Waiting for heart failure clinic appointment

[Dumbging]

I went to the GP because I had experienced breathlessness for over six weeks. I have had high blood pressure for about twenty years and AF for a few years. My bloods and chest xray show my heart is enlarged and the GP has referred me as urgent to the heart failure clinic. I rang, as instructed , when I had not heard anything, only to be told I am on the waiting list. I am trying not to worry but it's hard. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Dingledaw]

A GP told me that the local services are running at about 5%of normal.

From an emotional point of view, expect delays and I would do meditation and breathing exercises. I can't offer anything else, new here myself.

[Sunnie2day]

Hiya (from NE Scotland ) and welcome to the forum - the meeting place for Hearties you hoped you'd never find yourself visiting. We're glad you're here, though, and I think you'll find this merry band of Hearties a helpful and welcoming lot. I certainly have since my heart wobble in spring 2019!

I don't have heart Failure (HF) but it was suspected last year - turned out to be other things (I have multiple heart conditions, currently well controlled with medication and some lifestyle adjustments). The wonderful folks here on the forum kept me sane whilst waiting (and waiting, and waiting...) for investigations, and now coping with the challenges my latest diagnosis' have created for me.

About HF, when my GP suspected I was in it, I quickly discovered it is best to try to avoid the snake oil salesminions on Dr Google - if you do Google (or Bing or other search engine) only click links like the UK sites NHS, BHF, Chest-Heart-Stroke, and the US sites Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Baylor Medical, Harvard Medical, and the American Heart Foundation (AHF). The snake oil sites will have you gasping for air and believing you're on your very last legs and while HF isn't the most pleasant heart condition to have, it is definitely 'doable' with proper treatment and good home self-care.

To help you along in your learning about HF, click on the following link that will take you to the publications page on the British Heart Foundation (BHF) website - the publications are free to download, you can order hard copies but pandemic delay advisements apply:

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Again, welcome, and don't be a stranger - the waiting for investigations (tests, labs, more) is the hardest part of finding you have a heart condition and that waiting is much easier with good company

[Ianc2]

Give yourself an MOT. Are you overweight? Is your waist half your height? Do you have a regular exercise pattern up and running, e.g. an hours brisk walking every day, or at least a daily mile if you can ? Have you considered getting a fitbit or similar to track your activity levels?

Do you smoke - lots of nice sticky blood ? or drink? Have you had your bloods tested lately? for sugar and cholesterol levels ? Does your diet contain lots of hidden sugar - cakes, biscuits, white bread , pasta, potatoes, etc.? Do you drink lots of strong coffee?

Get yourself a diary so you can track what you are doing. Cardiologist like to see plenty of evidence and if you can show that you are actively trying to manage your condition and can produce evidence of the changes that you have made, you will make his or her life a bit easier.