Squad Can U Help Me Please

[Dee Sa]

Firstly I am terrified of hospitals even the Speakmans would not be able to help me ! I recently had a colonoscopy and they had to knock me out so all went well, but they have written to my GP [ and me] so say that my pre op ECG showed ischaemic changes and I have been referred to a Cardologist & the appt is looming for next week, I looked on the net but it scared me sooo much I switched it off , if I get too scared I will get up and run away, what is wrong and what are they going to do to me ? Will I be okay if I don't go ? I have always been like this and my theory is once they get their hands on you i.e.colonoscopy they always find other things to make you keep going back, I visit the GP about once a year and have to be really ill to get me there. Wish I wasnt such a wimp but at 76 years young I am not going to be able to change much !

[Gavmacp]

I will leave the advice to Squad as not really my field. The ischaemic changes could not of been that bad as they went ahead with the procedure.

[Gavmacp]

Little piece of advice take a note book and pen with you and ask them to write down what they are saying.
Not always helpful to look at Internet as it can frighten you. Sometimes I feel it is the way it is written and when you explain it to someone in laymen talk you can see the person becoming visibly more relaxed.

[Sqad]

Oh! Dear..........you are in a pickle Dee.

Your ECG showed ischaemic changes eh?

Well, the first thing that the Cardiologist will do is to confirm that they are indeed ischaemic changes and not variants of a normal heart, as not all doctors can read or interpret ECG changes.

Let us assume that the changes are due to ischaemic, then the commonest cause by far is coronary artery disease and this may well need investigating by coronary angiograms and if they show impaired coronary blood flow, then you may be offered bypass surgery.

I do not know your medical history in detail or what drugs if any, that you are taking and those facts may be essential.

The surgical treatment of ischaemic heart disease is " bread and butter " stuff today.

Yes, be nervous and even scared, but be reassured.

[Fusion5]

Dee, could it not be that you were so nervous on the day, that this would have affected your ECG.

[Dee Sa]

thank you squad, very kind of you. Gav & Fusion I am hoping on those lines a] they would not have gone ahead with my op had it been serious and secondly because I am such a bad patient it could be nerves, maybe [ says she hopefully].I am quite happy to accompany other people to the hospital and went so many times with Chief Stout before he died, but when its my turn I go to pieces. Dont know anyone else as bad as I am !

[dunnitall]

I think I am as bad if not worse than you Dee so you have my sympathy and understanding of what it's like. I'm fine going with anyone else for their appointments but am hell on wheels when it's for me. I couldn't even have had the colonoscopy done...so well done you for being that brave. Maybe get the advice of the consultant, tell them how bad you feel and that you have to make your own decision given all the facts and just how well, or not you can manage it. Best of luck, am thinking of you.

[Gavmacp]

Oh I do! My mother her blood pressure is always sky high when taken but I suspect it is white coat syndrome.
Generally I have found Doctors to be much more friendly than they used to be.
Will be thinking of you!