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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: EKG Results
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Re: EKG Results
by CCF CARDIO MD APS, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on February 08, 1999 at 08:49:59:
In Reply to: EKG Results posted by Beth on February 07, 1999 at 17:21:33:
I recently went to my doctor for a routine checkup about my Mitral Valve Prolapse I have had for many years. I waited a long time and am always very nervous about going, and when the nurse did my EKG, she repeated it about three times - mumbling something about my breathing, moving, etc. I really do try to cooperate!
Anyway, the doctor was delayed by an emergency, and I had to leave without seeing him. On my way out, I noticed my EKG on the chart, which had a computer printed diagnosis: bi-atrial enlargement? left ventricular hypertrophy? I was, of course, very worried, but when I called back later, the nurse said the cardiologist had read it and said there had been no change in the last several EKGs. If I had had these conditions all this time, wouldn't my doctor have mentioned it? I'm very confused. I do trust this doctor, but should I be concerned? Thank you very much.
Dear Beth,
On occasion, the ecg machine's reading program can overcall things, i.e. give the patient a diagnosis s/he does not have.
However, YOU need to find out the doctors opinion in person, so make an appointment to see him or her again, just for 15minutes or so, to go over
the abnormal findings on the ecg with him/her. Questions you want to ask are
1)Does s/he agree with these abnormal findings
2)Are there any findings on your physical exam that suggest agreement with these
findings on ecg
3)Given that a small percentage of patients with MVProlapse end up needing a valve repair or replacement,
what is his/her plan to follow this (for example do you have murmur on exam, has the murmur changed in the time s/he has
been following you, and is an echocardiogram indicated- ultrasound of the heart?)
Because your doctor was detained from seeing you directly by the emergency, this doesn't mean that you missed your time with him/her,
and it is only fair that you hear from him or her the answer to your questions and concerns (within a reasonable period of time of course.)
A second opinion is something to keep in mind, especially if the questions above go unanswered or if you continue to feel uncomfortable as you state above.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your
cardiac problem.
In Reply to: EKG Results posted by Beth on February 07, 1999 at 17:21:33:
I recently went to my doctor for a routine checkup about my Mitral Valve Prolapse I have had for many years. I waited a long time and am always very nervous about going, and when the nurse did my EKG, she repeated it about three times - mumbling something about my breathing, moving, etc. I really do try to cooperate!
Anyway, the doctor was delayed by an emergency, and I had to leave without seeing him. On my way out, I noticed my EKG on the chart, which had a computer printed diagnosis: bi-atrial enlargement? left ventricular hypertrophy? I was, of course, very worried, but when I called back later, the nurse said the cardiologist had read it and said there had been no change in the last several EKGs. If I had had these conditions all this time, wouldn't my doctor have mentioned it? I'm very confused. I do trust this doctor, but should I be concerned? Thank you very much.
Dear Beth,
On occasion, the ecg machine's reading program can overcall things, i.e. give the patient a diagnosis s/he does not have.
However, YOU need to find out the doctors opinion in person, so make an appointment to see him or her again, just for 15minutes or so, to go over
the abnormal findings on the ecg with him/her. Questions you want to ask are
1)Does s/he agree with these abnormal findings
2)Are there any findings on your physical exam that suggest agreement with these
findings on ecg
3)Given that a small percentage of patients with MVProlapse end up needing a valve repair or replacement,
what is his/her plan to follow this (for example do you have murmur on exam, has the murmur changed in the time s/he has
been following you, and is an echocardiogram indicated- ultrasound of the heart?)
Because your doctor was detained from seeing you directly by the emergency, this doesn't mean that you missed your time with him/her,
and it is only fair that you hear from him or her the answer to your questions and concerns (within a reasonable period of time of course.)
A second opinion is something to keep in mind, especially if the questions above go unanswered or if you continue to feel uncomfortable as you state above.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your
cardiac problem.
