This morning I saw my cardiologist at last! I was very nervous as he seemed rather brusque last time we met but turns out he is just a bit hyper.
He was delighted with the Alivecor printouts - I took three, two with AF and one with long pauses. He said they were really good and showed just what he needed to know. When he saw me in hospital I had tachycardia at the time so he had not seen an AF printout (it was lost....)
He gave me three choices
1 Try reducing the Diltiazem because the dose I am on is slowing me down generally, but then I may not be having enough to prevent tachycardia.
2 Have a pacemaker fitted to stop my heart slowing down too much but then I would still have to take meds for the AF and tachycardia.
3 Be referred to an EP with a view to having an ablation for the AF which might include fixing the tachycardia.
His advice was to have the ablation if possible/suitable but in any case to go for the consultation. I have a choice of Bristol or Harefield, Harefield has the shorter waiting list so I've chosen it, also near two of my daughters and then there is the snob factor 😉 I will be seeing David Jones who will probably phone me first.
I'm not keen on the ablation idea. I had an operation which was supposed to be a quick fix and not only did I not have the condition that was diagnosed but I was left with permanent after effects. That has made me very cautious especially when a procedure is billed as 'brilliant'.
I'm thinking I might opt for one ablation if offered but if that is not successful I'd fall back on the pacemaker though I'm sure I'll be told that is a wimpy idea!
Finally, Alivecor has proved its value I think. How many hours and tests might it have taken to get that evidence? I reckon I have saved the NHS hundreds if not thousands of pounds!
Cardiologist or electrophysiologist?
Very negative cardiologist. 
A moan about cardiologist secretary. 
is it normal not to see a cardiologist with AF? 
Still in AF but discharged from cardiologist
