I was just reading a post about 'Understanding AF and how to cope with it' One of the bits of advise was to arrange with the GP's to record the event when its happening. I didn't want to go off on a tangent on that post. AF is the most bewildering experience with the most random symptoms coming and going all the time 24/7 for me anyway. I have other problems which I suspect are the trigger for it. Purely because how I feel physically I am very limited in what I can achieve so the world comes to me now and even a simple GP's appointment is a challenge. Last Friday I was having a blood test at the GP's because of some new recent symptoms and I went into AF. Alas since I had a 2nd ablation in January and since coming off Flecanide and Apixaban after 2-3 months my body is now back into pushing pushing pushing to trigger AF again. I suspect I will end up on the drugs again but at the moment events have been managed. I had an event on Friday which just started before my blood test and whilst at GP's asked if they had an ecg machine as it would be helpful to have one if possible. The response was - Go to A&E. The nurse said she cannot do it without instruction - I suggested she asks the on duty doctor - and referred to the consultants letter which said to record the event when it happens although he did anticipate I would have to go to A&E for it.
In the time it took her to discuss with me that she couldn't do it or would consult the GP but I would have to go home and come back - we could have so simply done it. We keep being asked not to go to A&E and take up resources and I know if I go to A&E with AF it won't just be an ecg it will be in with the cannula and hours there and bloods test - I'm not complaining - I've only had good treatment with AF at A&E but the amount of staff that would be used because of my visit compared with a nurse putting doing an ecg test in the surgery well - I am speechless.
Clearly the mistake I made was not cancelling the GP visit and instead I should have said to A&E whilst there - check my iron because I have just cancelled a GP blood test!
I took myself back home knowing that it was better to rest than go home to go back to surgery again and as luck would have it the AF settled. It's hard work this AF business.
My gp surgery doesn't undertake ecg's either and we have to go to the nearest out patient ecg dept after being given a referral by the GP. Yes you can go straight down there and then but it's a drive or bus ride away and then a parking nightmare if you go by car.
My GP has given me an open referral envelope asking for an ecg so I can go straight to the outpatient dept when I get chest pain or strange rhythms if I feel the need. My partnership with the GP is built on my understanding of my heart rhythms but I know if I am unsure I need to go to a and e or call for assistance.
I still don't understand why my GP surgery doesnt undertake ecg's it's a cash rich surgery so it's not necessarily a funding issues.
Many surgeries have ecg facilities as I understand it.
This surgery has ecg machine just didn't want to apply common sense in the moment. It's all pot luck postcode lottery. My old GP would have sent me through for an immediate on site ecg there and then and then it was usually off to hospital. Now I do self manage and pill in pocket as necessary. Next time I have to avoid the pill in pocket until the ecg is done. I have photcopied the letter where the consultant says go to A&E and put it in my handbag! I have a feeling it will be sometime soon.
I agree with what you say. It is such a post code lottery. I am fortunate. Twice recently I was asking by the hospital to get an ECG done at my GP surgery.
Each time one of the practice nurses stopped what they were doing and did the ECG. The ECG was faxed to the cardiac unit who then decided on the best course of action. I was also not allowed to leave until the response from the hospital was received.
Dare I say change your GP? If they are not on your side what help can they be? I would think every surgery has the facility.
When I had the need I made an appointment to see my GP and had it put on my records that I could call and attend at a moments notice for ECG. Not saying I didn't have to wait at all as you can't expect the practice sister to drop everything and there may not be a cubicle free but never for long.
By the way. Phlebotomists (blood ladies) are often not nurses but health care assistants so wouldn't have the training for ECG probably.
You can dare to say. I changed my surgery a year ago because I found with the last surgery you saw a different GP everytime and as I have long term chronic problems the typical response was "but I don't know you" which was never helpful. This was a small surgery the one doctor who was on duty had finished his morning surgery and was wandering in and out of the reception area but no one did consult him. The Nurse did have appointments but there was literally no one in the waiting room when I left. She was a Nurse and not a phlebotomist. I tried to get common sense to prevail whilst in AF but it was not to be. I will go to A&E but when I see the next advert about not wasting time of people in A&E perhaps I will write and let them know the reality.
Quote=Kate'' One of the bits of advise was to arrange with the GP's to record the event when its happening. ''
Kate my heart sank when I was told this . My GP is 5 miles away and even with a letter stating I have permission for an ECG getting there (when I can hardly stand on my shaking legs or talk and breath at the same time ) and announcing to the frosty receptionist that I would like an ECG instantly when getting one usually takes a month was not something I relished.
In the end I rang the local cottage hospital also 5 miles away and arranged to go there at short notice during an episode for an ECG stating I had a letter of permission. They agreed somewhat reluctantly and eventually I managed to get someone to take me there in time.
It was suggested by one nurse that I called an ambulance during an episode because they could carry out an ECG, I refused to do that as the episode may have ceased and I would then be calling them out unnecessarily.
Doodle - Yes the joke about all this is how difficult it is for me to even get to the GP surgery and how unwell I actually feel when in AF - ie not in a panic but really unwell and in pain etc. He ho - onwards we must go on this AF journey. I am a tough cookie but it tests the patience of a saint.
This all sounds very unfortunate for you to say the least .
I've found having a Kardia app very helpful and reassuring to record funny goings on with my heart. However my surgery is so helpful.....ECGs done without any fuss or undue delay. I've had them done by practise nurses, HCAs and phlebotomists!
