I reside in the UK and was diagnosed with Afib in early October and had a mild heart attack, in hospital for five days and given flecainide (50mg twice daily), apixaban (5mg twice daily), statins (40mg once daily) Losartan 5mg (once daily). I have always been intolerant to a lot of medication and vaccinations and am finding either flecainide or apixaban is making me very light headed and feeling unwell most of the time which is playing havoc with my social life!! It's virtually impossible to get a doctor's appointment, face to face, in UK and I think many doctors think I am inventing all these issues. Would going down the Ablation route be an answer to my issues? Although I think I would have to go privately as not been offered on the NHS. Any help would be appreciated.
Maglyn: I reside in the UK and was... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Maglyn
Hi,
I do not have an AF issue these days but I do have significant pain issues and I endorse your comments about face to face meetings with my GP ... I'm at the pointy end of Cornwall. All I get from my GP is to be kicked down the chain of command to Surgery Physio level, sometimes to Surgery Pharmacist level. My issues are left shoulder possibly Rotator Cuff, certainly osteoarthritis of shoulder bone(s) .... I cannot put on a shirt, or put on a jacket, no matter how light weight without help. Puts AF into the shade TBH.
Since I cannot work at the moment I'm dedicating some of my idle time to putting a letter of complaint (fully supported by back up material) together for my MP and the Care Quality Commission notifying them of the failures of my Surgery in my treatment for pain relief, in particular prescribing pain relief which have given me unwelcome bowel issues.
I have now elected to go private for my shoulder Ultrasound which GP wanted done and am still waiting for dates. Yes, I agree with you it is now standard practice for a GP to conclude the patient is imagining things/ inventing things.
I wish you well in your AF journey and hope you have as much success as I've had.
Many thanks Ben. I totally understand your dilemma. I think many of us are in the same boat. I'm so reluctant to go private as I so believe in the NHS, but unfortunately this Government is pushing us down that road. Good luck with your issues and once again, many thanks for responding s quickly.
I take both flecainide and apixaban amongst other meds like bisoprolol etc and I did keep going lightheaded dizzy faint but it was because my heart rate kept going so low (38-43) also although I do drink a fair amount of water I was also dehydrated
Eventually I had a pacemaker snd all that disappeared I’m not saying you need that but I would check your heart rate first thing in the morning
You say you have this feeling in the morning when you take the flecainide and apixaban, but what about when you take your evening dose, does it happen then?
I hope you feel better soon
Pat
Hi Maglyn,
I’m sorry to hear about all your issues you’re experiencing, especially now with the meds. The person who would be able to offer you an ablation ( if you’re eligible), would be an electrophysiologist.
Are you under either a cardiologist, or an electrophysiologist for your Afib? If not, you could request a private consultation with an EP ( as would be quicker) if you are eligible, they can place you on NHS waiting list. A consultation would be in the region of about £250. There are quite a few of us on this forum, who have resorted to this.
Hello Teresa
Many thanks for your help and was thinking about a private consultation, although I hate that route as I've mentioned above, I think the NHS has been so neglected, financially. It shouldn't be a political pawn. I do have a cardiologist but my appointment isn't until March on the NHS. Your advice is extremely helpful. This a great forum, if just psychologically, it's good to discuss issues and get alternative opinions. Thank you again
Hi Maglyn,
I do understand how you feel about the NHS, but ultimately, you can’t rely on them anymore for your health and sometimes we have to take matters into our own hands unfortunately, to get things done sadly. Do you already have an actual date? I don’t want to be negative but I was told in the Spring of ‘22 I would be seeing a cardiologist later that year, in October & even after chasing, my appointment finally came through for this past December 😳
A cardiologist won’t offer you an ablation, if that’s the Avenue you would want to go down. They will check your heart and help manage your symptoms. An EP is more specific to why it’s happening and they are the ones who carry out ablations.
