Heart problems and GP

I think it depends where you live. I went to my GP for suspected AF, she immediately referred me and I was given a 24 monitor by my local hospital within a week.. this was last year..

I was diagnosed 2023 with AF my heart beating erratically feeling sweaty to cut a long story short I passed out on the shower in January and was hospitalised, in their investigations they found I had a compressed fracture at my C5 disc.
I’ve been put in Bisoprolol and Edoxaban to prevent further heart problems but on Friday it happened again without any warning again taken to hospital they ran tests CT scan as I’d hit my head X-rays on
my chest and knees as I fell forward this time and hit my face off the shower also causing a black eye.After the doctor at the hospital seen the results she was happy to let me go home they felt they had covered all the bases but I did have to go to my own doctor on Wednesday but unfortunately my doctor wasn’t available so I saw a locum he wasn’t happy why the hospital or previously seen consultant can’t do more checking to give me a reason why these fainting episodes are happening I’ve just turned 67 I used to be fit and healthy till I got those Covid vaccines 🤦🏼‍♀️yes could be a coincidence but in my heart of hearts I don’t think so.

Your symptoms are very sserious. Take M0nica's advice. My husband paid for a private referral to a cardiac consultant and then went on tratment via NHS. A friends husband did the same and was referred immediately for a heart op on the NHS.
Good luck.

If I were you I would change your GP and then put in a strong letter of complaint. You need to get this investigated and treated properly.

I’m very vocal with my gp if I have unanswered questions or my concerns are dismissed, as my DM went to our GP as she was tired all the time and had found a small lump in her breast and was told to return to see him once she’d stopped smoking and low and behold she died of breast cancer at the age of 43. Doctors are not gods although some think they are. My DD works in the NHS and has to challenge some doctors on their requests, she’s a radiographer and as she says it’s her registration that’s on the line if something goes wrong. So glad you changed GP

It is possible that medication could treat the symptoms but not the underlying cause - which may be normal wear and tear.

This is appalling. Time after time, women are not listened by doctors and dismissed. Studies have shown that medical research has been conducted with the male body in mind and that men's pain is treated more seriously than women's. Please see another gp and ask to be referred for tests at the hospital if necessary. I think it would also be a very good idea to write a letter of complaint to the practice manager. I am sure that you will not be the only patient to have had a bad experience of this rude, arrogant, patronising man.

Like others have said these symptoms need to be investigated properly and an initial private consultation would seem to be the most appropriate course of action. I can't offer any advice as it's not a health issue I have experience in but hope that you get these worrying symptoms addressed soon. I also wanted to say that my GP herself has private medical insurance as she "doesn't trust the NHS" - kind of says it all.

Go to A&E as soon as you feel odd. You will be assessed by a different doctor and several tests will be done. This should turn up more and better information about your problem.
You should be processed fast if you have heart problems like dizziness

I agree you need to have this thoroughly examined and treated seriously, and that the first step should be a second doctor's opinion.

In your place, I would stop the kind of exercise that made you feel so woozy and tired - it is obviously doing you no good, and might be doing harm.

I’m horrified,please next time phone an ambulance,you must see a cardiologist,it’s important—— easy for your Dr to be so casual,there is no comeback if he screws up & it gives other caring Drs a bad name when most are working so hard.

I have recently been diagnosed with AF, have a very irregular heartbeat and am now on several meds. One thing they made clear to me was that an irregular heartbeat increases your risk of stroke and so I'm on blood thinners for life. I hate having to take all these meds after being healthy most of my life but if they keep me going I'm grateful for them - I'm 73 next month and my youngest grandchild is only 6 months old and I want to be around to see her grow up.
Please insist you have more tests, I've had blood tests, an ECG and 2 echocardiograms, all on the NHS - and I only had phone appointments with my GP! Good luck and I hope you soon get the treatment you need.

Definitely sort this out. I had AF - was referred immediately to a cardiologist- after trying a monitor- nothing was captured so the cardiologist recommended the Kardia device. The AF was captured - emailed to the cardiologist who then prescribed blood thinners - Rivaroxiban- and Flecainide - I take 2 of the latter each day and it has stopped the AF completely. If it should happen and very occasionally it has, I just take more Flecainide and in about 5 to 10 minutes, it has stopped. The cardiologist called it a pill in the pocket. I keep some with me all the time. Please do something -

This sounds so familiar.
I had several fainting events over 5 years.
GPs dismissed them and nothing picked up on ECG.
Last year had a private Cardiac appt,cost £250.
He arranged a 2 week holter monitor which we paid for,results showed episodes of AF,so put on anti coagulant.
Fitted with an internal loop recorder,again we paid for,it showed heart pauses of up to 20 secs.
Had a pacemaker fitted NHS,excellent care. Dread to think what might have happened ifwe hadnt gone private so if you can afford it do go for it.

I went private too when my AF worsened this year, after having had it for over a decade.
When I left hospital after a recent cardiac episode and stent I was told the wait time for followup is 65 weeks, so went private again.
I am having dreadful side effects from the multitude of drugs I am taking for my heart. Saw GP this morning and he does not know which is causing them. So nothing to be done.
I think that anyone having episodes of unconsciousness should be thoroughly investigated.

I experienced fluttering in my chest, several times, but only for a few minutes at a time, until 8 months ago the fluttering was stronger and lasted over an hour. I took myself off to our local Out of Hours clinic (a godsend in this area) and was immediately sent to A and E 12 miles away. Fortunately my DH was able to take me. Six hours of sitting in A&E and undergoing several tests, I was eventually seen by a doctor who diagnosed AF. He tried one drug (intravenously) but it did not do the job, but the second one (Apixaban) did. I am now on that (a blood thinner) and have been fine. I was told I would be seen by a cardiologist but so far no appointment. However my GP thinks the Apixaban is doing its job and it isn't likely I will need further intervention at this time.

