Is it normal to not meet your cardiologist?

[Millie19735]

Hi everyone ,

In February I had a operation for a 17mm x7mm kidney stone . After the operation I didn’t feel well but put this down to the operation , then I ended up with a chest infection and a cold . I thought this would be down to my immune system being low . Then I started to have a burning pain in my left arm which would radiate down to my hand and would be extremely painful

Around April I started to have chest pain radiating into my jaw, neck left arm . I went to A&E and they did all the usual tests and sent me home , My urology team got in contact with cardiology as they were concerns with my symptoms as I was due to go back under general for another operation . I had a cardiologist phone me , I explained to her what was going on regarding the pain etc and I could no longer do a 12hr shift as I couldn’t walk up the stairs without extreme breathlessness and chest pains ( before my operation I worked as a HCA I had no problems at all working 4-5 shifts a week and now I couldn’t do 1 shift ) , I had a CT angiogram with contrasting die and they doing that my LAD artery had a 50/60 % blockage but they said my symptoms are A symptomatic and said I was fine to go under general surgery . I was due to have general surgery again in May but I explained the symptoms I was having to the urology team and they refused to go ahead with the procedure as the hospital I was at didn’t have a ICU and they wanted me to see the cardiologist to discuss what was going on .

I tried to contact my cardiologist by phone but they refused to see me as I had been discharged by my GP. Has anyone else had this problem ? My GP has now referred me back to the rapid chest pain clinic last week and I had an ECG at my GP surgery and blood test taken for Heart Failure, as I have Edema in both legs and breathlessness and still have ongoing chest pain at rest . After having my ECG the nurse said the GP would want to discuss the results of the test but all I was told that the GP had looked at the ECG and I could go home . No discussion with the GP at all. Is this normal ?

I have never met the cardiologist who is in charge of me . Is this standard procedure? He only knows what’s going on through my GP and the CT angiogram .

I am due to go back under general surgery again on the 25th June . Urology have sent him another stating that they refused to do it at the previous hospital as there was no ICU unit or critical care and could he advise them , what would be the best for them to do regarding myself .

The cardiologist has not got back to urology and I am terrified , I might wake up in worse pain than I am already in .as I’m due to have the procedure next Monday .

Has anyone else had this problem with cardiology not responding or refusing to see you unless referred back by your GP ?

This is all new to me so I don’t know what procedure cardiologists have seeing there patients ?

Thank you x

[seniorita]

Sorry you're having such a rotten time.I have had several ECGs at the GP surgery, the nurse has to show it to a doctor then you usually go home. On one occasion the GP came charging in but the nurse fended him off, but it could have been a guilty conscience on his part because he'd been pretty negligent during the onset of my problems.

I would think a conversation with your local PALS office might generate some action by the cardioligist. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to seniorita]

Re PALs. Good advice 👍

[Millie19735 in reply to seniorita]

Hi Seniorita,

Thank you for your reply .

To be honest as this is all new to me , I’m unsure with what is the right procedure to follow .

I will certainly be contacting PALS . I don’t know if they will do anything but it’s worth a try .

Even if it raises there awareness with what’s going on not just myself but others as well.

I hope your situation has been sorted now and you are recovering the care you deserve.

Take care

Michelle x

[seniorita in reply to Millie19735]

I think part of the problem is lack of communication. People who work with these problems don't seem to understand it's NOT routine to us, and we don't have their depth of knowledge about it.I hope you have contacted PALS by now. Good luck.

[MountainGoat52]

Hi Millie,

Oh dear, it appears that the various departments in your local health area are not working together. Under those circumstances, I think your GP should be doing more to pull things together. Perhaps you can speak to him / her and discuss the situation and air your concerns.

From my experience, it can be so different. When I had my heart attack I was blue lighted to the cath lab at Kettering and had excellent treatment. I was referred to Papworth where 11 months later I had a bypass op. Papworth advised Northampton of my case and even before I was discharged by Papworth, I had a consultation at Northampton. Rehab had been delayed after my heart attack on account of my referral and I was contacted by Kettering once Papworth discharged me. 3 separate hospitals working together to provide seamless healthcare. It can be done!

I hope things come together for you soon.

Gerald

[Millie19735 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Thank you for your reply Gerald.I hope you are well now and you are still receiving excellent care .

It’s lovely to read a positive outcome was achieved for you at an extremely stressful time.

Unfortunately I’ve had problems with my GP as well, I went to my GP 3 weeks ago still with chest pain. The GP put up my dosage of elantan from 25mg to 50mg and said he would refer me back to rapid chest pain clinic

I went back to the GP with ongoing chest pain last week to be told the previous Dr did not refer me back to the rapid chest pain clinic at all .

So now have been referred by the last GP I had seen last week . To be honest the whole process has been an absolute nightmare .

I due to go back under general anaesthetic on Monday and so unsure of what the outcome will be .

[richard_jw]

I would be inclined to talk to PALS at the hospital. This sounds like multi disciplines are not satisfactorily communicating. BTW I only met my cardiologist when he did a check angiogram a year after my original STEMI. There do not seem to be enough cardiologists to go around. Could be as a result of Covid

[gladliz]

You don't by any chance have to cross borders for your treatment do you? It's not major in my case but as an example, my Optician is based in England, I live about 15 miles away in Wales. On a couple of occasions he has wanted to refer me to the opthalmic dept for a check up. He can't refer me directly to his local hospital as I live in Wales and he can't refer me directly to my local hospital (2 miles from where I live) as he is in England. He has to write and get my almost non existant GP/locum ask them to refer me.

