I had a heart attack and stent fitted in April and the hospital staff were absolutely amazing.
Since my discharge things changed drastically no cardiac rehabilitation classes just a few odd phone calls.
Made an appointment with my GP for a meds review in June and the earliest telephone appointment available was mid august.
Now waiting for blood test appointment and a visit to the GP.
Perhaps try and change your GP?I can speak on the phone to my GP within a day or even the same day if it is urgent. A friend down the road at another local practice has to wait weeks to speak to her GP. Most GPs are still avoiding face to face contact but apprently they should be seeing any patient face to face who asks to be seen and this all seems to be to do with Covid. Not much sign yet of a return to normality.
Have to say, if they asked for a meds review then it is a non urgent appointment, so I would expect that sort of wait.
GP Practices are following NHS guidelines, that states that telephone triage stays in place and GP’s decide who they see f2f, if a patient asks to be seen it is up to the GP not the patient.
The new normal will not be as it was pre COVID.
Hi thereI had CABG in January, was discharged about five days later. No cardiac rehab classes then because of covid, but I had weekly call with the rehab team (every Monday they would call) to discuss progress, and answer any questions I had. This lasted from about week four after surgery to week 12. Also, I had their number and could call them if I had questions. I used to do the british heart foundation cardiac rehab exercise videos (under the rehab’s instruction) a few times a week.
Re my GP, when I was released from hospital I needed to increase my dosage of bisoprolol and ramipril slowly over a few months. This meant a blood test at my GP about every two weeks to see how my body was coping with the increased dosage. And calls every two weeks or so.
If at any time I had questions I would call the cardiac rehab, or my GP and get an appointment within the day (my practise allows one to call for an adhoc appointment first thing or again at 2pm). If i couldnt get help that way, I also tried the british heart foundation cardiac nurses (they are a wonderful resource - free, and the number is on their website). Once i even got hold of my cardiologist’s secretary and got an appointment two or three days later with the cardiologist.
Sorry for all the background and text but I guess I’m trying to say that you should have access to resources to answer your questions and help you through this. Sometimes you have to be the “squeaky wheel” if you aren’t getting traction or answers to your questions. No one should hold it against you for putting your mind at rest after a difficult or new procedure. Having said all that, I think once you are “settled” post your procedure, in my experience, they will just let you get on with it - no regular follow ups with anyone really.
I’d suggest phoning your cardiac rehab and understanding how long they should be working with you (mine discussed everything from exercise, to operation questions, to medicines). You could also try the BHF nurses - they are so very experienced and understanding. And find out from your GP practice how to get a sooner telephone appointment - they should offer them (we cant always schedule when we will get sick!). If they don’t, perhaps time for a new GP!
Tremendous good luck with your recovery!
I had one call from a cardiac rehab nurse soon after hospital discharge and never heard from her again. Someone rings at random times every few weeks to just tell me I’m doing fine. Never been told about an exercise video just told to go for walks. I was very distressed a few weeks back at getting no help and he listened politely and said he’s ring back in a few weeks. There is no reason why the classes didn’t start up once everywhere opened and tests readily available,
You sound like you have a good team behind you pv74.
3 years ago, before even covid I got absolutely no help after my heart attack. One visit to an awful rehab nurse who just gave me a book and told me I couldn't do rehab as I was in a wheelchair. My GP eventually called me for a blood test to make sure the meds weren't doing any damage. The only time i got any help or spoke to anyone was when I rang GP about problems with medication and fortnightly visits from the smoking cessation nurse.
Hi,I'm.the sane as you ( here in scotland) ......no cardio rehab exercises!? I had regular phone calls from the cardio rehab nurse though and also I can speak to my gp any time. I've even seen her face to face recently. Maybe it depends on your surgery or where you are in the country?
My GP has been fine and done the blood tests and the medication reviews but cardiac rehab has been virtually non existent since my heart attack and stent in March.
i am the same i have had blood tests to see if my medication wasnt damaging my liver etc but apart from that not a lot and it has been nearly a year now
Yes, since my event 18 months ago I have seen no one, we are on our own … but it’s not so bad it just means you have to manage your own exercise sessions and take your own BP. You should have remote guidance from a cardiac nurse. Most procedures post event are routine anyway. Don’t worry, the experts are on hand if needed.
