PFO Appointment

[Jacq]

Originally Posted by photek1000

Nice to see they are going to put you in for a bubble test with out any sign of a struggle.

Hope it's a negative for you when it's done.

I am way too late with this but just found the updated post. Glad you had somebody who sounds like they know what they are talking about. Well done for beginning the process - thats always the most difficult.

Keep us updated.

J

[andydormer]

Originally Posted by hogen-deifar

That hole has other uses, m'boy!

Can't wait??? ..............NOT!

It all goes a bit whoooosssssshhhhhh over my head!

Hi,

I'm studying Cardiology at Swansea Uni and am a member of their dive club so one day there will be another cardiological technician with real dive experience working for the NHS ... 1 year 9 months and counting... ...

My placement at the moment is teaching me the basics of ultrasound (echocardiography) imaging. I'm observing heart scans (TTE and TOE) daily and just want to say "don't panic" and hope the following relieves any concerns.

The TTE (Trans Thorasic Echo) scans the heart by placing a probe against the chest, predominantly on the left breast area. As explained in the wikipedia link above, the image quality may be reduced by the lungs, ribs and breasts being in the way. Some patients are just not photogenic and give poor images. The bubble test requires good quality images, and these are guaranteed by a TOE (Trans Oesophageal Echo) where a probe is passed down the gullet. This route gives clearer images as there are no interfering structures in between the probe and the heart.

The bubble test highlights the movement of blood between the atria (upper chambers) in the heart, so can be used to confirm if a PFO exists and gives the cardiologist the information they need to fix it (size and location). No bubbles on the left= no hole.

Before the TOE test you will have a local anaesetic spray in the back of your throat. It doesn't taste nice, but thats the only bad comment patients post TOE have complained to me about.

If you are offered a sedative, take it - the procedure will be more comfortable. You will still be conscious but won't remember a thing, and you either just sleep it off or they give you another drug to bring you round immediately. I'm amazed by how commands can be given to the unconscious patient, they respond, but remember nothing later. After the sleep they may feel a tickle in the throat where the probe has been but usually nothing else.

The results are usually available immediately but the cardiologist may take some time to review the images and scratch his head. It also helps to be emotionally recovered from the stress of the TOE before information is given or it will just orbit anyone's grey matter.

Hopefully your test will show no hole, but if it does there's still no need to panic. There are closure devices that can be fitted by a day-surgery procedure, and you'll be fixed.

Well done for taking the steps to get tested, and good luck for your bubble test.

Andy

[Helen F H]

Originally Posted by andydormer

Hi,

I'm studying Cardiology at Swansea Uni and am a member of their dive club so one day there will be another cardiological technician with real dive experience working for the NHS ... 1 year 9 months and counting... ...

My placement at the moment is teaching me the basics of ultrasound (echocardiography) imaging. I'm observing heart scans (TTE and TOE) daily and just want to say "don't panic" and hope the following relieves any concerns.

The TTE (Trans Thorasic Echo) scans the heart by placing a probe against the chest, predominantly on the left breast area. As explained in the wikipedia link above, the image quality may be reduced by the lungs, ribs and breasts being in the way. Some patients are just not photogenic and give poor images. The bubble test requires good quality images, and these are guaranteed by a TOE (Trans Oesophageal Echo) where a probe is passed down the gullet. This route gives clearer images as there are no interfering structures in between the probe and the heart.

The bubble test highlights the movement of blood between the atria (upper chambers) in the heart, so can be used to confirm if a PFO exists and gives the cardiologist the information they need to fix it (size and location). No bubbles on the left= no hole.

Before the TOE test you will have a local anaesetic spray in the back of your throat. It doesn't taste nice, but thats the only bad comment patients post TOE have complained to me about.

If you are offered a sedative, take it - the procedure will be more comfortable. You will still be conscious but won't remember a thing, and you either just sleep it off or they give you another drug to bring you round immediately. I'm amazed by how commands can be given to the unconscious patient, they respond, but remember nothing later. After the sleep they may feel a tickle in the throat where the probe has been but usually nothing else.

The results are usually available immediately but the cardiologist may take some time to review the images and scratch his head. It also helps to be emotionally recovered from the stress of the TOE before information is given or it will just orbit anyone's grey matter.

Hopefully your test will show no hole, but if it does there's still no need to panic. There are closure devices that can be fitted by a day-surgery procedure, and you'll be fixed.

Well done for taking the steps to get tested, and good luck for your bubble test.

Andy

The TTE is painless (other than the small needle in the vein in the arm). Its over very quick and the only indignity was having to be nekkid to the waist.

The TOE was quite honestly the most unpleasant half hour of my life. I was not allowed a sedative as you needed to be fully aware to valsalva, cough, sniff etc. If you have the option go for the TTE every single time. It was only by this that i got the actual diagnosis, the TOE was not useful.

The final thing is, a PFO is not hte only thing that can let bubbles pass. I have a vascular defect in my lungs which lets bubbles pass. Untreatable apparently, but you can do things to vastly reduce its impact.

[photek1000]

Originally Posted by andydormer

Some patients are just not photogenic

Yup, that would be me.

[Ali]

There are closure devices that can be fitted by a day-surgery procedure, and you'll be fixed.


Might be fixed!!!!!!
11 months post op and STILL shunting

Ali

Good to have a Cardiologist on here all the same

[hogen-deifar]

Originally Posted by Helen F H

The TTE is painless (other than the small needle in the vein in the arm). Its over very quick and the only indignity was having to be nekkid to the waist.

The TOE was quite honestly the most unpleasant half hour of my life. I was not allowed a sedative as you needed to be fully aware to valsalva, cough, sniff etc. If you have the option go for the TTE every single time. It was only by this that i got the actual diagnosis, the TOE was not useful.

The final thing is, a PFO is not hte only thing that can let bubbles pass. I have a vascular defect in my lungs which lets bubbles pass. Untreatable apparently, but you can do things to vastly reduce its impact.

Sh1t now I'm scared. I've got to have the TOE. The unpleasant one. Though having gone through most of what my bodies been through since I was 14 it's nowt compared to some of the procedures I've had done.

Not going to think about it. Just going to go along and smile when he tells me I've NOT got a PFO, because of course that's going to be the findings, isn't it!!?!? Gotta have a least ONE lucky thing happen to me in my life!!! See, still being positive!!! Ha!

Appreciate everyone's comments and thoughts. I'll start panicking when I get the date through but until then I've got 1664 to keep me going through my nights!!! (oh and I mean the beer NOT the YDer!!! - though actually his photoshopping skills make me laugh more than anything!!!!

Gulp!

[Helen F H]

I would get your consultant to see if he can chat to wilmshurst. A TOE is not always needed.

[Ali]

Originally Posted by Helen F H

I would get your consultant to see if he can chat to wilmshurst. A TOE is not always needed.

I'd second that.
I had a False Negetive TOE done, after a Positive TEE.

Ali

[Hellvet]

Originally Posted by Ali

There are closure devices that can be fitted by a day-surgery procedure, and you'll be fixed.


Might be fixed!!!!!!
11 months post op and STILL shunting

Ali

Good to have a Cardiologist on here all the same

i win - 29 months post op, still shunting and feeling terrible!
it'll all work out in the end tho h-d!

Helen

[JamesW]

Does anyone know if PFO's are hereditary??
Thanks