not happy!

[Bartie123]

feeling abandoned!

Hi everyone! In two days time it will be the third year anniversary of my stent operation. I didn’t have a heart attack. Just shortness of breath and the angiogram (I think) found a “severe” blockage in my LAD. I assumed)dangerous) that I’d be back to normal after the stent. But here I am, three years on suffering increased s.o.b.

My cardiologist signed me off his clinic(phone calls) list in summer 2021 suggesting I should have breathing tests. I paid for these as the nhs list was so long but they proved nothing apart from the fact I was allergic to various sprays and pills.

My GP is sympathetic and I trust her implicitly but she is not a cardiologist as she has said several times.

Has anyone any advice? I know I am 87 but until all this happened I was fit and healthy.

I take the usual aspirin statinnramipril and bisoprolol cocktail.

Apologies if I’ve bored you but I really do feel low.

Jane.

[Czech_Mate]

Hi

Sorry to hear you're feeling low.

I don't feel that great myself today. I feel that the drugs I'm taking are not working together well. It's been a foggy morning here but it seems that we'll get a sunny afternoon. By the end of the week we'll have frost by all accounts. I must get out into the garden this afternoon and make the most of it. I have a splitting headache but don't want to take more tablets. Somewhere I have some ointment to put on the forehead

I have family but I'm not sure they know how I feel physically or mentally. They mistake my dry humour for depression. At least our dog understands me . She has such expressive eyes that she doesn't need spoken language.

Sorry to go on. Hope I'm helping at least a bit.

Have a good afternoon.

[Bartie123 in reply to Czech_Mate]

thank you!

[Hidden]

Hello Jane

That is my middle name

I am sorry you feel so abandoned through my heart issues I have felt that way to so I know how it feels and reading your post you have certainly not bored me and when you are feeling so low that is the best time to reach out for help or some kind words as I think it goes a long way to know someone is listening and many as they see your post will give you helpful replies

The only thing I can think of and may I say age is just a number so because you are 87 does not mean getting to the bottom of this should be any different to any other age we may be but could you put it to your Doctor that as no reason has been found to why you are breathless could you be referred back to the Cardiologist and that she asks for you to be seen again

I am sure if she explains to them that you have had all other tests done that it could be due to and they are fine so would they take another look at you there is no reason they should refuse

Please if you need to talk just post and someone will answer

Let us know how you get on x

[Bartie123 in reply to Hidden]

got an appointment with my gp on the phone on 7th November!

[Hidden in reply to Bartie123]

Hello

Well I suppose we shall have to try and stay positive you have an appointment even though 3 weeks waiting is something else !

Use that time to start writing down everything so when you get that call you do not miss anything out as they can make us feel rushed and then we do and getting anther appointment is not easy is it

Good Luck and let us know how you get on , try and be assertive and tell yourself you will not be fobbed of x

[Hatchjd]

I had a 90% blockage of the LAD in 2019. An echo the day after showed decreased EF of 46% due to ischemia. I hadn't' seen a doctor since I was discharged after cardiac rehab with the usual meds. My GP ran some labs after I requested them in 2020 but said all fine. I chose to see a cardiologist privately this summer. He did a repeat echo and stress test. Fortunately, my tests showed improvement. The costs were £200 for the cardiologist, £450 each for the echo and the stress test. Not inexpensive, but worth every penny to find out what condition my heart was in.

[Geoff51 Heart Star]

Although I am only a youngster of 71 compared to you and my HA was 12.5 years ago, I am on roughly the same meds, namely Aspirin, Atorvastatin, Bisoprolol, Amalopidine, Ramipril, and Omeprazole. I saw my Cardiologist last Christmas and he upped the strength of most of them and added Dapagliflozin, honestly, I feel better now than I have for a long time and have been signed off back to my GP. I get short of breath due to the fact that I was a baker for 50 years as was my Father and Grandfather and my lungs are damaged owing to continual exposure to flour dust, but inhalers help with that. What I am trying to say is that keep up with the meds and if you are not happy get your GP to refer you back to the Cardiologist for further assessment and dont take no for an answer.

[MONIREN]

 Sorry to hear that you are feeling down, quite understandable. Is there anyway you can get another cardiologist? I'm regional Australia and even though in the bush, there are a couple of them. It can be worthwhile. You can ask and check the price beforehand. Depending on cardiologist,they can be same price as gp consultation. Being on the heart journey can be scary. But you do deserve peace of mind. Take care. Moni