Apologies for the long post, trying to give all relevant information.
10/8/21 I woke in the early hours with what initially felt like indigestion. I rapidly progressed to pain in right arm which went up my neck into my jaw, and had very high BP. I rang 111 who sent an ambulance. They advised hospital, who were very nice. After results back from blood test I saw a doctor who said they thought I was having a heart attack and wanted to start aspirin therapy. I'd been told for 50 years not to take aspirin, and was not at all convinced that I was having a heart attack so we waited for 2nd troponin test. Not heart attack, so had a list of medication to obtain from my GP. Exactly one week later having failed to get medication from GP, not my fault, I again awoke to the same feelings, again early hours of the morning. I followed the advice I had been given and used a GTN spray and that's when things got very unpleasant. I rang 999, they came out, I had all classic symptoms of HA, crushing pain, nausea, sweating but cold, ashen, breathless. The crew took me to hospital, having given me 300 mg of aspirin. No diagnosis of HA, although as far as I remember no 2nd troponin test. Given advice and more medication, and allowed home. 2 days later, here we go again, hospital, this time they found AF.
Following 2 further visits to A&E, and having changed my GP, this one spoke to a cardiologist who recommended another ECG a 24 hr tape and an echo, then I would see him or he would make a recommendation for different meds. All these were done in October but to date I have heard nothing, neither has my GP, I am still symptomatic although rarely fast AF. I appreciate that hospitals are extremely busy, and would be happy with just a phone call. Currently I am assuming they have had a look and I am really not too badly off, so they need to see the sickest people first. Is that a reasonable assumption?
I see posts mentioning EPs, which would seem to be what I need, but so far I have not found anyone at my local hospital who is one of these. Are they available everywhere?
Thanks for reading.
Written by
scentedgardener
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Hello and a very warm welcome to the forum and to all the treasures it hold for you.
Well you have had a bad time of it all so far and you really don’t need me to remind you of that.
Most on here are not medically trained and those that are would find it almost impossible to diagnosis you on here.
Having said the above line we are here to support you on the beginning of your journey right up to it’s end, should you need us.
Yes there are { as we all know } delays left right and centre with not only results being delayed but also operations and all the stages in between .
But I really can’t understand why your Dr cannot chase up the Cardiology dept, for the very minimal to what medication to put you on while waiting your consultation.
You are at the beginning of things and I promise you that once the ball starts rolling you will start feeling better as the mental relief kicks in a bit and you start you treatment.
I wouldn’t worry at the moment { easier said then done } to what you think your treatment will be, because we are all different even if we show the same symptoms.
You are as important as anyone else, your turn will come , but maybe you need to give the system a little push.
Hello. Sorry to hear of your troubles. Please do not assume everything is ok as you’ve not heard. Like me 6 years ago -Your records may have been lost as mine were. Upshot being when I finally got my angiogram (as no heart attack initially detected upon my hospital admission 4 months earlier) I ended up with an emergency double by pass the following day. Cardiologist told my husband I was about to have the big heart attack that I would not survive within the week. With the 100% and 70% blockages to my 2 main arteries. Pester the cardiology department every day until you get your results and get your GP’s secretary on the case as well. Good luck.
Totally agree withChristmas Eve below ( above?). Pester and pester if only for an explanation. I wsa referred to physio last June. By November I'd heard nothing and was in a gony. I phoned. Yes they'd lost my referral. I was seen within a week. He referred me to a neurosurgeon. Heard nothing until today. My GP had tried to contact the physio for a week and failed. He knew I was stuck at home and had more time so he texted me to ask me t o try to get hold of him. Spent 3 hours today ringing 4 different numbers and leaving answer phone messages as it's now urgent. Head physio rang me personally at 5 pm. The neurosurgeon had been off work with a broken shoulder and my referral hadn't even been sent. Physio promised to contact him tomorrow morning. Phone, phone and phone. I have a friend in her 80s whose husband was referred for a very urgent holter monitor and tests, two years and 2 TIA attacks ago- again nothing until last week when his new GP discovered his referral had been lost. He gets is monitor this week and an appointment with he cardiologist next week. Phone, phone, phone!
How rotten for you. What a palaver and everything so vague.
When I had heart issues, I did not grasp that my days were numbered. Looking back, once the consultant saw what was happening, it was all systems go. This was April 2020 when all medical services were being with drawn. But I got the necessary operation and all is now fine..
I hope this might help alleviate your fears. The medics do shift themselves when it gets exceptionally urgent.
Don't want to scare you but I wouldn't say that assuming you're not too badly off is a reasonable assumption. My husband had a lung scan October/November time last year and was told he would have a letter for a follow up appt within a week. The letter didn't arrive and we made the same assumption as you. Phoned GP last week only to be told the surgery had had the results of scan since November 30th, the scan has shown up something worrying but it seems someone had forgotten to make the follow up appt. Appt has now been made and he's seeing a respiratory consultant on Tuesday! I would get onto your GP AND the hospital and find out what is causing the delay! Good luck
Hello, I do hope you are feeling better. I agree totally with what Blue1958 said in terms of you being just as important as anyone else,
I must admit to feeling a little angry when I read your post, only from the perspective that for the past 4 months, until very recently I experienced some similar frustrations, and felt that I was banging my head against a brick wall to get answers. Following bypass surgery, my problem was the medication and no one seemed to have the answers as to what was causing me the constant nausea and vomiting . It is only in the past 10 days that I have had some respite and have started to at least feel a little normal!
I appreciate you have changed your GP, but I wonder if you could speak to the cardiologists secretary to ascertain what is happening.
This was something I did, and although I didn’t feel comfortable ‘bothering’ the cardiologist and his team, between them and the GP, and also I have to say from some of the brilliant colleagues on this forum I managed to get some answers and change some of my medication.
Please do keep on chasing, at one stage I was calling the GP practice every day, and if they were fed up with me, they never said so, and I did get the answers I needed. Please do let us know how you get on, and good luck!
Thank you. I must admit I am reluctant to contact the cardiologist, I only know his name as my GP mentioned it, but he specialises in pacemakers, and I would prefer to talk to someone like an EP.
Hi, it must be whatever you are most comfortable with, though please do keep n trying to get answers. You are just as important as we have said. Take care, Judi
Thank you Judi. I'm afraid I get quite short tempered when I'm given the runaround, which in my experience of the local hospital happens a lot.When I was chasing up a follow up CT scan (for something else) I was told I'd had it on a specific date. When I said I hadn't I was told that they had not only checked with my name but with my hospital number as well! On the basis of approx 12 hours observation in A&E they decided I had permanent asymptomatic AF which is not correct. That's just 2 instances, I could go on.
As far as i am aware the EP looks after the electrics so very helpful with initial diagnosis. He then referred me to the Cardiologist who looked after the "plumbing".
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