Update to possible AF

[kitchengardener2]

Good afternoon everyone and thank you for all your advice.

I took my blood pressure readings for the last seven days into my GP'S surgery this morning. Couldn't see anyone of course so left the sheets with the reception staff and requested a doctor call me.

Well I am getting more and more fed up with why it is almost impossible to speak to a doctor. A guy rang me, don't know what he said he was but his name was Victor. He agreed with me that my pulse rates had dropped since starting the Bisoprolol. He advised that I should stop taking it immediately. They want another seven days readings of 3 times each day BUT should I have chest pains or collapse, I have to call an ambulance. They fill you with confidence don't they?

I also asked to see a cardiologist but he refused saying that the request would be thrown out. I have now decided that I will wait until August when I have another heamatologist consultation, I will then ask my consultant to refer me and if she refuses, I will think about going privately.

[mjames1]

Hopefully you will do and feel better off the bisoprolol. The thing about chest pains and collapse is standard. But what about the interaction between Acalabrutinib and Aphixiban? It's something you want to deal with sooner than later. Others have talked about the CHADS2 score in your previous thread. It may turn out that you may not even need the Aphixiban, once you see a doctor who knows what they're doing. Given you were shut off from seeing a cardiologist, going private is a good idea.

Jim

[jedimasterlincoln]

Hope you make some progress with Haematology!

[kitchengardener2 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Well I have messaged my Clinical Nurse Specialist and asked if she can speak to my consultant about this. To people not affected with things like this, it must all seem rather trivial but at the end of the day, it is our lives on the table!!

[CDreamer]

Life shouldn’t be this hard! That’s absurd. “victor” should have told you which role he took - if only a receptionist then he’s not competent to judge whether or not you need to see a cardiologist!

We have enough to cope without having to constantly battle to see people. Keep on banging desks to get a referral and source a good arrythmia specialist cardiologist and get a private consultation. 😱hope you get some intelligent and competent advice soon and that you feel better without the Bisoprolol.

Best wishes

[kkatz in reply to CDreamer]

Getting to talk to a GP is getting impossible.I resorted to email & even sent messages via prescription requests and yesterday I got 4 calls + 1 from hospital on another matter.Now got 7 day BP monitoring & blood & weight tests in a week.I must have really have stuck my head above the parapet & they realise I am still hear

[kitchengardener2 in reply to kkatz]

I certainly won't let it drop, I will keep banging on desks. Thanks for your supporting comments. x

[Hylda2 in reply to kitchengardener2]

My husband’s heart rate was low 20s and still receptionist said come in in 10 days. Yelled hard got call to surgery, blues and twos and pacemaker

[Hidden]

How frustrating - on several fronts! Well done you for taking your BP readings & presenting them. You're being proactive and that's the right thing, Shame you have to do that but this is where the NHS is these days, it seems.

You've already had good advice, again, so I will only add the following link to finding the PALS (Patient Advice & Liaison Service) local to you. If you don't get any further with your GP surgery you can approach PALS. I've had to do that in the past year and it was helpful:

nhs.uk/service-search/other...

Good luck and yes, keep up the desk banging!

[kitchengardener2 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, that might give more power to my bow. I so appreciate all the advice here.

[Hidden]

Hi there kitchengardener2,

I was sorry to read your post but not surprised given the state of political destruction of the modern NHS.

I had a similar experience back in the day 2017 through to July 2018. (long before CoVid) It concerned a diagnosed cataract and for its surgical removal et al. Bear in mind it was not just the loss of vision but the fact that as I'm over 70 I have to have an annual medical in order to retain my bus drivers licence ..... my annual medical was approaching and my deteriorating eyesight was becoming an issue. I had made a number of approaches to my local NHS and was repeatedly assurred that my surgery was being planned but they couldn't give me a date.

I wrote to my local MP in his Westminster office and sent a two A4 page formal complaint about the NHS in general and my local NHS here in the pointy end of Cornwall which also included a range of allegations.

Sorted !

I eventually had my surgery in July 2018.

So, it took from diagnosis to surgery a total of 9 months. Point is that it took my MP to sort it. As our friends in USA often say ........ it is often necessary to "Kick Ass", something in Britain we are supposedly too polite to do. Hmmmm !

May the force be with you.

John