Sandra
in reply to
Yes I having been looking at the Kardia this morning - I managed myself so far very well with my BP monitor and cuff and can tell the difference between the types of AF I've had! I think a Kardia is the next obvious step. They seem to be under £100 - if anyone has any tips about buying them let me know.
Kate..i bought mine from PMS ( Instruments)Ltd pmsinstruments.co.uk I found them very helpful and efficient to deal with. I paid £75 for my Alivecor Kardia last July. Wish I'd bought it years ago! You do need a smart phone for this. If you look up the Kardia website they will show compatible models or contact PMS... 01628 773233
Sandra
in reply to
Thanks for that - that is one of the sites I looked at - alas my phone not compatible. Will keep checking
I have the Kardia device, and app. It worked fine with my Samsung S4mini, until the phone died recently. It also works fine with my Moto G5 that I bought to replace the Samsung. What phone do you have? My understanding is that it will work with any Android phone or with an iPhone.
Sorry, reading further I see you have a Nokia Lumia. I have no experience of those, and avoid anything Microsoft. If you have the funds, a cheap Android tablet can be had for about £50 (as can another phone if you wanted). You might find the tablet useful for other things as well.
Spot on - all I wanted was a little bit of support. AF is different for everyone - mine is life limiting 24/7 but I cope very well and self managed very well. Even so it is a daily challenge. In the time it took for the Nurse to tell me she couldn't do it - the job could have been done.
Yes your understanding correct. I am not on Apixiban and I think I know what you are thinking as its clear to me on this forum the majority think you/I should be. I was told there is a 1/100 chance of a stroke but that is balanced by a 1/100 chance of a bleed. I was suprised and I did question it. The joke of it all being that during the last operation something happened that is a 1/4000 chance so I did think well that is hilarious! I have to say I see some benefits to how I am off it - less wooooo feeling and leggless. I think its the Flecanide that my body misses most but I am trying to ride it out and see how it goes. I do have a 24 hour monitor this week and I see the consultant in August.
I am in exactly the same position with my GP. The doctor has to agree to the ECG and you may wait days or a week before you actually get one. The surgery has one 24 hour portable ECG device and it is not known whether a 7 day recorder actually exists in Cornwall. On more than one occasion I was advised to call an Ambulance as they will perform an ECG on arrival. Now this may seem shocking to most but then I live just 3 miles from a Hospital that has an ECG recorder and X-Ray machine but only operates during normal working hours. It is disgusting but then the argument is that, even if they have the equipment, they do not have the staff available to connect it to you so, call an ambulance.
Yes the Ambulance people are great - they have been called upon many times in the past until I was instructed about pill in pocket. It even crossed my mind that the ambulance people would be able to do the print out the consultant wants but again that is just my common sense! See how things go - depends on how high my heart rate goes when it next flicks - if its really high I will call the ambulance anyway not not go in a taxi and queue and sit in A&E although once again they do give priority when you tell them. My AF started in Cornwall which reminds me of another tale similar to this post! I was on holiday - felt really ill - had AF and the GP gave me an admission form and told me to go to the hospital. I can remember sitting there feeling very ill and thinking right I now get the car and drive to the hospital. I was on my own. Anyway as it happened walking out of the surgery (large city surgery) and I collapsed so a lady on reception called an ambulance and off I went to A&E. NO doctor came even then. I spent a few days in hospital and then was told not to drive! That was tricky as I was 400 miles from home. If you have AF strongly recommend you have road recovery. Its not the first time I have had to use them when I became ill on route to somewhere. What an adventure AF is.
I felt guilty about calling Ambulance but they told me best to call and not feel guilty since it is a heart problem. They tend to send paramedic first and I suspect due to fear of a claim against them, you generally end up in A&E. Like you, I only called them if something new was happening or if the bpm was greater than 130. Basically, if you cannot count the number of beats, its time to call.
Yes I find they tend to want to take you to A&E even if things have settled when they come. I have twice signed the form to say NO thanks but that was with practice and experience. I find the ambulance people very good and 111 terrible.
The list of the one's it will work with is a bit limited. Anyone out there have a Nokia Lumia with Microsoft?
Very true. They are stretched in my opinion because they are not looking after the simple things.
My meaning of simple in this instance related to the consultant needing an ecg to detect what type of the heart is misbehaving so he can correct it by another ablation. My heart was out of sync I was within yards on an ecg machine when my heart was out of sync. It would have been better to get the recording. This would avoid the necessity and resource of having a 24 or 7 days monitor trying to catch it in a 24 or 7 days when it might not happen. A lost opportunity. Nothing could be more simple - 'in theory'.
What is an OP clinic? I assume it to be Outpatients? No point making 'efficiency' savings in one department if it ends up costing another department much more was my point. My mistake I should have cancelled the blood test at the last minute wasting the nurses time and gone to the hospital instead. On the day in the circumstances of the GP clinic I felt common sense was not applied. The blog started with explaining that someone had been given advise to go to a GP surgery for ecg's when they have a problem - I was trying to say - Good Luck with that one and explain why.
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Do you always go to A&E when you have an episode?
How much contact do you have with your cardiologist/ep?
To ablate or not to ablate...etc
What do you do when you are in AF. 
How do you feel maybe one hour prior to an afib event?
