Echocardiogram and pain

astyanax66

This is just the weirdest thing...you'd think that after 2 surgeries, a port implant, and 11 weeks of chemo, an echo would be nothing. Well, last week, I had my second echocardiogram mid-Herceptin year--did baseline 3 months ago before starting Herceptin. LVEF was around 57. I'd had one done about 10 years ago (checking something that was nothing, no problems).

At the baseline one in March, they used Definity--new to me. I never signed consent or any paperwork. I was told it made the echo easier to see and had no side effects, so okay, I did it. About 2 hours later, I had trouble breathing and tachycardia in the 135 range that wouldn't come down (I was sitting and reading a book at onset, so it was out of the blue). I called a friend and then the cardio center and was told to use cold washclothes on hands and neck. (Kind of ignored). They said the Definity was absolutely not responsible. Anyway, doctor cleared me for Herceptin; I get dose 12 tomorrow.

Last week, I had a followup. They wanted to use the Definity again; I said that was okay, but I repeated what happened, got the same reaction, and just rolled with it. The tech did say said she'd try to see my heart without it first and use it only if needed. Ow ow ow ow. The sonogram wand (or whatever it's called) was pushed so hard into my scar tissue, it "broke up" the band of scarring under my lumpectomy. Hurt for 3 days. I gritted my teeth and got through it, but it hurt so much, I had "reflex tears," like you have when you bang your elbow/funny bone. She got the pictures and didn't have to use Definity.

Has anyone else had tachycardia or problems with Definity during an echo? I guess I should've not mentioned the side effects from before and just let her use the stuff. Has anyone else had a painful echo? I would've never thought it would be anything other than a little messy from the gel. I did find a Mayo Clinic article suggesting some possible drug interactions between perflutren (Definity) and ondansetron (Zofran), which I take for nausea.

I guess after weekly chemo and the surgeries, I never, ever expected something like an echo to be painful or such a big issue; I admit, it was upsetting. I wasn't given results, but saw that the percentage was on my paperwork--55%. So, a wee drop, and all is well. It was just very odd.

Dee

SpecialK

astyanax - I did not have this contrast agent for any of my echocardiograms - and tachycardia is also a documented side effect of the contrast agent itself, not just an interaction effect. I did have painful echos though due to the loss of my tissue expander just prior to chemo. I only had the cancer side expander on the right,with the other side flat. Because the exam was more left sided the tech had to roll the transducer over the bumpy and scarred, but still tender, flat side for the test, and push up firmly against the expander with the edge toward the center of my chest. Glad your LVEF is still in a good range, hopefully this doesn't happen again - hang in there!

NotVeryBrave

I never had any kind of contrast for any of my echo's. I had the pretreatment one and then every 3 months through Herceptin. Now I'm on the 6 month protocol for a year.

I will say that some have been more uncomfortable than others. I usually had the same tech so it's not that. After my BMX was harder.

Your experience seems kind of extreme. Soreness can be expected but not outright pain for days. Perhaps you should report that?

astyanax66

Thank you so much, ladies! I thought I was being overly sensitive or something. I'm sorry your echos were uncomfortable and/or painful. This really caught me unawares. I think if I have to have another check, I'm going to ask for a different clinic (there are 3 on the campus where the cancer center is located) and ask if they've ever done women with breast cancer surgery before.

Off to last round of Taxol, yay!

Dee

SpecialK

My painful echos were done in a military hospital by a veryyoung active duty tech. I felt so bad for him because he was having to see what my chest looked like - this was five surgeries in already. He was nervous and knew it was hurting, I think we felt bad for each other, lol!

Congrats on the last Taxol - yay!