This morning I had my cardiology appointment re my development of Left Bundle Branch Block. After the usual procedure - ECG, height, weight, BP, oxygen - I was called in to see the cardiologist, who, I have to say, I didn’t take to. I realise it’s sheer old fashioned prejudice but in a situation that’s important to me I don’t feel impressed by someone who slouches with their ankle resting on their knee. However, it went like this: not sure what the urgency was for the appointment, nothing to worry about, slightly slow conduction, probably a progression of my heart’s wearing out electrics, wouldn’t need a pacemaker or anything like that for about 10 to 15 years, haha, (I’m 79), you’re ok with your AF (what? presumably because I’m not begging for an ablation?). At which point I think he may have gathered from my slightly frosty stare (hadn’t worked up to the death stare) that the patter reserved for old ladies wasn’t going down very well. He finished by saying that as I hadn’t had an echo for some time he would book me for that to see whether the structure of my heart has changed. I replied that I was pleased about that because I sometimes had days where I felt breathless and really didn’t feel I could do anything, which he suggested was the AF, to which I replied that I didn’t think so unless I was having episodes during the night. He did say in passing that Flecainide could cause it but ‘we haven’t given you Flecainide’ (never had a clear explanation of why not). Don’t worry, goodbye.
Not exactly a car crash but not very satisfactory either because I didn’t really have an opportunity to express what I actually am worried about. I got in the episodes of exhaustion but not the odd ‘funny turn’ where I get the feeling that someone briefly switched the lights out, though I guess only a very long monitor would catch those.
Thanks to those who took an interest, I’ll post a further update if the echo turns up anything interesting.
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Buffafly
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I feel your pain re older person's 'pat on the head'. I had a GP who thought he was always right but in his favour he did listen carefully.Last time I saw my cardiologist he apologised profusely for wearing trainers as he'd had a achilles tendon surgery.
Sorry not more satisfactory. I was discharged Feb 23 as made the rookie mistake of saying I felt better than at last visit ( which wasn't difficult) like you felt a lot left unsaid.
Pleased you are getting an echo to help decision making.
As a fellow 79 year old I understand how you feel ! It would make my blood boil to be patronised in that fashion. Most of the cardiologists I've encountered have been quite charming. I have crossed swords with a couple of medics in my time though. .
It will be interesting to see what your Echo shows.
They do treat us old girls as morons don't they, and get a bit of a shock when we bite back! Give me the old fashioned consultants any time lol. So the echo is encouraging it will show the structure of the heart and with the breathlessness and other symptoms it is obvious that the heart isn't working efficiently so best to wait and see the outcome of that. I know how difficult it is these days to get appointments to see a specialist but if you are still not happy then see if you can get a second opinion especially if you sense that this twit isn't really interested in you or your health, treats you just as another old woman with 'flutters' grrrrrrrr.
Well I'm glad it was nothing particularly sinister and that at least you get an echo done.I loved your description of your frosty stare, building up the death ray stare! Good for you,hate being patronised myself.
I tend to bullet point on a notepad and make them wait until I've ticked them off.
Just read your post - I'm interested because I had an irregular heartbeat some 3 years ago. The GP did an ECG which showed LBBB. I was told perfectly ok no treatment or follow up. So for the last 3 years I never gave it another thought! Until February this year....that's another story.
so I guess my point is that you have done well to get to see a cardiologist and have some tests done.
I quite agree that the doctor you saw was not very professional but could you try and let go of your frustration. It's great that you were not completely ignored.
Usually you get the tests done first before you see your specialist. Then they are discussed.
He has gone the wrong way so I say "hell what was that".
Talk this over with your GP. Take a list. Always take notes to say.
The best specialist was the private Heart specialist. His introduction of CCB Diltiazem was spot on and reduce 10mg Bisoprolol which wasn't controlling my heart rate further than 120 plus to 156 at rest. But 180mg 1/2 dose was too much. 120mg AM spot on so I have been taking this dose now for over 2 years and only 2.5 Bisoprolol PM for control of BP.
Once you have had the ECHO, ECG, 24hr monitor on your current meds you should movre further. Change your Specialist if not happy.
The female H/Specialist who wanted to catch up with again I refused. Instead another chinese h/specialist. They are very good.
The private cardiologist introduced me to 180mg first. I took 1st dose on Saturday. I monitored it carefully. It worked within 2 hours dropping down from 120-156 to 51.
A bit light headed and taking Bisoprolol, I reduced this med down to 5mg from 10mg to 7.5mg. I was in touch with our Healthline on Sunday and got to speak to the Dr there.
On Wednesday I spoke to NZ Heart Foundation nurse.
She arranged with the Specialist to change dose along with my GP clinician Locum to drop me down to 120mg slow release.
Dilitiszem 120mg AM and Bisoprolol 2.5mg PM.
His report said that I could take up to 360mg! Never been there! And have remained on the regime above for 2 years 6 months!
Diltiazem with me is a very powerful heart rate reducer.
Being lightheaded does not suit me as I drive too and the single lass.
Of Buff. Not good enough. Obviously you need to arm up the ‘death stare’.
Time for shock tactics. Now next time - go in with bright pink and orange hair, wearing tight leathers with studs and heavy Doc Martins and attitude. Sometimes we are just too well behaved. (Actually we have a lady in her mid-seventies in our village who does look like this and I can assure you NO_ONE does or would dare patronise her!)
