Waste of time with GP

[Rob6868]

OK everybody

just had my appointment with GP..

Hardwork as per usual.

Have asked him to refer me to a specialist regarding MVA and coronary artery spasm.

He's now going to look on Google and check them out before deciding who to write a letter to??? Great!!!

Then I explained I'm getting constat chest pain and I can't function in my job if this continues.

So I explained when it was happening and dates...all good..

Then I try to educate him in Cq10 and can I take a supplement doctor? sorry but I don't know about Cq10 so will have to look it up..FFS!!! He's answer is that if Holland and barret sell it it must be OK!!!

So I then try to explain that because I'm taking statins I probably need a magnesium test to see if I'm deficent? And if so can I take a magnesium supplement as I'm not sure if I'm getting enough from my diet.

so he's answer oh I can send you for a blood test..All good but I've read on here that a normal magnesium test isn't the real picture.

Someone on this forum mentioned it's a specific blood test for magnesium.

CAN ANYONE HELP WITH THIS PLEASE??

So so far it was the usual rushed appointment but I suppose at leat I got ONE THING out of it...a letter to other consultant's in London of my Dr's choice may I add...Seriously you couldn't make it up!!

Questions: Can anyone give me some idea of good Cq10 supplements Ann Magnesium once I've had a test for that.

Also can I ask the hospital for a detailed letter regarding my stent procedure in May last year?

Will they release such a letter to me the patient?

I basically want to know what happened during my procedure because my cardiologist openly said it was very difficult and he was concerned about me?

That's how it's always been left..so in truth I want some answers Especially as my chest pain has got more frequent post stent than before I was even taken into hospital back last April.

Thank you to everybody that can help me with my questions. 💜

Ps I also asked him about my latest blood tests...some of which I've posted on here.

He's answer oh all normal with a gruff voice..so all good then? Yeah right considering my LDL is slightly above the 2.0 it should be at...so no doctorits not normal to a heart patient.

I asked him about my HbA1c level and LDL particle number and he's response was a blank stare! So No luck there either then..

so guys and girls I'm just going to post it on here hoping someone with some knowledge of these things can help??

[Moonflower76]

You definately need to see a cardiologist soon if your chest pain has got worse since stent.

As to the magnesium , I am going to buy some magnesium oil spray tomorrow from holland and barrett to spray directly onto my chest. Magnesium chloride is apparently very easily absorbable. I think I read that 10 sprays will give you a good dose of magnesium . I don't know if its going to help but worth a try.

[Rob6868 in reply to Moonflower76]

Thanks for your reply.

I've done some research and it seems magnesium Glycinate seems to be the best for heart health especially as a dialater and it is the only one out of all the magnesium supplements that is easier on the stomach.

so that's what I'm looking at.

[JonathanH]

Rob,

Sorry to learn of your battles with your GP. At least you seem to be making progress.

Have you seen the YouTube clip about magnesium by the very helpful York cardiologist Sanjay Gupta? youtube.com/watch?v=oZYXBYA...(Not working as expected?)

I take 150-300mg per day of magnesium in the form of highly absorbably magnesium citrate. naturesbest.co.uk/minerals/... My cardiologist approves of my taking magnesium without have a blood test. I think that Sanjay Gupta says that the plasma concentration of magnesium may not correspond to the intracellular concentration, which is what is important, and that a blood test is therefore not adequate to test your magnesium level.

An American doctor, a Dr Sinatra, talks about the "awesome foursome" of heart nutrients: magnesium, CoQ10, carnitine and ribose drsinatra.com/best-heart-he... . I take CoQ10 in its ubiquinol form and carnitine (both from Nature's Best), as well as D-ribose (from Cytoplan). Other suppliers are available!

It costs a small fortune. Is it worth it? I haven't a clue: it might be money down the drain. There is evidently a large and profitable supplements industry that has little data supporting the purported benefits of its products, and I think you would be right to approach supplements with suspicion. It hasn't stopped me taking the awesome foursome.

I don't see why you shouldn't ask for a letter about your stenting procedure. I have heard of an NHS organisation called PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) that might help you if the hospital becomes difficult.

Jonathan

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to JonathanH]

Patient Advice and Liaison Depts exist in NHS Hospitals to help patients with their route through services if they are having difficulty. I think they were originally set up to deal with communication problems mainly, but before things became a formal complaint.

Ive found them helpful.

[Sususulio]

Rob

GP’s are very often cautious around any kind of supplementation and in my experience, are regimented around guideline numbers which very often have huge reference ranges - as long as you’re somewhere within it even bobbing along right at the bottom they don’t encourage taking anything. There is a difference between being in range and having an optimum level that works best for you. This was my experience as a thyroid patient before cardiac issues were in play and it is a more complicated balancing act with the various medications we take. A chat with a good pharmacist might be helpful. Moving forward I am working on the basis of research and awareness and and making informed choices, I take magnesium as my sleep has been badly affected and it also helps with muscle pain - I am also considering CQ10. There are issues around absorption though with calcium (magnesium) so do take all of this into account. In terms of cardiologist see my last post - I have also been lost in the system, eventually got to see one who didn’t know why I was there and found out at the appointment there was no information in my notes on my procedure or 3 day earlier angiogram, other than an annotation that there was evidence of disease in RCA in addition to the LAD which was like being diagnosed all over again!!! The outcome of this he is writing to hospital for information and will copy me and GP into response. All you can do is be an advocate for yourself - my LDL is 0.1 above yours GP said OK, Cardiologist has suggested ezetimibe which if I’m honest I’m a bit cautious about and haven’t yet started.

