Cardiologist

How long do you stay with the cardiologist and cardiac nurse

[shopman]

For what? Need more info.

[Hidden in reply to shopman]

Is there a time limit to how long you see them

[shopman in reply to Hidden]

In my view if there is a need you stay on their list until you are well enough to be discharged - could be a few weeks or several years.

[Hidden in reply to shopman]

Or right thanks

[Desanthony in reply to Hidden]

They will normally discharge you from their care after about 2 years post any successful procedure but if you have problems they will keep you on longer. I have been discharged from one consultants list in February and back on in March because I had another problem and it only took them a couple of weeks to see me. It also depends on medication they have put you on whether or not you need blood tests to check the efficacy or the side effects from the medication when it may need changing etc. It seems to be a movable thing depending on how you are so if you are fit and well they discharge you any areas of concern and they keep you on but you can always be referred back and usually this referral takes a shorter time than the initial referral.

[Lezzers]

I would think it depends on your actual medical condition and whether or not your condition is considered to be stable, there are no set time limits.

[Lezzers]

We only found out about the nurses by accident and that was about 2 years after husband was diagnosed with heart failure. I have to admit I thought you were only referred to a nurse if you had HF.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Lezzers]

Mine was assigned when I first went to the Rapid Access Chest Pain appointment - I was referred for angina and suspected heart failure. She told me her name and then said she would be my cardiac nurse until discharge back to the GP and that I should telephone her (she gave me a card with her telephone number and hours on it) if I had any questions between cardiologist appointments. When it turned out I don't have heart failure I asked her if she was still my cardiac nurse and she said yes, until I'm discharged back to the GP.

Every time I see the cardiologist I see her first to be weighed and have BP checked, then back to the wait area until I see the cardiologist.

PS - thank-you for keeping us updated on Michael, so glad to hear he's on the mend now at home again

[Lezzers]

These forums are invaluable for info & advice

[Imin]

I’ve never actually seen a cardiologist except during angiogram and stents but he didn’t speak to me, I saw a cardiac nurse specialist 2 months after my procedure who was very nice and answered all my generic questions but couldn’t answer some questions I had which were specific to my procedure. I was very emotional at the time so she arranged for another appointment for six weeks later but unfortunately when I went they had lost my notes so that appointment ended up being more like a counselling session, which was helpful to a point but still didn’t answer my specific questions. At that appointment I was discharged to GP. I have since written to the cardiologist with questions specific to my procedure asking for an appointment or even a phone call or letter to answer those questions. I am still awaiting a response.

The cardiac nurses and exercise instructor were all extremely good and tried to answer all my questions but since they didn’t have my notes again they could only be generic.

[Prada47 in reply to Imin]

Hi

What would you want to know from the Cardiologist ?? I got a nice copy of the Location he put the stents but it didn't enlighten me that much !!

Regards

[Imin in reply to Prada47]

Hi.

During my procedure the cardiologist said that he wouldn’t be surprised if he saw me back in the lab to a colleague as I would like to know what he saw to prompt such a comment as it’s playing with my mind a bit! I would also like to know if there is any build up of plaque in any of my arteries he didn’t ‘work on’ and if so to what degree and if I have been left with any damage to my heart and again if so to what degree? I’d also like to know what full revascularisation means too!

[Prada47 in reply to Imin]

Hi

I believe full revascularisation means Blood is getting to the whole of the Heart Muscle that has no damage. Everything that can be done has been done !!! You will need to check that definition as it is MINE from what I understood my Cardiologist said to me.

Maybe the BHF Cardiac Nurse Helpline is a good place to check.

The other options are your GP or Consultants Secretary for more information.

I would ask the Secretary did the Consultant receive your letter. I can understand why you now want more information.

Regards

[NotAllWhoWonder]

Had my MIs in June 2018, started my 8 weeks of rehab about 2 months after, and saw my cardiologist (well, it was someone standing in for him) in October 2018 - and he said based on feedback from the cardiac nurses doing the rehab, blood results, etc, that he wouldn't need to see me again.

[Hidden]

I guess I must be very lucky, all this talk of cardiologists and dedicated nurses! I never even made it to the cardiac ward during my 5 days at Derby Royal, and the only time I saw a cardiologist was when he cheerfully played me back the video of my Angiogram/Stenting and told me the nickname for the artery involved......

[Adrian52]

Me too, I'd have really benefited from having a cardiac nurse after my op as my GP didn't really have the knowledge or experience to deal with my condition.

[dickielex]

Seven years after my cardiac arrest I still see both my cardiology team (every six months) and the cardiac nurse (every four months). And as I have an ICD , see them regularly and my machine speaks to them regularlly. I guess it all depends on what your problem is and where you live.

[Sunnie2day in reply to dickielex]

I agree, to use a term we're hearing in the media, it all does seem a 'postcode lottery' as to the type of follow-up care given especially. Reading through the replies on this thread makes it clear the quality varies wildly across the country no matter if private or completely NHS provided.

My care has been superb (part private-part NHS) and I live in a trust with a 'not-so-good' reputation for care. I feel guilty about it, really, as I don't consider myself 'that unwell' when I read what others in different areas go through despite their being far more seriously unwell than I am.

[Ria31]

my husband was discharged after 5 months, even following an ejection fraction reducing from 39 to 28%. Guess it depends on funding.

[SaraTwycross]

Ive had mine all my life as have congenital heart disease due to Sprintzens syndrome. It really depends i think on your individual history, hugs sara

[Sunnie2day]

Just how I feel. I go for appointments and I sit in the waiting area feeling quite guilty at being so well in comparison to the others waiting there - but it's true I believe my return to 'bouncy' is down to the care received.

Lol, the cardiac nurse always sourly comments no-one as unwell as I am should be so sprightly and bouncy (her words, not mine) - she was very surprised when I brought her a small desk plant (she already has several so I knew it would be a welcome thank-you gift) as she knows I know she doesn't like me overmuch

[Prada47]

Hi

The Cardiac Rehab Nurse can refer you the Heart Failure Team for further assessment if He/she feels you are not coping very well at Rehab session. Constant Yawning was a trigger for further assessment after Surgery.

Regards

[BigT2013]

I still see my consultant and surgeon 2 years after open heart surgery.

[Prada47]

Please read the NICE guidelines on longer term Care for Heart Failure every patient should have a Care Plan. Take a Photocopy and show it to your GP. People if you don't get the treatment that you should Complain.

Regards

[Qualipop]

Depends what's wrong. I had a heart attach and 2 stents fitted then a further pressure angiogram. I have NEVER seen a cardiologist to speak to and was sedated for the angiogram so if he said anything, I didn't hear it. I was straight from hospital into the care of the GP.

[Hatchjd]

I had 2 stents in July. Admitted for 4 days over a weekend waiting for an angio slot. Saw the cardiologist on Friday am and again Monday in the angio room. Discharged by a different Cardiologist Tuesday. I did see the cardiac nurse before discharge who discussed my angio results and attended each rehab session For 10 weeks. I was the. discharged to my GP who said to come back in a year or earlier if I had problems.

I did have a 1 day post echocardiogram that showed myocardial stunning and EF of 46% but no one seemed concerned about it.