ECG tomorrow - what should i expect?
Discussion
I spoke to my doctor this evening about a strange feeling in my chest, almost a fluttering sensation (I think it's skipping a beat, but i'm not a doctor), he's referred me to have an ECG test tomorrow morning at the local hospital.
What kind of thing should I expect to happen? Have never had one or before and don't know of anyone who has had one.
What kind of thing should I expect to happen? Have never had one or before and don't know of anyone who has had one.
When I had one I just had to lie on a bed for a few minutes while they stuck various patches on my chest, each connected by wire to a machine. The machine scribbled its little lines onto a bit of paper and then that was that !
I suspect the worst part will be removing the patches if you have a hairy chest (or maybe they'll shave a few patches first). Luckily when I had mine that wasn't a problem !
I suspect the worst part will be removing the patches if you have a hairy chest (or maybe they'll shave a few patches first). Luckily when I had mine that wasn't a problem !
MudSkipper said:
I spoke to my doctor this evening about a strange feeling in my chest, almost a fluttering sensation (I think it's skipping a beat, but i'm not a doctor), he's referred me to have an ECG test tomorrow morning at the local hospital.
What kind of thing should I expect to happen? Have never had one or before and don't know of anyone who has had one.
Is it something that you can feel all the time or just now and again? I have that feeling every now and again and my Dr said it was just this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premature_ventricular...What kind of thing should I expect to happen? Have never had one or before and don't know of anyone who has had one.
Also just to add I also had an ECG and its nothing to worry about, only takes 5 mins.
Have been to the hospital and got wired up. The nurse there thinks I may have an Ectopic Heartbeat, so getting an extra heartbeat every now and again and that what i can feel is my heart getting it's self back into a normal rhythm.
I was only wired up for around 10 seconds...seems strange they can tell so much from so little. GP still wants me to have full blood work done on Monday so I'll still do that just to make sure there's nothing else casing the problem.
I was only wired up for around 10 seconds...seems strange they can tell so much from so little. GP still wants me to have full blood work done on Monday so I'll still do that just to make sure there's nothing else casing the problem.
I have performed several of these 
Very straightforward - patient lies on a bed, and various patches are stuck on your chest (5, I think. Been a while since the OSCE!), one on each wrist, and one on each ankle. Connect a lead to the patches, press a button, and an ECG is produced from the machine!
As someone else said, the only bad part is when the patches are removed, although you might have various patches shaved to accomodate them.
Hope all goes well for you!
Very straightforward - patient lies on a bed, and various patches are stuck on your chest (5, I think. Been a while since the OSCE!), one on each wrist, and one on each ankle. Connect a lead to the patches, press a button, and an ECG is produced from the machine!
As someone else said, the only bad part is when the patches are removed, although you might have various patches shaved to accomodate them.
Hope all goes well for you!
SD1992 said:
I have performed several of these
Very straightforward - patient lies on a bed, and various patches are stuck on your chest (5, I think. Been a while since the OSCE!), one on each wrist, and one on each ankle. Connect a lead to the patches, press a button, and an ECG is produced from the machine!
As someone else said, the only bad part is when the patches are removed, although you might have various patches shaved to accomodate them.
Hope all goes well for you!
It's normally a 12 lead ECG, chest, arms and legs. The computer makes a basic diagnosis and the GP will take a proper look. I'm surprised it wasn't done in the doctor's surgery. Very straightforward - patient lies on a bed, and various patches are stuck on your chest (5, I think. Been a while since the OSCE!), one on each wrist, and one on each ankle. Connect a lead to the patches, press a button, and an ECG is produced from the machine!
As someone else said, the only bad part is when the patches are removed, although you might have various patches shaved to accomodate them.
Hope all goes well for you!
jagracer said:
jagracer said:
The dreaded OSCEs eh! It's normally a 12 lead ECG, chest, arms and legs. The computer makes a basic diagnosis and the GP will take a proper look. I'm surprised it wasn't done in the doctor's surgery.
I seem to remember it was a 12 lead ECG that we did, but there were less than 12 leads? I can't remember exactly why... Now that you have reminded me I will have to find out!
