Additional information to previous question posted 12/4/02

[Chrisinthesun10]

More info from my last question:

when I saw my doctor in London after Australia (about 2 weeks after the ectopic beats started), all he did was listen to my chest (during which time I had no ectopic beats), and asked me if I had a copy of the ECG trace from the hospital in Australia. I said I did not, at which point he said he did not think they were anything to worry about and in his opinion unconnected with my surgery as a child.

This seems strange considering that you mention these ectopic beats are quite common in people who have had the same kind of heart defect/surgery as myself. He did not even tell me or attempt to find out which type of ectopic beat they were.
Given that he has seen me every year since my surgery, should I be happy with this diagnosis? - I can't help but feel that I've not been given enough information, and not enough effort has been made to figure out why I've started getting these.
Part of me wants to think that because he knows my history so well, he does not need to do an ECG or ECHO, and is able to tell straight away if this is a problem, just by listening to my chest, even though I did not have any ectopic beats whilst he was listening. What are your opinions on this? He also reviewed my 24hr holter monitor which I had about a month later; presumably he would be able to get all the info he needed from that, both in terms of structural and electrical function? – my only feedback on this was from his secretary, who said he had looked at the tape, and that it was “normal”. Your comments on this course of events would be most appreciated

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

chrisinthesun10,

I didn't answer your original posting, but I'll see if I can help.

The bottom line from what I am reading is that you still feel confused about the possible cause of your symptoms.  Moreover, your trust in your doctor is waining.

Nothing that I could say would or should enstill trust in your doctor.  I do not know your history well enough to provide any such assurances.  The only way that you are going to feel better about your care is to seek a second opinion.  I would recommend that you gather the entirety of your records and seek an opinion at a major medical center near you.

Hope that helps.

[nurse12hr]

I am a nurse.  No, he cannot tell just by listening what sort of ectopic beat it is ESPECIALlY since it didn't even happen when he was listening!!!
If you did have the ectopic beats while on the holter, he could tell what kind they are, but personally, I would be a bit cautious.  How about calling his office for starters and asking for a copy of the Holter report?  
If you are not satisfied, you probably (as the doctor here said) need a new cardiologist.  

good luck and keep us informed of what happens!

[wailan]

Hello,
       you really need to have an echo done. Also a holter and maybe even a stress test but, an echo will tell if your heart is still structurally normal.

[mountainmom8]

I am very sorry, I do not mean to butt into your post...but I have an urgent question, Please.
My husband, 46 years old & normally in good health, got a cold about 3 weeks ago & our family doctor, who diagnosed him, with Bronchitis, gave him an Rx for Phenegan w/ Codiene as a cough med & an antibiotic to take for 10 days. His cough lingered even after the antibiotic stopped & for the last few days the spittum has been solid & a darker green, sore throat & labored breathing. I took him again today, and this time dr. took a chest exray & found a good amount of fluid forming in his lungs & close to his heart. MY QUESTION IS...The dr. then told us it was most likely a "Near Pnuemonia (pneumonia)" rather than "Congestive Heart Failure", as last night he kept me awake with MANY times of non breathing & sounding like he couldn't breathe & he said he felt like he was being smothered. This really worries me, as I don't really know what CHF is & the dr. wouldn't go into it. PLEASE Help Me! I am really worried about him!Thank you for any help & I'd really truly appreciate a Medical Doctors opinion. Mountainmom8~Karen

[Chrisinthesun10]

I'm making arrangements to see my London cardio doctor again in two weeks time when I'm back in the UK for Xmas - and hopefully get an echo and exercise test done. I went to see the GP here in The Netherlands today, to see if I should do anything before then. She listened to my chest (our course, I had no ectopic beats during that time!) and she took my BP, both of which she said were normal. She commented that way I was describing these beats, they are the kind that anybody can get, but because of my history she understood why I was so concerned. She felt tht my London cardio doctor had not really done enough to reassure me, even though, considering I had these beats during the time I was wearing the 24hr holter monitor, he would have enough info from that to decide if I any more tests were necessary, and she said that if he was even slightly concerned then he would have requested that I had an echo etc.
I certainly feel more reassured now - I think I'm just going to have to accept these as part of my life and get on with living!
I guess I'm getting about 20 or so of these a day - sometimes more sometimes less. I seem to get them more often in the 30mins or so immediately after exercising (I am keen runner), although having these beats has rather put me off running recently.
I also have the impression that I tend to get a beat sometimes when I lean over etc, which is weird....although these beats do not seem as strong as they were when I first started getting them about 7 months ago.....

[sukumar794]

A related discussion, multiple ventricular ectopics was started.