Follow ups after surgery

[Birky]

I was just wondering now that I am 15 mos. post op if I should be having some sort of followup. Have not had a Echo since the day I was discharged from the hospital. I guess all Docs are different. If you should have to undergo surgery for something else, who takes you off the coumadin or makes decisions on this. When I had my wires taken out, the cardiac surgeon did this but what if it is something else like carpal tunnel? I think it would be safe to say that if this is needed, then I am better off going to the same area to find a Dr. where the Cardiologist is. When I had knee surgery in Loyola, I had to get a cardiac release from the cardiologist. I guess I am getting paranoid.

 

[Georgia]

I had an echo 3 mos. after surgery and am having another next month. Cardiologist said I'll have one annually.

Frankly, after not having had one for 13 years and due to that, having heart damage and chf, I'd be very uncomfortable not having one annually.

Maybe you should call your cardiologist and inquire.

 

[tommy]

Marcia,

Paranoid? I don't think so. Your concerns are normal. Call the cardio's office and ask them your questions about echoes and future procedures. I suspect that you will feel more confident and relaxed with more information. I know that's how I'm wired.

I'm surprised that you haven't had an echo already. Perhaps it is because you are doing fine. I like the fact that it will confirm the success of the surgery and will establish a baseline for the future. My first echo was 6 months out. Now I'm on a I'm on 2-year cycle. If my cardio was concerned about something, he would order them more frequently.

Regarding future surgeries and procedures, my cardiologist gets involved with every one to negociate a strategy for anticoagulants. Typically the anticoagulant prescription(s) come from my cardio. The antibiotic and pain prescriptions come from specialist that is doing the procedure.

I think that your idea of finding a specialist that practices at the same hospital(s) as your cardio is a good one. I've done it both ways, and found I was much more comfortable knowing that my cardio could see me if something went wrong. There are no guarantees, but when we can stack the odds more in our favor, why not?

Hope I've helped.

 

[Birky]

You have helped,

You have helped,

You have helped tremendous. Thank you for your replies,

 

[Susan BAV]

Hi Marcia -

I had one post-op echo when I was rehospitalized for a-fib about two weeks after surgery and then I'll have another one (I guess) in the fall, when I have a stress test (not looking forward to that thing), which will be about one year post-op for me. My cardiologist did not recommend cardiac rehab for me following my valve replacement (and I am healthy in every way, other than the heart problems, and plenty active), so I think the cardios have different plans for each patient. I believe that I will request an echo each year, no matter what my cardio may or may not recommend, though.

 

[bvdr]

Marcia,

You should have an echo to establish your post-op "norm" so later echos have something to be compared with. I had an echo at 3months, 6 months, and have another one scheduled for a little over a year.

My coumadin is prescribed by my PCP rather than my cardiologist and the arrangement seems to make things a little more streamlined. If I was to have some minor surgery that didn't require a cardiac screening then I wouldn't have to involve my cardiologist at all.

 

[tobagotwo]

Standard practice, as far as I know, is similar to Betty's story. I had one at six weeks, which is quite early, but will have another at six months. Then they will be annual.

You're overdue. Call your cardiologist and chide him for losing your records.

Best wishes,

 

[Granbonny]

I had one at 3 weeks..6 months..18 months..Now, I have a visit in Oct. but no echo ordered..Will question Cardio when I see him..I know, he's wanting to see me every 6 months..but will be year since last echo.Bonnie

 

[Marge]

I'm having my first post-op echo next month -- more like five months after surgery than three. After that -- I don't know.

I last saw my cardiologist in April (surgery was Feb. 12) & everything was perfectly OK. At this point I actually do not have a cardiologist! My cardio left to go to another hospital within the Kaiser system -- before leaving he split his patients into two groups: the "stable" ones he referred back to their primary physicians within the Kaiser system. I am apparently one of the "stable" ones. So after the echo comes back I'll be seeing my primary and I am sure he will refer me back to cardio for any heart stuff I need.

 

[Granbonny]

Echos

Echos

Are VERY expensive....I'm thinking the one I had at 18 months..I had to pay 20%......I have Hubby's statement from Feb..Echo---$575.00.....dopplar color flow...$325.00 doppler echo exam. heart...$400.00.......Total...$1,400.00.....Medicare picked up first part of his..Delta second part...$0 for him to pay........ I think I did pay something like $280.00 for my 18th month one.... Everything was covered my first year..(9 months) of post-surgery. Bonnie