To Attend With Covid?

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Bit of backstory: saw the cardiologist about a year and a half ago for some afib symptoms after a holter test. Cardiologist wanted to put in a Reveal device but I was 5 weeks pregnant by that appointment. Decided to catch up after pregnancy.

Three appointments prior to this have been cancelled and I have one at 7:30pm tonight. Woke up feeling awful with a slightly raised temperature, stuffy runny nose, slight throat pain and body aches. Haven't slept all night as baby has the same symptoms (5 months old) and kept waking up.

Feeling like crap but have had some scary heart symptoms in the past few days and really need to speak to the cardiologist (on Propanolol 40mg for a week so far) so I'll drag myself out to see him with a mask on. Sister is calling me all shades of unreasonable saying I could lead to his death over a silly appointment and I should cancel and wait for the next appointment on the books. Baby is staying home with DH so as not to be taken out of routine.

AIBU?

Have you tested to see if you do have Covid or just a heavy cold?
If you do have covid, ring the cardiology reception and ask for advice as to whether to attend or not.

Ime tests are no longer reliable. On balance I think you should go but should ring them in advance so you're not sitting in a waiting room full of other people.

DH is out getting some tests now but DD1 has had it and tested with a line so I'm working on the assumption it is.

Personally if I had a heart problem and was in a waiting room waiting to see Cardiologist, I wouldn’t be happy that there was someone waiting there that knowingly had Covid, so no I wouldn’t attend.

I'd also see if you can get hold of some proper masks rather than just the thin paper ones which don't do much.

I think test - and if it is call the department and see what they advise

I wouldn't just rock up without telling them

See if they can at least do a video/telephone appt?

Take a test and then contact them.

This is a hard one because I know you need to see someone but there could be very vulnerable people in that waiting room. Definitely test and ring them.

Please don't. I would normally say that but you got some potentially vulnerable people in the waiting room with you. Hope you feeling better soon

Wear a mask but I’d still go, you need cardiac care.

Many many people wouldn’t test and wouldn’t know and would still attend appointments

You'll be more in the know as of what to do once you test.

If it's positive I'd phone and tell them, people at these appointments aren't very well and need to mind themselves and someone knowingly sitting there spreading covid isn't very nice. You also need to consider the doctor too and the many patients he'll see after you

Of course you can attend. Medical staff go to work with Covid (quite rightly). Just stop testing, and save yourself the effort.

You need to do whatever they tell you, surely?

I had a doppler scan a couple of weeks ago, and the letter made it clear I mustn't attend if I have Covid symptoms.

No, you can infect other people in the cardiac waiting room. If you do go please use a decent mask such as FFP3. I'm not in UK but in my country you have to declare you are Covid free before entering a clinic. Hospital staff all still use masks and so should we.

Even if you don't have covid you have some kind of virus, presumably infectious. Call the clinic and ask them what to do.

Take test since you are getting one anyone. Call clinic either way (covid/virus other than covid) and ask if you should still turn up. If they say no, request that the dr phones you during the appointment slot instead, in light of your new heart symptoms which may need prompt attention.

You don't say if they are actually going to implant the device at this appointment. Just so you are aware, I went to the hospital for an extremely minor procedure a few weeks ago. The first thing they did was take my temperature. Do you have any guidance for the appointment?

Your sister sounds harsh! On one hand you need to see a cardiologist and I wouldn't mess around with those sorts of things. But also having Covid you could infect vulnerable patients. Although if they said to come anyway you could make sure you sit away from others, wear a mask etc. We had to take my daughter to hospital when she was Covid positive earlier in the year as she was very poorly. We were told to sit in the waiting room which was absolutely rammed. Felt awful for others but also she needed care. Sat her in the wheelchair pointing away from people. Masked up etc. Hope you're ok xx

Guidance for NHS staff is that if you feel well enough to work you should be in work. If not stay off.

i’d apply the same to the appointment. If you do feel well enough to go and have a decent mask it would be a good idea to wear that.

I would say you are unreasonable of telling your sister and putting it on the internet. Just go!

So are you saying that doctor's and nurses can go into ICU, oncology , heart and lung etc with COVID and treat patients ? I seem to only read this on here and get different answers when I ask people I know who live in the UK, if it's true I'm really glad that I don't live there.

Attend? No, I wouldn't.

I would ask for a telephone or online appt instead.

I’d go if I were you, god knows how long you’ll wait for another appt, presumably you’re on a blood thinner? AF treatment gets far better results the sooner treatment is started.

Please dont just go phone them and let them choose - I would have thought you would be rebooked rather than sent back to the beginning again.

Anyone else worried about a small baby with Covid? Its still a killer people.