I did have a private consultation myself and although initially I wasn’t offered an ablation, I was put on their NHS books and had another appointment with a different EP a year later, who did offer me one, even though I have Afib once a year. I’ve decided to go for it personally, as the anxiety of Afib, is what affects me more than anything and the intrusion in my life.
It appears that the NHS now seems to want to act on ablations as soon as possible ( if you see the right person 😊) in the AF journey, rather than wait and this change in direction seems to have happened these past few months . Depending on how your cardiology area works, you might not ever get to see an EP otherwise. I thought I’d better mention the private route for a consultation as your best chance , as you did mention the ablation route as a possibility. You may be waiting forever otherwise unfortunately.
I wish you all the best, whatever you decide.
I have taken your advice and enquired about a private consultation with an electrophysiologist. See what happens. When I say I'm reluctant to go down the private route, it doesn't mean I won't. I'm just so very angry that we have to resort to this and there are so many people who simply cannot afford it. If we all started going down the private route, the waiting lists would be just as long. I do know that private hospitals do not have the medical equipment to deal with emergencies and the patient has to be sent to an NHS hospital. My nephew works in an A&E department and has said private hospitals wouldn't be able to take the load off the NHS if we all used them. Sorry to rant, but I'm a great proponent of the NHS and would hate to see it disintegrate to a level that none of us could use it. I have friends who live in Switzerland and recently one of them had a melanoma removed which cost her over £50,000! Luckily, she has an international organisation insurance which paid the lot! Very few people in this country could afford that treatment.
I totally agree with you…it’s sad that we have to resort to this and you are quite right. My husband had to pay for a private op this year ( we are still paying for it actually, interest free credit). He really needed the op and was suffering but he’d still be waiting for it now, on the NHS. The cost of that melanoma is eye watering 😳
Good luck though…and if you do get offered an ablation, don’t forget they can put you on the NHS waiting list.
I'm surprised to read that as, in the UK, in my experience, a cardiologist will certainly offer an ablation, if that is safe and appropriate to the individual. If he is unable to do it through lack of EP training, then he will recommend a colleague within the same NHS team (even if done privately).
Is your experience different?
Steve
Hi Steve,
Yes - they don’t offer them and are overly cautious. I’ve seen the same cardiologist twice and they changed the subject whenever I mentioned it. I think different hospitals obviously have conflicting opinions, wherever we are in the U.K. The recent EP I spoke to had a totally different view. I’ve read many posts on here too, who always say to visit an EP for a specialist view.
In Maglyn’s case, if she does get a private consultation with an EP at least she’ll get seen quicker and will have longer to ask questions, whatever the outcome.
I'm surprised as all major cardiology hospitals have a team with one or more EPs within it and no competition between them. I would press a cardio for his or her reasons if an ablation was dismissed as there can be very good reasons not to have one. I worry that one potential problem with the private system is that it is less likely to be conservative and even to offer treatment that might not be needed.
Steve
I’ve since been offered one Steve, by an EP…under the NHS. Many EPs also work for the NHS, but yes, I see your point.
An "EP" is, essentially, still very much a cardiologist, but one who has trained for, I think a minimum of six months, to learn how to perform catheter ablations. I believe each major teaching hospital has a cardiac team and many of those have one or more cardiologists trained in electrophysiology.
Steve
Thanks Steve. Yes I do understand. At my local hospital, where I was initially sent for cardiology, they don’t perform ablations there. They would have to refer a person if they felt they needed an ablation, which no doubt they must do, but I can imagine it’s not quick, or easy. I am under two hospitals for my heart now and under a cardiothoracic unit EP for the ablation, which is under another hospital also local to me, because I went private for a consultation.
I suggested Maglyn see an EP as she’s already seen a Cardiologist and she hasn’t been offered an ablation. She mentioned possibly having an ablation privately, which ideally she doesn’t need to do, if she can try and see an EP, for a private consultation and get a different perspective and speed things up, if necessary.
Anyway Steve, I’m sure we could talk about this all day . Maglyn will get a different perspective when she goes for her appointment and a longer period of time to ask pertinent questions, whatever the outcome. Her EP now also works for the NHS and I’m sure they won’t offer her an ablation unless they think it’s necessary.
