Echo Questions

[tammy70]

Hey all. I am having my echo on Thursday ( I have them every 6 months) and I was wondering if you all had some ideas for questions that I need to ask? A little background info on myself. I have a BAV with aortic stenosis and insufficiency, mitral valve prolapse, ascending thoracic aneurysm and pulmonary hypertension. Thanks, guys!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Do you have copies of ALL of your previous Echo Reports?

If not, GET THEM.

I like to chart all of the measurements on a spread sheet. This makes it very easy to spot CHANGES. Too often, Cardiologists only look at your LAST echo and compare those numbers with 'standard' numbers, NOT YOUR previous numbers. This means that if your latest numbers are changing, but still in the 'normal' range, your cardiologist is probably CLUELESS to the CHANGE.

ONE of the 'triggers' for surgery is effective valve Area. Surgeons also like to look at Chamber Dimensions for signs of Enlargement which can become Permanent Damage if allowed to progress too long as the heart has to pump harder and harder to force sufficient blood through valve(s) as they become more narrow. IMHO, it is best to have your Previously Selected SURGEON decide on the best time to proceed with surgery. If you haven't selected a surgeon, ask for a referal or start interviewing them on your own. You don't want to be making that decision from a guerney in an ER!

'AL Capshaw'

 

[catwoman]

Tammy:

I get a report of the echo before I leave my cardio's office. I'm able to ask questions based on the figures & summary of the cardio who reviewed the video.
You may want to check out the references forum here at valvereplacement.com -- there's a link to interpreting echos there, I think. Might help to take something w/ you explaining what's "normal."

Good luck with your echo.