View Full Version : PFO referals
How can i get refered for a pfo test?
John Williams
09-10-2003, 22:00
How can i get refered for a pfo test?
Ask your GP for a referral.
He'll probably refuse to fund it ...something about diving being a choice and not a necessity and therefore the PFO would not be available on the NHS.
He may offer to do a private referral if you are prepared to pay for it (last time I enquired it was ?300-400)
Other alternative is to find someone in the diving medicine research community looking for volunteers to undergo a PFO test for a clinical study.
You should understand that the Transoesophageal Echocardiogram (TOE) procedure to test for a PFO is unpleasant and not without risk.
HTH
John
:=How can i get refered for a pfo test?
Cheers John,
The funding side of it isn't too much of an issue - to be honest i was hoping that my medical insurance will pick up the tab. if it doesn't then what's ?400.
what are the risks of a TOE?
Ask your GP for a referral.
He'll probably refuse to fund it ...something about diving being a choice and not a necessity and therefore the PFO would not be available on the NHS.
He may offer to do a private referral if you are prepared to pay for it (last time I enquired it was ?300-400)
Other alternative is to find someone in the diving medicine research community looking for volunteers to undergo a PFO test for a clinical study.
You should understand that the Transoesophageal Echocardiogram (TOE) procedure to test for a PFO is unpleasant and not without risk.
HTH
John
pat farrell
10-10-2003, 06:36
:=:=How can i get refered for a pfo test?
:=
Cheers John,
The funding side of it isn't too much of an issue - to be honest i was hoping that my medical insurance will pick up the tab. if it doesn't then what's ?400.
what are the risks of a TOE?
:=Ask your GP for a referral.
:=If it is clinicaly indicated ie you have been bent in certain circumstances you an ask your GP for an NHS referal. He or she will have to get approval from their pct.
Be sure to get refered to a diving cardiologist as Dr Wilmshurst has concerns that some standard cardiologists may not do the test effectivly
:=He'll probably refuse to fund it ...something about diving being a choice and not a necessity and therefore the PFO would not be available on the NHS.
:=
:=He may offer to do a private referral if you are prepared to pay for it (last time I enquired it was ?300-400)
:=
:=Other alternative is to find someone in the diving medicine research community looking for volunteers to undergo a PFO test for a clinical study.
:=
:=You should understand that the Transoesophageal Echocardiogram (TOE) procedure to test for a PFO is unpleasant and not without risk.
:=
:=HTH
:=
:=John
chris cherrington
10-10-2003, 11:33
How can i get refered for a pfo test?
My partner is trying to get this on the NHS at the minute. She has had migranes and this has been sufficient to get a referal to Peter Wilmshurt.
PFO is found in about 30% of the population so unless you have some other condition you will find it hard to get testing and treatment. There are some very sensible ways of reducing your risk, like using equalisation techniques other than valsalver and particularly avoiding valsalva after diving (if you drift back down on a stop for example). Less N2 is a help also, try EAN as a standard gas.
If you get a shunt the bubbles will transfer across the Atria and you may experience AGE. This can happen to people after many years of trouble-free diving. Most people seem to survive the incident so don't worry too much and personally I would carry on diving as usual. The precautions are very sensible and we should all take them not just people with PFO..
Chris.
Thanks for the info Chris. Alas, i'm a little ahead of you on this one. After a couple of years of diving, i've recently had a couple of possible type-II dcis after long, but shallow dives (<a href="mailto:60min@10mtr">60min@10mtr</a>). So, i'm keen to the pfo angle sorted.
:=How can i get refered for a pfo test?
My partner is trying to get this on the NHS at the minute. She has had migranes and this has been sufficient to get a referal to Peter Wilmshurt.
PFO is found in about 30% of the population so unless you have some other condition you will find it hard to get testing and treatment. There are some very sensible ways of reducing your risk, like using equalisation techniques other than valsalver and particularly avoiding valsalva after diving (if you drift back down on a stop for example). Less N2 is a help also, try EAN as a standard gas.
If you get a shunt the bubbles will transfer across the Atria and you may experience AGE. This can happen to people after many years of trouble-free diving. Most people seem to survive the incident so don't worry too much and personally I would carry on diving as usual. The precautions are very sensible and we should all take them not just people with PFO..
Chris.
John Williams
10-10-2003, 20:26
I'm not a doctor - let alone a specialist in this field.
You should follow the advice given by Pat Farrel (who IS a doctor) and seek advice from someone qualified in this area.
John
How can i get refered for a pfo test?
After a possible bend and recompression I had to see a Medical Referee, who told me I had a PFO he refered me to Dr Wilmshurst who had a long waiting list, I decided to go privately and had the test which wasn't unpleasant! This test was negative Dr Wilmshurst did have reservations about the Specialist I had used but my specialist told me that this was normal for Dr Wilmshurst, I then got my appointment with Dr Wilmshurst who was excellent he also did the same test which was again negative and it cost me just less than ?100. If you can get an appointment with Dr Wilmshurst, I would recommend it.
dave covey
15-10-2003, 13:46
How can i get refered for a pfo test?
...in addition to earlier answers you may like to contact DDRC.
vBulletin v3.5.4, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.