I'd never heard of an EP before joining here! It's so useful hearing everyone's experiences and being able to use some of the advice. Thanks to everyone!
To my knowledge, in the UK and Europe, an "EP" would likely call himself a "cardiologist", which is, after all their primary speciality. Mine did and another I know does. The term is more a US one where their private healthcare system has seen EPs flourish like nowhere else.
There is an idea that comes from the USA that a cardiologist specialises in the "plumbing" whereas an EP knows all about the "electrics". Not so. Both specialise in and see many patients with an arrhythmia and always have.
Steve
Thanks a lot for the explanation. I have noticed that the consultant I will be seeing has electrophysiology/cardiology but some of the others just say "cardiologist". Interesting
Hi Teresa. I have taken your advice and emailed a private hospital for a consultation with an EP and had a phone call this morning to say that he would see me. Ironically, it's the same EP a friend of mine is seeing on the NHS! I don't really care, as long as I can get something moving. Many thanks again for your help.
Hi Maglyn,
That’s good news! Yes, they do have double lives it seems and flit between the NHS and Private.
I’d recommend taking along some notes of everything you want to ask too, so you can get your money’s worth 😊
Note your history too - though they should be able to pick that all up on their screen .
Good luck!
Thanks Teresa. Yes, I've come to realise that typing up all my notes is the best way forward and have done that with most A&E, specialist and dr's visits. As an ex secretary, easy typing! Also, as you say, don't want to take up valuable time and also at my age I easily forget to include something. You've been so helpful and so glad I found this forum! Maglyn
I think that must vary because the cardiologist I saw definitely discussed ablation as being one of the options.
Hi, yes, they may mention ablations as options generally,but in my experience, cardiologists don’t perform them, not at my hospital, so cannot offer them personally, so they’d refer if they wanted to ( which delays it further) . I think all trusts are different.
I suggested Maglyn see an EP as she’s already seen a Cardiologist and she hasn’t been offered an ablation. She mentioned possibly having an ablation privately, which ideally she doesn’t need to do, if she can try and see an EP, for a private consultation and get a different perspective and speed things up, if necessary.
If your GP is refusing to get advice from the cardiologist I would phone the cardio secretary. It may not even be necessary to see him immediately; he could advise your GP by email about a change of medication. I had terrible problems with ticagrelor and my GP didn't want to change it until I'd seen cardio again. The cardio secretary was most helpful.
I've had amazing care and treatment from the Cardiac Rehabilitation team, can't fault them but they're not doctors and can only advise my GP which sometimes works. They keep advising me to make an appointment but it's difficult to criticise another medic within the profession! Many thanks for you help
Hi Maglyn
I have heard of apixaban making some people feel light headed and then sometimes having the dose reduced if of a lighter than average weight. Also do you have a machine to check your blood pressure, as a low one can cause that feeling too? I'm afraid I know nothing about Losartan or statins.
Were you started on all those pills at the same time?
Jean
Hi Jean
Many thanks for your reply. I was started on all of them in the hospital at the same time. Also had a UTI at the same time, which I experience often, so was also on antibiotics which I also react to! I do have a BP machine and check my BP regularly which is not low but usually OK but sometimes higher than it should be hence the higher dose of Losartan. I was on Ramipril initially, but that gave me diarrhoea. Oh, the "joys" of medical side effects. Sometimes worse than the actual problem! Maglyn
I agree with you on your last sentence. I would have hated starting so many pills all at one time. What a shock that must have been for your poor body!
When I had my first attack 18 years ago and went to hospital, they offered me beta blocker pills (Metoprolol) to take every day (I knew nothing about AF then). I was absolutely stunned and refused saying I may never have another episode. They then agreed I could take them as a pill in the pocket (as needed should another AF attack occur).
It's so bewildering when you are first told that your heart is not beating correctly.
Let us know how you get on please.
