Help!

[Meysha]

I recently was told by my GP that she thinks I have Atrial Fibrillation & I have a High risk of stroke/heart attack & I am waiting for results of ECG & 24 hour ambulatory ECG. I have been told that results will not be available for two & a half months & my anxiety levels are through the roof. I don't know how I can wait that long without having a nervous breakdown.

[Hidden]

hi that seems like a long time to wait and from experience the waiting is the worst bit about these things. I think with the monitor they can have a backlog of results to be analysed, same with echo. BUT if there was anything serious or requiring immediate action they would contact you sooner. If they are ready but waiting for a doctor to review you might be able to request copies through the PALS service for your hospital but with the utmost respect they can be difficult to understand in some aspects and you might also unnecessarily scare yourself. I’ve learnt so much over last 11 months a whole different language! I did get mine, I’m glad I did and it took a lot of looking up medical terms and looking at research to understand bits as well as asking questions in here noting no one is a medical expert. I’d say don’t worry but totally know that is not easy. Hope you get response soon, btu these things aren’t always quick and that is the hard to deal with. Good luck.

[Meysha in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply & the info.It's a very long time to wait, although if there is anything serious I would hope they would contact me sooner.

I did have a similar episode about 5 years ago, but was told it was ectopic I was having & there was nothing wrong, so I'm clinging onto the hope that it's the same this time, but the palpitations have been worse this time & I don't know whether ectopics can be as frequent & long-lasting .

Watch this space.

[NLGA in reply to Meysha]

I have AF but my echo showed no issues in the main for someone my age and a bit over weight slight Mitrial regurgitation so you can haveAF and with medication not have problems going forward

Have you been checking your heartbeat and blood pressure? Are you on a thinner at all

I am in beta blocker and Edoxaban

[Meysha in reply to NLGA]

Not on thinner but do check my heartbeat & pulse. It is usually strong & regular apart from the glitters & palpitations in between.

[NLGA in reply to Meysha]

I was in hospital for 5 days with a pulse of 178 at first i dam sure it’s Ben that high before as I walked into A and E and they put me on Edoxaban to stop any clots it may be worth just asking about it although I know every case is different

[Yumz199725 in reply to Hidden]

I agree the waiting is the worst part about any tests you have.

[10gingercats]

If your GP is pretty sure you have AFib. and therefore have a much higher risk of stroke than non afibbers then I say 'as a non medic' she should give you an anticoagulant if it going to be two months plus to get results. We A fibbers are definitely at a greater risk of stroke and I think your doc. should acknowledge that and try as much as she can to protect you. It can be stopped if she is proved wrong........and who wants a heart attack either?

[Meysha in reply to 10gingercats]

Thanks for your post. It feels good just to be able to share the worry.With regard to thedoctor, trying to even get an appt is a joke.

I had bloods taken two weeks ago & the results are at the GP. Receptionist phoned me to tell me the Doctor had made an appt for 4th January to discuss results . I wasnt happy to wait that long, but they wouldn't tell me the results & said that the doctor was far too busy to phone me. Obviuosly, there is nothing serious showing up otherwise they would have me in sooner but their attitude leaves a lot to be desired .

[devonian186 in reply to Meysha]

Its easy to get an appointment. Just collapse on the harbour side and Doc Martin will run to your rescue in 5 minutes. Alternatively just turn up at his surgery and he will see you immediately.

I do wonder if real GP's watch the programme and have any thoughts as to whether discouraging patients has consequences and perhaps they need to be more responsive.

We have daily texts from our GP telling us not to contact them except in a dire situation and if its THAT dire to phone 999 or 111.

[Meysha in reply to devonian186]

Funnily enough, I've thought that more than once. Oh to live in the unreal world!

[10gingercats in reply to devonian186]

I have just done that!Turned up at the local eye hospital.Got seen eventually and got fantastic checks with scans and photos taken. Optician told me to do this as she was too busy to see me before New Year.

[Chinkoflight in reply to Meysha]

Hi Meysha, I have mentioned this in another query about access to information. If you download the NHS app there is a facility to register to access your GP information on line. This is likely to be a handful of years of data but it will include all appointments history, Dr's notes, test results and correspondence including letters to and from hospital etc. Sometimes you can see this information sooner than it reaches you. For me for example, I saw the consultants discharge letter on my GP page 4 days after my appointment but received my copy by post much later. It is worth exploring if you are able to get online. I think most GP's are linked into the systems.Good luck with the original reason for posting.

