My GP is treating me for fluid on the lungs with water tablets, aspirin and GTN spray I have been referred to a cardiologist, my appointment is 15th September should I try to get it brought forward as I feel quite unwell most of the time feeling very weak, loss of apetite, pain between my shoulder blades and central chest and shortness of breath. After a resent trip to A&E angina has been ruled out.
I had a cough for 2 years, investigated, xrayed - nothing wrong, but then the lung consultant listened to my chest with a stethoscope and discovered my cough was due to fluid on the lungs due to a leaky heart valve!! I had a wait of around 10 months during which I was up at least twice a night coughing the fluid up! Heart valve was repaired in January and now my cough has gone! Your symptoms sound worse than mine, I had no shortness of breath at all - just the cough. I would definitely have another chat with your doctor about the symptoms you are experiencing - I feel it would be good to have your cardiology appointment sooner if possible, but see what he says. All the best to you.
thank you Linda, I have been hesitant about seeing my GP again as I seem to be there all the time and do not want to pressure him as I know he is doing his best for me but I am not sure he knows how long I have to wait for appointment appreciate your reply thanks
Ignore your GP and phone the consultants secretary and explain your concerns. They are normally very helpfull and can slip you in.
Strange but going to A&E never seems to get you seen by the consultant and earlier.
thank you emergency GP sent me to A&E but as you say you never get anywhere they just told me no point going there as not angina if GTN didnt work take two paracetamol. So thanks I will ring secretary as sugested.
Why is it always paracetamol????
My wfe and I have been told that for serious complaints when phoning the out of hours service. I told one that I did not have any and she told that every corner shop sells them. I replied that the nearest corner shop was twenty minutes away and it was nearly 10pm.
When you phone you can say that you are ready at a moments notice for any cancellation.
I had a future cardiology appointment for mid January but went back into AF at the begining of January. Locum at my GP practice said that she would write to get it brought forward. When questioned she said it would take two weeks for her letter to get to them!
I phoned the cardiology secretary and explained my situation. A registrar phoned the next day to ask for more details and told me to come in the following afternoon as his first patient of the seesion.
Paracetamol covers most things I know but just doesn't work for this, had to take another day off today as I was unwell again feeling very weak in arms and legs, I am a sole trader so means my business was closed again, I am definately going to ring tomorrow and speake to secretary. I will let you know how I get on hope you have been sorted now.
Hi
I would and do things myself, ring the consultants secretary as your GP can only do so much.
I was diagnosed with ALL 4 arteries blocked the consultant said ( you are having a 4 way by pass in 4 weeks ). With me ringing the hospital and insisting things where speeded up the by pass was done in 3 weeks.
GOOD LUCK
If I had not been pushy I probably would never have had my aortic valve replaced. I was to be referred from my local hospital to one doing heart surgery.
After about a month I phoned the hospital that would do the surgery to ask where I was on the waiting list. Your not, was the answer as we have not had any referrals from there for over two months.
When I phone the first hospital and I'm told that Doctor X is a little bit behind with his paperwork. When still nothing happens I eventually find that Doctor X has been away for a month.
thought I would get you all up to speed with my situation. I have been to see a Chest Pain consultant today and she is pretty sure my problem is not my heart but my lungs and suspects it could be Fibrosis so have to be referred now to a lung specialist, symptoms are very similar to heart failure and fibrosis can lead to heart failure so I guess that will still be investigated. I am hoping it isn't fibrosis as there is no cure and will only get worse. At least with the heart there is such a lot that can be done, my husband had a triple heart bypass 18 months ago and is now fighting fit. I hope you all get on ok and thank you for your support.
can anyone tell me if pain under my ribs is related to my condition suspected heart failure or pulmonary fibrosis I have reached the stage now that I am considering not using my GTN spray in the hope that it may be bad enough for the hospital to do tests on a visit to A&E very stupid I know but am getting desperate now
forgot to say my GP was very annoyed that the chest pain consultant had ruled out heart problem without doing an echocardiogram
Hi there, you said you had fluid on the lungs which actually is a symptom of leaky heart valve - has anyone just listened to your heart with a stethoscope?? How do they know it isn't your heart? Did you have a heart scan? Sorry for all the questions! As I said before, my leaky valve wasn't picked up by the ECG at all and the consultant didn't use his stethoscope so it wasn't till over a year later when it was found!!! Best wishes to you and hope something is sorted out soon!
How did they rule Angina out? Just because ECG is normal and/or TNI blood test is negative doesn't mean you don't have angina. If you have been having central chest pain and pain betwen your shoulder blades you might have gall stones (I have both just to be awkward) look up the symptoms and keep a food diary for a week. Still go to A and E if you have any chest pain my angina symptoms are not classic I have normal blood pressure and low cholesterol. I have now been diognosed with Cardio Syndrome X after failed angioplasty and a double heart bypass with continuing syptoms. I have had a heart condition for 15 years I have never had an alarming ECG or a positive TNI (bloodtest)
I was once seen by a really stupid junior registrar. I asked her what my ECG had shown. She replied it showed that you don't have angina.
My GP is now trying me on new tablets for Angina as a trial if I dont get any more pain in next few days (I was getting pain almost every day) then he will get me moved forward to see cardiologist, Very conflicting opinions from hospital re lung problem or heart, I had my Gall Bladder removed several years ago.
Hi
If you continue with the pains by pass everyone and ring the hearts surgeons secretary and tell them no one is helping you. Frighten them make the secretary be aware of your situation ( make a diary note of what you are doing ). We only live once WE MUST have some quality of live. Let me know what is happening .
I agree when I phoned the consultant surgeon secretary turned out I had been missed off the list
Happens all the time. I had an X-Ray and did not hear anything the consultants secretary said that I must have dropped under the radar.
My wife had the same thing after having a CT scan. A lot of letters to and from my GP to the hospital have gone missing over the years.
I was told that I would have my heart surgery within eight weeks. After five weeks when I phoned the hospital it was to be done at I had not been referred.