Questions to ask cardiology consultant at first consultation following diagnosis recieved by mail.

[Toasty-McToast-Face]

Hi everyone, I want to get the most out of my upcoming consultation and wanted advice on must ask questions, can you help?

[Hidden]

Dear Toasty-McToast-Face {love the name}

A good question but one that is so hard to answer, but the key to a successful meeting with your cardiologist is to write down everything that you wish to ask about.

Listen to his/hers explanation of your diagnosis and question each part until you understand it before they move on.

All cardiologists are {like us} different, mine is interested that I am interested in what’s going on with my heart.

I wanted full details of everything and anything that was going to happen, others would rather not know.

Most first meetings are a doorway to more tests, your cardiologist may have enough information to tell you about the next step they he/she feels will help you.

Take everything slowly, you can take a partner in with you {check hospital first} but above all question each stage of your meeting.

So what do you want to know? And just how much? Your correspondence will give you clues to your questions, your Dr will be able to tell you your diagnosis to date that will help you.

Above all its all about you and that is important, your body, your mind, your worries and your fears.

Ask the questions that will help you face the next stage of your treatment and address any of those fears and worries.

My experience with severe illnesses in the past is that many medical professionals tend to keep away from answering questions about longevity,

but pushed they will do based on other patients outcome.

Often I say that you are not alone, but I understand that in this situation you can feel it, you will get through it and at the end of your meeting hopefully you will be better armed to face your future.

Take care and please keep us informed of the outcome.

[Toasty-McToast-Face in reply to Hidden]

Hi Blue1958, thanks for taking time to reply. I've had a couple of hours to spare today and pulled together the following thoughts. Like you I would rather have all the information around what is likely to happen going forward.

Here is what I have so far, if you or anyone reading this have anything to add or query please feel free to respond...

1. What fluid and dietary guidelines may I need to make to manage my condition?

2. How often will you be recommending check up's and other monitoring with yourself or my GP to monitor my condition given that:

i) previous ECGs showed hypertrophy but no LVOT to suspect Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at that time (dates unknown).

ii) having been seen yourself on the 12/10/21 at the TIA clinic and having had an ECG and stethoscope examination you commented that while you did detect a murmur present that it wasn't of any concern at that time.

I have to note that it appears that following my echocardiogram examination on the 09/03/22 my condition has either worsened significantly within a short time frame or been missed previously.

3. Given that at the time of this consultation I have had neither the 24hr Holter (requested 06/04/22 due 20/05/22) nor the Cardiac MRI (requested 06/04/22 with no appointment specified as yet) would I be having a follow up with yourself as soon as these results are available.

4. With regard to the Cardiac MRI I have contacted secretaries on several occasions to follow up and to try and secure an appointment prior to this consultation, currently to no end. Would you be willing to weigh in on this to help secure said test asap?

5. I believe one of the purposes of today's consultation is to risk stratify me.

How is this assessed?

How do my heart health/symptoms/risk factors score on a scale of 1 to 10?

Based on other patient outcome what would be the expected sequence of treatments and over what time frame.

6. With regard to my medication I have noticed no alteration/improvement in my symptoms nor significant signs of side effects other than headaches which I rarely suffered from previously. Will you be looking to increase the dosage of my beta blockers and what side effects could I expect from doing so and how will this be monitored?

7. Is it possible that I also have Angina, how can this be confirmed or dismissed?

8. My symptoms do make it uncomfortable to walk even short distances, or to crouch and stand at times varying from discomfort in the chest, having to pause to either catch my breath and or to stabilise myself having become dizzy with my vision closing in.

9. Recently while watching T.V. on the evening of the 6th April my heart rate went up to 118bpm with a strange sensation in my left arm, this lingered for an hour or so until my partner took me to urgent care. An E.C.G. was taken 4-5hrs later and I was discharged.

While relaxing on a quite holiday in Mull on the 19th April my heart rate went up to 120bpm reducing to 90bpm after 15mins (normal bpm low to mid 70s).

On the 3rd and 4th of May I experienced palpitations (arterial fibrillation?) on both evenings each lasting in excess of 5 mins with the later lasting 13 mins. Contacted 111 the following day who queried whether I should be on some form of blood thinners, had a telephone consultation with a GP from my surgery and started on soluble Aspirin 75mg/day.

10. In addition to chest pain/discomfort/tightness, light headedness/near passing out, fatigue and heaviness off limb I have been noticing discomfort in the left side of my neck just above the collar bone and odd sensations/numbness in left arm. Most symptoms appear worse after meals and occur in all aspects of my life.

11. I have no desire to pester yourself or the GPs surgery but need to feel confident that I am receiving the correct and timely treatment. How will tests and monitoring be managed going forward.

12. Who should I contact should my symptoms change or new ones arise 111 or the GPs surgery if available?

Thanks for reading and possibly your comments.

[Hidden in reply to Toasty-McToast-Face]

Well that certainly seems like a comprehensive list of questions that has the potential of giving the answers you need.Good luck, there is nothing I can add as your questions are very individual to your self, take care

[Toasty-McToast-Face in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, just trying to make sure I haven't overlooked any obvious question.Stay safe and take care of yourself Blue1958

[Heartattackvictim]

Good luck. I had my second cardiologist appointment in March but over the phone. He asked me how I had been, I explained issues of angina. He said he would write to my GP to prescribe an additional drug, and without pausing for breath he said "but bye John" and put the phone down before I could ask any of my 8 questions! Total time of call: 3 minutes 28 seconds.

However, once I'd been on the new drug, which was working a treat and has really helped me become even more active, I then had a phone consultation with my GP. at the surgery's insistence. I was offered an in person consultation with him. In contrast that consultation lasted just over 10 minutes and all my questions were answered - although he did say he was 'just' (just!!) the message boy in this.

So make sure you prioritise your questions and somehow get in the fact you have a number of questions for him/her.

[Toasty-McToast-Face in reply to Heartattackvictim]

Thanks for the heads up HAVI'll let you all know how I get on.

[croggler]

Can I ask how long you were waiting for results from MRI please? I’m 3 months down the line & still no results. Cardiology appointment next month tho

[Toasty-McToast-Face in reply to croggler]

Sorry to say I haven't even had the MRI yet.I hope you get those results soon. Are you chasing up with GP or cardiologist secretary?

[croggler in reply to Toasty-McToast-Face]

Secretary told me the GP gets the results at the same time as me. Yes I’ve rung hospital 3 times now. I hope you get your MRI soon & results a lot quicker than me !

[Siamesechris]

7 weeks so far

[Toasty-McToast-Face]

Wow, things really are backlogged aren't they. Upto this point test and results were fairly prompt.