Hi, I had a holter 24 hour ECG performed to try to find reason for increasing breathlessness when exercising and walking up stairs/pavement gradient and/or carrying shopping. This showed "normal sinus rhythm throughout". All the episodes of breathlessness and tight chest which I recorded on diary sheet "correspond with normal rhythm". The cardiologist writes that he will arrange a clinic appointment for me. However when I phoned for that appointment I was told it will be at least 6 months wait. As the ECG was the first step in the process of elimination of causes of the breathlessness, and I still have the breathless, 6 months seems like an awfully long time to wait to even get to "step 2" (whatever that may be) of the process of elimination of causes.
Am just wondering whether a 6 month wait is about average?
Seems ludicrous as the NHS is supposed to be working towards keeping older folk fit and active. Since I can't do exercise cos of shortness of breath, I can't work to being down my score on risk of stroke, etc.
Am seeing GP tomorrow, but just wondered what the rest of the country is like for waiting times. I'm in North Wales, by the way.
Thanks.
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pianist12
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Cardiology clinics have more patients than they can deal with so waiting times are long, I waited 5-6 months initially and even after further testing showed problems I had another 9 weeks wait for follow up appt. I'm in the South West.
I'm waiting for my first cardiology appointment in Liverpool after being told that I have AF. The government guidelines say that you must have an appointment within 51 days i was told. And i did read this on the gp computer when she had to leave the room.
That's the appointment not when you're seen. So i made the appointment in May and it's in October but the gp said don't worry it's not dangerous and gave me a script for anticoagulants.
Personally I think it's a joke but you just have to get on with it.
I had an urgent referral in January. Was seen by cardiologist end of May. I think the hospitals decide when they get the referral whether they think it's urgent or not.
The cardiologist said follow up annually. I've been waiting six months and still don;t have an appointment. This after 2 letters (last one six weeks ago) from the cardiologist. And no I haven;t had the recommended annual check up in the clinic either.
I had a narrow arterie and had 2 stentsI in july 2021 and was told I would have a 6 month check on discharge from hospital but am still waiting 13 months later.I am feeling well and have no problems so not worried about it
I’m guessing they’re not currently too worried, or they’d be moving faster. In the meantime I would do all you can to ensure you’re eating a healthy diet, keeping active and if there’s any excess weight, work on getting rid of it. Regardless of what is or isn’t wrong, that’s going to be the advice you’ll get. If you were having chest pains with the breathlessness they’d refer you to the rapid access chest pain clinic which assesses for angina. As breathlessness on its own can have a number of causes, not all cardiac, I’m assuming they’re not rushing in one direction or another.
Wait for a non-urgent cardiac referral in West Wales is about the same: I had a 7 day holter in December 17 and was experiencing symptomatic bradycardia as a result of issues with my anti-arrhythmic med. Because I couldn’t take it properly as a result, it also meant I was getting knock-on issues with tachycardia (I have a diagnosis of SVT) and existed in a hellish three-day cycle of ‘take half the minimum dose of medication, feel horrendous with an hr of 35bpm for a day, feel marginally okay for a day, feel horrendous with spikes of 140+ for a day’ and repeat. I was eventually seen May 18, they switched my meds and said they’d review me in the autumn - haven’t heard from them since, but my issues settled with the switch, so I’m not overly fussed that they failed to follow through.
As per another reply, there are other things that could be at fault beyond your heart if the only symptom you have is breathlessness seemingly tied to exertion. Have they considered a respiratory issue? I’m not saying it’s not cardiac, but if you’ve got a few months to wait for the appointment anyway then it might be worth exploring other possibilities with your gp in the interim.
My husbands urgent referral in 2012 following AF starting took 10 weeks (north yorks). At present the website states routine referrals - up to 9/10 patients will be seen within 21 weeks
Have you considered seeing a cardiologist privately. An initial appointment is £200 - £250 and you will be seen within a few days. I did this and quickly followed it up with a private angiogram (NHS four month wait). At that stage I stepped back into the NHS system but had a far clearer understanding. Could be worth a thought?
I'm in NE Scotland, and am a lot embarrassed to admit my wait times have been very short compared to yours.
Timing as follows: from the GP 'urgent' referral to the Rapid Access Chest Pain unit appointment was just under two weeks, then three weeks to the echocardiogram, and finally 21 days from the echo appointment to sitting in the cardiologist office to hear results.
The postie brought my notice of the next cardiology appointment today (26 June 2019) - I'm booked to see the cardiologist again on 22 October 2019.
I hate to say this as I believe that the NHS is being systematically being starved of funding but I agree with MichaelJH. Time to raid the rainy day fund if you can afford to and get an opinion.
I cannot comment on the wait time. However, probabilities are high that you have heart disease based on shortness of breath.
IF, that is the case, then you are at a high risk of heart attack and potentially stroke.
You can make an immediate positive impact on your health by making a permanent change in your diet and lifestyle.
Step one is to eliminate all sugar and equivalents, including artificial sweeteners, from your diet. Then cut out simple carbohydrates and processed foods.
Adopt the Mediterranean Diet which is a plant-based, whole-foods diet, with small amounts of animal protein including fish.
You can still have eggs but ideally have them boiled or poached instead of fried.
I focus on eating legumes, vegetables, fruits and nuts on a daily basis.
Legumes and nuts are high in protein as are eggs and fish so you will be fine from that perspective.
Try and walk daily even if for only 2 minutes. If you follow this diet your ability to walk will increase gradually.
I made these changes for my self following coronary bypass surgery and successfully lost 40 lbs and no longer take any medications.
Thanks everyone for your responses. Saw my GP yesterday with a view to getting referred for respiratory testing during the wait to see the cardio man in 6 months. I had looked at the Lung Foundation website to see what could be done, there are quite a few tests. However, the GP seemed baffled by what the problem could be, and said he didn't know what other testing could be done. He's referred me to have the same blood tests I had when I first presented to the GP last November - all those results were good.
MichaeljH - yes I'm willing to pay privately for testing, rather than just sitting around for 6 months - but my GP again seemed a bit baffled as to why anyone would want to do that.
Anyway will now get in touch with the Nuffield to find out what they can offer for testing.
An ECG is a basic requirement - perhaps it is time to find a GP who is a little less baffled?
I waited 8 months, and yes it is a long time not knowing whats going on but there are so many people with heart problems the list must be long. I have found its a good way to practice patience. Xx
Hi, I waited 6 months get get a letter back for the results of my echocardiogram! The letter said that my condition had worsened, if I hadn’t chased for the results every week I wonder how much longer it would have taken them to reply, if ever. My advice would be to keep contacting them if you feel they aren’t dealing with your worries, it’s the only way at the moment. They are so busy it takes forever!
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