NationStates Jolt Archive

My chest hurts. I had an echocardiogram performed yesterday. It's an ultrasound of the heart, which is a lot like the ultrasound of a baby. However (comma) there is one BIG difference: there is a large amount of thick bone between the skin and the heart, whereas there is no bone between skin and fetus.

I was told that the echocardiogram would be quick and painless. It was not quick. Indeed, it took around 40-45 minutes. And it was FAR from painless. Every poke of the wand, which looked like one of those old-style roll-on deodorants with the ball, hurt more and more because the technician kept pressing it hard into my chest. In order to get a clear picture, you have to hold your breath for upwards of 10 seconds after exhalation while this wand is pressing on your chest. And the final indignity... the last picture the technician took of my heart was under my ribs, at the top of my abdomen. He pressed it under my ribs for about two minutes.

I hope to never have another echocardiogram in my life. I hope you never need one either.

I've had one, and it was nothing like you described. Feeling slightly chilly was as painful as it got, and listening to my heartbeat was kinda cool. It sounded like something out of Alien. :)

Perhaps you should request a different technician next time?

I've had one, and it was nothing like you described. Feeling slightly chilly was as painful as it got, and listening to my heartbeat was kinda cool. It sounded like something out of Alien. :)

Perhaps you should request a different technician next time?

I envy you then. But it's a military hospital and I don't get to pick anyone I see. I just hope there were no problems, because then they WOULD have to do it again.

I envy you then. But it's a military hospital and I don't get to pick anyone I see. I just hope there were no problems, because then they WOULD have to do it again.
I don't understand what this person was doing to you - I'm no Doctor, but what good would pressing harder do? It's still the same amount of bone to see though...

I don't understand what this person was doing to you - I'm no Doctor, but what good would pressing harder do? It's still the same amount of bone to see though...

LOL, that is a very good question, and one that deserves an answer. (waits for an answer)

I envy you then. But it's a military hospital and I don't get to pick anyone I see. I just hope there were no problems, because then they WOULD have to do it again.

Ahhh! Key word here "military hospital." Used them for 26 years and they don't alway give the best medical care nor have the best trained technicians. In fact some of the medical care they give is damn poor.

Ahhh! Key word here "military hospital." Used them for 26 years and they don't alway give the best medical care nor have the best trained technicians. In fact some of the medical care they give is damn poor.

Yeah, I know. Tripler Army Medical Center, where I had to go, is more commonly known as Crippler. But I'll be a civilian again soon, and then I can get normal insurance and pick my OWN damn hospital.

Yeah, I know. Tripler Army Medical Center, where I had to go, is more commonly known as Crippler. But I'll be a civilian again soon, and then I can get normal insurance and pick my OWN damn hospital.

Unfortunately, you can't always pick your own hospital, doctor, or clinic with civilian insurance. If your insurance is a HMO, you have to use one of the HMO approved facilities. If you don't, the HMO may no pay or you have to pay a huge deductible. Most company health insurance policies are with HMO companies.

My chest hurts. I had an echocardiogram performed yesterday. It's an ultrasound of the heart, which is a lot like the ultrasound of a baby. However (comma) there is one BIG difference: there is a large amount of thick bone between the skin and the heart, whereas there is no bone between skin and fetus.

I was told that the echocardiogram would be quick and painless. It was not quick. Indeed, it took around 40-45 minutes. And it was FAR from painless. Every poke of the wand, which looked like one of those old-style roll-on deodorants with the ball, hurt more and more because the technician kept pressing it hard into my chest. In order to get a clear picture, you have to hold your breath for upwards of 10 seconds after exhalation while this wand is pressing on your chest. And the final indignity... the last picture the technician took of my heart was under my ribs, at the top of my abdomen. He pressed it under my ribs for about two minutes.

I hope to never have another echocardiogram in my life. I hope you never need one either.

when I was about 2 months pregnant with my second child they had to do an ultrasound, do you know how they do it then? not with the cute little thing they used to press on your chest, oh no, they have this long wand that the shove in.....anyway, they had to angle turn and press it against my cervix to get a clear picture, all the while they said "be completely still and don't say anything......

I had an echocardiogram once, and yeah it was uncomfortable, so here ----> pity cookie (http://img34.exs.cx/img34/5143/IM000211.jpg)

awww... ty. :D

Yeah, I remember my wife's 2-month ultrasound with the thing that looks like a Spinbrush shoved into my wife's ... ahem ... I remember I was more disturbed by it than she was. I refused to look at anything other than the screen. LOL

I had a standard ultrasound, and the worst I got was a slimy tummy. I've had a lot worse.

This is my second year of medicine and i have no idea why they would be pressing harder.....although to be fair at this stage I have no idea about most things.

I had an echogram of my liver area once, it wasn't painful at all, slightly uncomfortable but painless. I would mention that pain to the doc who's seeing you because there should be no reason for you to feel pain in the chest from ordinary pressure.

Maybe you have a broken rib or sternon.

Maybe you have a broken rib or sternon.

Those would have caused pain on breathing, rather than just when prodded

I had an echogram of my liver area once, it wasn't painful at all, slightly uncomfortable but painless. I would mention that pain to the doc who's seeing you because there should be no reason for you to feel pain in the chest from ordinary pressure.

Maybe you have a broken rib or sternon.

Maybe. I don't know how though.

Those would have caused pain on breathing, rather than just when prodded

Damn! All that time watching House and I haven't learned a thing :mad:

Damn! All that time watching House and I haven't learned a thing :mad:

I'm more of a scrubs man myself. That show is gonna get me through to graduation I swear

I've had an echocardiogram and two other ultrasound scans. None were at all painful - in fact, I'm pretty certain they even warmed up the wand for one of them.

Go the NHS :)