Ecg help

[Missfolic63]

Had low folate because of symptoms had chest xray clear then had ecg doctors never contacted me so assumed ecg was OK. Went to see gp last week two months after ecg as symptoms still.the same and he says your ecg I'm.going to refer you to cardiology I'm not happy with the middle bit ..what ??? Then get a call two days later as he put it as urgent refural to go in a couple of weeks to cardiology. Has anyine had this and it's been OK?? I'm in such a panic now

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Sorry to read you're having a hard time.

I think it's a good thing the GP is referring you.

For urgent health issues when can't see GP, ring NHS 111.

NHS 111

111.nhs.uk/

In an emergency always ring 999.

Both B12 deficiency and folate deficiency can lead to cardiac symptoms so maybe this is something you could discuss with the specialist.

Have your potassium and magnesium levels ever been checked?

On other threads you mentioned relatives with B12 deficiency and a b12 result that was around 250 ng/L.

If the B12 deficiency is not diet related, have you and your relatives ever been checked for coeliac disease and PA (Pernicious Anaemia)?

PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society) website has lots of useful info.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

People do not need a PA diagnosis to join PAS.

Coeliac UK have a good article on diagnosis.

coeliac.org.uk/information-...

Do you have symptoms that are consistent with B12 deficiency?

If yes, are you being treated with B12?

B12 deficiency symptoms lists

(cardiac symptoms are mentioned)

b12info.com/signs-and-sympt...

pernicious-anaemia-society....

pernicious-anaemia-society....

Blog post about being symptomatic for B12 deficiency with an in range serum B12 result.

b12info.com/your-serum-b12-...

I've read it's vital to treat B12 deficiency and folate deficiency at the same time in someone who has both. B12 treatment would usually be started first.

You've mentioned anxiety on other threads.

B12 deficiency can have a massive impact on mental health.

Anxiety is one of the symptoms.

b12info.com/mental-health/

Folate deficiency can also have an impact on mental health.

I left detailed replies in your older thread "Folate".

There's a lot of info and some of the links may have details that could be upsetting to read. Probably best to read the info a little bit at a time over a couple of weeks with a supportive person with you.

[Missfolic63 in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thank you for your reply. Yes my folate was low but now at 16 so the doctors are happy with that my b12 was low end of ok but now that too has gone up to 366 I think was ..I'd never even mentioned it was concerned in anyway about my heart as I had been feeling very anxious since low folate but do still have all the symptoms which apparently I shouldn't have .I'm just hoping my body is slow in catching up with the numbers but now I'm more anxious having to see cardiology..it's one thing after another at the moment.

[deniseinmilden]

Without being able to see the ECG trace it's not possible to comment on it, but if there was anything in any way life threatening about it, they would have, and would be, acting with much greater urgency and would have sent you to hospital straight away.

They've probably marked it as urgent because you are still having symptoms and nothing had been done so far. By marking it as urgent your Dr probably hopes it won't be overlooked altogether!

Lots of us live with various heart irregularities and arrhythmias, some of which give symptoms and some of which don't, without them being in any way life threatening.

A cardiologist might look at it and say that there's nothing to worry about, which is frustrating when you can feel it's not quite right, but I promise you they do react quickly if there is a problem that needs treatment.

At best you may get tablets or something to ease your symptoms.

Hearts are clever organs and are brilliant at compensating for all sorts of things so usually keep running despite the things we throw at them - alcohol (a poison), changes in diet, temperature, altitude, levels of exertion, etc, getting pregnant, having general anaesthetics, shock, and so on, and they usually recover on their own after a heart attack (the meds and intervention is usually just to prevent them happening again) so if you've gone this long with the symptoms then it's a sure sign that your heart can cope with the problem and is still running OK, even if it is grumbling a bit!

Stressing about it could make your symptoms worse (but no more life-threatening - it's just giving you symptoms to say "don't do that"!) so try to keep your mind off worrying by focusing on good things, simple food with plenty of fruit and veg, and walking to keep fit without overdoing things. It's spring so you don't have to get too hot or too cold and can just enjoy life around you until you know for definite why you are feeling less good than you should!

[Missfolic63 in reply to deniseinmilden]

Thank you. I've had low folate and that's including some horrible symptoms including breathlessness on exercise as in just climbing stairs changing a bed etc folate now 16 still have all the symptoms so he ordered the ecg ..this was two months ago ago nobody rang to say there's a problem from my surgery I.just happened to go in for a review. The doctor said about your ecg I'm.going to do an urgent referral..urgent? I had it two months ago ! He said yes well I've looked at it and there's a gap in the middle bit where's it isn't doing what it should both sides are good with a nice pattern then this ..he said you don't have angina and your not about to have a heart attack but this does need looking at .. I do get the odd flutter now and then but with the low folate I did became very anxious..the ECG urgent refural came as a surprise.

[deniseinmilden in reply to Missfolic63]

I get a pause in my ECGs too - I've had it for decades - and if mines not running properly I get very tired doing nothing too, so know what you mean.

Eventually I will end up with a pacemaker but at the moment I can keep it going well enough by keeping as fit as possible, avoiding caffeine and alcohol and making sure I have all my vitamins and minerals at an optimal level.

If you've been short of folate, there's a chance you have got short of other things too and they can make quite a difference. They will (hopefully) check for all that.

I forgot to say to avoid caffeine but that is quite important.

I don't have any coffee or Coke but do get away with some chocolate.

It's really clever what they can do to help you and it's really worth it to feel better again. Good luck!

[Missfolic63 in reply to deniseinmilden]

It's all confusing I went with low folate ended up woth chest xray copd tests ECG I wasn't even concerned about heart when checking nhs website my symptoms all pointed to the low folate ow have health anxiety over what the hell is going on ..now I'm thinking an urgent referral to cardiology I must have a bad heart..as cardiology look at your reading before offering you this urgent referral so have decided I clearly need seeing