Hi All
Hope everyone is as well as can be.
Just wondered if anyone has their heart checked with RA - never had it done so spoke to my Rheumy and told me to get it checked. I may go the private route due to how busy things are with the NHS understandably.
Has anyone had this done before? If so, what was the procedure you opted for?
Appreciate any feedback. - Hessie
Hi Hessie
I used to get this done, I was called in yearly by my GP for a heart health check as I had RA.
Then it suddenly stopped happening, when I enquired why recently, I was told they no longer offer it, so not sure if things have changed, but I guess there are more pressing matters to be dealing with at the moment, also my GP practice is very Diabetes focused, my husband is having checks all the time.
I need to check with Rheumatology really but will be interesting to find out as well if anyone else it.
Nope never have & never been mentioned
Hi same here.
Thanks for your reply - sounds like you had a great GP! Probably budget why they stopped. It is important so I shall pursue! Have a lovely Friday. 🙂
Well, i only had one then it just stopped. They just took my blood pressure etc that was it really, it was a while ago. I did have a ECG there once too but that was because of side effects with Rituximab not a heart health check. You're right probably stopped because of budget constraints! Have a great weekend x
no never had it checked by RA team, or even mentioned, but have just recently been diagnosed with heart failure reason being guess what RA!!! so suggest you push for a basic check at least each year especially as getting diagnosis is simple at moment but getting further tests to see how bad it is are of course all delayed.
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis and hope that they have caught it early - I don't feel as if I have anything but as we know RA just crept in one day all good the next jumping pain. I shall book so thank you. Wishing you well - Hessie
Hi Hessie. No I never have and I have a leaky valve. x
You should, you have existing heart problems as well as an AD. It was a contributing factor for my Mum. Maybe it would be a good idea to ask?
Agreed
Thanks - very strange how it's so up and down - we are all told different things. Take care now.
No there don't appear to be any heart checks offered and I've often thought about this - although bloods are monitored (I'm on mtx) no heart or lung checks are available and they should be.
Under shared care agreements your GP should normally offer you an annual cardiovascular check......so you could ask.
The alternative route is the 5 yearly NHS Health Check
nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-healt...
Neither would give you a full work up most likely, so depemds what you feel would reassure you.
(If I describe my cardiovascular, dermotology, optical, and dental monitoring regime you will all throw stones and never talk to me again I fear!)
Hi HH - never been offered and to ask now not a good idea as they are so overworked - plus appointments times are horrendous!
Please do share your regime - now you have put it out there! Shall make for a good read during life in lockdown 😁 - take care...
My blood pressure is checked and heart listened to every time I go to GP - no matter what for! Each year rheumy sends me off for a dermatology check, to have my gums and teeth looked at, and for an ECG. I do have minor heart problems with a dodgy valve and some damaged heart muscle. So did have the full works 2 years ago.
As a hang over from being on hydroxy (and a mother with macular degeneration) I also have eye health checks. Every couple of years I have lung function tests and hand/feet x-rays if I want.
She also has an ultrasound in her office which she uses to check joints at most appointments, which are every 6 months. I really cannot fault the healthcare I’ve received and get so cross that this isn’t universal. It’s what we all deserve.
So, since I had some new problems last year my entertainment and social life during this pandemic has been medical appointments!
Wow HH - you have a fabulous set up - exemplary service! If only this were universal for us all. When I asked for my blood pressure by a nurse at my GP Surgery, she refused exclaiming she is too busy! I was in her office all of 2 minutes. That's why I end up jumping the fence over to private as I have had such under par experiences - so flick between both.
Many thanks for sharing, very useful - shall add lung check-up to my list.
Hope overall life is treating you well - take care, Hessie
I asked about the 5 yearly health check before Covid and was told they were discontinued!
🤬
I’ve had a heart and BP check yearly. This year I had a phone call from my gp surgery telling me to do a 24 hour bp check at home and email the results to them. I told the receptionist I didn’t have a bp monitor and her reply was “I suggest you invest in one then”. I was rather taken back by her answer but I duly purchased one and did 8 checks over the course of 24 hours and sent results in.
Hi - thanks for your response. It's frustrating when you are at the other end of rudeness! Not sure why they do the job.
I have a BP monitor that I now use. Can you share when they did your heart check was it a basic check with the pads? ..Hessie 🙂
Hi. When I saw the nurse at my surgery she asked some questions and did a bp check that was it. The ones I did at home were read and given an average and that was out on record. I’ve heard nothing since. I’ve an appt with nurse to do my bloods as on MTX and Benepali. At least I’ve not been asked to take my own blood 🤔
I check my BP regularly and recently had an ECG at Drs. Tuesday dr called me and said the last bloods said my diabetes was ok and tho cholesterol was 4.6 with my family history and my RA she said I was borderline for statins left it to me decide. Got rheummy appointment in couple of weeks so will discuss with them and also about taking vitamin D which I don’t at the moment x
Hi Pulfs - how fortunate you can have the ECG at your Drs! My last visit to my Drs he said I need to go on statins as I have RA - and even though my cholesterol is about 4.7 and my good and bad weigh out each other - he said I must. Spoke to my Rheumy who said no need 😕 - so confusing - I don't want to do the statin route unless I have to. Take care, Hessie
I do. With having RD & as well both my parents had cardio history I have a cardiovascular check every year, done at my Surgery, plus I'm on statins. I had an echo most recently to try & solve another mystery, no great issues other than what is already recorded. I think otherwise it's recommended those with RD have a CV check every 5 years, though that may be old info now so best to ask.
Thanks - I am going to be booking mine that's for sure. Heart issues are on my father’s side of the family sadly. So even more so I must check! Take care, Hessie 🙂
After I developed RA, my GP put me on their annual cardiovascular check list. My first one went ahead at the surgery last month x
Thanks Kajo - you sound lucky to have a good GP! Have a good weekend - Hessie 🙂
Have to say, I thought it was the norm. I don’t have any other medical conditions, or even family history. Sad to see we are not all treated the same x
I've never had a heart check - at least, I don't think so!
This is the advice on NHS website:nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-healt...
for checks for people between 40-74 every five years.
Being old and decrepit and having raised blood pressure (on treatment) I have one every year.
I used to get called in to gp every year for RA check and then it stopped never new why
I thought only pre-existing heart conditions/high cholesterol are excluded - not every single condition? Or maybe it is and that’ why they don’t do them as so few people without something!
I've had RA a lifetime, since I was 6, now coming 57 and only in recent years has a GP done a Cardiovascular (CV) check based on the fact I take NSAIDs. The check up is done by a HCA when I have monthly bloods for MTX & consists of height, weight (BMI), BP and extra bloods taken for Cholesterol and Glucose. Nothing else. It frustrates me that sometimes they skip the Chol. & Gluc. bloods and calculate my CV risk using out of date results!
That's interesting - it is strange that we all get told different things - thanks for sharing, have a lovely weekend. 🙂
Hey Whaleroad - thanks for your response.
I have to ask for BP, ask for my blood results and it became such a hassle I gave up. I was told if my results were bad my Rheumy would let me know - so never able to spreadsheet my ESR or CRP. Just so darn backwards!
When I has to see a private haematologist with my blood results it was ridiculous as she needed to track it all....and couldn't easily as old clunky systems which holds this data. Yet my colleague has access to everything on his phone.
I now have a blood pressure machine at home save all the hassle.
It needs to be better that's for sure! Look after you, all the best, Hester
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