Since my last post I’ve been to the pacemaker clinic for a scheduled follow-up after my unsuccessful Cardioversion, not quite unsuccessful, I had 4-days of bliss in normal sinus rhythm. The download of my pacemaker confirmed fast irregular heart rate of around 190 and to my total surprise I was sent home with absolutely no instructions or guidance, my consultant EP is away until May ..... I guess I will have to put my health and well-being on hold until such times as he deems it convenient to come back to his day job, silly inconsiderate me.
To be honest I’m astounded, only a few weeks ago following a similar checkup where my heart was running at between 170-180 I was told I couldn’t go home as was heart was dangerously fast, yet now it’s fine to go home.
I am at a total loss and worst still really getting close to the end of my tether.
Sorry to be so downbeat but I’ve honestly just about had enough.
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Cypbill
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Why did you have pacemaker inserted? Mine was for bradycardia it's set at 60 BPM and can raise to 125 if exercising . My natural pacemaker doesn't work
I live in the US I am scheduled for ablation on the 26th of February. After trying different medications they no longer could control bpm. I had 150 bpm for 4 days and then on the 4th day, I check into the hospital. Since this happened to me both in January and February. My EP said I can't keep doing this. I need to make a decision for ablation and or a pacemaker.
I thought that the pacemaker was to control my bpm and not let my pulse go up to 150 or higher. The pacemaker doesn't cure Afib it just controls the bpm. So, I don't understand why you have a pacemaker if it not controlling your pulse?
It's very interesting to read some of these posts about the health care system you have.
I went into the hospital are the 5 of February 2018 and I am scheduled for an ablation on the 26th. There are a lot of people in the US who would like socialized medicine. They should come and read so of the post on the forum. Can't see EP until May unheard of in the US.
But what happens in the US if you do not have medical insurance or are not wealthy enough to pay for your medical care! Everyone here in the UK can get medical care at no cost, so as rosyG says waiting times for consultants are longer. Over here if you have medical insurance or pay privately waiting times are a few weeks.
The British are fiercely proud of their NHS and are aware that currently it is under stress for several reasons, which I don't need to go into on this forum, suffice to say a wise man does not knock the NHS, we can knock it of course lol but woe betide an 'outsider' who tries.
Lucky man either you have health insurance through work or you have a large enough income to pay for it, unlike millions of your fellow citizens who have little health cover but hey sod them.
Mmmmm.
We on the other hand and most of Europe have a healthcare systems free at the point of need paid from taxation, it may have its flaws but we prefer the civilised way, to see health care as a right not a privilege. We all get ill in a lifetime but worrying about paying the bill when in ill health seems to me healthcare providers taking advantage of folks misery . Thankfully since 1945 it has not been the British way.
It can be the best - when it isn’t overly stretched, understaffed and under funded. I have received both 1st class immediate care and some pretty mediocre care but I think that happens everywhere.
I agree and believe in a system which delivers emergency care free at the point of contact for all - even visiting US citizens - although they may receive a bill retrospectively - at least I hope they do!
The pacemaker was implanted in December as my reveal showed my heart stops up to 32 times at night when I’m asleep, it can do nothing to pre ENT the very fast heart rate.
Oh Cypbill - sorry your thread seemed to get hijacked!
Bit of a parallel process to what seems to have happened to you in the hospital.
It must have been distressing to have been so dismissed. You cannot wait until May with that sort of heartrate so I think you need to return to your GP and get them to advocate for you.
I rather suspect that many of the more junior doctors you may have seen at the hospital didn’t have he level of competence to deal with your complex needs but the least they should have done is to refer you.
Getting upset and stressed is natural but not helpful so if you can take some deep, slow breaths and then develop plan B and take someone with you to advocate for you.
I would also think about contacting PALS when you feel up to it.
Very best wishes CD
Hi Cybill. Sounds like you might have been 'blown off'. I once went in for a routine pacemaker check. When things didn't seem right I saw someone else right away as my doc wasn't there that day. If it were me I would call or just walk in and demand to be seen. It is your right. Hospitals/clinics healthcare givers should be available 24/7. If necessary I would go to the E.R. if I couldn't be seen at the clinic. just a thought. Take care. irina1975
When I had my PM fitted it failed to recognise it had triggered a beat so it would repeat giving me a heart rate of 120 bpm . I phoned the Arrythmia nurse who arranged for me to see the PM team and was resolved in minutes.
Please don’t suffer in silence phone the Arrythmia nurse it may be as simple to fix as mine.
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