Jean
Hello Jean. Many thanks for your understanding and I will let you know how I progress. I've enquired about a private consultation for ablation to see if I might go down that route or at least discuss it with an electrophysiologist. Maglyn
Ablation will not remove the need for anticoagulation (the apixaban) and you may well still ned some of those drugs. The losartan is for blood pressure and to make life easier for your heart . The statin is just a tick box excercise. I do find it odd that if you did have a heart attack you are on flecainide which requires a structurally sound heart before prescribing. If appropriate it is an anti arrhythmic drug which hopes to keep you in normal rhythm (NSR).
All that said you must understand that AF can make you feel the way you describe in any case so don't be too keen to blame medication.
Thanks Bob. I think I was borderline with the heart attack as my protein levels were only slightly raised but because I had a BP of 209/106 I think medical staff at A&E put me down as having one. The angiogram only revealed mild plaquing to the coronary artery so no stents whereas when my husband had a heart attack his protein levels were sky high and he had to have a stent fitted as one of his arteries was blocked. I know of about three people who have had an ablation and are only on a couple of the medications. I suppose I can only ask the question. Once again, so many thanks for your suggestions.
OK so the angiogram cleared you for flecainide then. Severe AF has been known to cause raised BNP so that would account for it rather than an MI.
I would blame the losartan - Candesartan when no longer needed caused light headedness, dizziness, blurred vision and headache etc. I thought I had a brain tumour! but stopping BP meds stopped all the symptoms.
PS I don’t have a problem getting a FTF GP appointment but it has to be for a new symptom or very much worsening condition. I’ve had one for a badly infected ankle wound and chest discomfort with extreme breathlessness.
Hi Buffafly. Many thanks for your reply. I'm not so sure it's the losartan, as I only feel light headed when I take the flecainide and apixaban in the morning. I take Losartan in the evening so maybe when I'm asleep I don't notice. It's so difficult isolating the culprit when taking so many drugs. In our GP practice we have an "assigned" GP who knows my history but I can never get an appointment with her. I can occasionally get a telephone appointment with another doctor, but he/she doesn't know my history and it takes almost all the appointment to explain everything! Added to which I have had cancer and the radiotherapy is causing many UTIs whereby I've had to resort to A&E on more than one occasion. I have resorted twice to writing her a letter and one GP when telephoned suggested the same. I asked if that would get me an appointment and he said "no". Dreadful in the South East. Maglyn
I am so so sorry Maglyn. You shouldn't have to work all this out for yourself. Your GP has a duty of care. When you were discharged from hospital it became shared care. It's ridiculous you are not being seen and followed up at all - so bad. Having said that I'm in the same boat and and yesterday I asked for a meeting with the Practise Manager. Following heart surgery there hasn't been shared care at all and I have been left to filling in their online forms and being told I'm too complex. They only do simple! No one has been following up my care, nothing. Like you.
So you have all my sympathy.
You could try ringing your hospital cardiology Dept and telling them your symptoms and ask if they can bring your app forward. That way you might even get a date!! Shocking and I know scary.
Private practise is booming. Can't think why!!
Technically an automated BP device doesn't work with Afib well. I was told this by my GP and cardiologist back in the day when you saw a doctor. They have to use a hand one. So when you are in Afib the automated ones don't give a reliable reading. That's what I was told.
The other possibility is to consult your pharmacist re whether your meds are causing the symptoms. Worth a try. The pharmacist was great with my post op meds and accessible!!
I have no problems getting a face to face doctor's appointment at my local medical centre, usually on the same day I request it, the last time 3 weeks ago.
Your problem could be an interaction with any medication you have for another condition / illness. I've never taken Apixaban, but another of the new antibiotics (Rivaoxaban) caused great problems. I prefer Warfarin as an anticoagulant, having my own INR meter. I took 300mg of Flecainide daily for 10 years without any side effects.
