I recently had a heat attack whilst abroad on New Year's Day, and had fantastic treatment and from arriving at the hospital to the operating table was just 90 mins. Had a stent inserted and sent home after 4 days. Then told to contact my GP back in UK, to get a referral to get cardio rehab.. Got a letter from my Dr saying some one will contact me. Nothing happened so as instructed called to chase them up, to be told that they haven't even looked at my details yet and it could be up to 9 months before I hear anything..! Is this the norm !
How do I know how much I can do without damaging my heart further?
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Mulgrave23
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Cardio Rehab is organised by the hospital that treated you, not your GP. But of course you don't have a UK hospital because you were treated abroad. I can only suggest that you go back to the person you spoke to who said it might be nine months and push for something sooner.
Nine months certainly isn't the norm, Cardio Rehab normally begins about six to eight weeks after discharge from hospital. And that's also true for people who had open heart surgery, so are pretty knocked about!
Many people on this forum report Cardio Rehab as a critical turning point in their recovery. It's where you receive personalised information on medication and life style changes. These are the only two things that can reduce the risk of another heart attack. Not stents or other surgical interventions, just medication and life style changes. So it's important that you have all the information needed to implement these two factors to the absolute max.
One possible interim measure. BHF (who sponsor this forum) ran an on line Cardio Rehab course during lock down, if that's still going then it could be an option that get's you started. It won't have the personalised exercise targets that face to face Cardio rehab provides, but in the meantime it's surely better than nothing.
Cheers TWU.. unfortunately I'm down south, but I'm sure I source somewhere. Although I at the time I didn't know I was having a heart attack, they told my family if I had waited another hour or two, I probably wouldn't be here today, was a bit of a scare and I don't want to put the family through that again.. So determined to get on top of this..
I had stents put in 6 years ago in 2 sep procedures. Second heart attack last Sept 2022. Never seen a cardiologist even once. Not a single follow up for either. NHS has become a joke sorry to say.
And many would agree. I suppose it depends on what number you roll in the current game of NHS dice. Myself I'd say I rolled a two. Not quite shambolic, but poor to say the least. Two decades earlier, my father, in the same position, rolled a 6, receiving exemplary care, so I think I am in a good position to judge how far standards have slipped.
I am sure some would. Every person has a right to their opinion. However, there is no denying that it was excellent before govt started meddling. Closing hospitals, issuing medicinal remits, time restrictions, administration constrains, system constraints etc...the Dr's landed up doing less of their job, forced into doing less for patients and have to concentrate more about keeping lousy govt schemes and systems ticking. They are reduced to administrators not life savers. Ask any doc over the age of 50. They will know and are saddened by it.
Its self inflicted by govt. interference where not necessarily, not the medical profession.
My HA was 4 years ago; like yu I've never seen a cardiologist and was point blank refused rehab because I'm in a wheelchair. I did find o ut 2 y ears later that I should have had rehab but he nurse I saw assumed wrongly I wouldn't be able to even try it. I wish I'd known I could ask to see someone else because rehab is essential.
I didn't even know there was such a thing as Rehab and still don't know what it entails. Guess I have "rehabed" myself for the second time now. Lol.No one mentioned it even. My RA specialist was amazed I hadn't seen a cardiologist (6 years ago after stents) and said he would progess it, but never heard back. Maybe they decided I was not at risk?
This time I am glad I had to learn on my own and happy with my progress so far.
I'm so sorry it looks as if I replied to you instead of he original poster but I agree with what you said. Doctors hate he way the system is now. Rehab is gym based exercises suited to your ability and condition. Everyone who has had a heart attack or stents fitted should be offered rehab ; I think it's for around 6 weeks- could be wrong as I wasn't allowed but I know it would have done wonders for my confidence to do things under supervision.
Thanks Qualipop. That would have been nice to have but its too late, in a way the struggle was a good for me too, cause I had to learn and became more in tune with what my body needs, so worked out my own simple exercise routine, reduced meds, foods, natural remedies and occasionally supplements when needed. Due for a blood test tomorrow so will see if the "numbers" are better too. I think they didn't offer it this time cause I checked myself out after they tried to insist on being tested with a view to shift me into a covid ward!
Hi Mulgrave, your story only helps me to decide ro move abroad. Our NHS isn't what it used to be, all the excuses procided don't, in my opinion, suffice to explain the sudden decline. Out of interest, where were you when you had your heart attack and treatment?
I was told they also have a few problems but a few of the Dr's and Nurses I spoke to, have moved from the UK because of the decline in support across the NHS from the individual Trusts and Government.
Very sad.. my wife was a nurse for about 25 years, and it breaks her heart to see how the whole system has turn from a vocational role all about caring to what seems to be just a job. Don't get me wrong, I fully support the fact nurses are poorly paid for the work they do.. but perhaps culling the multitude of managers and using those funds for nurses may be a start.. sorry off my soapbox now..
Can't comment on "pushing yourself" as that's very much down to the individual. As for rehab, I'm down south too and have been attending rehab since before christmas (ha late november). Rehab nurses contacted me by phone shortly after coming out of hospital. I even have a direct number to ring one of them if I feel the need.
Hi Hrty..I'm glad you're getting the support you need, I think as someone mentioned earlier, it seems to be a bit of a post code lottery.. It may be because I had the treatment abroad. Best wishes on your recovery..
There does seem to be a big variation in follow up treatment across the country. According to the hospital website our cardiology department has close links with Papworth and Brompton which may explain why follow up seems good. The new cath lab only opened a few months before my episode. Mind you, the A&E dept can be variable. Best of luck with your recovery too.
I had a similar experience whilst abroad. I had an NSTEMI at the beginning of January 2022 whilst on holiday. They were also great and I had a lot of tests in a short amount of time. I came back to the U.K. with the same instructions as yours, and I had to wait 9 months just to see a cardiologist on the NHS!
I still haven’t had cardio rehab and it’s been over a year. I’m currently under going private care to sort out my medications and any other tests that might’ve been missed in the U.K.
I hope you don’t have to wait much longer. Good luck
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