Another difference: the doctor is with you in the event you decide to kick off in the middle of the test.

During the stress echo was where they first saw my valve up close and personal. I remember the cardiologist saying, "That is the weirdest valve I've ever seen. " I didn't know whether to take that as a slam or a compliment.

If you can't use a treadmill, they can give you medication to run your heart up and view the echo while the heart is "under stress".
Mary

 

[Rich]

My cardiologist has me at every other year for echos, yearly for check-ups.