Hello Thomas. Many thanks for your response. I'm actually not taking any other medication except the ones for AF. I suppose various health authorities and medics have different ideas of prescription drugs for AF. I have always reacted to any medication and many doctors simply don't believe me but my mother was the same! I'm glad you don't have a problem with face to face consultations. My surgery cannot use the excuse that everywhere in the country has the same issue as I have various friends and family like you, who can get appointments. I have already complained to the surgery about one issue, and had a profuse apology, and if this continues, there will be another complaint and if things don't change, will have to report the surgery to a higher authority. My GP only works 2 days a week and does private work elsewhere, which is what a lot of GPs do, sadly.
Hi again Maglyn
Have they said you’ve got to be on Losartan long term? I take Bisoprolol only at the moment for my afib, but you seem to have given quite a cocktail, along with a statin too. Perhaps it’s because they suspected you had a mild heart attack which caused your BP to rise at that time? Did they advise why you were given a statin at the same time? (I’m not medically trained, just curious).
There is a system called a CHADs vasc score, which all of us Afibbers get measured against and it looks at comirbidities, age, sex etc and we get scored against that, to determine if we need an anticoagulant. Do you know what your score is? I’m a 1, for example based on the fact I’m a female. I rise to a 2 when I’m 65. At that point I’m told I’ll need an anticoagulant. Other points are variable depending on any other issues you have which could possibly influence the likelihood of a possible stroke, if in Afib.
It might be worth asking about that too?
Hi Teresa. I'm 76 so probably the reason I have such a cocktail of drugs. I have been on bisoprolol for over 25 years as experienced palpitations many years ago, but not diagnosed with Afib but told to take one when necessary. I now take one every day. I have a family history of heart attacks and strokes also. Had no idea about CHADS so thanks for that, Will put that on my "question list". One GP in my practice (whom I detest!) prior to hospitalisation, told me that because of my age and sex (rather patronisingly), I had to be on thinners and he couldn't do anything about palpitations and told me it was anxiety, having had them 24 hours for a couple of weeks!! A couple of days later I was in hospital for 5 days with high BP and pulse rate. I was put on statins 10 mg prior to Afib as my cholesterol was a little high but now they've put me on 40mg! It's so difficult to know what to say to the medical profession as they obviously know more about it than us but I sometimes wonder when there are so many conflicting views!! Maglyn
Hi Maglyn,
I do wonder how many women get told we’re suffering from anxiety from just about anything we’re experiencing? It’s so frustrating. I’m sorry to hear about what’s been happening over the years with everything. I started having Afib in 2005 at age 39 but was unaware what they were and lived in blissful ignorance for many years until my diagnosis. If only I could go back to that.
Might be worth asking why they’ve increased your statin dose though, but they must have their reasons….
Good luck with everything. Do let us all know how you get on.
GPs are notoriously ignorant about AF. However he must have known you had AF otherwise he wouldn’t have put you on an anticoagulant. Maybe he didn’t realise you can actually feel AF because many older people are diagnosed without noticing the AF.
You're right he did know I had AF but it was the flippant way he dealt with it when he said rather patronisingly that it's common for a woman of my age and then proceeded to advise me that there was nothing he could do about the horrendous palpitations, which I have since realised, there is. Many thanks for your help, so much appreciated Maglyn
Good luck Maglyn. I felt the same as you having to go private for a consultation. I hate how the government is increasingly knocking the system backwards towards a two tier system. But even if there was no wait to see an EP cardiologist on the NHS we’d only get a ten minute appointment and I had too many questions and I wanted to discuss all the options. I also knew I wanted to go for an ablation - a route considered out of the question by my GP. No fault of the GP, AF is just a rapidly changing branch of medicine and my low level persistent AF would have just been treated with meds in the past.
I had to wait for an ablation - you don’t skip any waiting lists with a private consultation but at least I got on the list quicker. And I developed a great working relationship with the consultant who did the ablation as well ( he works across both private and NHS like most EPs.)
Now I’m back in NSR I don’t take any meds except Apixaban.
