Cardiology appointment... thoughts?

Basically, I need to get a full cardiac workup done as soon as humanly possible (I mean everything, no cutting corners). The wait times at the public hospitals are just ridiculous right now. Even at the specialty heart center, they’re telling me I have to show up with a referral first just to get on the list, and then they won't even tell me how many weeks or months I'll be sitting there waiting. It's maddening.

Given how much time I'd waste stuck in those bureaucratic loops, I'm thinking about just paying out of pocket and heading to a private clinic instead. Prices seem to be roughly in the same ballpark across the board, and hopefully, I can actually see someone within a few days.

I really need some honest opinions and advice from anyone who has actually been through this at:
1. Mayo Clinic
2. Mount Sinai Medical Center
3. Cleveland Clinic

What has your experience been like? Has anyone actually dealt with them lately?

Honestly, I don't think you even have to wait that long at most hospitals. You should probably double-check things first—there’s no sense in throwing money down the drain if you don't actually need the tests.

I mean, what does "absolutely everything" even mean? A standard cardiology checkup usually just covers your medical history, an ECG (which they’ll likely run right there anyway), some basic blood work, a chest X-ray, and listening to your heart. That’s pretty much the whole deal.

The extra stuff—like a Holter monitor, more specialized lab tests, or an echocardiogram—only happens if the doctor specifically tells you that you need follow-up testing.

I’m starting to spiral a little bit here. About two weeks ago, I started getting this intense pressure right over my heart, and then out of nowhere, my heart just starts pounding like crazy—like it’s trying to push something through and failing. I went in for an ECG this morning, but since I felt totally fine during the test, they picked up some weird, abnormal rhythm and all these technical abbreviations that make zero sense to me. My GP wouldn't even give me a straight answer; he just brushed me off and told me I need to see a cardiologist. This isn't the first time, either—four years ago, a stress test showed tachycardia (though my doctor says it's not an issue now), and back then, the specialist recommended I wear a Holter monitor if those symptoms ever came back.
And the worst part? This feeling is happening to me every single day now.
I looked into Mount Sinai Medical Center, and they offer an exam that includes an ECG and an echocardiogram, plus whatever medication might be needed, for about $100. It’s not like I’m itching to spend the money, but they actually have an opening tomorrow afternoon.

I had such a wonderful experience at Importane Gallery, specifically in the residential wing. It’s a massive, beautiful facility with a fully equipped medical suite... the ECG, treadmill test, and echocardiogram were all $333

The cardiology department at Mayo Clinic is excellent—Dr. Georgieva is fantastic. As for the costs, I'm not entirely sure since my husband is covered under their insurance plan...

So, I finally went in for my checkup (that included an > and ultrasound—cost me about $250) over at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
I actually got seen by Dr. Bates himself.
I have to say, those people were incredibly kind...
My heart is perfectly healthy (thank God), but there’s a little something going on with my left atrium that causes it to skip a beat occasionally. He assured me it isn't anything dangerous; it's more just an annoying sensation than anything else. Honestly, he really calmed my nerves—you know how I get, my mind starts racing with all these "what if" scenarios... I can genuinely say I feel better now. He did suggest that I should probably wear a Holter monitor sometime just to be thorough (he said there's absolutely no rush, though)

Kimberly Nguyen said:So, I finally went in for my checkup (+ECG + ultrasound—cost me about $200) at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
I was actually seen by Dr. Bates himself.
Honestly, they were incredibly kind...
My heart is healthy (thank God!), but there's something going on with my left atrium that makes it skip a beat or two. He said it’s nothing dangerous, just uncomfortable. He really calmed my nerves (you know how your mind starts racing with worst-case scenarios)... I feel much better now... He suggested I get a Holter monitor done sometime (nothing urgent, he said) just to be safe...

Hey, glad to hear everything went smoothly!🙂

I’ve had a pretty crappy experience with cardiology before. About 7 or 8 years ago (my ECG came back wonky during a routine physical, so they sent me to a specialist), I think I went to the Mayo Clinic and they ran every test imaginable (ECG, Holter monitor, stress test, ultrasound): for the ECG, they told me something "wasn't quite right, but it wasn't a heart murmur"😕, and the Holter was the same deal (some irregularities), but then the doctor looked at the ultrasound and said it wasn't anything in terms of an actual defect—those were his exact words. They handed me my results, which were totally gibberish to me, and sent me packing. Since I was training hard back then, they didn't even tell me if it was safe to keep working out or not!
Anyway, I've had ECGs a few times in my life, and it's *never* been perfectly fine. Once, during a physical with a student doctor, she listened to me and told me my heart rate was way too high...
To be honest, my heart just decides to race for no reason all the time, and I frequently get those sharp, cramping pains...
Now that I've been reading this thread about WPW, I'm thinking, dammit, maybe that's what I have...
Maybe I'm just a total hypochondriac😁 Or maybe not?😕
I think I'll head in for a checkup soon once I save up the cash, because I am definitely done dealing with these government doctors...

