Check ups after Heart Surgery - British Heart Fou...

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Check ups after Heart Surgery

Frenchi profile image
5 Replies

What is the normal time scale to have a regular check ups with your Cardiologist once discharged from Surgeon. After MVR/ASD surgery I was advised to have an annual echo by my previous Cardiologist who also informed my GP. Now I am with a different health authority after moving house and was told at my last appointment - I would be seen 3 yearly due to the busy demands on their department and urgent cases.

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Frenchi profile image
Frenchi
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5 Replies
Fredders profile image
Fredders

I had my second AVR in November 2017 and I’m on yearly check ups. I have had them yearly since I was diagnosed with a heart murmur when I was 16, apart from a few years when I first moved from Kent. It even went down to six monthly when they realised my new tissue valve was leaking. I guess it depends on what health authority area you are in and I do know others who only have checks every two or three years. I would suggest speaking to your GP if you are concerned.

Wendy

Frenchi profile image
Frenchi in reply toFredders

Interesting and thank you. I will speak with my GP and hopefully I can get annual check ups.

Rosanna75 profile image
Rosanna75 in reply toFrenchi

Hi Frenchi

For my experience too it should be yearly.

The hospital were I done my MVR is different from the one where my cardiologist belongs but I emailed him and he kindly arrange an appointment for me

I didn't want to change doctor as I knew him from 4 years and I had a good experience.

Double check as I am positive you shouldn't wait 3 years.

Frenchi profile image
Frenchi in reply toRosanna75

Thank you so much. I will contact my previous Cardiologist and hopefully can arrange to see him. After 4 cancelled appointments I was seen by the Cardiologists Registrar whom insisted all medications had to be stopped immediately after reading my ECG (no echo was done). After this I had arrhythmia and had to go back onto the medication 4 day later. I still had no echo for 2 years and eventually saw the Consultant and I was surprised when he told me I

didnt need to be seen for 3 years. My previous Cardiologist was insistant on annual echo to check the valve repair and he even put this in writing to my GP.

Rosanna75 profile image
Rosanna75 in reply toFrenchi

It sounds like a good idea to contact your previous cardiologist....even if you might have to travel far, but a piece of mind it is more important.

Sometimes we all have to be very assertive and demand what we know and we think is best.

I had already 2 open heart surgery despite my relatively young age , I am 43.

I learnt that sometimes you have to fight with a lot of negligence even though it shouldn't be like this.

There are lots of excellent doctors out there and we can't let them go away.

I wish you all the best.

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