Due for annual echo & cardio visit

Next week I'm scheduled for my annual echo and appt with my  cardiologist. It was almost a year ago that the echo showed a significant decrease in my EF (which was done 2 weeks after a flu virus) which led to my Claria MRI Quad CRTD and AV Node ablation at the beginning of September.  It took me almost to Christmas to feel normal again (dealing with PVCs, fatigue etc). Normal being what I was at prior to September.  I was having a big case of "Buyer's Remorse" the first 3 months post-procedures, and a big thank you to this group for the great information that my EP Cardiology team didn't bother to fill me in on.  You all kept me from getting despondent.

I was feeling pretty good and hopeful about a week or 2 prior to Christmas.  2 days after Christmas I came down with a terrible head cold that I'm finally feeling is past.  Unfortunately I also feel like it's put me a month or two back in my recovery.

Finally my question - should I consider rescheduling the annual echo and appointment until I've recovered more from the virus?  Or should I go ahead because it will give a picture of what shape my heart is in after an illness?

Thanks much!!

Karlynn

2 Comments

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by Lavender - 2024-01-22 18:28:22

You say you're feeling ok now. I would go for your test while you're well. You know there are so many illnesses flying around these days so you want that echo while you're feeling fine💕 and before anything else comes along 🙄

This sounds familiar...

by R2D2 - 2024-01-22 20:59:40

There is so much pressure in getting that post device echo. We all want to hear that the pain and discomfort and stress we've endured over the past several months has been worth it all. I too had "buyer's remorse" because I NEED my EF to be higher than 16 and so far, 6 months post surgery, no improvement. But I also suffered from C-Diff less than two weeks after I got my CRT-D. What a SET BACK. It literally took me months to start to feel better again. Then I got my first shock on Dec. 4 and I really feel that set me back as well. So who knows what my EF could actually be right now if I hadn't had to go through so much the last half of a year. 

I was assured by my echo technician that those things wouldn't really affect my ejection fraction, but stress probably would. So in essence, yes... being sick was a set back. 

I think you should definitly go get the echo, don't reschedule. But keep in mind that that number may be lower than you hoped, but as so many people have told me, these things take more time with some people than others. Try not to get discouraged, and if you do, talk to us here at Pacemaker Club. We know how you feel. We're here for you. 

You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

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