Low heart rate

[Seal59]

12 days ago my husband had a log hit him in the shin whilst splitting logs. At the time it came up like a tennis ball but other than that didn’t think too much of it. The swelling has gone down but he is getting pain in his leg. Not the leg they harvested from for his CABG x5). Eventually we decided to go to A&E on Easter Saturday. They are treating him for infection but as a precaution they are also treating him for blood clot and has a scan booked tomorrow (Wednesday). Whilst he was having tests the doctor told him his resting heart rate was too low (43) and to see his doctor to get his Metoprolol dose lowered. My husband has always been low (normally about 52) but with all the heart meds they give you after bypass surgery this is the result. He has spoken to his GP in the past but he always seems to be reluctant to change things. My husband would like to speak to a cardiologist but he’s never been under the U.K. system as he was living in Canada at the time of surgery. Can anyone recommend the best way forward? Sorry for the lengthy post.

[Fanfab1]

Any chance the GP will make a referral to a NHS cardiologist this is normal initial route? If GP reluctant to make changes they should be open to making the referral.

based on recent events and comments at A&E (a letter should have gone to GP and hopefully A&E doctor noted about med change) the GP should be on board.

My GP is always very reluctant to change anything or go against what a cardiologist decides - tad frustrating at times but understandable.

Hope this is what you were asking 👍

[Seal59 in reply to Fanfab1]

Thank you that is helpful.

[Blearyeyed]

I think you should explain the situation to the doctor whom comes to see your husband on the ward , including the reluctance your GP to change doses without a specialist recommendation and request that they put in a call for someone from Cardiology to come down to the ward and assess your husband's needs.This is actually something that they are recommended to do as part of reviewing a patients risk and safeguarding them from a cardiac event whilst receiving other treatment, you could mention this as well as stating that you are concerned .

You can request to speak to a ward doctor to discuss this if your husband isn't feeling up to it and sit in with your hubby as he speaks to a cardiologist as his advocate.

Be polite , calm and firm to get results.

If he is already back from the hospital, contact the GP and go with your husband for the appointment as his advocate as long as he's happy for you to do so. Ask for an urgent referral to Cardiology if they will not at least let your husband try a few weeks trial of a slightly lower dose of his beta blockers as the hospital suggested.

If there are other GPs at your surgery request a second opinion and appointment with one of them instead because you are not satisfied with the lack of response or delay .... Sometimes this is enough to get a reluctant GP to move and make a decision.

Hope your husband feels better soon , maybe he needs to stay away from lumberjack duties in future😆😆😆

[Seal59]

Thank you for your advice. My husband is home from hospital so we’ll push our GP. Definitely keeping him away from log splitting until he gets a log splitter and a guard! His leg feels a bit better today now the antibiotics are kicking in, so hopefully it was infection not a blood clot. We should find out tomorrow.

[Bingo88]

Good morning Seal59. Best to voice his concerns to your doctor and see what he says again now. They are the best people to solve the problem. I was diagnosed with a low heart rate and was on no medication at the time for heart. I just had chronic kidney disease . But with my low heart rate I was fitted with a pacemaker which solved the problem. Take care. Brian

[Seal59 in reply to Bingo88]

Thank you

[Seal59]

Update to my post. Good news that it wasn’t a blood clot. My husband has got an appointment with the doctor in a week’s time to discuss his medication and heart rate.