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[shirlygirly]

After waiting a month for a cardiologist appointment today my letter arrived

I was so relieved. Opened it, oh dear' its for a monitor for 24 hours, which

Im thinking could quite easily be one of my good days.

Since posting on here last Ive realised that what I thought was no more than

rapid heartbeat with an something funny going on as well, is atrial flutter.

I have had it time after time some days, which isnt a good feeling at the same

time I can go 3/4 days and feel ok. It can go on for a few days or come and go

at will. I have not had af for approximately a month.

To get the monitor fitted is a bus journey round trip of approximately 50 miles.

Im more than willing to do it but will I be wasting my time?

I should mention for anyone who hasnt heard from me before, I have had

2 previous ablations, the last a couple of years ago, Im 80 years old.

Thanks

[doodle68]

Hello shirlygirly I had a 24hour monitor from my GP to try to catch my P-AF, I told them it would be a waste of time and it was because nothing happened during that time I had the monitor.

The next step was an instruction to get myself to a hospital A&E or my GPs surgery during an episode to have an ECG in order to see what was going on. Failing this I was supposed to have a loop recorder fitted.

In the end I successfully managed to get myself to the local cottage hospital during an episode having telephoned ahead to say I was on my way.

I am afraid there seems to be a number of hoops that have to be jumped through to get a diagnosis of strange cardiac events, having a 24 hour monitor being one of them.

I was told the fast way to diagnosis was to dial 999 for an ambulance but I refused to do that for a number of reasons one being I live out in the countryside and by the time an ambulance got here my episode could have stopped.

Shirly, considering your age and the length of the bus journey in your position I would telephone your GP or whoever sent you the letter and explain your situation .There should be a contact number in the letter. Before you ring it is worth writing down the points you wish to make .Hope you manage to sort something out

[shirlygirly in reply to doodle68]

Thanks so much for your reply, I have been through this particular hoop before, didnt work. Caught an episode previously doing what you did and

on a 7 day monitor. You are right its one of the hoops but I hate making

a fuss. Shirley.

[Jlaine in reply to shirlygirly]

My personal experience so far has left me feeling that more people should have a loop recorder. The procedure is simple,quick and painless. Other than feeling the slight prick of the needle to freeze the area where it is inserted just beneath the skin. Its just a small bar which records all heart activity. No fuss no miss. It operates by Bluetooth I BELIEVE. Its good for 3 yrs!! When I go to my cardiologist or ep Dr they simply look at the recordings which are sent to their office I BELIEVE daily! Just wanted to share this because it's accurate and you arenot inconvenienced in anyway! Just saying

[Pita]

Could you not ring the department where you are attending at the hospital and ask about hospital transport to pick you up and bring you home.

[momist]

No one like to make a fuss. There is a program running on TV this season about the experiences of ambulance crews in the West Midlands, that is quite eye-opening. I'm sure that if you called an ambulance during one of your episodes and they could arrive in time and get a trace on their portable equipment, they would be glad of seeing someone with a genuine problem and helping to get them sorted.

Meanwhile, I suspect that you have no option but to 'go through the hoops' as required with the 24 hour monitor. Maybe call the ambulance next time it happens after that?

[seasider18 in reply to momist]

Would they? I phoned up once at 5.30 am in AF and BP 210/120.They asked if I could not get to A&E on my own. I told them that I don't drive and that busses do not start until after 7am and it is a fifteen minute walk to the bus stop anyway. She suggested that I could take a Taxi. I hung up, she bravely phoned me back and said that if my condition worsened in taxi to call 999 again ! I again hung up. I find that unless you mention chest pain they are reluctant to come out.

[dcoughey]

Get a Kardia EKG monitor. It is worth its weight in gold. It keeps a record of your readings and will create a report that you can e-mail to your doctor or print off a copy.

[Chilly007]

In a similar position myself. Had a strange episode last Sep - tight chest for 2 hours thought it was serious but it blew over. 2 days later I took myself to hospital when my heart started to flutter whilst sat down reading. Since then I've struggled to get any sense out of any Doctor. I manged to get a 24hr ECG fitted but didn't capture anything. The Doctor won't or can't refer me to a specialist unless they can capture it elctronically. I even bought a Kardia machine from Amazon and have captured a history of potential AF (double type beat) almost daily now. When I phoned the local DOctors surgey the secretary has informed me that my readings or methods are not suitable and I will need a 7 day ECG recording.

I'm at the end of my tether. I'm 48, was super fit VO2 of 60, park run in under 20mins but am now worried, confused etc. I keep exercising every other day but am scared that one day I will croke it. I'm not overweight, ok drink a bit at weekends but can't figure out what to do next. This website is very useful and learnt lots. I want to go private now but have just been told I will need . a referal and have been waiting a week for somebody to reply to my e-mailto the local surgery. Sorry for the rant but unless your fat, a smoker and your leg is hanging off no one appears to give a shit when I finally need assistance from the NHS.