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Original poster

First cardiology outpatient appointment

27 replies

pinkkoala · 30/12/2019 13:55

My gp has referred me to cardiology as i have been having funny turns, i booked the appointment online with hospital and received confirmation letter this morning. It says about allowing 3 hours to be at the hospital, i am now worrying is as i hate hospitals, to the point i go into panic mode and get tearful. I wasn't expecting to be there 3 hours, i thought just a 10 min appointment. Any ideas why that long and what they will do and can my partner stay with me all the time.

OP posts:
LemonMousse · 30/12/2019 14:10

I expect they'll want to do an ECG - maybe check your blood pressure over a period of time and possibly take some blood. Nothing too invasive and I'm sure your partner will be able to sit with you if you explain you're a bit nervous.

LemonMousse · 30/12/2019 14:12

And the time thing could just mean a lot of waiting about Smile

suziedoozy · 30/12/2019 14:13

I’ve seen cardiologists a couple of times recently (luckily nothing wrong apart from being pregnant with passed history of heart surgery)
They say allow plenty of time because you usually need an ECG as PP said (I missed that one my first appointment!!) but also because they never run to time!
Take a book and just be prepared to spend a long time waiting if yours is anything like mine.
Good luck Flowers

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lemonjumper · 30/12/2019 14:20

They may want to do a few different tests, so there'll be a bit of sitting about in between. I was sent straight to hospital by my GP to get an ECG, then had a second appointment for 24 hour ambulatory BP monitoring a few weeks later and a third appointment for an echo a few weeks after that. Hopefully your hospital is just being more efficient by doing all the required tests in one go!

Pretty much everyone had a friend/partner with them in the waiting rooms, so I don't see why your partner wouldn't be able to stay with you.

Cheesetrapped · 30/12/2019 14:22

A standard cardiology appointment for us is weight, height, sats and blood pressure. Then a long wait. Next it is an ECG. Then a long wait. Then an echo. Then a long wait. Finally you go in to speak to a consultant/registrar. This might include him/her using a stethoscope.

It is long and boring, but there is nothing very invasive. The ECG involves having stickers with wires attached put on your body. The echo is like an ultrasound in pregnancy but just a bit higher up.

It will not be nearly as bad as you are imagining. I hope it all goes well for you.

Original poster
pinkkoala · 30/12/2019 14:23

Do you know if he will be allowed in the room with the consultant and when the tests are done.

OP posts:
LemonMousse · 30/12/2019 14:25

I'm sure if you ask he will be allowed to stay with you for all of it Smile

christma5isover · 30/12/2019 14:49

ECG, weight and blood pressure every time. Then sometimes the consultant requests echo too. I'v always gone alone but plenty take someone in with them (there's always a spare chair).

Original poster
pinkkoala · 30/12/2019 15:11

Cheesetrapped, do they let partners in with the checks such as ecg, echo and when you speak with consultants.

OP posts:
ScarletAnemone · 30/12/2019 16:36

Mine was exactly as Cheesetrapped described. Lots of sitting around and waiting. My DH was with me and came into all the tests and sat beside me.

ScarletAnemone · 30/12/2019 16:36

He also same into the meeting with the consultant.

Wigeon · 30/12/2019 16:40

Having had quite a lot of medical things recently, including cardiology, I’m sure your partner can be with you the whole time. It’s especially good to have them when you see the doctor as they can also ask questions you might not have thought of.

What kind of funny turns have you had? Have they indicated what they are looking into it might be?

Original poster
pinkkoala · 30/12/2019 17:02

Oh yes should of said about funny turns. I have no warning when they will happen but i go sweaty hot, pricking all over but cold and clammy, feel very sick, tight chest, drain of colour and everything goes black like i am going to pass out. I am a hca working nights with dementia and end of life, it happened at work last time and the nurse did my obs, my bp was fine.
My gp has done bloods, bp, and has said all ok, and ruled out anxiety and panic attacks.
I have asked about stress as the last 3 years i have had a lot of stress dealing with a abusive ex h, and being harassed by him and having police involvement. Even though he has a new partnet and is engaged. Also i haven't been sleeping great for last 3 years and docs wont give me anything. I have asked about all tjis and they said could be stress but also my mum has rapid and irregular heart beat and my dad has had 3 heart attacks, one of them a major one.
Any ideas what cardiologist will say.

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkkoala · 30/12/2019 20:24

.

OP posts:
Cheesetrapped · 30/12/2019 20:49

Yes, you are allowed to take someone with you for all of it. There are enough chairs in each room. As others have said, having someone with you when you speak to the consultant can be especially useful.

stripeypillowcase · 30/12/2019 20:53

the time will be because a nurse will take a lot of tests (ecg, bloods, blood pressure etc) before you see the consultant. there will be lots of waiting in between. take something to read.
and yes, totally fine to take someone with you.

