Arrythmia

[Wonderwarrior79]

I have been having problems with my heart rate for over a year now. I have been refered to arrythmia clinic but have at least five months before i can see someone and presently having very high heart rate and not on medication. Anyone give me advice?

[Jalia]

Hello Karen. What is your heart rate and what is your normal rate?

You can always seek help from your GP to help reduce your rate if necessary. and maybe this is what you should be doing. These long waits can make you feel very anxious.

[Ennasti]

Everyone has a different perception of high and of low. What is your heart rate? Importantly also, is it sinus rhythm?

[Wonderwarrior79 in reply to Ennasti]

It has hit 125 plus

[Jalia in reply to Wonderwarrior79]

I'm assuming you are not in Atrial Fibrillation.

Do speak to your GP as your rate is troubling you. For some people this rate would not be too troublesome , depending on whether this is your resting rate. (I have hit 240+ in AF and obviously needed admission.)

[Butterfly65]

Hello,

only we know how our own bodies should feel so when we think something isn't right, despite what our Gp's or anyone else tells us, I believe we should always go with our gut instincts.

If you're worried,

you should either go back to your GP & ask why you weren't prescribed meds to lower your heart rate, seeing as you have 5 months to wait before your clinic appointment, or you should find out when your A & E department is least busy & go there, (we get put off because we know we'll have a long wait in A & E)

I recently took myself to A & E because of heart pounding palpitations, breathlessness & oedema but I was prepared for the wait.

It was a very busy Saturday afternoon, I informed them my mother had died when she was around my age of cardiac arrest & I was called into a room almost immediately.

I was admitted for 11 days & told I have heart failure, high blood pressure & Atrial fibrillation.

My heart rate was over 180bmp & it took 5 or 6 days to bring it down with meds.

[AmberandIvy in reply to Butterfly65]

That's just an awful story but I had a similar experience....how are you doing now ?

[Butterfly65 in reply to AmberandIvy]

Still waiting to hear back with results of MRI scan but results from echocardiogram show left & right sided heart valve & ventricle damage, dilated right side plus AF & high blood pressure with EF of 23%. How about you?

[AmberandIvy in reply to Butterfly65]

Stable now but that's tge thing zbout flutter....can come back and take over at any time.....

[Driver11]

Phone them and explain that you are struggling and I'm sure they will try and bring the appointment forward

[Choccie55]

Can your GP prescribe a low dose beta blocker in the meantime?

[Wonderwarrior79 in reply to Choccie55]

The consultant wont allow me to be put on Medication without seeing her first. Ive only been struggling for two years.

[Choccie55 in reply to Wonderwarrior79]

Your poor thing, it really isn’t good enough.

[AmberandIvy in reply to Wonderwarrior79]

Certainly don't struggle...its not necessary and makes things far worse than they need to be....

[MWIC]

book a private appt with a Cardiologist/ EP - this will speed up diagnosis and what is going on and get you into a treatment path which can still be via NHS - The cost of an appointment is @ £250 - best money I ever spent!!!

[readyabout in reply to MWIC]

Yes, I did the same, and reduced 12months + wait to just a week. Very good!

[Cookieisland]

I’d recommend asking to be put on the cancellation list. I did that and got an appointment a month earlier than my original date.

I also have a very high heart rate from not much exertion - 170-180 without much effort. Medication is the only thing that tends to help me as I don’t have much control over it. Before I saw a cardiologist I’d gone back to the gp while I was waiting for the referral to say I was really struggling and the cardiologist prescribed a beta blocker through my gp. Not sure if that could be a possibility. I took propranolol for around a year, although have recently just changed to a different medication.

[AmberandIvy in reply to Cookieisland]

How are you doing now ?

[Cookieisland in reply to AmberandIvy]

Getting used to the new medication and getting less dramatic rises in heart rate. Thanks for asking!

[wilsond]

Options 1 Contact the relevant Consultant's secretary and say you'd accept a cancellation appointment

2 Contact your GP and ask for support whilst waiting .

3 ( best option) book a private appointment with the consultant, about 200 to 300 pounds and see them in days not months. They then out you on their nhs clinic list for ongoing treatment.

[AmberandIvy in reply to wilsond]

Totally agree