SD1992 said:
jagracer said:
jagracer said:
The dreaded OSCEs eh! It's normally a 12 lead ECG, chest, arms and legs. The computer makes a basic diagnosis and the GP will take a proper look. I'm surprised it wasn't done in the doctor's surgery.
I seem to remember it was a 12 lead ECG that we did, but there were less than 12 leads? I can't remember exactly why... Now that you have reminded me I will have to find out!
SD1992 said:
I know! I did the best in the OSCE though, maybe a sign that research is not for me
I seem to remember it was a 12 lead ECG that we did, but there were less than 12 leads? I can't remember exactly why... Now that you have reminded me I will have to find out!
Shame on you !!!! A Medical student not knowing the basicsI seem to remember it was a 12 lead ECG that we did, but there were less than 12 leads? I can't remember exactly why... Now that you have reminded me I will have to find out!
When you're a qualified doctor, there'll be no "oh I've forgotten this"....
I am ribbing you here....
a bit..
with some shame attached...
get ready for the wards....
The_Doc said:
Shame on you !!!! A Medical student not knowing the basics
When you're a qualified doctor, there'll be no "oh I've forgotten this"....
I am ribbing you here....
a bit..
with some shame attached...
get ready for the wards....
A bit unfair and unless you were one of those who could party all the time, do no work and still pass exams with honours I bet you've been in a similar place to SD1992, more shame on you really, I bet your F1s really love you. When you're a qualified doctor, there'll be no "oh I've forgotten this"....
I am ribbing you here....
a bit..
with some shame attached...
get ready for the wards....
OK, SD1992 I'm sorry if I was harsh.
A useful way of remembering the leads for a 12lead ECG (I found when I worked on it) is Ride Your Green Bike (Red, Yellow, Green, Black) Starting from the right wrist, moving clockwise to left wrist, left ankle, right ankle.
Still remember it today, and haven't performed one for about 10 years.
apologies
A useful way of remembering the leads for a 12lead ECG (I found when I worked on it) is Ride Your Green Bike (Red, Yellow, Green, Black) Starting from the right wrist, moving clockwise to left wrist, left ankle, right ankle.
Still remember it today, and haven't performed one for about 10 years.
apologies
The_Doc said:
OK, SD1992 I'm sorry if I was harsh.
A useful way of remembering the leads for a 12lead ECG (I found when I worked on it) is Ride Your Green Bike (Red, Yellow, Green, Black) Starting from the right wrist, moving clockwise to left wrist, left ankle, right ankle.
Still remember it today, and haven't performed one for about 10 years.
apologies
I didn't take that as being harsh, don't worry A useful way of remembering the leads for a 12lead ECG (I found when I worked on it) is Ride Your Green Bike (Red, Yellow, Green, Black) Starting from the right wrist, moving clockwise to left wrist, left ankle, right ankle.
Still remember it today, and haven't performed one for about 10 years.
apologies
Yes I remember that - I used the traffic light system and just remembered black went on the ankle.
I am still trying to figure out why we only use 10 leads and it is called a 12 lead ECG... Maybe you could help me out? I know there are 4 (one for each limb) and then there are another 6 that are placed on the chest like so:
That is how I did it in my OSCE (only lost 1 mark on the whole paper - damn blood pressure!) and got full marks for it
OP - sorry for hijacking your thread, hope all went ok for you
turbolucie said:
I'm a 4th year as of next month, and couldn't do an ECG.
a ha !!!!Vindication of my vitriol towards SD1992 !!!!!!!
Medical students don't learn anything useful these days.
Can the two of you tell me about the course of the radial nerve in the forearm, without opening a book/resorting to google/etc
.....
(joking here, everyone)
Actually that's one of the few nerves I could
I can break bad news, give good cuddles and determine if someone is a suicide risk though
I was in clinic with a consultant paediatric orthopaedic surgeon the other week, and he said that things are much better these days, they teach us what we need to know, as opposed to the nerve supply to the thyroid etc etc. But I feel like I know nothing, medical school is too lenient these days.
I can break bad news, give good cuddles and determine if someone is a suicide risk though
I was in clinic with a consultant paediatric orthopaedic surgeon the other week, and he said that things are much better these days, they teach us what we need to know, as opposed to the nerve supply to the thyroid etc etc. But I feel like I know nothing, medical school is too lenient these days.
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