So that is what I am having done today... A Cardiac Echocardiogram.I was born with a heart murmur and it wasn't anything scary, just something cool to listen to. You know the sound of your heartbeat: lub-dub, lub-dub. In some people, there's an extra noise that the blood makes as it flows through the heart. It sounds sort of like the noise of water flowing through a hose. Most murmurs don't mean anything is wrong. But sometimes they are a sign of a problem with the heart.
This test I'm taking today uses sound waves to make a picture of the heart as blood is pumped through its chambers and valves. The doctor will take the information from the tests and exam and determine if my murmur is likely to cause a problem for me. Ever since my first pregnancy I've had to be careful about getting infections that could travel to the heart. My doctors have had to prescribe antibiotics for me to take before getting my teeth cleaned at the dentist or having any surgery.
It wasn't until a few years ago that it was suggested that I get an echo done. I just kinda let it go for a long time. Last week at one of my appointments, the Doctor I saw showed some concern & scheduled this test. It scares the poo out of me, but it's best to know if I am doomed to a life sentence of antibiotics, right?
Wish me Gluck! :)
3 comments:
Good luck, of course! I had to go through a bunch of that heart test stuff a couple of years ago and it's unnerving--stress test? of course I'm stressed, what else do you want to know? huh?--but it's still better to know whatever you're dealing with and hopefully it's no biggie.
I hope they don't keep you waiting too long for the results!! The test itself sounds stressful enough. *fingers crossed*
Gluck, Jell! Hope the image has enough room to show how great-big-huge your heart is :)
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