question: 2yrs post op and Dr's visits

[nefarious_muse]

Hello All,
For those of you who are 2yrs + post op, how often do you see your cardiologist? I ask because my husband is coming up on his 2yr anniversary, and was told that after his annual ultrasound, he'll only need to visit once every 6 mos! Is this the norm (i.e. am I being a nervous nellie???!!!)

Thanks!

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Going on 4-1/2 years. Yearly echos. Next check in the fall. If all is well I go on the 2 year plan!

 

[Ross]

Unless conditions warrant anything sooner, that is perfectly normal.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

At my one-year anniversary checkup, my cardio put me on a twice a year plan, alternating between himself and my internist (who originally caught my murmur and abnormal EKG). In other words, I see one of them alternately every six months. I suspect I'll have an echo at my next cardio appointment in April 04.

 

[Yokena]

Post-Op Doctor's Visits

Post-Op Doctor's Visits

Welcome to the group! I'm pretty new myself, but I've found helpful folks here and I'm sure you will too.

I am 2 yrs post-op myself (tricuspid valve replacement). Since my surgery was done at the Mayo Clinic and I live in Mississippi, my cardiologist at Mayo lets me see my cardiologist here every six months and I see her every year and a half. When I make the Mayo trip I skip the local cardiologist. They just send each other reports and records so everyone knows what is going on.

Every six months is perfectly normal! That's a good thing.

Joyce in Mississippi

Ebstein's Anomaly
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Right Bundle Branch Block

 

[JimL]

At my one year check-up, my cardiologist told me not to come back, he didn't want to see me for a while. Not that I'm such a difficult patient, but the echo was so good.

I'm coming up on my two year anniversary, so I'll call up to schedule an echo before I see the cardiologist. I would expect to see him once a year.

 

[Nancy]

As conditions start stabilizing, the appointments will start stretching out. It's a good sign. You could always call with questions or any problems. The safety net is still there.

 

[DickV]

I have to go to the cardiologist twice a year for a checkup and bloodwork.

 

[Sherry]

I am six years out from a mitral valve replacement and have an echo done every year; in fact he actually did a t.e.e. this year (yuck). I'm in his office all the time for INR checks so if I have problems (as I just recently did), my coumadin nurse schedules me in for an appointment.

 

[nefarious_muse]

Thanks for the responses, everyone Much appreciated!

Nef

 

[MarkU]

I'm 50 years old, 2-1/2 years post-op and see my cardiologist once a year with an echo scheduled every second year.

Mark

 

[Simon Gee]

annual for me

annual for me

Hi

It's much the same here in England - I see a member of my cardiologist's team once a year. I had an echo too this year, the first one for 2½ years.

This frequency is quite normal here.

Simon

 

[hhardt]

Checkups

Checkups

I have my pacemaker's battery & memory checked twice a year. See the cardiologist and the pacemaker doc once a year (alternating so that it happens every 6 months. I had a echo done 8 months ago. So far everything they fixed is OK

 

[Rich]

I'm just over seven years post-op.
I see my cardiologist once a year with an echo every other year.

 

[Peggy in Alaska]

Sherry:

What's a t.e.e.?

 

[RobThatsMe]

Hi,

I am 3 years + post op. I see my cardiologist every 6 months. I see my vascular surgeon once a year for CT scans and review. I see my GP every 6 months. I try and schedule it so that I see my GP 3 months prior to seeing my cardioligist.

I figure that if something is wrong with me, seeing a doctor on 3 month intervals one of them is gonna find out what it is. If you do the math on my schedule, you will see that I see a doctor every 3 months.

Now, more to the point, at least my spin on the point. My doctors have told me that they could stretch out the intervals to once a year. I have insurance, and my visits don't cost that much, except for my annual CT scans. (So glad that I have insurance for that). With that said, if you have insurance, see your doctors as often as you feel will keep you in your "Comfort Zone". I would rather see my doctors regularly just for my comfort, and yes... I know they said I don't have to see them as often, BUT... they too said hey... "whatever interval you feel is good for you is best".

So, yes... I feel good that they don't want to see me as often as I make them see me. AND... yes... I feel even more comfortable knowing that they see me as often as I want them to! The choice is yours... Manage your own health care.... and feel good about it!

Rob

 

[ccrawford]

Peggy - A TEE is a trans esophageal echocardiogram. Sort of the same thing as a plain echocardiogram except that the transducer is very small, and you swallow it after having your throat numbed and having an anesthetic to make you sleepy. The reason for doing this is that they can get the transducer really close to your heart while in the esophagous, and can therefore get really good images to find out what it going on. I've never had a TEE, and I'm sorta funny about things down my throat, but most of our members who have had one say it isn't that bad. Sometimes your throat can be sore afterwards, and you aren't supposed to eat or drink for awhile until the numbness wears off. Given that a TEE can produce better diagnostic results, it's one of those things that I guess you have to buy into. Hope this helps. Chris

 

[nadi]

TEE

TEE

I had a T.E.E. last week and one in April, for both of them I was asleep. YEAH!!!! I did have a sore throat for about 24hrs.

 

[Peggy in Alaska]

T.e.e.

T.e.e.

Thanks, Chris. I'm new to this website and so many of you use abbreviations that I do not know. Maybe I will never need a tee. Sounds bad. Since my problem is only in the tricuspid, maybe they don't do tees for that valve. I can hope!

Again, thanks for responding.