Ongoing problems after CABG - impossible to get anyone to listen

[Chickenlou]

Just wondering if anyone has any advice...fiancé had 3x CABG in January. He had AFib and heart flutter after op (several occasions of it and was on Amiodrone for 3 months.) An ecg he had in March showed no AFib and he was taken off the amiodrone.

For the last few weeks/months he’s had “funny heart moments” and feels his heart is pumping harder then usual along with brief episodes of a very high pulse - 183 bpm on one occasion.

He’s had 3 ecgs at his GP but as he hasn’t had the feeling at the time they haven’t showed anything. He’s adamant somethings feels wrong and different to initially after surgery.... He was discharged back to GPS care (didn’t see a cardiologist after discharge after surgery or have any rehab due to Covid.)

GP just keeps telling him to make appointment for ECG if he has the “feeling” again. We just don’t know what to do next.

[Shar28]

Hi. Your husband sounds a bit like my mum with her AF, although she was in her 80s at the time. The AF was only caught by accident when she had a funny turn at the NEC in Birmingham one year and was looked after in their medical room, which is well kitted out and staffed by private paramedics. Their medical team did an ECG straightaway and saw the AF. Several ECGs and 24 hour monitors afterwards didn’t catch it again. Long story short, she was in hospital for something else when they caught it on a ECG there.

I would suggest asking his GP for a monitor he can wear for several days. They’re not the most comfortable but he then stands a chance of it being caught, whatever it is.

All the best to both the of you.

[Smudgebuttonjessie]

I was having episodes of irregular heartbeats (ectopics) on occasions and when medics did ecg’s i didn’t have any and as the episodes are fairly brief i couldn’t get an ecg done at the time. Have you had a 24hr or 72hr tape on? I had no episodes whilst wearing mine!!I purchased my own portable ecg machine for £150, a little expensive you might say but i actually captured the irregular heartbeat episodes and could show them to my GP

[ILowe in reply to Smudgebuttonjessie]

I agree with Smudgebuttonjessie. Get yourself a portable ECG machine. A few weeks ago my wife was asked to 'prove' she was having episodes of AF. A few printouts was all it took to convince the doctor.

[Cookie2020]

Hi try speaking to the cardiologist secretary and ask her to put you in contact with the cardiac nurse telling your problems and nine times out of 10 They can help more then your GP good luck

[Chickenlou]

Thank you all. My fiancé has just been for another ECG and it looks like this one has picked something up - not sure as to what as waiting for GP to review and call. He’s been told now to go to hospital if it happens again...I’m definitely going to look into portable ecg machine 😊

[seasider18]

Why not go to A&E when he has the high rate so that they can record it >