Yesterday I had a home visit from my G.P. It wasn't precooked but a district nurse came to do monthly blood test and decided the Dr needed to see me as my bp was 78/48. I haven't been well for a couple of months. Exhausted, sleeping solidly day and night, light headed, a bit confused in fact sort of lost the plot. Dr checked me over and I do have Arrhythmia and a bit of fluid round lungs. I have been sleeping quite flat for a while but have had to go back to propped up again. Im more breathless too. She reminded me that my condition is progressive. Made no other suggestions or observations other than pace maker, gtn spray, inhaler are no good for me and added her disapproval for me supplying my own oxygen. Its not time yet apparently. It appears that all the decisions about my health are made without me or my input. What a strange state of affairs!
Making Sense of HF.: Yesterday I had a... - British Heart Fou...
Making Sense of HF.
Hello Love Cats
Can't offer to much help but I have been in the range 80/50 but it recovered on it's own. now 107/60. So even though it is a progressive illness when you have a low you can still recover.
I don't understand the disapproval of oxygen I didn't know you can supply your own !!!
You should have and I believe be entitled to have a written care plan agreed by HF Nurse and GP, Yourself and Close Family should the latter be deemed appropriate. I take it you are on the optimum Medication ??
It's a little disheartening when you are told a PM or GTN spray etc is of no use in your treatment, but looking at it another way it does tend to indicate you are managing !! I wish you all success in what is not an easy path.
Hands Face Space to stay safe
I dont have a care plan in place and I do believe I should as the district nurses always look for the file when I come and are surprised there isn't one. The only med I'm not on is dygoxin. It was the last one they gave to my husband , though reluctantly, but it extended his life for nearly one year. As I have not seen a specialist at all I have no one to plead my case for things like pm as the gp is making the decision. Thanks for your help.
Hi Love,I suggest asking for an urgent referral to the Heart Failure Clinic. You need regular follow up and, as others have said, a care plan.
HelloI believe the best medication currently available for Heart Failure is Entresto which needs to be prescribed by a Heart Failure Nurse Specialist, or a Cardiologist. GPs are not authorised to prescribe off their own back sort of thing !!! If anyone reading this has a better medication I for one would be grateful for any information.
I have HF and I would reiterate the advice to see if you can get referred to a HF Clinic.
My output was 17 when I was first diagnosed (and I sounded like a frog when breathing) and when I was discharged from the HF clinic last year it was 43%. Had no check ups this year nor annual bloods due to COVID.
They eventually decided my diagnosis was due to a virus having investigated the possibility of it being chemo treatment which I had for 6 months 16yrs ago. (Breast cancer).
I do have an ICD which is checked twice a year when COVID isn’t around. My April app was deferred until September.
I take Losartan, Ivabradine x 2, Bisoprol, & Spirolactone and also Avorstatin as cholesterol levels were high in last year’s blood test.
Do you have a good relationship with your own GP or if not is there another one you get on with better?
Let us know how you get on.
Fiona
I think the problem is too many cooks spoil the broth! I'm bombarded with information now from two hospitals, two specialist nurses, 3 dietitians, 1 District nurse, 1 consultant, 1 gp, and the rest. Ive had to set up a new filing system for diabetes, heart, thyroid, kidneys. Its hard work !
Hi when I had heart failure my blood pressure was the same, I had a heart failure nurse I could contact at any time and regular visits to a cardiologist, I had an Icd, and I was on entresto, aspirin, spironolactone, I didn't have oxygen, I would mabe ask your gp to refer you to a specialist nurse as they can prescribe the proper medication, take care and I hope you can get the care you need char
Suddenly things are happening. Yesterday I had two phonecalls from the hospital. One from heart nurses who want to speak today! The other from kidney nurse who wants to talk on January 6th. Someone woke up! I've realised that the bloods they take each two weeks gives a complete picture of what my kidneys are doing but with no face to face contact I haven't a clue what my heart is doing. I dont even know where on NY scale! If this is happening throughout the U.K. its risky!
Really glad you can speak to the nurse, mine was really helpful re meds and also had time to listen to any worries I had and contact my cardiologist if he thought it was necessary, he also had access to all my notes and could explain a lot of things I didn't understand, I used to right down a list of questions for him, he was very patient, great to hear about kidney nurse as, I hope all goes well, keep me posted, take care char
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Trying to make sense
Cardiology apt. With HF doctor
HF and getting better
Post HF diagnosis symptons
Bisoprolol 1.25mg (And HF worry)
HF Going in the Right Direction
Long-Term HF patients?