I am sure someone will be more informed and constructive around taking supplements but in the past my thyroid levels improved once I got other things right.

Final point and you may have seen this earlier thread which resonates...

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

Take care

[Nicky3]

Hi Rob,

You can request a copy of your medical records you can say everything or between certain dates etc. I recently got mine and asked for basically everything. You can get it once for free after that they can charge you or refuse if they think it's unreasonable.

Mine included admission notes etc that you don't get on discharge its everything they write about you. Procedure notes etc and consultants letters etc. What can I say I learnt so much about me that I didn't know. Such as I drink sherry news to me never drunk it ever! Lol. When I went in by ambulance my Dr in A&E wrote NO CHEST PAIN given paracetamol for back pain. A lot else I have found incorrect some funny some from when I was very ill working out my probability of death!

It takes about a month and is quite easy to do, you find out quite a lot!!! Worth it.

[Lapwing26]

Blimey so I'm not the only one having problems then

We only have one life sometimes I wonder if they care if we live or die

My GP says I'm under the care of the hospital and the hospital says I'm under the care of my GP So guess it's going to be a continued battle to get help

[Pippa1234 in reply to Lapwing26]

What is wrong with doctors these days? If it wasn't for patients they'd be redundant!! Still they get nice backhanders from pharmaceutical companies, and a nice salary.

[Dickydon]

I have to be honest Rob, that’s a very common problem with GP’s if you have a lot of issues going on at once, like I do, you become a financial drain, and especially if your GP is nearing retirement then my experience of the older generation GP is that they’re complete arrogant buffoons and don’t care about your health concerns but what you cost the practice and on the list is they’re too lazy to summon a specialist you want refering to because most often they don’t know anything about your problems!

[Hidden]

Hello , you can take Magnesium 12 x a homeopathic preparation , 2 pills , twice per day for 3 weeks for solving the problem of Magnesium deficiency . If you ask those great doctors they may not agree but you will not face any problem . The bonus is even chest pain goes away . It is very cheap and there is no need to consult any doctor . It is very very very safe .

[Rob6868 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

I will look into that.

[Rob6868 in reply to Hidden]

sorry coffeeday can you explain your post a bit more 12 x??

[Hidden in reply to Rob6868]

Magnesium is the name 12 x is the potency . You will get it in any homeopathy shop . In fact if if you go for serum Magnesium test you will get level of magnesium ,

[Rob6868 in reply to Hidden]

Hi sorry

Yes I know what magnesium is

its just I didn't understand the 12x part or what kind of magnesium.

There are several types I know of and I'm currently looking into magnesium "glycinate " as it's easy on the stomach and seems to be the best of the lot for the heart..But I'm still looking into it..

[Hidden in reply to Rob6868]

In homeopathy shop , we get magnesium 12x , only ask fo magnesium 12 x ,YOU HAVE TO TAKE TWO PILLS AND KEEP THEM ON THE TONGUE . you should not touch with hand . Slowly tilt the bottle in to the cap , so as to get two pills , only two pills , and put them on the tongue by emptying the contents of the cap in to mouth .. with in seconds they get dissolved . That's all . REPEAT THE SAME IN THE EVENING . It is known as magnesium 12x . YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT is given here only when you go to the shop . In fact this medicine can be used as a pain reliever .

[jimmyq]

I get my CoQ10 from Oxford Vitality on Amazon. My research found that they are the best value for money on there.

[Rob6868 in reply to jimmyq]

Cheers jimmy

I will check that one out

[Rob6868]

Well well well

I've just got an appointment after my request yesterday to go to Kings London.

There is an Angina specialist there...so I've been sent a text message appointment from my doctor of yesterday.

May is my appointment so little while yet but it's a start I suppose..It's probably because I had him in a headlock and demanded action that probably did it😅😄😄😃😂

So come may it will be going right back to the start and explain everything all over again.

But it's a small step in the right direction.

Bet my current cardiologist will have the right hump!!!

[Handel]

Good luck Rob. Beware a GP who Googles!!!! xxx

[Rob6868 in reply to Handel]

lol tell me about it..It always astonishes me how much I have to tell them rather than they tell me Maybe I should swap seats with them and take there nice salary too😅

[Handel in reply to Rob6868]

I've sat in with my husband when he's had post quad bypass reviews. Very strangely, he phoned at lunchtime to tell hubby to knock Clopidogrel and Amiodarone on the head and said he'd sent an electronic prescription to the chemist for Bisoprolol.

Just been to collect that (which took three quarters of an hour)!!! apparently the prescription was floating around in cyber space for 3 hours!

We need all the luck we can get! I wish you the very best with your annoyance. They seem to hate people who know stuff and question them!!!

[Pippa1234 in reply to Rob6868]

And all in 10 minutes lol

[Pippa1234 in reply to Handel]

They all google, or get a big book out to refer to.

[Hidden]

After my husband had a heart attack and a double bypass 12 years ago, his consultant advised him to take high strength Q10 daily he has done so ever since.

[Camelliared]

My drs. have told me they would send anyone with chest pains straight to A & E to be immediately checked out. In my case my blood tests and bp. were normal before I had a severe heart attack. I did not get chest pain until the attack! Said I didn’t fit their medical textbooks!!

[Pippa1234]

Change doctor.

[Rob6868 in reply to Pippa1234]

I may as well be the Doctor Pippa

[Pippa1234 in reply to Rob6868]

I know, and they get paid !!