it is now 14 months since my mitral valve repair. I was signed off from Papworth to my local hospital’s cardiac unit. It was suggested at my post op on 30 April last year that I would get an annual appointment with my local hospital.
Not heard anything yet. Has anyone else had a follow up appointment?
Thanks x
Hello again hope all is well with you 😊
I was told I would have an appointment in 6 weeks after surgery then was told by the cardiac rehab I was on a waiting list but as yet I’ve had no follow up , maybe I’ll get one in July on the year anniversary 🤷♀️
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I’m very well except for continued frozen shoulders. Just been on another post op holiday!
I had my post op after 3 months and was told that my appointment would be January this year. Not over concerned yet as I waited 11 months for my 3 month wait op.
Interesting to hear about others experiences.
Hope you’re continuing to do well xx
I’m sorry to hear about your shoulder, shoulder pain can last for quite a while unfortunately.
Glad to hear your making the most of holidays 😊
I thought I’d be brilliant by now but seem to have been poorly with silly things every few weeks since surgery , the last month just with a sore throat wiped me out for weeks but the doctor said that’s normal to have such a low threshold and for things escalating quickly for at least a year . I feel like it’s two steps forward and 4 steps backwards at the moment but back to building the walking and swimming up again going forward .
At least we have the summer to look forward to😊
I’ve had every bug going all winter but I assume it’s being out of circulation last year (and working in a school we get everything).
Glad you are building u your walking and swimming. I’m not at full fitness yet but was managing 25000 steps per day last week which is definitely getting there!
can’t wait for some warm weather. Mightn’t be as concerned about my scar this summer.
Lovely to hear from you. Take care x
Wow 25000 steps, that’s amazing !!
I’d say working in a school and managing 25,000 steps is incredible 😊
Enjoy the Easter break x
Thank you and you xx
After my private TAVI I was told to contact the surgeon's PA every year to have a check-up. Four months later, I reported undue fatigue and had a check-up that cost around £700, including an exorbitant £550 for an ECG. So I arranged a transfer of my care to my local NHS hospital, who checked my heart a year afterwards, with a more comprehensive ECG. I'm told I'm in the system for another check early next year.
That having been said, whilst I have very little to mutter about concerning my NHS treatment and hardly anything about its staff, I have found that the clerical/admin side of things can falter. After Easter I'm going to have to "push" Haematology for a list of blood tests for my GP to make - this will be the third time I've had to do so.
Thanks for replying. I’ve had med bloods done by GP and haematologist appointment but not cardiologist yet. Will give them a couple more months before I chase up the department.
Have you been discharged from the hospital or not? If you have not been discharged you might be in line for a check up so I suggest you contact the cardioology secretary to find out. But if you have been discharged back to the GP it's down to them to organise a check up should they decide one is needed.
Hi, yes I was discharged from the specialist hospital back to the local hospital (who originally sent me to Papworth). I recognise that waiting lists are horrendous and I’m no longer a high priority. Was told that the local cardiology department would recall me annually.
Thanks for your response.
I'm on biannual echo scans at my local hospital cardiology unit after my surgery at Papworth for AVR, next one is due by April 2026, surgery was June 2023. They did say I might have to remind them.
it depends where your local is. Cuh and Wsh are a long way off for appointments.
My follow-up for icd is 10 weeks post procedure at papworth.
I think by what I saw while booking blood tests for wife, the nhs is overwhelmed.
My cousins are waiting for procedures at Wsh.
I was supposed to get a 3 month follow up post ablation but it never happened. I would try to contact your local hospital or GP surgery direct for advice. Sadly, I have found that what should happen sometimes never materialises and I've had to take a bit more responsibility for chasing these things up.