The East Cheshire nhs post cardio op exercise is the best and nearest I came to after the class I attended before it was stopped because of lockdown. It can be found on utube They take you through each exercise and monitor you making sure you are not over doing it. I know it really is good because I had a busy two weeks and didn’t do the exercises and I started having the old aches and pains I used to have before I started the exercises
My local carsio rehab team were in Macclesfield, they were brilliant. Is it the same people?
Sorry I don’t know .I chose this site because they were the nearest to the Excellent NHS post cardio I used to attend before lockdown
Familiar. I had the same in April and apart from one phone conversation with my GP, I haven't seen anyone at all. No blood pressure monitoring, no meds review, nothing.
Same with me, HA in May 1 stent, a scan in June, apart from that absolutely nothing. One conversation with my GP. I emailed Cardiac nurse, no reply!
I was in an ACU for a week. Then had a stent fitted and was prescribed a large number of meds. I was discharged and haven’t heard a thing from anyone!
Firstly cardiac rehab should be available by now. It started over a month ago in my area I had a heart attack last August when there was none.It's worth finding out about it again because as you say it's very lonely. Rehab is done by experts and they can put your mind at rest about all sorts of things from meds to unusual symptoms.
I know how you feel. I felt the same. I ended up in A&E at least 6 times. Actually for no good reason apart from being sent by a gp as a precaution.
Gps vary a lot. In my experience with a heart problem they will send you to a&e. There is no desperate need for an urgent meds review unless the meds are upsetting you.
You should have a cardiologist assigned to you. They are available, and you could call their secretary and ask for a phone call if you have a real problem.
There is also the BHF. They have cardio nurses you can talk to
Hope this helps
I have to say that after my HA and stent fitting in Oct 2019, I was due to start my cardio rehab in Dec . However mine was delayed due to personal anxiety issues post HA. I was given counseling for this via the cardio rehab team . Then covid struck and on top of that , I went in for an ICD fitting in May of 2020, so had to postpone my rehab again. However, my cardio rehab team contacted me every 2 weeks without fail to monitor me and my own exercise regime. Also had 4 visits from them pre covid. I finally got my rehab programme sorted in Nov 2020 but by this time I was way fitter than what they expected. They did the bleep test initially and I got right to the highest level without breaking a sweat. I was told to follow the programme if I thought it would help, but I was probably a lot fitter now than the programme levels were intended for. I have also had 3 or 4 phone appointments with my cardiologist too. Don't be afraid to call the cardiologist secretary to get an appointment, mine was very aminable. Hope you get sorted soon.
Cardiac Rehab here in Yeovil is the best (and was probably the first in the country 25 years ago). I attended all the exercises from my heart infarction in 2000 until last year. The classes stopped briefly during the lockdown, and then I became breathless. Had a double bypass 9 weeks ago, and now going to cardiac rehab classes again (they said welcome back!).
The wait at my GP surgery is always like that…for an on-the-day appointment, you have to ring up at 8am sharp about 50 times then wait in a queue for 30mins before being told “the doctor will call you sometime today”.
Last time I checked (in late July) the doors to our surgery weren’t even open. They expect you to shout out your reason for wanting to see the doctor over the telecom in front of a line of other patients!! Thank god I’ve not got a haemorrhoid problem! 😂
All privacy has gone now. When you have to explain everything to a receptionist then a nurse and finally, hopefully a doctor over the phone you have no idea who else is in the room with them.
I never do - I remember wanting to speak to my doctor about the results of my liver scan due to the impact of meds…and they made an appointment for me with the pharmacist!!! I now just say “it’s private” or “it’s relating to my heart failure” - that usually has the desired effect.
Cardiac Rehabilitation at home
Rehabilitation & Meds questions. 
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Rehabilitation blog - my story
Cardio rehabilitation over
