Test results..... is that it?!!!

[Abbanabba]

Well I FINALLY heard back from my cardio regarding my lung function, holter and stress test (quoted verbatim):

Dear Anna,

I am just writing to let you know that the results of your respiratory function tests was quite satisfactory. The Holter monitor test was also satisfactory showing some extra beats which do not need any treatment at this stage. The exercise treadmill test was also quite satisfactory. I would plan to review you as we discussed in October next year with the echocardiogram and after the cardiac gated blood pool scan.

Regards.............

Is that all????

I thought she might at least let me know if things were any different to my previous results (..either better or worse..), or how frequent the extra beats are and at what stage (or if) she might expect to treat these (and how). I'm afraid "satisfactory" doesn't really tell me anything at all.

I requested copies of the test results a few weeks ago and rang today only to be told I had to put that in writing (..nice if they could have told me that 3 weeks ago..). Why is it doctors seem to be adverse to letting their patients know what is going on?

Am I expecting too much?

A : )

 

[bvdr]

Anna, I'm sorry but you just might be expecting too much. I like the fact that you even got a letter. The specifics you can get on the test results papers although I agree that you should have been told they needed the request in writing.

The good news is that you are "satisfactory". Are you feeling well or was this part of a let down because you were hoping to find an answer that resulted in a treatment to help you feel better?

 

[Abbanabba]

Hi Betty, I guess I'm ticked because I'm still feeling so exhausted and short of breath all the time and given the strange things my heartbeat was doing while I was wired up and waiting for the stress test (..consistantly swinging back and forth between 59 and 87 bpm with me just sitting there doing nothing..) I thought the holter might have shown something amiss.

The echo I had done a year ago was showing moderate-severe regurg in the pulmonary and I'm curious if that's still the same or if it has miraculously improved itself. My QRS duration was also allegedly borderline for surgery 2 years ago, and again, I just wanted to see if that was holding steady or if there were any changes. The techs were also a "concerned" about my HR during the exercise test (they thought one of the leads may have come loose because of the patterns - but it hadn't) so I thought that might have shown something.

"Satisfactory" is just such a broad term and if I didn't insist on seeing my results that's all they would tell me. There just seemed to be a few things that the techs mentioned during my tests that lead me to believe things weren't entirely "satisfactory".

At least if I know things are holding steady, I can pursue other avenues in my quest for answers, but when you get told nothing, it's very hard to know which way to go next.

Cheers
Anna : )

 

[Karlynn]

Anna,
I'd make sure that your doctor (who, if I'm remembering correctly, is fairly new) is interpreting your result within the context of your previous echos and tests. Are the results of the new reports "satisfactory" for a person with you previous Dx and history? I have had doctors who have had to be reminded of previous results and have had them reinterpret the new results. Just a thought.

You mention stress. SOB is a stress symptom for some people (my son, for one, also my mother-in-law), as are skipped beats. You have had a struggle with finding answers and stress has to be affecting you somehow. Just another thought.

Be good to yourself!!!

 

[ericaj]

Anna

Anna

Hi Anna,

I ma sorry you are feeling frustrated. I do hope that you will find some things out to put you at ease once you can read the test results for your self. Drs.
can be a funny bunch but when you do find a good one you know it. Hopefully you will find out something soon, Sorry I can't really help you any to much.

Erica

 

[Abbanabba]

Hi Karlynn, thanks for your thoughts. The cardio I saw is a specialist in adults with congenital heart defects and also the director of cardiology at Royal Melbourne, so she is probably one of the leading specialists in the country when it comes to my particular needs. Given that, I would hope she knows what she is doing - but I can't help but wonder if there's been some influence from my previous cardio who did the back-flip on my original dx.

The stress I mentioned was in regard to the exercise stress test, which measures how your heart performs under physical stress. Otherwise I'm probably enjoying the most relaxed time in my life. I'm not working, am getting rest when I need it, am studying part-time at my own pace, and am in a very supportive and wonderful relationship. I do get frustrated with the lack of answers at times, but not to the point where it consumes my life. I have my little rant and rave, then get over it and look at the next step. Incidentally, they've also tried me on several anti-depressants to help with alleged "stress and anxiety", but they either had no effect, or actually made me feel worse, so I don't think that's an issue.

The skipped beats have been an issue all my life. A while ago they considered putting me on beta-blockers to "smooth" out my heart beat, but decided against it since it slows your HR down and mine is already quite low (as is my BP). I have noticed, however, that I seem to have PAC's and/or PVC's very regularly (..ie, I don't go 5 min without an episode..), but obviously this isn't concerning anyone right now.

Hopefully I can get the tests to review soon and see exactly what was reported. I'll be quite happy if things are holding steady - I just hate being kept in the dark and treated like I don't deserve to know what's going on with my own body.

Thanks for the support though (and you too Erica )

A : )