Electrophysiologist Where art thou

[Mickhall]

I cannot find the list of Electrophysiologist can anyone help, I wish to check out the nearest one to me.

[doodle68]

Hi Mick are you in the UK ...

here is one list but it isn't comprehensive.

heartrhythmspecialists.org/...

Also put the name of your 'Local Health Trust' into Google and a list of your nearest hospitals should appear. Go through the Cardiac departments of each hospital and the cardiologist and electrophysiologists will be listed.

Not that it did me much good, I only ever see an arrhythmia nurse at my local hospital.

[Mickhall in reply to doodle68]

doodle68, thanks I found three at my local hospital, you say you see an arrhythmia nurse how does that work out is she/he any good.

[doodle68 in reply to Mickhall]

Hi Mick, when I first approached my GP with symptoms of P-AF I was referred to an arrhythmia clinic, it took 6 months to get an appointment.

When I attended the clinic I saw an arrhythmia nurse who was very nice and took my details/conveyed them to a cardiologist and he approved an ECG to be taken when I was in P-AF followed by an Echocardiogram should the ECG prove positive for AF.

I had the ECG, was diagnosed as positive for fast P-AF and informed of the diagnosis and requirement for medication by letter. I then had the Echocardiogram and waited 8 weeks for the results, again by letter.

It is now a year since my diagnosis and I have just attended my second clinic. Again I saw an assistant to the cardiologist who didn't seem to know anything about me and muddled up the things I told him. He ignored my comments about lifestyle changes, weight loss and that my P-AF was more controlled now I guess due to medication and possibly lifestyle changes and that my quality of life at the moment is good. He then proceeded to say the next step is an Ablation , they have just started to perform them at my nearest large hospital and aim to do a certain number in the first year. I declined the offer of an ablation for now.

So in spite of my assigned cardiologist also being an EP I have never actually met him. I guess he is too busy performing ablations.

[Maagaa]

Hi Mick are you in the US? If so there are many good EP Drs in Columbia in NYC. Good Luck

[Mickhall in reply to Maagaa]

Maagaa, thanks but I am in the UK

[Petrified]

Is there a website anywhere giving stats on how many ablations the EPs have carried out?? I wouldn't think so but just wondering

[fnurd]

I would suggest that your main criteria should be experience, ability and recommendation, not distance.

If you can afford it a good approach is to get a private appointment with the EP you choose (~£150) which should take 1-3 weeks. Then if you decide on an ablation you can do this on the NHS in the usual way. This saves a great deal of time, and means that you see the expert, not the juniors.

[Petrified in reply to fnurd]

Sound advice, thank you. We had a holiday coming up and I wanted some reassurance. Saw available EP privately (£240). He explained AF & treatment options. My husband thought that he was not in favour of ablation despite being an EP!!!!!! At the time I felt more positive after the consultation. That was in March & since then the Afib's been much worse & meds not controlling it. Don't feel too good physically and anxiety levels through the roof. I'm waiting for an appointment at the Arrythmia Clinic but wondering now if I should travel and go down the private route. It's against the grain as I think the NHS is much safer.

[Mickhall]

I am anti private medicine but I find AF such a difficult condition to deal, one minute things seem to be picking up with my meds slowing HR down without complications, then I fall back into a hole with breathlessness and a bout of Anxiety, which seems to come out of no where. So Petrified you must do what is best for you, although safety must be a factor to think through. Best regards.