After Care Service

[dindy]

Hi . My cardiac nurse phoned me to ask how I was getting on and to inform me I was to top taking amiodorone as I expecting anyway. What was not expecting was due to a new system which for the life of me I cannot remember they will no longer monitor me with phone calls ,hospital visits and I presume ecg`s.

What I have to do now is to phone cardiac outpatients if I have a problem and make a booking to see them. I got the phone number of outpatients booking + direct phone number to cardiac dept.

Got to admit I am not to happy with this as the ecg`s and blood test every 6 months or so gave me peace of mind and also to know I would be booked in for a phone call appointment to discuss how I feel.

For example my hair started to fall out a little bit and on on one phone appointment I mentioned this and said it is just old age. She looked at what blood thinner I was on and as she has worked with this thinner for 15 years she knew in some people this can happen. She changed me toEdoxaban and hair falling out has been resolved.

I will not get this service anymore and that what worries me.

[Thomas45]

After I went into Permanent AF I was told to stop taking Flecainide which I did. I was offered Diltiazem but could not see the point in taking it. I asked to be discharged to the care of my GP as I felt I was wasting the consultant:s time. For my AF I have an AntiCoagulant only. My GP gives me annual blood tests and I've also had ECGs done at the local medical centre. I was discharged to the care of my GP about seven years ago.

From experience of other ailments the GP system for being referred to a consultant works. I have been referred to orthopedic and ophthalmology consultants this year and await an ophthalmology procedure. After tests my Foot Drop is considered inoperable but I have a new orthotic.

[CDreamer]

My first thought was - how lucky were you to have that service for so long! I had to push for every consult, every treatment and everything else from my cardiology dept. My GP on the other hand were brilliant and did all of the monitoring except ECG.

I had a Kardia so took my own ECGs and emailed them to the consultant or arrythmia nurse with concerns and was very happy with that and everything else being monitored in the background.

I wonder if it’s the speaking to someone which reassures you?

[Buffafly]

My only contact with cardiology is my GP otherwise it’s phone 111 who tend to send you to A&E, usually unnecessarily 🙄

[Desanthony]

I am only on yearly checks from cardio nurses and asked to have blood test before - I then send an ECG from my Kardia 6 lead and send to them before getting my phone call from them. I can call them any time I have a problem and they will get back to me. Considering the effect Covid has had I am quite happy with the system we have here now.

[frankiec5]

Glad to hear your hair fall situation has been resolved. I’m having the same problem. Can you tell me which blood thinner your nurse thought was causing the problem? Thanks a lot

[dindy]

Hi frankiec5. Sorry late getting back to you. it was Eliquise (apixaban) that was causing me problems. However as I am sure you are aware these drugs effect people in different ways. I am sure you can get some advice from cardiac nurse/doctor.