Unable to see Consultant

[Tricia239]

My heart has been doing strange things for a few days now. I feel as if I am in and out of AF but pulse seems normal. I have tried to get an appointment with my Consultant but only been able to leave messages and no one has got back to me. I have also tried the private route, but that is only virtual which means I can’t be monitored in anyway. I’ve just bought a Kardia but as yet haven’t managed to pair it with my phone, hopefully my daughter will do that for me tomorrow. I feel quite frightened and worried which is compounded by not being able to get any help. I spoke to my GP it she wasn’t able to help. Has anyone else experienced similar difficulties? And, can anyone suggest how I can get some help. I live on my own so do tend to worry when the old ticker does strange things.

[Jalia]

Tricia, could you be having ectopics now and then which can give the impression of being in and out of AF? Of course worrying will make it feel worse but understandable if you are by yourself.

I've had bouts of this recently and surprised myself by not being in AF. Hopefully you may get some reassurance from your Kardia.

[Tricia239 in reply to Jalia]

Thanks for your reply. I guess it could be ectopics, it’s just so difficult to know without being monitored. I don’t think I will be able to understand the reading on my Kardia but just hope I can find a Consultant who will help me.

[Buffafly in reply to Tricia239]

Your Kardia will tell you if you are in AF or not so you don’t have to understand the reading. Also there is an ‘education’ section on the app which gives examples of common problems and I think it shows ectopics but if not a quick google will show you - they are easy to spot. Best wishes 💜

[Tricia239 in reply to Buffafly]

That's really good to know, thank you.

[Stumpy47]

I'm surprised your Dr did not tell you to go to A&E if they were unable to help you! Best wishes

[Tricia239 in reply to Stumpy47]

I guess that is my last resort, like most people, I guess, I have been putting that off. Thanks

[cornwallsurfer]

Hi Tricia, the best bet is to go to A&E. you’ll probably find it’s pretty quiet and they’ll be happy to see you. I did when a similar thing happened to me. They will have likely a cardiologist on duty who can take a look. Just pick a good time to go in. Saturday morning is good down here! 😁

[Tricia239 in reply to cornwallsurfer]

Thanks, good to know it was ok when you went - like most people, I guess, I am scared of Covid, but then I am scared of what my heart is doing. Rock and a hard place! Just need to be brave.

[irene75359]

Tricia, are you using a laptop? I don't know what sort of phone you are using either, but if you google pairing Kardia with eg Apple watch or whatever you have, there will be step-by-step instructions to take you through, and likely more than one link. youtube is good too. The Kardia is wonderful at putting your mind at rest, it will confirm at the end of the reading no evidence of AF or possible AF. I had a very strange turn and although my Kardia said no AF I was so alarmed I just clicked the button and sent it for analysis (£5) and that's how I found out how unpleasant ectopics can be.

Not a pleasant situation to be in, please come back and let us know how you are.

[Tricia239 in reply to irene75359]

That’s really interesting. I have just got lost trying to put in all the different passwords in, iTunes, iCloud, yahoo and so on - does my head in. I can’t remember some and then they say they will send an email to reset but it never comes through. Ughhh, doesn’t help the ticker! Very interested about the analysis, sounds really good. Where do you send it? This is really unpleasant so may be ectopics, my head feels muzzy too. Thank you for taking the trouble to reply.

[Buffafly in reply to Tricia239]

Don’t forget to check ‘junk/spam’ folder, I sent an e-voucher to my son and wondered why he didn’t thank me but when I asked he found it in ‘Junk’

[Tricia239 in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks for reminding me - just checked, nothing there, but my daughter-in-law has managed to get it up and running. I’ve done a couple of readings but it says there’s no abnormal rhythms; so I don’t know what it is, unless as others have suggested it is ectopics. I will try to get a professional interpretation at the beginning of next week. Horrible feeling though.

[irene75359 in reply to Tricia239]

So just click on the little envelope on your reading summary and you will get a window where you can pay and send - it really is that simple. And you will get a reply by morning. Let us know how you get on!

[Tricia239 in reply to irene75359]

Thanks, will do.