So pleased for you Rainfern. I appreciate I wouldn't get an ablation any quicker and wouldn't want to bump someone off the list either. I suspect it could also be about finances as medication is cheaper than Ablation. It seems to be very different on the continent, especially in France. They seem to go down that route almost automatically. Sounds wonderful that you only take Apixaban and so pleased for you. Long may you continue feeling well. Many thanks again for your input.
so sorry. In the few last few years the best protocol for newly diagnosed AF has changed from management in primary care to rapid addressing by an EP and consideration of rhythm control through meds and or ablation. Write to your GPs practice manager copied to your GP saying you need to check that you have been referred to an EP consultant cardiologist (not a generalist), that you would like a review face to face with your GP or practice pharmacist. Insist. Follow up.
I have no problem getting a face to face appointment with my GP but my practice says they are demoralised by the Government, because the hospitals are full and stretched and the strikes delay treatments GPs are left holding the patients.
Good luck!
Jane you are so lucky if you have no probs getting a GP ftf app. I can't get one even when a GP in my own practise says I need one!! Seems to be the case for all my local.practise too. I've looked. Tbh it feels like zero care. I've had enough.All is blamed on the junior doctors striking but they are not the cause of this at all. In my area it feels like the NHS service has collapsed.
I know what you mean. I was told by one doctor's telephone consultation to write a letter to my assigned GP but that still wouldn't get me an appointment. As you so rightly say, it's nothing to do with the junior doctors in fact any of the health workers. I have found all NHS staff absolutely brilliant except in my local surgery and everyone locally complains about it. I will eventually report them to a higher authority if it continues.
I haven't taken flecainide for over 15 years but when I did take it (before I developed an allergy to it) I'm pretty sure I was light headed.Never had any problem with anti coagulation.
Thankfully I'm not taking anything now as I am in normal sinus rhythm. First time in 20 years!!
Had 3 ablations in 2022. It was quite an ordeal but well worth it for the outcome.
Hope that private consult goes well for you (I would have recommended the same had I been quicker off the mark). Hope it feels useful enough that you can consider it as an investment in your health and a step towards further treatment. Good luck!
Many thanks for your advice and info. Although I'm not financially in a good position, I think this will be money well spent. I don't have much of a life at the moment and my poor husband is suffering too as we used to do so much together. So many thanks for your good wishes and long may your good health continue!
I am like you and unable to tolerate a lot of medication. I could not tolerate flflecainideTT
I had persistent AF and my cardiologist decided that the only solution was an urgent ablation which I had on the NHS in October 2022. I only had to wait 10 weeks, I live in Norfolk. Most of my contact was directly with the EP secretary and was after a visit to A&E. I do also find that any of the anticoagulants make me slightly light headed but I have been told that I must take them.
It's actually making my life miserable with all these meds and I've had that all my life, and vaccinations but eventually the medical profession mark you as an hysterical woman, especially when I'm 76! It's really hopeless. I'm hoping the private consultation might be a little better. So glad your issues were resolved, very pleased for you. Long may it continue!
Hi, do you have a blood pressure machine at home so that you can check what your heart rate and blood pressure levels are when you feel lightheaded?
I used a Kardia device to show that my heart rate was only 32bpm and making me feel terrible, also too many blood pressure meds made me feel lightheaded so I stopped one of them as blood pressure was going too low.
Just a quick response from my experience- it's perhaps theFlecainide that's making you feel light headed. Although with me that stopped agter a couple of weeks. But when you take a lot of meds, there's always more possibilities for side effects. Apixiban never made me feel light headed though.
Hope you find a good solution- it takes time to find a regime that suits your needs so don't give up.
I think you may be right, but flecainide seems to stop my horrendous palpitations. Swings and roundabouts. Possibly and alternative, I'm not sure, but when I'm taking so many pills, difficult to know which one is causing the problem. Thanks again for your input
I think you're right, it could well be the flecainide but that's what is controlling my horrendous palpitations. There are possibly alternatives but am loathe to keep changing meds as it could get worse. As you say, so difficult to pinpoint the culprit with so many pills!
