GP appointment what to expect?

[bitworried5]

Hi

Just wondered if there’s anyone about who can help. I’ve been referred to cardiology already (not by my GP, by hospital) for a very fast heart rate which they think might be SVT but obviously there’s a long waiting list.

i feel like my heart has been pounding on and off for the last week in particular and I checked my pulse today and it was 150 at it’s highest so I called and made a GP appointment because I’ve been feeling pretty awful in general. I’ve also had some blood tests recently which had some bad results which I’m unsure if is contributing to it or not

im a bit worried about going and worried I’ll be wasting their time as I’ve already been referred to cardiology, but I was hoping they could maybe help today in the meantime as it’s pretty unpleasant feeling like this. Does anyone know what to expect or what they can realistically do? Or am I wasting their time because realistically I’ve already been referred to cardiology? Right now it’s about 150 bpm so im assuming it will be about the same at the GP appointment.

thanks in advance, just worried about being a time waster!

A GP may be able to offer some reassurance and it's useful for them to be aware of the situation. They will likely check your pulse and blood pressure and check you over generally, listen to your symptoms, may arrange an ECG (usually done by a HCA) and some bloods.

It might be helpful for you to have a look at some information about SVT if that's the most likely - however that does still need to be investigated and confirmed by cardiology.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/supraventricular-tachycardia-svt/#:~:text=If%20your%20episodes%20of%20supraventricular,or%20cutting%20back%20on%20smoking

Thanks. Do you think there’s anything they can do in the meantime to bring it down and stop the palpitations? Or will it just be a case of wait for cardiology? Just feels really uncomfortable and unpleasant when it goes so fast.

Pretend to blow up a balloon. I know it sounds odd but it really works. I have SVTs very regularly, and this really works.

They should be able to prescribe beta blockers which will help with this

https://www.lhch.nhs.uk/resources/download/lhch-64a7ec9f1c7b92.34250152

Valsalva Maneouvers can slow/reset some types of SVT. Worth a try. The above link is from the liverpool heart and chest hospital.

I would expect your GP to review your history to identify any red flags pointing towards a need for emergency management like cardioversion, check your BP & HR. If the episode has settled then likliehood is you'd continue to await your referral. If persisting at a rate around 150 and not able to stop it with the above maneouvers then I'd expect they'd direct you to hospital.

Annoyingly I can’t take beta blockers because of a different condition, that’s why I wasn’t put on anything whilst waiting to see cardiology x

Thanks. Yeah I’ve been doing the valsalva which has been helping, although the palpitations keep starting up again but it’s definitely been helping bring it down when it starts going too fast x

Sorry just bumping this in case anyone else sees it and has any knowledge/experience

Depending on what the GP thinks - as you've not actually been diagnosed yet so it may not be SVT - they may send you to A&E or phone cardiology and ask them to see you more urgently. I'd be prepared for that, and potentially being kept in, if I were you so I'd have your phone charger and maybe some overnight things packed, as when I was sent to A&E with a high pulse I was told there was a blanket rule and they were not allowed to discharge me if resting pulse was over 100.

If my resting HR was 150 I'd be going to A&E not the GP! I had a reaction to medication and mine was pushing 120 and it made me feel awful so I dread to think how you're feeling. 150 is equivalent to doing fairly strenuous exercise so that's not healthy if it keeps continuing.

Was just googling to find out about Liverpool Heart hospital and this was the first result. How did things turn out, OP?