Follow up care

[barnes12]

Once we are diagnosed and treatment has commenced either drugs or ablation and you still have af and have had for many years I'm thinking of you bob do you still attend hospital for check ups ect thanks karen

[jennydog]

I had a follow-up appointment 3months post-ablation, another 13 months later and another is booked for Sept 2016, 25 months later. These are with the EP in Liverpool.

Here, in North Wales, my Cardiologist has told me that he still wants to see me annually which is 6 months prior to the EP appointments. This gives me a feeling of security as he has told me that if I have any problems then I should let him know immediately.

I realise that I am lucky with my Cardiologist. By contrast I am on an ELEVEN months waiting list to see someone about my damaged shoulder.

[10gingercats in reply to jennydog]

Keep telephoning the shoulder invest. dept. until they get fed up with you. And put yourself on a 'cancellation list'.a lot of hosp. depts. have but not quite all. Eleven months is way over the top to wait. And if they should question you as to why you keep phoning,unlikely, tell you are in a lot of pain. It is your corner you are fighting.

[jennydog in reply to 10gingercats]

Excellent advice. Thank you.

[Hidden]

I'm in that category and currently see my EP every 6 months.

[BobD Volunteer]

There is actually no national protocol for ongoing treatment and it is really up to each EP.

Mine knows that I know how to contact him if I need him and has scheduled the occasional appointment in the last five or six years. I currently do not have AF since 2009 when I had my last ablation but do have loads of ectopics and occasional very short bursts of SVT/atrial tachycardia none of which I take medication for normally.

My GP is content that I know more about it than she does so trusts me to make contact if I need to and then asks me what I want her to do like the occasional ecg. I do have annual blood tests but can't recall what for (liver and kidney function I think) as well as INR* tests as required.