I hear you. And Flecainide is a very effective anti arrhythmic. Maybe discuss with your EP aor cardiologist and explore which meds might be changes that are still compatible with the Flecainide. I had problems with the Diltiazem I took to partner the Flecainide- if I ever have time go back on the Flecainide I'd be seeking an alternative partner.
I was told I must not take flecanide as I had had a heart attack. Perhaps it’s worth querying that prescription?
I seem to be borderline heart attack and am not sure if I actually had one. The cardiac rehab nurse said that an AF attack can mimic a heart attack but not all the doctors referred to one so am wondering. I will ask the question when I visit the EP shortly. Thanks for your input, very helpful
Hi
I have AF and had a HA 2 years ago- AF clearly can be an issue and I had very similar experience - not offered any rate control drugs just Apixaban (this was before HA) and GP practice just did not understand symptomatic AFib and how it can destroy QOL. I made a private appt with a Cardiologist (EP) - £250, got properly diagnosed (AFib and Flutter) due to stacks of readings I took on a Kardia I bought (£120), was told that couldn’t have flecanide due to HA and got onto an ablation waiting list - took 9 months but had ablation in December- early days yet and battling through some expected side effects of Op until inflammation goes /scar tissue forms. NHS is incredible but there are problems so guess what I’m saying is you do most definitely need to battle your case. I know lots of people do well on flecanide but if it’s not for you for whatever reason there are other options - very best of luck!!
Ablation is offered on the NHS, I had mine in May.
Your need to contact your cardiologist, which I presume you were under when you were in hospital. Also see if you have any specialist arrhythmia nurses at your hospital or regional cardiac centre and give them a ring explaining your fears.
Now Cardiology...general cardiologists treat Afib often as a secondary issue, but Electrophysiologists ( Cardiologists with specialist training in the hearts electrical system ) treat it as a distinct disease entity. They also perform ablations.
I presume you have a GP, so get hold of them and don't take no for an answer, they have a duty of care. Express your concerns and ask to see an EP...If your condition requires an Ablation you should be listed for one and not need to think about it privately, but that is a medical decision.
If they advise you to have one and you wish to go privately you are looking at about £17,000 in the UK...Hope all goes well
Many thanks for your help. I have tried with my GP but it's virtually impossible to get past the receptionists! I have written two letters to my "assigned" GP and didn't get anywhere. However, when I made a complaint to the practice manager I did get a response and profuse apology, but sadly nothing has changed. I am considering complaining about the functioning of our surgery to a higher authority as feel they are not performing a proper duty of care and many others in the area have the same opinion. Many of the GPs only work a couple of days a week and spend the rest of the time in the private sector
Yes, you can find your local Clinical Commissioning Group and make a direct complaint. Likewise your local hospital PALS service may advise you, but its mainly their remit to limit any damage from hospital complaints!!!
Many thanks for your advice and suggestions. I don't have any complaints about the hospital treatment I've had, it's been absolutely superb and the staff are wonderful. It's solely the GP practice and very little community care. Almost impossible to get a face to face doctor's appointment and our surgery is basically run by nurses and clinicians. Cannot even make a GP appointment online. The only appointments I can make online are blood tests.
Hi,Although I am a retired Pharmacist this must be only my personal opinion having been in a similar position 9 months ago, covid vaccine..... result..Aortic valve replacement and major repair to Mitral. Left me with AF and A flutter. Ablation in August.... failed.
I was having nausea lightheadedness and massive visual disturbance after being put on Flecainide.... a loss of sight for short periods in my left eye. I decided to stop Flecainide.... symptoms went, re-challenged with Flecainide....symptoms returned. I have now abandoned Flecainide and my HR has reduced considerably and I feel much better. Still on apixaban 5mg hope this helps
Many thanks. Will discuss this situation with the cardiologist when I get my appointment. Glad you've been sorted out. I did read that research is being carried out with a suspected connection between Covid and AF. I have had Covid twice in the last couple of years and have been very poorly on both occasions. Possibly a connection?
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