To think I don't need to go to A & E ?

[DreamCloud99]

DH thinks I need to go to the emergency room .

I think my symptoms don't warrant a trip to a & e , plus I can't be arsed to sit and wait for hours on end .

I've been having heart palpitations pretty much constantly for two days. It settles but then starts up again when I move about or stand / walk .

My heart rate when measured periodically has been anywhere between 90 to 125 bpm at rest or when standing / walking .

I only had a few hours sleep last night as the constant palpitations kept me awake and I also felt dizzy lying down .

I feel slightly unwell because of the regular shortness of breath and heart Palps but not actually poorly if that makes sense .

Knowing me , I'll rock up at a & e and I'll be totally fine

Who is right ?

Good grief, go to A&E.

Occasional heart palpitations are not necessarily something to worry about - I get them in times of stress, along with ocular migranes.

But sudden, constant palpitations and dizziness is really not normal - go and check.

The doctor said there was no reason to go to A&E and that I just need to calm myself down (I was completely calm and was even joking with DH when he was there )

He was so dismissive and refused to believe my heart rate went up so much upon standing - he said everyone's does!

Poor care. How are you today?

Would u be able to get to see ur gp fairly quickly, as a possible alternative? I had this, and go referred me for a barrage of tests, which concluded that I had a really irregular heartbeat, but apart from shortness of breath it wasn't do any harm (I could have told them that!). Yours maybe different, but if ur symptoms are minor, might be less hassle to go to gp (suspect in a &e you'd be seen as low priority over people with injuries, unless ur symptoms got worse..so maybe a long wait)

Sorry, my phone didn't update to show ur latest post, I just saw it! Sorry u had such a mean doctor, I'd still make a gp appt if it's still happening, he should have more time and be more civil.
My ex got sent to a &e by a doctor, with a not explaining once, and they still told him off for wasting their time, so don't take their bad behaviour to heart

A&E only treat what they see when you turn up.
And only until you are stabilise or admitted; it's not a walk in service for long term problems (POTS would be a long term problem).
If a person turns up with no worrisome symptoms, A&E won't speculatively treat them. That would actually be unethical.
Need to go thru GP for chronic conditions.
Taking along a few days or week of heart rate data might document OP's concerns.

So did he do a set of observations or an ecg op?

I'd definitely go to a walk in clinic or get an emergency appointment with your GP. Minimum.

Look, you've had several very experienced people say go to A&E and you've also implied your doctors care was unsatisfactory and he didn't properly grasp how serious you felt, so please just go?

Emergency HCP here - FOR CRYING OUT LOUD GO TO ED!

So why didn't you just stand up when he was there then?

SHE'S BEEN CHECKED OUT AND HAD AN ECG

Well done to your DH for getting you seen.

I would not disagree with a possible diagnosis of POTS.
See your GP and ask for a referral to cardiology who can then actually make the diagnosis and also discuss possible intervention to help make you feel better.

She's still tachy and breathless on movement though. Best not Internet diagnose, eh?

I'd want to see you OP, GPs are great but not infallible. You sound very anxious, understandably. My advice stands.

Thank you for all the concern

DH knows of someone who knows of someone who is a doctor

DH borrowed a portable ECG machine and I had it on today .

Doctor friend then downloaded the data and said that I have no missed beats but my heart rate is fast.

He said I'm best going to my GP for a cardiology referral as A&E won't be able to do much .

Is a fast heart rate ok?

How do you decide how many beats are classed as fast ?

Go to A+E if you are acutely unwell.

If you feel as you have done for a while, then await specialist assessment.
A+E is not the right place for investigations beyond confirming that you are not in any immediate danger.

Here is some info on heart rates - as you can see the human heart is capable of HUGE variation in heart rate. The speed of your pulse is only one of the qualities a cardiologist will look at. Depending on how physically fit a person is a 'normal' resting pulse can vary from 40 (ultra fit long-distance athlete) to @ 100 or more (anxious/unfit/stressed person, overactive thyroid or a multitude of other conditions). Exercise pulse is higher of course, but again varies hugely.

To those saying posters shouldn't of said go to a&e, the Op's original post said she feel slightly unwell couldn't sleep because of the palpitations and felt dizzy and it was the evening when gp surgery was shut, that's why many of us recommended a&e at that particular time.

She was having unusually symptoms in the heart/chest area that were making her feel unwell, it would of been irresponsible if we had said just take some aspirin, have a hot beverage and get some sleep.

Was there a reason why you couldn't stand up to show the doctor whole he was there? That would have been the obvious,answer to me.

Your typical OOH dr/GP could have done nothing more out of hours.

There is lack of understanding countrywide about what OOH/A+E/GP are for IME.
There is of course differing perception of risk, so I don't think people using whatever services inappropriately will every become extinct, and understandably so.
The plonkers who just don't care and call a 999 ambulance for a sore thumb they hurt some 3 weeks ago to take them to A+E 'because I thought you'd be quiet just now' should be put in the stocks fine IMO - and again there's no cure for that.