Cardiologist?

[Immune]

Well, I hardly ever smoke, and when I do, the high isn't that good, and doesn't last for long at all. So anyway, I smoked last saturday (nov 4th), and I have a cardiologist's appointment on the 15th. Does anybody know if a cardiologist will do any type of drug test? I would assume they would maybe draw blood, or listen to heart rythms, but I'm really not sure. Anybody got an answer?

[birdgirl73]

I go to cardiologists pretty frequently myself for an arrhythmia. And when I'm not seeing my own heart docs, I'm living with a cardiologist here at home. That's my husband's medical specialty.

Unless you give him reason to do a drug screen from something you say or unless you look like a heavy stoner or drug user who might have some issues with cardiomyopathy from recreational drug use, it's highly unlikely that a cardiologist would order a drug screen when he does blood work, assuming he orders it at all. If he does order blood work, the tests he'd be likely to request would be your electrolytes, your cardiac enzymes, and your cholesterol and triglycerides.

The other things he'll do will be to listen to your heartbeat and breathing with a stethoscope, listen to your carotid sounds (on the sides of your neck), feel your peripheral pulse down in your ankles, take your blood pressure (the nurse may do this), do an electro-cardiogram (EKG) to see what your heart's electrical signal/rhythm is doing, and perhaps do an echocardiogram, which is a sonogram of your heart to show its structure, function, and pumping strength. All of these are completely harmless and painless things. Then he'll sit down and talk with you about any symptoms you're experiencing and any findings his tests reveal. Shouldn't be an unpleasant experience at all. My impression is that cardiologists are very nice guys. But I'm a little biased.

[Immune]

I go to cardiologists pretty frequently myself for an arrhythmia. And when I'm not seeing my own heart docs, I'm living with a cardiologist here at home. That's my husband's medical specialty.

Unless you give him reason to do a drug screen from something you say or unless you look like a heavy stoner or drug user who might have some issues with cardiomyopathy from recreational drug use, it's highly unlikely that a cardiologist would order a drug screen when he does blood work, assuming he orders it at all. If he does order blood work, the tests he'd be likely to request would be your electrolytes, your cardiac enzymes, and your cholesterol and triglycerides.

The other things he'll do will be to listen to your heartbeat and breathing with a stethoscope, listen to your carotid sounds (on the sides of your neck), feel your peripheral pulse down in your ankles, take your blood pressure (the nurse may do this), do an electro-cardiogram (EKG) to see what your heart's electrical signal/rhythm is doing, and perhaps do an echocardiogram, which is a sonogram of your heart to show its structure, function, and pumping strength. All of these are completely harmless and painless things. Then he'll sit down and talk with you about any symptoms you're experiencing and any findings his tests reveal. Shouldn't be an unpleasant experience at all. My impression is that cardiologists are very nice guys. But I'm a little biased.


Thanks A LOT for that response, much more than I would have ever needed! I'm not afraid of blood stuff, because I've only smoked about 3 times, and the last one was on the 4th. And blood stuff doesn't stay in blood long, so I've heard. Thanks again birdgirl, you really helped me!