Bit of advice please

[Sals100]

hello. I am due to see my cardiologist for the first time after having an Ablation done in March. I am currently taking 100mg Flecainide twice a day, 5mg Apixaban, 5mg Amiodipine and lisinopril. I still get the occasional short bouts of AF but do get regular episodes of palpitations especially when doing light exercise. My main problem is still after i have been standing for a while i can feel my chest getting tight and i start to feel dizzy and sick, my blood pressure drops quite low. My doctor tried reducing my BP tablets but that made no difference it just made my BP be to high on sitting etc so she put it back up to original doseage. She wrote to my cardiologist asking if i could have an earlier appointment as due to my job i haven't been allow into work until I can stand without passing out (I have since now lost my job!). I didn't get an earlier appointment but on monday I got copied into a letter the cardiologist sent to my doctor that was quite curt, saying my BP has nothing to do with the Ablation and then explained to here what an Ablation was for, then it said she should reduce my Flecainide until i am weaned off of it in time for me to see him. This arrived monday and i see him next tuesday, I can't get a doctors appointment until 3 weeks! I guess i am asking what do i say to cardiologist, I am scared he is just going to say stop my meds and not want to know about the dizziness. I just feel no one is listening or helping me they just pass me back to each other. As i say i have lost my job due to health and safety as i have been off since November when my AF and the dizziness got so bad. I am just feeling lost at the minute. Thanks in advance.

[NJ47]

Hi Sals100

There are people on here better equipped to give you the advice you’re looking for, but you are not alone and there are so many caring people on this forum.

I too am off work following a return to sinus rhythm after almost nine months in AF. The reason I’m off is that I went on Amiodarone which has done the job but messed with my potassium levels resulting in a low heart rate so every time I stood up I went light headed. That problem has now gone as I’m back in AF. Ggrrr!!!

Back to the work situ, I’ve got to phone my boss again this afternoon with an update, which I guess is understandable but if I’m off for too long, like you, I risk losing my job, so I REALLY feel for you.

Have you considered contacting ACASS about your unfair dismissal? They specialise in this kind of situation. It’s so unfair etc, and as I say, I really feel for you.

Stay strong. You’ll get all the support you’ll need on here. Good luck and take care of yourself.

NJ

[Sals100 in reply to NJ47]

Thank you for your reply NJ47 Work started off being really understanding but as I work with people with challenging behaviour and sometimes you can be stood for a long time with a service user i can see what they are saying about the health and safety side but it doesn't make finishing work any easier. I hope you manage to hang onto your job, it certainly has a big effect on your life this AF business!! Once again many thanks for your reply, it's just nice talking to people that understand. Take care.

[NJ47 in reply to Sals100]

Thanks Sals100. Tell me about it.

Messaged boss earlier and for now he’s ok thanks, but yes it's the long term effect of this thing. Ah well. Onwards and upwards. Take care.

[Jjda]

I don't know if you are in a position to change cardiologists, but if you are able to do so, I would look for another one who has a better bedside manner. But if you can't, or if you want to stay with this one, I would take the opportunity in your next visit to discuss your issues, how the medications might be affecting your symptoms, what kind of a plan the two of you can put together with your general practitioner to handle your symptoms, and what type and frequency of communication you can set up that is acceptable to both of you. Have a list of your symptoms and questions ready, as most doctors will try to get out of the room in less than 5 minutes. Even if he has his hand on the door handle, keep talking if you have not finished your conversation. Is your cardiologist an EP? If he is, maybe he can refer you to a regular cardiologist for routine followup with cardiac issues that he feels may be unrelated to the ablation, or heart rhythm. And Good Luck. You have to be very assertive when it comes to your health.

[Sals100 in reply to Jjda]

Thank you for your reply. I haven't been very assertive hence this has been dragging on for so long and i do find the consultant quite intimidating. Once i have seen him on tuesday if he is still dismissive i will ask my doctor to refer me to someone else. You would hope when i tell him i have lost my job through this he might listen more, finger crossed.

[jeanjeannie50]

You may find that you feel a lot better once you stop taking your Flecainide. I discovered it was giving me AF and flutter. Have been five months without it now and no symptoms at all, feeling really well too.

[Sals100 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you that sounds hopefully. It would be nice to take one less tablet and to feel better with it would be great.