Heart Failure Nurse

[Seaguller]

Hi

People with heart failure, how often do you see your nurse?

[Chappychap]

Hello Seaguller.

I can't answer specifically for heart failure, but following heart surgery or a "heart incident" such as a serious heart attack, the general pattern of care is an annual cardio check-up with either your GP or with a specialist cardio nurse at the practise. This normally consists of a basic ECG, a suite of blood tests, blood pressure, heart rate, and you'll be weighed and questioned on your life style with respect to issues like exercise, smoking, and drinking. This is also the main opportunity for your GP to adjust your medication, or if more serious problems have arisen, refer you to a local cardiology unit.

Due to Covid many people on this forum report that their annual check-up has been done mainly by telephone, dropping the ECG but with blood tests retained. GP's seem to be recommending that patients buy a home blood pressure test kit and monitor their blood pressure twice a day for seven days, then submit those results for evaluation by the GP.

Hope that's useful.

[Hidden]

Mine is every two weeks, but that maybe because of an on-going problem.

She is excellent and very professional, I have blood pressure done, bloods taken for kidney/liver damage due to medication.

She will listen to my heart and check my legs and neck for water retention.

She always asks how I am and has fought my corner when I couldn’t get through to my Dr’s about medication etc

She really has been a God send to me and with her help my recovery is marching on.

Take care mr Seaguller, I wish for you all the very best in your continuing journey.

[Seaguller]

Thanks. If you don't mind me asking, what medsbare you on?

[Hidden]

Initially, it was every month (phone or in-person) now it's every 3 months (in-person).

[Seaguller]

Thanks

[bones-bones]

Never!

[CraftingNancy]

Currently phone call or face-2-face every two weeks, but I am still needing blood tests for deranged kidney function fortnightly. I am also on list for ICD. Am assuming that once stable it will go to monthly, quarterly, 6 monthly etc