EKG question

[strawberry]

I KNOW I should just wait five days to get the answer but...
You all may remember I've had ankle edema for months now. Dr. Arrogant took an EKG and said "it's not your heart." My GP is sending me for an echo anyhow to be sure. My question is: would an EKG really be able to tell him whether my edema is cardiac related? My last EKG was normal despite three mildly leaky valves and a forth prolapsing. Can the regurg worsen and cause edema without it showing up on the EKG?

Thanks!

 

[Harrybaby666]

Hi Strawberry

Hi Strawberry

I don't know if this will help you, but I hope it does. I also have 4 leaky valves, and I still have ekg's that show normal or nearly normal, thus, I think that your doctors should make more of an investigation into your edema to confirm whether or not it is heart related or not. In my case, what has happened is, because I have had lung disease all my life, it is now contributing to my heart issues (Cardiomyopathy, Valve Problems, and Congestive Heart Failure). I am not trying to frighten you, but I do think that they should put fourth more of an effort to find out what may be causing your edema. I hope this helps you in some small way. Take Care, Harrybaby666

 

[geebee]

I was in congestive heart failure before my first surgery and had a normal EKG most of the time. My abnormalities only clearly showed up on an echo. I also had a lot of problems with edema.
I am not a doctor but I do not think a doctor can look at an EKG and say edema is not heart related (well, he can say it but it would not be accurate). That is not to say the edema is heart related, it could be something else. However, a normal EKG does not rule out non-electrical heart problems.
You need some more testing.
Good luck,
Gina

 

[bvdr]

I think Dr. Arrogant is perhaps well named. A heart cannot be ruled out as a contributor toward edema simply based on a normal EKG. Sometimes things have to get pretty severe before there is clear cut evidence on an EKG. Acute events such as an MI, acute pulmonary edema, heart blocks,or arrhythmias are very clearly recognized but many times mild heart failure is not.

 

[Harpoon]

The ONLY thing an EKG does is record the electrical impulses involved in the pumping action of your heart. While it may record a severely deficient heart rhythm that could be causing (among other things) edema, the test does not rule out cardiac problems as a cause for fluid retention.