Hi. I had my aortic valve replaced almost four years ago. Apart from one telephone call, as yet, I’ve had no face to face cardio follow-up. I phone every feb to find out when I’ll be getting one and each time I’ve been told I’m on the list which is about a year long. I’m feeling healthy and very thankful but a follow-up scan would give some reassurance that’s all is well. I guess if I was unwell I’d be well looked after so I’m reluctant to make too much of a fuss about it. Stay well and appreciative.
Yes you’re right. We got the care when we needed it!
but that's the trouble, too frequently get the care when the damage is done, and situation has become more complex, expensive and maybe life changing.
Yes I had a bypass and get an annual check...for what it's worth!Nurse takes bloods, blood pressure done quick "how are you feeling question' and that's it. Never seen a doctor!!!
Hello hello. I'm under the care of Papworth for my atrial septal defect which was closed in June 2023. I saw them in April 2024 and they said they'd want to run another echo in 12 months. As I'd not heard anything, I dropped the team an email to ask a few weeks back.
They replied within a day to say they've not forgotten me but 'looking to get to you July-August time' - suggesting there's a bit of a waiting list. They did say they'd bring me forward if I had concerns, which I don't.
So, maybe worth getting in touch in writing to check where things are up to? And it's likely that you're in the system but possibly just waiting for a 'slot'. Hope that helps!
That’s very helpful thank you. As I say, I’m more wondering what is the new norm than panicking at this stage. Grateful to be back out and about!
Dear Traveldreams
My local hospital has really got things sorted. I get an annual appointment for two scans and then an interview with a nurse to look at the results. There is a consultant on duty if there is any problem. So far, nothing to discuss. This session is not for the minor issues such as loss of appetite etc etc etc but it checks how my new valve and my heart are holding up. I am five years post op.
If only every hospital could be like this . Maybe one day they will. Or you could move to Colchester!
Sooty
It sounds like living in the 1970s when everything went like clockwork in the hospitals! I’m pleased that you’re getting regular treatment.
Thanks for replying.
When I moved from West London to the rural Essex coast, I did wonder a little about health care. Late 2015 I had a pretty major stroke. The first responder got to me within five minutes. Ambulance about ten minutes later. Off to hospital and the nurses were in the car park to take me to an offshoot of A&E. A nurse was allocated to me and she sat by my bed until ward sister came to take me to the stroke ward. So thats just ten years ago. Where has the NHS gone in those ten years. Very very sad.
Regarding your mitral valve, I do hope that you will get the appropriate follow up. I thought Papworth had an A1 reputation. Perhaps used to have A1 ??
On the plus side, I am five years after the heart op and quite honestly, i have no heart related problems at all. I wish that everyone enjoyed my good heart health. I had to go to central London for the op, but that was OK. No visitors but that was OK, in fact perhaps no visitors was a very good thing good thing for me.
Best wishes
Sooty
Papworth were excellent but after your post op they return you to your original hospital cardiology consultant and therein lies the problem!
I was in Papworth who transferred me to local cardiology team. When asked about follow up was told it would be 12 months. So I decided t pay for a consultation. Cardiologist arranged an echo and transferred me to his nhs list. Supposed to have appointment in April but has been pushed back. Cardiologist has. apparently a 12month wait list,yet if I pay ican get appointment in 2 weeks ! I could do that but would void my nhs treatment and I would go to the bottom of the wait list.
There is something awfully wrong here
This shows how much "luck of the draw" is inloved. I was very very lucky. All hospitals were closing due to covid and I got a place in Cromwell, central London. And then my local is Colchester, who have done a brilliant job in follow on appointments. Perhaps I should be wary as I have an appointment next week. Hope I am not disappointed.
Sooty
Hi. I was in Hospital having a Dual By-Pass in 2020, during Lockdown for a total of 6 Weeks altogether. 3 Weeks in one Hospital. Had some Complications and then transferred to another for a Pacemaker as the Surgeon wasn't happy with my HR and I was fainting etc..No Visitors whatsoever but it wasn't that bad lol 😆. Have to say though. everyone was SO lovely and the Care was fantastic. I am just SO grateful to them all as I now feel really well.😀🥰😍
I
I have my annual check up with the GP. Maybe if possible contact your Surgery or call the cardiologist department at papworth. 🤗
Sept 23 signed over to ‘local care’ and told would get an appointment for a check in TWO years.( Aortic valve by TAVI)
Since enquired and I was told the two year gap was a posative sign ?
