Cardiologist recommendation

[Gilli54]

Hi

Does anyone have any experience of private consultants carrying out ablations in Plymouth?

Need to know of private consultants who may be still seeing patients. My son ended up in hospital overnight with AF and then flutter but they were unable to carry out a cardioversion due to current guidelines during the pandemic. He has been given apixaban and bisoprolol and told they can do a private referral but consultants aren’t seeing patients. The cardiologist recommended an ablation but he could get a cardioversion before that once they are being done again. He is an extremely fit 32 year old who exercises regularly and being in flutter and on meds is a huge shock. He’s always been converted before. Just wondering if anybody knows of consultants still working out there.

[CDreamer]

Plymouth has an excellent team Lead by Professor Bellinger who is an expert in imaging. He did my husband’s angiogram last year. My EP is one of the Arrythmia team who cover Plymouth & Exeter. Couldn’t be in better hands. BUT if they aren’t seeing new patients, which they may very well not be, I don’t think you will get very far.

Research Exeter Heart

In Exter they are treating some NHS patients who have been a long time on a waiting list at the private hospital at Exeter which is being used to continue routine procedures - as long as you test negative for Coronavirus. I don’t know about Plymouth.

I would imagine they will triage the most urgent cases but it’s always worth asking.

Is there an arrythmia clinic/nurse number you can ring? They are usually fountains of knowledge.

[Gilli54 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you. I have AFib too and my consultant is part of the Birmingham heart rhythm group. I live in Nottingham. Good to know there is a team like that in Plymouth. Thank you for that reassurance. 😊

[CDreamer in reply to Gilli54]

Sent you a PM

[Gilli54 in reply to CDreamer]

👍much appreciated. Not sure how to reply on the PM. But I’ve read it.

[Gilli54 in reply to CDreamer]

He had a test yesterday for coronavirus before they saw him.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hearing this makes me quite cross. Your son could see a cardiologist but not an EP consultant! Are all the EP's sat at home doing nothing I wonder and are they on full pay! Guy Haywood does private ablations in Plymouth. If you Google him online, you should find all the info.

Before heading for an ablation may I ask whether your son has tried the healthy more plànt based diet route? He would need to cut out all foods containing artificial additives of any kind. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, also try magnesium tablets, a lot of people on this forum swear that these reduce their symptoms.

Let me know if I can help any more. I've had three ablations, but still have AF. I'm afraid they are not always the wonder cure we hope for.

Jean

[Gilli54 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you for replying. He is able to get an appointment with my team in Birmingham. I think he needs reassurance that he is ok to not be cardioverted right away and that the temporary meds are the right thing. For somebody like him - he is extremely active and fit- the idea of not being able to do any of those activities for a time really cause him stress. He works out regularly and eats healthily. Uses plant milks but does eat some meat. He’s at the beginning of the journey and I am very sad that he seems to be at 32 where I was at 50+. He needs to do his own research and find ways of minimising the AF events. I have had to do that and accept that and cut out caffeine and reduce red meat. I drank minimal alcohol anyway and can’t now because of the medication.

But my attacks were much further apart. 5 years, 4 years, 3 years then 1 year. He has been 18 months then three months. I do think strenuous exercise is a feature. But he has to find a way through with his wife. It sort of gets to a point when you have to come to terms with the fact you need to find the best way of living with it. But he will research it and find a way through. I just wish he didn’t have to. ☹️ I’m going to introduce him to this firm and hopefully he will be able to use the info on here to help. The links are always good. Thank you again. 😊

[DoodyToot]

I had an angiogram and double bypass at Plymouth last year. The surgeon, Malcolm Dalrymple-Hay did the surgery and also occulted the atria with a watchman device to reduce the risk of clot as I have been in permanent AF for 24 years. He also works privately out of the Nuffield in Exeter and is a clinical director at Derriford; top bloke. David Tomlinson was a Ward Cardiologist pre-op and specialises in electrical/ablations. Not sure if he does private.

[Gilli54 in reply to DoodyToot]

Thank you for taking time to reply. It is good to hear these positive experiences. 😃

[Cat04]

Dr Tomlinson is my EP at Derriford, he is also my cardiologist there for my other cardiac conditions so I get all my issues dealt with under one consultant which is great. Certainly can recommend him but dont know if he does private but I imagine he probably is working at Derriford just now. I can post his secretary's telephone number/email address later if you would like

[Gilli54 in reply to Cat04]

Thank you. I was able to contact the team i am under in Birmingham (Heart Rhythm Group) late yesterday. They have appointments at the moment for consultations. I think he will start there at least and then maybe access treatment options more locally. I will come back to you for more information should we need it. Reassurance and a plan is what he most needs right now.