Long short short: chest pains and palpitations became too much
went to urgent care/A&E section (was called the ambulatory something)
Found nothing wrong, gave me naproxen.
Because of the exertion of the trip(if that makes sense) the symptoms are now worse.
Absolutely exhausting me, it almost feels like I have cramps in my chest.
I need to go private because even if it’s still hard detect, I need relief. I can’t keep getting scared I won’t make it through the night or that something is going to happen to me thst leaves me worse off.
god.
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Sleepybear987
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So sorry what you are going through and hw you are suffering and if private will get you the answers you need I really hope it works and so you do not have to keep feeling this way
I'm in a similar situation, I'll likely be doing the same in a week or so... haven't had a full night's sleep in weeks and it's telling... on top of everything else.
It's your money, and you're completely free to spend it in whatever way brings you the most joy or satisfaction.
However, let me make two points.
Firstly, no matter how much you spend it's extremely unlikely to change the medical outcome. When I was first hospitalised awaiting bypass surgery I was in a small ward with two other guys who also had heart issues. One was extremely agitated, the other was completely unconcerned. The laid back guy explained his philosophy, saying he metaphorically let himself go limp, delegated all decision making to the NHS, and just let them get on with their job.
I was really struck by his attitude. Afterwards I did some research and discovered his was a pretty shrewd approach, he had a stress free experience and in about 99.5% of cases the decisions that our doctors recommend will eventually get us to the best possible medical outcome. I underline "eventually" because they might not get there quickly or on the first attempt, but in the great majority of cases they do get there eventually.
The second point is this. There's a smart way and a foolish way of doing private medicine in the UK. The foolish way is just to rock up and start talking to a consultant. It's foolish because it'll cost you way more than you expected. To begin with the consultant will charge you for a consultation, and then say that they want a whole battery of tests to be re-taken, and only after paying for that you'll finally get to the consultation you wanted in the first place.
The smart way is to compile a dossier of all your medical records and test results. Its your legal right and I've never met a hospital nurse or doctor who wouldn't oblige. Indeed, even though they can request payment for any admin expenses they incur along the way (they can't charge for the data itself, only for things like copying costs) in reality I've never been asked to pay anything.
That way you go into the consultation with all the test results already prepared and you get immediately down to business as that expensive private clock is ticking.
I hope you find the answers that you're looking for. Good luck!
have you got a Kardia which takes an ECG? Do you take your bp? May I suggest you turn up to the consultant with records of your ECGs and your bp over a week or so taken three times a day. Write down the average of 3 bp results taken a few minutes apart while being as calm as you can and after sitting still for at least 5mins.
If you need private scans of then there is a website scan.com where you can put in the distance you are prepared to travel and what sort of scan you would like and they will give you multiple quotes.
I have private medical insurance.I've been to a+e multiple times at the beginning of the year who detected abnormal ECG and referred me to my GP for a 24hr holter monitor, they called me last week to offer me the monitor (taken around 14 weeks) but I declined.
Because I had already contacted Bupa and in that time frame I had already seen 3 different cardiologists, my first one who sent me for the echo which found my defect, he also placed a 10 day ambulatory monitor on to detect arrhythmia. He whacked me on beta blockers straight away. Then an electrophysiologist who ran an MRI and stress test to figure out what was going on with my irregular heart beat. And a third one who is a structural guy, he ordered a cardiac CT.
I'm booked in next week for closure with the structural one.
The time difference is insane. It would take 6-12 months on the NHS for closure but that would have been after the testing which probably would have taken 6-12 months and may not have been so in depth.
I love the NHS and have received brilliant care at points. It's just under so much pressure these days that I never get anywhere in good time. My GP's also gatekeep to the specialists and it's quite difficult to get referred where you need to go.
I think that if you're health is declining and you are considering private it's a good way to speed things up.
Dear You
I cannot comment on you going private but what I can say is this needs answers and I hope by going private that you get them.
On reading your posts its just ridiculous how long this suffering of yours has gone on.
Take care if you go local private as you will end up with members of staff that treated you on the NHS treating you again.
Is this the answer? you and your loved ones think it is so that is a big step forward.
Try to remember that just because you pay for private medical intervention , doesn't always mean you have anymore control on actioning on what is found, as many on here can tell you.
I am not trying to add to your worry but if you have worked hard for your savings it is wise to take a moment before you spend them.
honestly! Its worth my trying because my cardiologist (at North Middlesex, I’m not afraid of saying names haha), is just awful. I had a routine check in January and I mentioned how I found it hard to shower - they started laughing at me.
I am trying to get referred somewhere else in the meantime but the pain I’m experiencing right now is off the charts. The thing is with A&E is that they don’t deal with complicated cases (I’ve been told this many times). I just need someone to write down “huh, yup this is bad” in an official format so I can go to the NHS cardiology people and say “SEE”🤣
I'm going private for literally near enough the same reasons as you. Been to A&E twice now and all they've done is taken an ECG, told me it is down to stress & anxiety, told me to cut caffeine down or out completely which so far I have done. I have spoken to a specialist cardiologist who I am booked in to see a week on Tuesday & he's agreed to see me to do the tests that the hospital have so far said they won't do as they've said I'm not a serious enough case to admit into hospital so I will see what the specialist says
I checked the bupa website think it’s only about 250 for a heart scan, as I was told I’d wait 52 weeks but my doctor referred me and got appointments on 16th May , good luck and I’m one to talk try not to worry, try mindfulness breathing it helps calm me sometimes
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Anyone gone private to see cardiologist? 
SVT “attack”. How long does it take to feel ‘Normal’ again? 
How do you know when you should worry?
That chest pain for years and years really was something after all!
Excercise love hate relationship since HA