Also heard that some checks comprise a short phone call asking if one felt well !
PLH
Hi Traveldreams,
I had surgery to repair my mitral valve regurgitation on 29th April last year - almost a year ago - at the Freeman Hospital in my home city of Newcastle upon Tyne. I had a follow up appointment with my cardiologist at the same hospital in December - but I was proactive in chasing this up.
The cardiologist told me that I would have an annual appointment. He also arranged a routine, non urgent echocardiogram, which I had last week.
It was the cardiologist who referred me to the surgical team, via an MDT meeting, back in September 2022. I guess it was then up to the surgical team to refer me back to the cardiologist. After waiting for some time, I decided to try and expedite the process by contacting my surgeon’s secretary who was very helpful.
Best wishes in getting your follow up appointment 🙏
This is so similar to me and really helpful thank you. I’ll give it a couple more months then start chasing!
I saw my surgeon at 6 weeks and he signed me off back to my cardiologist. I saw my cardiologist at 6 months (mostly a "how are you feeling" meeting), and I see him again in another 6 months for an echo.
After that I'm not sure if it's a yearly echo or every other year (though I suspect every year as I received a mechanical aortic valve along with mitral valve repair).
I'm on the private system in Ireland.
I don’t know if it’s a postcode thing but many having had a HA seem to get the pipe work and stents etc fixed only to be discharged and forgotten about unless complications arise .
Hi there,
I was personally discharged from Hospital cardiology and then enrolled into my GPs cardio clinic. I therefore get annual checks via them.
Wishing you the best.
After 23 years I am still waiting for my first check up. My GP has never even mentioned it! I see a cardiologist privately by choice as NHS aren't interested!
I haven't had any annual check ups at the hospital. Quadruple bypass and a replacement heart valve Nov'21
I had a HA out of the blue 2 yrs ago and three stents fitted as emergency procedure. Since then I experience icy freezing shoulders, back and chest. No gp can tell me why except it must be my many pills. You are the first person to have similar!
At first I was on an 80 mg statin which gave me bad pain in shoulder joints . Nurse at Cardiac rehab advised that was too much and gp put me on 25 mg one. Could that be reason for your shoulder discomfort?
Hi. I've had one follow-up with the Consultant and have another one in June. You might be better off trying to get through to the Consultant's Secretary and asking. They have always been very helpful in my Case at least! I hope you get somewhere! 😀😀
I'm under royal papworth as well, I've had to ring up several times and then normally I get an appointment through on my regular check ups
You could always ring your local hospital outpatients number, explain the situation and see if you're on a waiting list. No harm in trying.Or ask your doctor for a referral to that hospital for a checkup.
Am beginning to worry now lol. I had my emergency aortic dissection op at Southampton Hospital and then had regular CT Scans and check-up appointments. After the first couple of scans I was given them yearly. I am 8 years post op this month. I have now been told they'll be done two yearly from now on so next CT scan will be November 2026. I was also told they have transferred them to my local hospital from now on, which should be Poole. I'm worried now I'll be forgotten about - only time will tell - fingers crossed. I would add though that Southampton Hospital has been absolutely brilliant, from their then surgeon Mr Livesey, saving my life, until my last CT scan last November (although I did have to chase them up for my results then).Denise.
and then quite by chance I’ve just received a follow up appointment. Thanks for all your responses and a Happy Easter to you all.
Annual Hospital check ups delayed indefinitely (post aortic valve replacement)
Annual Review after Bypass
Annual health ( Cardio ) Check
Annual travel insurance
Pharmacies to Offer Heart Checks