MontStMichel · 30/12/2019 21:03

DH had a first Cardiology appointment recently, which took 3 hours. It involved

  1. Ordinary ECG
  2. Specialist nurse taking a history
  3. Chest x ray
  4. ECG on a treadmill
  5. Blood test
  6. Discussion with Clinical Director of Cardiology

DH has low blood pressure. I went with him, but did not bother going in with him for the tests; although I went in for the discussion with the consultant. I can’t say there was a lot of waiting - DH was in and out quite a bit!

Original poster
pinkkoala · 02/01/2020 00:46

Montstmichel, that was a lot of tests, i am expecting that, i just though another ecg and they would say its stress related, will they need to do more bloods when my gp did them beginning of Dec.

OP posts:
dontgobaconmyheart · 02/01/2020 03:03

You will be ok OP. I've been seen in a few cardiology clinics now and there really is limited cause for concern. Unless they suspect something serious having done your initial ECG they are unlikely to do many other tests on the day and will book you in at a later date for them if they feel they are required. This is especially true if you are young, have a decent BMI and no existing health issues.

Likely you will wait a while (take a book etc) in the waiting room, be called in to see the nurse who will take some details and to an ECG for the consultant, take your height and weight and send you back to the waiting room and then you'll go in to see him or her. You can bring your partner for whatever you like.

The consultant will then discuss your symptoms, a medical history, family history, any medication you take, may consume checks such as listen to the chest, take a pulse etc. You can ask any questions you like and he/she will advise what they want to look into next. Usually any further tests are to rule things out and error on the side of caution. Yes it is likely that they may take bloods, your GP results may not be on the system and there might be other things they'll want to look for to rule them out. You usually get sent down for bloods at the end, the consultant will send you down to phlebotomy with your form and they'll deal with it when you get there.

OP I recommend making a list of all your symptoms for the consultant so you can give them it, take any medication you are taking with you too.

With regards your 'funny turns' OP do you find they are worse when you get up quickly or have been standing up for some time? Worse when you are dehydrated or after a meal or similar? Do the symptoms alleviate when you sit or lie down? Has anyone taken a sitting to standing BP result?

There are many things it could be OP, very few of them are serious and many of them may mean your heart is perfectly healthy but there is something else going on Smile

Original poster
pinkkoala · 02/01/2020 23:01

Dontgobaconmyheart, i have wondered whether it could be stress or tiredness. My symptoms can happen any time, even when sitting. It doesn't alter my bp on standing. I have been sat in the car or on the sofa. They just happen. Nurse at work has mentioned vasovagl episodes, gp has already ruled out bp or anxiety. But afterwards i feel drained and like i need a sleep.

OP posts:
MontStMichel · 03/01/2020 09:13

As I understand it, an ordinary ECG is not likely to show much unless you are having a heart attack or just had one! (Per a junior doctor in the family)

DaveMinion · 03/01/2020 10:24

An ecg can show a lot more than just a heart attack. Irregular heartbeat, problems with electrical activity in the heart, too fast, too slow heartbeat. But yes can show a mi or stemi about to happen or in progress as well as old infarction. It’s a really good diagnostic tool. I work in a theatre environment not cardiology so I can’t help but I imagine you will have an ecg at least (10 stickers on body which takes a couple of mins and measure electrical ectivity) possibly an echo (like an ultrasound of your heart that looks at the blood flow). Plus bloods and normal observations and weight and height. I’m sure they will let your partner stay for all. They may do a chest X-ray too (may not though).

You’ve had a lot going on and I’m really surprised that your gp had ruled out anxiety and stress. They can both cause similar symptoms too (speaking from personal experience not medical). But it’s good to get your heart looked at too.

Good luck.

DaveMinion · 03/01/2020 10:27

Ahh meant to put a paragraph in grr. Excuse the bit where I was answering one person then another 🤬

jayde28 · 03/01/2020 10:30

I see that you've mentioned your BP isn't affected when you have these attacks. Have you checked your pulse when they happen.
I was having the same symptoms and BP was fine however the hospital noticed my pulse was rising and rising resulting in me fainting for my body to reset. I have since been diagnosed with a condition called POTS. Which is controlled
By some meds. X

MontStMichel · 03/01/2020 12:11

You’ve had a lot going on and I’m really surprised that your gp had ruled out anxiety and stress.

Yes, the first time DH went to the GP, saying he thought he had a heart problem, she said it was stress and anxiety! Actually, it was a 90% blockage in a coronary artery.