However, I have since learnt that I have three cousins (all on my dad's side) who have pacemakers (and declare they got a new lease of life) so that might be something to look forward to.

The nurse at the out of hours wanted me seen IMMEDIATELY, and told me if I felt worse en-route to call 999 at once. I didn't need to do that, thank goodness.

Incidentally, the hospital I went to for A&E was full of buckets collecting rain water from the leaking roof. Staff had to wheel beds around the leaks to treat patients - but they did it all with a chuckle!!! The government has just turned down funding for repairs to the decaying building where three entire medical blocks are now deemed unsafe.

Either pay to see a cardiologist or go to A&E for free (but a long wait). Do not delay. AF is easily controlled provided done swiftly.

I felt really angry when I read this post .
I'd certainly follow the advice given .
And I hope that the unacceptable response can be resolved at another surgery .
I'm not happy with my surgery either .
Apart from losing my prescription or causing me to continually ask for an emergency supply the person who did my annual asthma check up has removed Salbutamol from my prescription
On the rare occasion , I have a severe asthmatic attack - I need my emergency inhaler and end up on A and E .
They are putting my life at risk and also causing extra work for the A and E staff .

Luckygirl3 I am having dreadful side effects from the multitude of drugs I am taking for my heart. Saw GP this morning and he does not know which is causing them. So nothing to be done.

May I recommend the British Heart Foundation which is a charity. They offer a free telephone consultation with a cardiac nurse and I found her very helpful when I was having bad side effects from my heart drugs which I've only recently been prescribed. She gave me the information to suggest to my GP who agreed to prescribe accordingly, and I am getting on much better now. (I have A.Fib and SVT)

madmeg .... it might be worth you knowing that apiaban does not treat or stop AF which is a faulty heart rhythm that needs treatments aimed at rectifying the rhythm problem. Apixaban's job is to thin the blood and prevent you having a blood clot that could cause a stroke. Blood clots are a risk when you have AF. The blood thinner has no role in stopping AF. So you have just been lucky that your AF seems to have been a one-off.
sparklefizz ... thank you for your suggestion.

I can only echo what has already been said on here and if I was in you position, the next time I had such an episode I would be going straight to Urgent Care or A & E.
A 2 minute ECG does not sound adequate IMO - all those that I have had over the years have been taken over a significantly longer period.
As for the GP telling you that you will probably have a heart attack/stroke.........have they never heard of preventative medicine???
Keep making a noise until you are listened to

Madmeg

I experienced fluttering in my chest, several times, but only for a few minutes at a time, until 8 months ago the fluttering was stronger and lasted over an hour. I took myself off to our local Out of Hours clinic (a godsend in this area) and was immediately sent to A and E 12 miles away. Fortunately my DH was able to take me. Six hours of sitting in A&E and undergoing several tests, I was eventually seen by a doctor who diagnosed AF. He tried one drug (intravenously) but it did not do the job, but the second one (Apixaban) did. I am now on that (a blood thinner) and have been fine. I was told I would be seen by a cardiologist but so far no appointment. However my GP thinks the Apixaban is doing its job and it isn't likely I will need further intervention at this time.

However, I have since learnt that I have three cousins (all on my dad's side) who have pacemakers (and declare they got a new lease of life) so that might be something to look forward to.

The nurse at the out of hours wanted me seen IMMEDIATELY, and told me if I felt worse en-route to call 999 at once. I didn't need to do that, thank goodness.

Incidentally, the hospital I went to for A&E was full of buckets collecting rain water from the leaking roof. Staff had to wheel beds around the leaks to treat patients - but they did it all with a chuckle!!! The government has just turned down funding for repairs to the decaying building where three entire medical blocks are now deemed unsafe.

Either pay to see a cardiologist or go to A&E for free (but a long wait). Do not delay. AF is easily controlled provided done swiftly.

Sorry to disagree but as a sufferer of AF for over 30 years it is NOT easily controlled and the anti-coagulant Apixaban had nothing to do with your AF stopping and your heart reverting back to normal sinus rhythm. It was a coincidence, pure and simple. AF starts and stops entirely of its own accord as you will find out should AF blight your life like so many others. You were given Apixaban as a precaution to protect against a stroke. Irregular heartbeat means the blood does not flow smoothly and has more ability to clot, hence the need for anti-coagulants.

Luckygirl3 I am having dreadful side effects from the multitude of drugs I am taking for my heart. Saw GP this morning and he does not know which is causing them. So nothing to be done.

This happened to me initially. I was back and forwards to the GP, sent away without help, but dug my heels in.
Eventually, a trainee GP listened to me and phoned the Professor, whose research I was involved in.

Out of the blue at 5.30pm, I got a phone call to say, that I was to come straight to hospital, a bed in coronary care was available.
I spent a week in hospital, where it was discovered that one of my heart medications was totally unsuitable and doing the opposite of what was required to keep my heart stable. My heart would eventually have stopped.
I was so fortunate and will be ever grateful to that young trainee.

Send me this young trainee! I am at a loss with all this, but ploughing on somehow.

Some doctors dismiss women’s heart problems. Try another GP, OP, maybe a woman GP?

Sorry to hear you have been feeling unwell and have a Dr who is not treating you correctly. Send a letter/email to the practice manager. It would be worth you having some comprehensive blood tests as this could also be a thyroid or iron issue. Hope you get to see a caring Dr at your practice soon.