Fed up

[Passes]

Well just got off phone from consultant secretary only to be told after 5 weeks later from seeing consultant that my referral for mri at st Thomas has not even been sent as well as there is at least a two month wait, in constant pain on left side off chest, just don’t know where to turn

[Burkey1816]

I do know how you feel so try to stay calm , I've had my mri & stress profusion scan at Liverpool Broadgreen about 5 weeks ago and due to go back to cardiologist on the 23Nov , as I cant trust anyone with my health anymore after being let down by 3 doctors and my GP , called my cardiologist Secretary to be told well what have you had done , who referred you there ive got nothing on record for this , for me to have to call Broadgreen who said my results have already been sent to cardiologist !! ... I know where your coming from and im the same as you waiting in the unknown ... I will be so annoyed if I go on the 23 with no results present .....

[Passes in reply to Burkey1816]

I have to have stress test as well, had heart attack & 2 stents fitted in May and haven’t felt well since and as you say so many mistakes that we have too take our own health in our hands, hope all goes well on the 23 rd

[Burkey1816 in reply to Passes]

Keep pushing your cardiologist , I was ready to pay for my a mri scan in the end , stay positive and take care best Wishes , Phil

[stevejb1810]

Oversights of this type are unfortunately all too common. Personally, I phone up to push things along just to make sure that things are moving. That’s not a lot of consolation to you however! Assuming you have the wherewithal, you could try jumping the system and paying for these tests privately (try asking your local NHS hospital how much it is to have it done privately).

[Passes in reply to stevejb1810]

Thanks Think I will do if it’s too long wait enough stress having the ht without having to keep chasing things up

[Steve_The_Tyke]

I know how you feel, after spending 2 weeks in hospital after HA and being told that I needed urgent treatment. Sent to Leeds GI for Angio only to be told that tubes were that bad couldn't get stents in, and that i needed Urgent by-pass surgery. Now waiting for MRI which I again will have to go to Leeds for apparently, before the Cardiologists at Barnsley then discuss with surgeons at Sheffield NGI decide on next steps.

Despite being told repeatedly that i needed urgent treatment and would be kept as an inpatient to ensure the processes were sped up, the surgeon from Sheffield overruled the Cardio team at Barnsley and sent me home without even seeing me, to continue as an Out patient, putting me onto a long waiting list for treatment.

[Passes in reply to Steve_The_Tyke]

Hi this is not only annoying but leaves you feeling worried, I am the type off person that don’t like to pester them but I now know that there is mistakes that I have to look after my own health, think that you too perhaps have to question their decision

[Steve_The_Tyke in reply to Passes]

Yes I'm that person too, need to learn to question more, I got really angry when they told me I was being sent home, I accused them of writing me off and sending me home where i could become lost in statistics.

In the 2 weeks i was in hospital i didn't see the same consultant twice, and one of them was so up on me that he had to ask me what the scars on my chest were, he couldn't even be bothered to check my notes to see that I had a mastectomy 20 years ago.

[Hidden in reply to Steve_The_Tyke]

So..I'm curious if you wouldn't mind me saying so? Which area are you based in? You seem to be sent all over the place. That must be so confusing.

Personally, I suggest you make a formal complaint. Sounds like a catalogue of "uselessness" if it's okay, to put it bluntly.

[Steve_The_Tyke in reply to Hidden]

Hi Autmnsonnet,

I live in Barnsley and I am under the cardiologists at Barnsley Hospital, which shares resources with The teaching hospitals in Sheffield normally using them for Angios and Heart Surgery but for some reason I was sent to Leeds General for my Angio. I have also to go to Leeds for Cardio MRI when they get their act together and send me an appointment. And then the results have to come back to the Cardio team at Barnsley for them to discuss the case with the surgeons from Sheffield.

[Hidden in reply to Steve_The_Tyke]

That is so complicated. Thank you for your kind reply.

Something I wouldn't be able to handle myself.

I admire your resilience and patience.

[Steve_The_Tyke in reply to Hidden]

Don't know about resilience and patience. I am getting really frustrated. I have finally today got a follow up appointment to see cardiologists in Barnsley, but still no news on MRI.

