Vascular Surgeon - Appointment Cancelled

[MichaelJH]

Just had a phone call to say my vascular appointment for early April has been cancelled - I suffer from PAD (peripheral arterial disease). It was to be my first appointment in three years because of angina/bypass. I expected this and getting to the appointment in a London teaching hospital would have been problematical (risky even). They are currently plan to send out appointments towards the end of May depending how things develop.

I also have a diabetic eye check booked in locally around the same time. This is the more worrying as any issues are asymptomatic until vision problems occur.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Yes worrying.

I've spoken to my surgery this morning, and locally there are no blood tests locally. I'm due for a full test at the end of June. This time last year my kidney function was OK, since then due to the meds, it's now stage 3 CKD. My GP is not concerned, says it's due to medications, so will be monitored with regular blood tests - except now it might not be. As with diabetics and eye problems. CKD is pretty much asymptomatic

[Hidden in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

I hope I can reassure you about this at least. It can be frightening when you are first told you have CKD, but if you check the NHS information, you will find that stage 3 is very broad, broken into two phases and you are likely to be near the borderline with stage 2. Your GP is the best judge and if he is not concerned, then you shouldn't be either.

I've been stage 3 for the best part of a decade and the fluctuation in egfr is only slight. I don't even think about it any more, except when it appears on my previous medical history notes in hospital.

I'm sure you will get your blood tests sometime later this summer, meanwhile, put it out of your mind. Stay safe and stay sane x

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much for your reply.

What with everything else, it was a bit of a shock last June to find out that I had CKD. When I spoke to my doctor she explained that it was a common issues with the heart meds but it was nothing to worry about, and after reading up a bit more about I felt OK about the situation.

Having now been told there is currently no testing I'm just a bit panicked, and I feel my support is draining away. I'm been discharged from the HF Nurse in September (which is good as it means I'm stable ), then in Oct the consultant in Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital discharged me saying I was doing extremely well and was totally asymptomatic (which is also good news as it means I've made a good recovery) . I have no further ongoing tests, so the only comfort blanket I have is the 6 monthly blood tests that hopefully say - "everything OK, nothing changed, nothing deteriorated" . I know I don't need all the support and testing and monitoring that I received this time last year, and I'm grateful for that, I've almost, but not quite got used to the notion I'm good to go solo.

It's also reassuring to know that you can have stable CKD stage 3 for an extended time period. Thank you and stay well.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I have a Cardiology appointment the end of next month at a London hospital.

I expect it will be by telephone or rescheduled.

It is going to be an even tougher time for many of us with chronic long term conditions.

Stay safe and well everyone 😊

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Just heard from a friend who is Type 1.5 diabetic. He had diabetic eye check booked for Thursday but had a phone call to cancel it today. No indication of when they expect to rebook. So not holding my breath...

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

The hospital where I have the opthalmology appointment is now carrying out most appointments by phone. All visiting has been blocked bar "end of life" patients and children but these have to be confirmed first. Patients also need to have nominated contact so staff can focus on treating patients rather than talking with an array of family members.

[Sunnie2day in reply to MichaelJH]

I've been notified this afternoon the email consult (wherein I fully expected to be discharged back to the GP) my cardiologist set up to avoid a face-to-face for mid-April has now been completely cancelled - no phone, no email, and no reschedule 'at this time'.

Why? He's been redirected to attend coronavirus cases only.

I'm feeling quite well so I'm not upset but I feel for people who really need to see their consultants or have routine monitoring tests.