How long for ablation follow up NHS?

[tridye]

I had an ablation in Feb and had expected a follow up after 3-months, however I’ve just been sent an appointment for December. When I queried why I had to wait so long I was told that I was lucky to get that date as that was a cancellation and most people would have to wait until June 2022! Surely this can’t be right. I was advised that if I was still having problems the only way to be seen sooner was to get a referral through my GP.

[Hidden]

Nothing to be lost by emailing your EP directly if you are having problems. You could alternatively ask to be added to the cancellation list. My gp said it wouldn’t make a lot of difference if he referred me, and I would be better off going privately to get an appointment within 3 weeks and a guaranteed 40 minutes with a consultant.

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

That's a bit strange. Not the way the operate here in the USA. Don't they do Teledoc sessions over there?

I used to have to fly to San Francisco to meet the EP. Not anymore. Computer Teledoc session does away with that. Even if your EP is busy ... his nurse assistant can perform evaluations by Teledoc.

I had an ablation at end of OCT 2020. I had a 2 week monitor ordered by my EP sent to me. Then, in MAR I had a Teledoc session with nurse assistant and we discussed my monitor results, how I'm doing, and my upcoming procedure in a couple of months.

Is the NHS overwhelmed?

[Physalis in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us]

Maybe some of our EPs don't want to waste time on unnecessary appointments etc. I had my ablation on July 8 2020 and since then haven't heard a word from the hospital. As it is, my heart has been rock steady since then but if it hadn't been I would have contacted my GP.

Actually, I did have attacks of migraine the week after the ablation, went to outpatients and someone from the cardiac team saw me and was very sympathetic and kind.

[Cally53]

I had my ablation in August 2020 and was expecting a review after 3 months - it didn't happen. I eventually rang them at the beginning of March and was asked why I wanted a review, I told them I was still getting frequent af and they said they would send me an appointment. I now have a telephone appointment at the end end of this month. I can only assume they haven't the time for unnecessary appointments! 🤷‍♀️

[Hidden]

That isn’t right. Mine was delayed to 4 months rather than 3 due to Covid and then was over the phone, with me weighing myself and using my home blood pressure monitor etc but lengthy and thorough (although the copy letter hasn’t yet arrived a month later). I know our cardiology department had to move out due to Covid. I was also given the phone and email for the expert arrhythmia nurse for support and advice and contact. You should not need to go back via GP. Does your unit have an arrhythmia nurse? I found that the NHS team were more expert than the two private consultants I saw when I (erroneously told by GP) assumed I would be low priority. Good luck!

[ETFCfan]

I had my third ablation in September 2020 which didn’t work. I had a phone consultation in Dec with my EP who changed drugs and said he would speak in a few months about a possible Pace and Ablate. I heard nothing so phoned his secretary and she gave me a telephone appointment with no problem for a few weeks time. I suggest you try and ring your consultants secretary. Good luck.

[captainKFF in reply to ETFCfan]

Hi, I understand you’re in permanent Afib, can you please share what is your heart rate and symptoms if any?

[ETFCfan in reply to captainKFF]

Hello, yes I’m now in permanent AF and my heart rate is very variable can feel it race if I go up stairs etc. It’s generally about 90 now I’m on Verapamil. I’ve just changed from Bisoprolol which kept it lower. My breathlessness has eased quite a bit since coming off Bisoprolol my consultant wasn’t sure if it was the AF or Bisoprolol looks like the Bisoprolol didn’t help. My other main symptom is lack of energy and tiredness.

[captainKFF in reply to ETFCfan]

ETFC, good to know that your heart rate is low and you can’t feel it as I do when I have an Afib episode, since the only symptom is tiredness, have you considered keeping the status quo instead of going thru a pace and ablate and the risks with it?

[ETFCfan in reply to captainKFF]

Yes I’ve considered it but I’m speaking next week to my consultant and will listen to what he says and decide.

[captainKFF in reply to ETFCfan]

Best wishes

[Desanthony]

Covid has caused a lot of back up in routine appointents but I would certainly call your EP or his secretary if you are having problems I think that is a long time to wait. My EP does telephone consultations as do the specialist nurses and they are still doing them pretty much on schedule just that sometimes the nurses are working from home. They still send me the forms to get my blood tests done and so on. It may be worth talking to your GP for a referral too. Whatever works to get you through. Even a call with the specialist nurses would be good fo you as they could flag up any thing the consultant needs to know and then get him to call you on that.

Hope you get to seen sooner than December