[Yumz199725 in reply to Chinkoflight]

I did this and I'm so glad i did it literally as every test, appointment, hospital letter you have ever had and I didn't receive all of my most recent clinic letter and when I got access to NHS online I was able to read the missing hospital letter pages. Definitely recommend doing it.

[HeronNS]

Waiting is the worst. I spent ages trying to get my t-score from a DXA scan. My Dr (who received only a summary report) told me I had osteoporosis and needed to take a medication. I wanted to have more info, and finally, after several months, got the right contact info, only to be told that it was confidential. I laughed and said "But I'm the patient". Person at other end of line said she would have to discuss this with someone else and would get back to me. She called a couple of hours later and told me my t-score was -2. Which is NOT osteoporosis. I literally began to feel lighter - lighter and lighter all day as the weight lifted from my shoulders. It really is a cruelty not to involve patients more throughly in their own care by providing us as much info as they reasonably can concerning our condition.

Sequel: I improved my bone density through natural means, which I would not have known to do without test results!

I hope you can find out sooner rather than later. Good Luck!

[TeresaMay]

I had a similar diagnosis after knowing I had other heart problems. Still fighting fit and have forgotten the worries. So don't worry, let your GP do the worrying. Happy Christmas.

[Meysha in reply to TeresaMay]

Thank you. Have a happy Christmas too.

[JeremiahObadiah]

Good Morning

Alert-I have no knowledge of AF so please ignore me if I’m wrong.

Are there any things one can change to assist the body whilst waiting to get medical information/possible treatment ?

I’m thinking along the lines of stopping drinking any form of caffeine /trying to walk for 30mins every day… Does anyone reading this have any info on this?

Would a phone call to a BHF nurse help with advice/reassurance?

Sorry you are having this worry.

[Meysha in reply to JeremiahObadiah]

Thanks for your thoughts. I haven't drunk tea or coffee for years & I do try to exercise but have been told not to until I get diagnosis.

[onadiet in reply to JeremiahObadiah]

I stopped coffee and try to eat healthy. I do 10000 steps most days..Have high bp and these measures do work a bit. I am 72.

[samui4611]

Try not to get stressed had AF for 25 years ,still plodding along ,a pacemaker works miracles,

good luck in the future.

[Hidden]

Make sure you are eating the right amount of potassium, magnesium sodium and chloride each day-these are the chemicals which control and trigger the heartbeat in the sinus node in your heart. Check to see what fruits and veggies contain these electrolytes, (that's what they are called). People who exercise sometimes take electrolytes to help balance their system after exertion. I take an electrolyte tablet twice a day to ensure my AF doesn't recur-I was hospitalised with HR of 155 and low potassium and after a shot of that into my tummy I reverted and have been ok since. I know they say just eat a balance diet, but much of our food these days is depleted of nutrients because of poor soil management. It won't hurt to the something like that and it may help you to relax a bit knowing you are taking the thing which CAN help. Good luck, and involve the patient liaison people PALS to get your results faster.

[onadiet in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. That info.helos.

[Wanderinglady]

I have permanent Afib. But didn’t get diagnosed until recently. Whilst I waited for my hospital appointment the nurse at my gp practice prescribed anticoagulants and a beta blocker. I think there is a ‘pathway’ that they are supposed to follow. Anticoagulants are the main thing to stop strokes. I suggest you phone the helpline at the British Heart Foundation and have a chat with one of their nurses. They are brilliant at giving info. Don’t be fobbed off by the GP, I was and my intermittent Afib turned to permanent. Hope you get answers soon.

[Qualipop]

That wait is very unlikely. IT depends whether your G P has marked it urgent. I recently had a 24 hour holter monitor ( which fell off after 8 hours) and the results were back within a week although the hospital said it woudl be longer. Of course Christmas will slow things down a bit. If you do have AF, it's unlikely it would cause such a problem so quickly.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Meysha

Just to let you know that there is a forum on Health Unlocked just for people with AF. Just about everyone there will understand your situation. I notice a few responses you had to this BHF forum were from members on the AF one.

Here is the link. I'd place a question there:

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

Jean