I saw him in January and since checking that the surgery had received the request and passed it on to the hospital I have heard nothing. Obviously the National bit of NHS doesn't mean the same to them as it does to me.

Hope you manage to get it sorted and your 'op goes ok.

[Millie19735 in reply to gladliz]

Hi gladliz

Thank you for your reply.

Unfortunately this is all at the same general hospital .

They seem to be very slow at everything.

It has taken 4 weeks for the urology consultant to sign a letter to cardiology.

The letter was written on the 27th May and the urology consultant signed it on the 21st June. I don’t know how long it takes for a electronic letter to go to another department but I’m hoping cardiology with look at it before the 25th July , when I am due for my next operation .

I hope they manage to sort out your appointment for you sooner rather than later

[MrsSuzuki]

I'm really sorry to hear what you are going through. It seems to be the case for quite a few of us not seeing a cardiologist.I had a HA in December last year and haven't seen or spoken to one, never mind not knowing his name.

🤔.My GP referred me to the rapid (oh yeah) chest pain clinic on a 2week referral, that was over 7 weeks ago.

Good advice though from seniorita about PALS.

Lily

[Millie19735 in reply to MrsSuzuki]

Thank you for your reply MrsSuzuki.Rapid really doesn’t seem to be the operative word at the moment .

Sorry to read you have gone through the same thing regarding seeing a cardiologist.

I honestly thought when you had heart problems you would see the cardiologist dealing with you .

Just proves I know very little regarding the NHS.

I hope you get to see someone at the rapid chest pain clinic sooner rather than later .

Michelle

[Bassman65]

I have never seen my cardiologist, some of his registrar’s yes, I think this is common as I rarely see my orthopaedic consultant either, usually a registrar unless they request his presence to check something

[Millie19735 in reply to Bassman65]

Hi Bassman65

Thank for your reply .

It’s all seems a little strange to me not seeing your cardiologist or not meeting them at least once , just for a face to face appointment and to explain your symptoms etc , as they are only being told from your GP what’s going on .

Take care

Michelle

[Hidden]

I know I have a complicated history, but, in 36 years or so, every appt that I've had to see a Cardiologist, thats who I've seen. In all those years, my care has been by only two Cardiologists, the second of which has been seeing me since the mid-90s. My next appt in August will be the 4th in about 13 months. That's gone a long way in trusting the professionals who look after me. I've even had the same surgical team carry out two AV/MV replacement surgeries.

Maybe I shouldn't be, but, I'm amazed that patients dont always see a Cardiologist. It just seems so wrong to me.

[MrsSuzuki in reply to Hidden]

It's a postcode lottery I'm afraid.I live in Lincolnshire and it's appalling.

Lily

[Millie19735 in reply to MrsSuzuki]

Hi Heedio

Thank you for your reply .

It’s lovely to read that you have been seen by your cardiologist at every appointment and you have remained with the same two. I think that really helps as they will know you on a one to one basis .

Also that you have had the same surgical team as well which is fantastic.

I hope all goes well for you on August 4th .

Take care

Michelle x

[Anon2023]

Hi. The only time I saw my cardiologist was when I was in hospital and was seriously ill. They say I won’t see him again unless I have another “event”. I had more contact with the surgeon who performed my open heart surgery but he discharged me 6 weeks after. I saw a cardiologist at another hospital for atrial flutter 7 months after my hospitalisation who kindly explained my diagnosis and prognosis. I was lucky that he was prepared to spend the time to do this as his remit was technically to look at my AF. I think that being a heart patient at the moment can be like being on a conveyor belt. They try and move you through the system as fast as possible so that they can treat more people. I haven’t seen my gp since early last year despite having two open heart surgeries, a stroke and endocarditis within 5 months. It’s absolutely not ideal but it’s a reality given the pressure that the nhs is under.

[Millie19735]

Hi Anon2023, Thank you for your reply . I hope you are on the road to recovery .

Unfortunately as you say it’s the reality of the pressure the NHS is under.

They are trying to do the best they can with so little resources.

It’s all very scary to say the least .

Take care

Michelle

[onadiet]

Yes. Having similar experience. All seems very haphazard.Got sent to Emergency SDEc. via my Dr.to see Cardiologist last week. There 12 hours & never did see Cardio. Was sort of monitored by Nurses & usual blood tests done 2 ECG. Given Nitrite Spray & then sent home. 5 days later I got copy of letter sent to my Dr.This telling them of results of tests. Cardio.saying them he will see me anytime again if my Dr.wants to re refer me? Told by Ambulance crew I have RBBB & over the phone by Nurse that I have Angina. That's it!! Already on Amlodipine, ,Atorvastatin ,Omeprazole ,now Bisoprolol. All by observation only!! What's going on.

[BC4ever]

Were you not assigned Cardiac Rehabilitation? I have a Cardiac Nurse who deals with my case. She contacts my Cardiologist if there are any problems. Good luck.