Way back I remember posting about what to wear and not wear to hospital appointments and it went something like - bright colours to be seen - avoid anything and everything beige and NEVER wear a cardigan. People you don’t know make up their minds about you within 10 seconds of seeing you and treat you accordingly. I once sat in a hospital waiting room for several hours - waiting for my husband - and studied how different people were treated by staff. ‘Beige’ people were overlooked and even if they had been waiting way beyond they didn’t speak up. Professional business men paced in their business suits and made everyone feel uncomfortable and guess what, they were attended to a lot quicker.
‘Funny turns’ need investigation. OK good that you got some things ruled out and echo cardiogram results will hopefully be reassuring but you didn’t say what you went for and are most worried about - lead with that next time and make sure there is a next time soon.
🤣 You’re right - I wore a blouse (though it did have a leopard spot pattern) and a cardi to make it easy for the ecg. If there’s a next time I’ll wear my combat trousers with the camo pattern combined with the zebra stripe tshirt . I think I was thrown by his opening remarks. If it had been a ‘cardiology checkup’ I’d have gone with a tick list but if it’s apparently an emergency appointment from their side you expect them to have the checklist. Until I got the appointment I wasn’t worried, just b* fed up that my heart had developed another problem which was interfering with my life.
I’m just imagining you with bright pink and orange hair 😂🤣 think it might suit you?? Was this our local hospital? I still have never actually seen any of the cardiologists here…… Spoke to one on the phone a couple of times, back in Covid days, then got sent to Bristol, saw the EP there, then discharged back to the care of my GP. I’ve often wondered what our local man is lis like 🤔
There are a lot of ‘local men’. The one I saw is very highly rated so I think it was more a case of ‘crossed wires’ than anything else. I’ll pm you re coffee x
Leopard print should have hit the spot Buff!( why am I replying at 1.18am......have just had my endi epicardial ablation and don't know how to lie safely to sleep!)
Just thought - what? I don’t remember anything about this? But I’ve looked at your previous posts now. Did you have a sudden admission as your scheduled one was cancelled? Please do post an update x
You reminded me of a student I had decades ago. She had hair in a mad style, dyed every colour available, mainly light purple, outrageous clothes and personality to match. She was madly popular with the other students, representative on student council, etc. She told me before her 'makeover' she had mousy hair, mousy clothes and was painfully shy with very few friends. 'And now look at me'! I did admire her - no-one could have overlooked her.
I agree whole heartedly about the clothes bit! My hospital gear is selected ' appropriately!😁
Some years ,during one of my many admissions, i had a senior anaesthetist approach me as I was walking through the ward, put his arm around me to greet me (again) and tell me that i always looked lovely with my beautiful dressing gown ( satin) and hair. Probably couldn't say that nowadays but I'll take that anyhow !
Sadly so typical of the attitude of NHS consultants these days.My advice is that you practice the homicidal psychopath stare and use it to good effect!
I have LBBB and I am 75. Do you have a low heart rate which might be causing the funny spells? I now have a pacemaker that kicks in if my heart rate drops below 50bpm. As I understand it they often fit a 3 lead pacemaker to give CRT resynchronisation therapy for LBBB patients. They attempted 3 leads on me but could not get the third lead to attach.You probably have a long QRS interval on ecg which might be why you cannot take Flecanide.
I am not a medical expert on this stuff but it might help you formulate questions to ask when you next turn up with your purple hair do!
I still get AF episodes andI take sotalol, valsartan, warfarin and a couple of heart failure meds although I am asymptomatic. I am on the list for an ablation.
Very interesting! I do (according to my watch) have the occasional short spell of slow HR (below 50) and when in AF sometimes have long gaps followed by a few very speedy beats which average out as a reasonable rate of course. When I first noticed the Lbbb my Kardia was showing ’wide QRS’ but settled down now. Maybe that was the reason for the speedy referral - I’ll never know! If I find the ‘slow conduction’ is impacting too much on my life I’ll go for a private consultation, armed with a list ☺️
Bad luck. I have a suspicion that we leave those appointments never satisfied. I saw my cardiologist on Friday and even gave him a short typed list of my concerns but somehow he ignored them. I do have an MRI this week, so I guess the NHS got the appointments the wrong way round.
I think LBBB can be far more trouble than the internet suggests. Another person here posted usefully on it recently but I’ve lost the link. For me, when the so called “NSR” on my watch shows as wide peaks (i .e. when LBBB is happening) , it’s when I feel especially symptomatic. Early evenings have become a trial for me - no AF, “just” ectopic beats by the score.
It seems we’re both struggling at present. It’s such hard going! I wish you well.
If asked I am happy to be addressed by my first name but what really annoys me is people who promptly change it to the very slightly shorter, less formal version. That version was used by my close family and husband and I find that even when I slowly and deliberately use my full name it’s ignored. Very occasionally I get the sensitive person who asks which version I prefer.
Doctors , nurses etc would never dream of addressing a patient by their first name here in France. It would be considered the height of rudeness akin to saying "tu " rather than " vous " for " you". I find the familiarity in the NHS disrespectful to patients .
I hope you get some good and useful results Buffafly despite a gruelling appointment. There’s a lot of burn-out and people running on empty out there - but no excuses for falling back on patronising or dismissive attitudes.
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Advice regarding setting of expectations ahead of cardiology appointment would be appreciated.
Advice for cardiology appointment today
Long wait for appointment. 
Af 12 mth waiting list 😒
