Hi allHad a text from GP Surgery last week,asking me to supply height and weight so that they ' can adjust my medication if necessary' Ignored it.
Got another on Monday,' your blood test for anticoagulation monitoring is overdue,book ( or else!)
This was from someone Id never heard of ,styling herself Clinical Scientist.
Called surgery and said
'Im confused here. My AC ,unlike Warfarin,does not get adjusted or tinkered with. Its impossible to unless I reach the magic age of 75 and miraculously become underweight.
NHS site on ACs recommends regular conversations about regularity of taking ACs,and discussing any side effects. I do this at my Pharmacy,where all my meds are checked,and with my EP.
After the last time Surgery meddled with my meds,I was put back on my reduction of Fkecanide by 6 months. No one is to intervene except my EP or Cardio,explicitly said by him last appointment@
I hope this isnt a ruse to encourage me to go on Edoxaban,not happening.'
Hmm ,she said It does seem odd Ill get her to call you.
So rang back Weds to enquire.
Then the Clinical Scientist called on my mobile,clamped to my ear all morning,just as I set it down to answer house phone! Damnation! Missed it. Ansafone telling me in very loud and clear tones as if simple,
'Mrs Wilson ,when you are on AP-IX-A-BAN, you need regular tests to see if you are H E A L T H Y on it and if we need to adjust it. The form is ready for you to pick up.
Rang back,asked for call back to discuss.
So far...nothing
At GPs Monday face to face( showing off now lol!) Will discuss then with him and the Scientist of available.
BTW had liver,kidney etc blood tests done 10 months ago.
Get them every year,as part of general Well Woman routine.
I know others have had similar experiences so thought Id share!
Have a great weekend all
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wilsond
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I rang back few minutes ago to see if I can still expect a call back.Elvis has left the building!
So had a chat with nice receptionist( yes really) told her to put a note to her saying I do not require a test and do not want any further texts. I will be discussing this on Monday with GP.
Hmmm!
l know you have touched on it but it is important to have regular 6/12 month (depending on age) blood tests to check kidney function. From what we are hearing, many surgeries are pushing patients to change to Edoxaban but it’s not being done subtly!
I can't really help you with this one. I think it's important to have clear communication with your doctor on Monday about what you expect and what you are comfortable with. Make sure you are on the same page.
Good luck and let us know how you get on. Have a great weekend.
Sharp intake of breath. It does make you wonder how a slightly confused older person would deal with this sort of thing - goodness knows I am becoming one and don't hear well on the phone - especially mobile. This could cause some havoc with their medication don't you think? I am trying to hear the conversation that would ensue with my elderly Aunt with this type of person and then the phone call I would have had afterwards with my Aunt and then the Doctors surgery to try and find out exactly what had happened - my head's exploding now just thinking about it.
I am so thankful I haven't had this problem with my surgery. Infact this surgery hardly ever does medication reviews where as our old pharmacist used to do this regularly for us as he would check the prescription and say you're due a review would you like to come into the back room and do that now. Brilliant - no waiting to see a doctor or medication being refused because you hadn't had a review. I do ask for a review with my current pharmacist but we don't seem to get reminders. Maybe if I went back to using our online prescription requests they would come up there but that was suspended over Covid so only used a few times and it is so much easier to ring the pharmacy discuss what is needed that month and get it within 2 days - with the online requests you had to wait 4 days.
My surgery has a Clinical Pharamacist who monitors my Apixaban dosage once a year, including checking my weight and BP. I suspect this may be the same role?
My surgery has a Pharmacist too! But not termed Clinical!! I was on Apixaban for four years without this Pharmacist review from the surgery as at that time the post did not exist !!
I managed myself and asked for the relevant blood tests and asked advice from the Pharmacist in the Pharmacy where I collect my prescriptions. I can’t help but think that this post of ‘Clinical Pharmacist’ is an unnecessary drain on NHS resources!
Definitely sounds like it'll be a discussion around Edoxaban.
I suppose at least they have contacted you about it; the Clinical Pharmacist in my surgery changed me to Edoxaban; then wrote me a letter telling me they had done it! Grr!
Anyway, I rang my GP the following day, told her I wouldn't change my Anticoagulant, gave her my reason why, and she changed me back again.
Good woman! Ive got the bit between my teeth this week! 3 things,this,bank issue,and son has had no heating or shower for 6 weeks. Council,2 adults,3 teenagers and 6 month old baby. Proposed date to sort it,March 19th. Also black mould due to no extractor fan.MP has been informed in no uncertain terms.
I have digestive problems,and Edoxoban seems prone to provoking these I have. IBS.Enough said! Also there is no reversal agent yet.Im also a cantankerous woman,who prefers people to be up front,not inveigle me with 'invitations' .
If it was for a medical reason I might( might with a full discussion with my EP and Cardiologist of many years of support ) certainly not with a 'clinical Scientist' who I have never had any dealings with in reference to my cardio care.
Its clearly cost related,so no stroll on by please.
I’d tried posting the link in my original post but it appeared to be automatically deleted from the post…. so I presumed posting of links wasn’t allowed on this forum. Maybe I was citing the link incorrectly….
Hi Wilson remember you have AF and must stay calm at all times ....now chant after me, I must stay calm 😜
Blessed phones ! I waited 9 months for a clinic appointment to discuss my worsening AF and had a letter to say it would be a telephone appointment.
I rushed out and bought a second hand Iphone to take the call so I could use ' Wifi Calling' because the mobile signal is poor here and the old phone didn't have it .
I sat with the new new phone by my side not realising this wonderous piece of tech was on 'silent'so didn't ring when the nurse called early and I missed the call.
I could't ring back ,the number was not available, I rang my GP surgery and was beside myself when told I would have to apply for a clinic appointment all over again so would go back down the list .
I sorted through old letters and found a phone a number for the EPs receptionist and rang while in AF and tears saying I would probably be dead if I had to go back down the appointment list to speak to a nurse . But good result, I got a face to face clinic appointment 3 weeks later and am now on first name terms with the arrhythmia nurse who has done a follow up call and accepts Kardia readings. Phew !!!!!
I hope you get all various problems sorted very soon ....
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remember you have AF and must stay calm at all times ....now chant after me, I must stay calm 😜
Discussing NOAC/Warfarin question.
Appointment to discuss Ablation Procedure 
Minimally invasive Surgical Ablation carried out in UK, preparing for surgery 