Honestly, I’d really suggest you just go get a full cardiology workup. Not because I think anything is actually wrong with you, but just so you can finally have a definitive answer—if there even is one. Trust me, you’ll feel so much more at peace once you know! Go ahead and do the whole thing: the ECG, the Holter monitor, an ultrasound, all of it. They probably found some extrasystoles, just like they did with me, but at least then you’ll know that’s all it is and it's over with! And please, don't be afraid to ask questions about everything that doesn't make sense. This is your health we're talking about!! Just be polite and ask them to walk you through it—what exactly is going on, what to expect, etc.
Of course, that's assuming they actually find something! I don't know what kind of symptoms you've been dealing with, but at least you'll have some clarity.

darkbear8 said:Look, I’m telling you, just go get a full cardiology workup. It’s not even because I think something is actually wrong, it’s just so you can finally get a straight answer and stop wondering if there's a diagnosis out there. Trust me, you'll feel way more chill once you know! Go all out—get the full checkup, an ECG, a Holter monitor, and an ultrasound. They probably found extra systoles just like they did with me, but at least then you'll know that's all it is and be done with it! And seriously, don't be afraid to demand answers for anything you don't get. This is your health we're talking about!! Be polite, but make them explain what you actually have and what you should expect moving forward.
Of course, that's assuming they actually find something! I don't know what kind of symptoms you're dealing with, but at least you won't be left guessing.

Back then, I didn't ask my doctor a single thing because I was just a clueless, blunt 12-year-old😁, when my doctor told me during a routine physical that my ECG wasn't looking right and sent me to a cardiologist. I didn't even care; I just thought, "Ugh, great, now I have to waste time walking around hospitals for no reason..."🙂
If someone had told me that back then, I would have absolutely lost my mind and started spiraling into a million worst-case scenarios... I am a massive panicker, honestly. 🙂
I know deep down I need to get this checked out ASAP...

darkbear8 said:They probably just found some extrasystoles like they did with me, but hey, at least you'll finally have an answer and be done with it!

Can someone break down what extrasystoles actually are? Is it something I should be freaking out about?

Think of them like extra heartbeats, but you experience them more as a skip or even a momentary feeling like your heart just stopped before kicking back in. It’s actually pretty common stuff—especially for women. Usually, it’s tied to things like stress, thyroid issues, anemia, or just having way too much caffeine or nicotine in your system. They aren't dangerous on their own, but since they can sometimes pop up with actual heart conditions, it's definitely worth getting checked out just to be safe. Honestly, they're more annoying than anything else, unless they start happening while you're exercising—if that happens, you absolutely need to see a doctor right away. But mostly? It's a normal thing and nothing to panic about. Just good to know those are just benign extrasystoles!

Of all the places mentioned, I’d say Mount Sinai Medical Center is probably your best bet, mostly because they have a stellar lineup of top-tier cardiologists from Mayo Clinic. They all seem to work in perfect sync, which is something I can tell you with some confidence since I actually work in this field. I suppose if there isn't any intense pain—and usually, there isn't unless things are getting pretty serious—it might be best to just head straight to the hospital; though even when it does hurt, sometimes a hospital visit is a bit much. So, maybe try a cardiology clinic first? They tend to be quite accommodating, especially if you're on the younger side. Or, if it feels like a true emergency, then by all means, go to the ER.
Given my own rather unfortunate experiences with professionalism there, I wouldn't call myself an expert on their day-to-day operations, even if I am genuinely impressed by their high-tech equipment and everything. It seems like Cleveland Clinic doesn't really employ dedicated cardiology specialists, but rather relies on junior doctors. While Sun is definitely making strides, it comes at a massive cost. If I were in your shoes, I’d honestly just head over to Mayo Clinic.

Harold Brown3, just one question for you?
I was actually seeing Dr. Bates personally over at Mount Sinai Medical Center. What on earth is he even doing working out there in Rib?

Honestly, don't just go running off to private clinics without thinking it through first. You should really take advantage of the hospital systems instead. The wait times aren't actually that bad, it’s way more affordable, and usually, all you need is some basic lab work and an ECG, which you can get done pretty much anywhere.
Plus, I always say this: going private doesn't automatically mean you're getting better care.

Jessica Rivera said:Hey, I'm so glad everything turned out okay!🙂

I’ve actually had some pretty bad luck with cardiology stuff before. Like, maybe 7 or 8 years ago, my ECG came back weird during a routine checkup, so they sent me to a specialist at the Mayo Clinic. They ran all the tests—ECG, Holter monitor, stress test, ultrasound—but honestly, it was such a mess. For the ECG, they were just like, "it's not quite right, but it's not a heart murmur," 😕 and the Holter monitor was kind of the same thing, just some irregularities. Then the doctor said the ultrasound didn't show any actual errors, using those exact words, then handed me a bunch of results that made zero sense to me and just sent me home. Since I was training hard back then, they didn't even tell me if it was safe to keep working out or not.
Anyway, I've had an ECG a few times in my life, and it's never been perfectly fine. Once, with a student doctor during a physical, she listened to me and told me my heart rate was super fast...
My heart also tends to race out of nowhere sometimes, and I get that sharp, cramping pain too...
Reading this thread about WPW made me think, shoot, maybe that's what I have...
I might just be a hypochondriac, 😁 or maybe not? 😕
I think I'll probably head in for a checkup soon once I save up about $150, because I really don't feel like dealing with these public doctors anymore...

$233,over here it'll cost you like $800))) just pay it and you can finally sleep easy.

George Gray3 said:$233Man, you’re looking at a $700 bill for this? Just pay the damn thing and get some peace of mind. Honestly, just cut the check so you can actually sleep at night without stressing over it.

Easy for you to say! You’re just a student—to you, that kind of money is practically an absolute fortune! 😁

It really just depends on how you look at things...

Bringing this back up—where should I go for private care?

Has anyone dealt with someone in Albuquerque or maybe State Farm?

I highly suggest checking out Mayo Clinic over in Chicago; the doctor there is absolutely world-class!👍