[Hidden in reply to Steve_The_Tyke]

Well done. It looks like we all seem to be struggling on the struggling NHS at the moment. I noticed it myself.

[Steve_The_Tyke in reply to Steve_The_Tyke]

I finally had the Cardio MRI on the 10th of January. Got an appointment with Cardiologist on 10th April. This week I have had a phone call from one of the Cardiologists at Barnsley Hospital, (totally unaware that I have an appointment on Wednesday next week with her team) to tell me that now that I have had my MRI (3 mths ago) they have discussed my case with the surgeons at Sheffield NGI and that I am being transferred to their care. So now waiting again for an appointment with a team that so far I have not had any inter action with.

Should I maintain my faith in the NHS because to tell you the truth I have been worried waiting for the last 6 months now I am scared to death.

[shopman]

Since being referred for an MRI it took 11 months before I finally got my appointment back in September this year. Still waiting for the results but fortunately my HF Nurse has already told me what they were - nothing out of the ordinary fortunately.

[jimmyq]

I had 4 CABGs before stents were in wide use, 1997. If you have blocked or blocking arteries I recommend that you watch the film "Forks Over Knives". It is on Netflix and YouTube. It is about global medical heart research, including a massive study of 800,000 Chinese people. You might find it helpful, I did. It might save you having the surgery.

I have been on a Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) diet since March and the evidence of my blood pressure (120/70), cholesterol (3.7) and pulse (50-60) indicate that my arteries have cleared. So, it has taken only 8 months. My doctor is gradually taking me off all the meds, the diuretics and statins have gone.

My BP has been as high as 240/140 but came down to 180+/90+ with treatment. My cholesterol was 6.5 for years, nothing budged it until this diet.

[Stu888]

I understand your worries and agree the oversight is unacceptable. It should also not be necessary to chase your Cardiologist secretary as this adds to stress. Unfortunately my only advice is that people need to keep chasing doctors secretaries. If possible get your partner or a close friend to chase although this is obviously not possible for everyone.

If I was in your position I would ring every day to see if you can get a cancellation so you are seen sooner than 2 months.

[Passes]

Just quick update finally got my appointment for mri on the 20th Dec & follows-up with cardiologist in feb

[jobe1968]

Good to hear you have a plan in place now for diagnostics. It seems very complicated regards the relationship between your location and treatment. I feel very lucky reading your story as my rehab was done in the local hospital not my place of emergency treatment. Literally 400 meters up the road from my home.

The rehab process was informative and the exercise classes run by physiotherapists excellent so worth doing for the security it gives you to exercise.

It’s only after reading your tale I realise how fortunate I was.

Although from another thread on here ,

I think it’s important we as patient get involved in the management of our treatment. Especially when it comes to appointments and outpatient services. It’s easy to become lost in the system.

I like to think my health care providers

Care about my outcomes but the reality is I am one of thousands and to the health care trust a number and a statistic. Individuals in the system who shine through the limitations placed on them by resourcing and sheer volume of work exist and hopefully you will find them on your travels through the system.

My experience regards chasing cardiologists secretaries is that is a dangerous thing to do in these “me too” times especially if you resemble Benny Hill 😂 But also it results in many left messages on answer phones. I write my requests generally as it gives them a tangible reminder or your request. Helps everybody see there and your still working to your best possible outcome.

Good luck with your tests.

Mike

[Passes in reply to jobe1968]

Thank you mike

[Passes]

Just update mri has shown that stents to left artery us working well but have blockage in right but it branches off so will be a tricky stent which consultant prepare to do but I’m going down the medication route first, increase my busocprolol to 3.75 plus put me on imdur 30mg. Think I got side affects though as really feeling the cold and chest pain seems constant, had anyone else found this. Thanks Mandy

[Routemaster]

I had my appointment with the cardiologist in June 2018 and had my mri done in July. I am sure that the cardiologist told me that once she sent the referral I would hear from St Thomas within a fortnight and that proved to be the case. I hope that you can hurry things along.

Ann