[Tricia239 in reply to irene75359]

Hi, Just to let you know, I've had my report back - it says I'm normal, not many people say that! Ha ha. Seriously, it says everything is normal but I have Ventricular Ectopic beats and Atrial Ectopic beats. It insists all is normal, but I and my ticker, don't feel normal. I have heard that anxiety/stress cause ectopic beats, I'm not knowingly any more anxious or stressed that usual but I guess this lockdown is causing us all a degree of stress simply because it isn't normal and so our lives are not normal and I am certainly missing social interaction. What did you do about your period of ectopics? It doesn't seem right just to ignore them, it can't be doing my heart any favours. Tricia

[irene75359 in reply to Tricia239]

I am relieved you managed to get this up and working and had your first report. I understand how unpleasant ectopic beats are, I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest. However, apparently they are very common and most are not doing any harm. There are breathing exercises which can help, and I was going to post you a link but I can't find any right now - will look when I am not in the middle of supper!

[Tricia239 in reply to irene75359]

Hi, I have got the App working on my iPhone now. It says I am not in AF, so I don’t know what is causing these strange feelings. It also says I should get a free interpretation as it is my first reading. Fingers crossed

[Ticktoc]

I've been much the same the last 2 weeks keep getting like little electric shocks and what feels like trapped wind pain in chest, up n down pulse n light headed especially after eating not sure what the norm is for pulse spo2 around 90 and pulse 70 but drops to 55 then up to 85 ? I'm on Bisoprolol 1x2.5 and apixiban 2 .5 x2 daily and was already on 5mg amlodipine and 10mg Atorvastatin for blood pressure as I have copd only had a fib diagnosis in Dec

[tunybgur]

Hi Tricia,

Unfortunately stress and anxiety are all too frequent triggers for AF. You must try and take your mind off it and do something to distract yourself from the constant worry, it causes adrenaline to continuously drip into your blood circulation.

Easier said than done I know, but worriers have to develop ways to cope, you need to do something that requires concentration of a different kind, some people do Yoga, some use slow breathing techniques, I like to go on Youtube and search 'Relaxing Music', normally it puts me to sleep!

Good luck, and stop worrying

[Tricia239 in reply to tunybgur]

Thanks - I guess lockdown and self isolation isn’t helping. I’ll go and do some gardening, pottering, and walk the dog. I do try not to worry but the brain chunters away! Thank you for taking the time to reply.

[Steve101]

I know on one of Sanjay Gupta videos he talks about people who feel they are in AF but when they are monitored they are not. We are living in strange times at the moment and it is easy (as I do) to tune into your body and become aware of what it is doing. It could be that you are in a slightly anxious state and focussing on your heart rhythm, I hope you don’t feel I’m being rude by suggesting this. I’m talking from my own personal experience and how on occasions listen in too much to my body.

Take care

Best wishes

Steve

[Tricia239 in reply to Steve101]

I think I just replied to myself - oh goodness I am really losing the plot! I will try to find the relevant Sanjay Gupta video. Thank you for thinking of me

[Tricia239]

You may be right. I’ll try to find the Sanjay Gupta video. Thanks for thinking of me.

[cbsrbpm]

I have recently been through a bad spell of ectopics and they are awful. It certainly felt like AF but Kardia said normal rhythm. When I sent it for analysis it came back as ectopics. It was before Covid started up and did manage to get a holter and then an appointment with the EP who altered my dose of Diltiazem which for now has done the trick. He was not concerned about them at all but they were awful. Try not to stress too much about it, I know it’s easy to say when you don’t have them but anxiety will make them worse. Hope you get sorted soon.

[Tricia239 in reply to cbsrbpm]

That’s really interesting,certainly feels horrible. Covid doesn’t make it easy and may be that’s what is stressing me out especially being on my own. I feel really alone right now which I don’t usually. I will try to get a private consultation next week - before I had the Kardia I couldn’t see the point. Can’t help thinking they have got a bit of a cheek to charge the same price for a virtual as it was for a face to face. Still, worth it to get it sorted. Thanks for your reply, really helpful.

[Hidden]

Once your daughter gets the Kardia going you will have the readings to pass on to any EP who you can interest in them (my GP asked me to stop sending them but yu might have better luck). I find I feel more in control of things as you can see how often your heart is doing fine as well as when it goes a little crazy and perhaps arrange to get flecainide or something else to use as a PIP. I didn't even have a smartphone before it was suggested I get a Kardia but it has been a good friend. I think ectopics come under what the Kardia call "unclassified"s but I understand they are not a serious problem. Good luck!