Questions

[Mdea1988]

Hi all goy my check up with cardio due next week and I'm always sure we all have done but what questions to ask always slips my mind! Most of my issues are down to on going problems even after surgery to replace 2x valves with St jude mech in 2018 was last op, since the op I've had 2x strokes, 1st in jan 2019 I had been in hospital 1 month recovery after having trouble coming round fir a week then slow recovery, finally went home and 1 week in had stroke in cerebellum found out after pushing there was a clot seen during the surgery on an old valve but that was never told to me until months later, the 2nd stroke was a year later cause unknown but was enough to cause temporary face droop 1 side, and some time in 2021 to appointment in 2022 I'd suffered a silent heart attack which was seen on echo and confirmed with mri, unknown cause again but i have had a lot of stress between 2019 and 2020 loss of mother, loss family home, moved, living in flat with a lot of issues with neighbours, noise, sleep etc on top of my physical issues but im not able to move currently. what questions to ask cardio? My main thought is weight, since I learned of heart attack I did use the gym before and got down almost 2 stone and was 13stone still high but going down, I'm afraid of pushing myself and haven't gone like I did and now I've gone bk up to 15stone which I know is 100% not good and I'm gonna need to get it back down.

[Blearyeyed]

You have been through a lot.The only thing I would suggest is that you write everything down that you need to tell them about on a note book which you can also use to write down things they discuss.

Include things like , the details if your strokes etc. the symptoms you are getting list of medications and doses so you don't forget anything .

Explain to them the problem you have had since the strokes with activity and the weight gain it has caused.

Ask them if it's possible for you to be referred to Cardiac Rehab for help with this or a referral for Weight Loss advice .

Ask for more details about the clot that was found and an explanation of what was seen in your Echo and MRI after your HA.

Depending on the advice they give you about your valves at the moment ask what they plan to do now , including any other tests , and also ask the approximate time scale you should need to wait before getting treatment or receiving the next appointment ( this helps because you can mark that week in your calendar and then contact them the following week if you haven't heard anything).

Ask if there are any other changes that need to be made to your medications to help improve your symptoms.

Ask if there are any other changes you need to make , or things you need to request from the GP to help between your appointments.

Ask if they can send you a copy of the letter that they will be sending to the GP and could they write your request down in their notes .

Don't let yourself feel rushed. Tick off each question you have written down in your notebook after you've asked it and ask all of the questions you've written . Even if it feels like they are planning close down the appointment if you have further questions just use the tactic used by the TV Detective Columbo and say , " Oh , just one more thing ......"

Until you've done.

If you have copies of any other letters from Cardio or from other Departments which give more details about your care take them with you , it helps to show evidence from other doctors if their comments if you have them. It's also handy to get a copy of your last two sets of blood tests done at your GP surgery if you've had any . You can either get this by looking up your record online , or if your surgery doesn't have that access you can go to the surgery , fill out a form and they will print them off for you.

Hope things go well, take care ,Bee