UK annual check-up postponed

Annual pacemaker check

by Gemita - 2020-10-06 17:23:05

Hello Andy,

Thank you for letting us all know of your experience.  Well we are certainly not getting back to normal any time soon, are we?

Both hubby and I attend London Hospitals (King's College hospital and St Thomas' hospital).  Both our appointments were initially cancelled, then reinstated with support of our cardiologist/EP.  I believe they assess on an individual basis depending on the condition of the patient.  I rang to ask that my husband be seen earlier because of an event that occurred.  They got him in quickly.

When I attended my appointment at St Thomas' in July, I had two physiologists looking after me.  They said they had plenty of time on their hands because so many patients were afraid to attend hospital and had cancelled.  I took advantage of their time and asked lots of questions and they told me all about my arrhythmias.  It was the best pacemaker feedback I have ever had.

I hope you stay safe Andy.

Different experience here

by atiras - 2020-10-07 09:15:50

I was due my third annual check in February, but asked to be transferred from the Bristol Heart Institute to a clinic closer to home as travelling 60+ miles in each direction was a chore, to put it mildly, and I was already seeing a cardiologist in Swindon for Heart Failure.  (He's not just a cadiologist but specialises in heart failure and pacemakers, and put in the frst 4-lead pacemaker in the UK a few years ago, so my GP was keen for me to work with him on my condition).

Got an appointment at Swindon for April -- which was promptly postponed indefintely at the end of March. Not too bothered, as -- as far as I could tell -- everything was fine with the PM and battery life the previous year had been 8+ years.

But, halleluia, I got a phone call an hour ago, asking me if I could come in tomorrow afternoon to a 'special clinic' they've arranged.  "You might be the only person there but we'll be holding it regardless  -- although people are still scared to come in" which chimes with what Gemita said.

I do wonder if it's because a consultant at the Birmingham Heart Transplant clinic raised questions about my pacemake programmeing when I saw him a few weeks ago.  Whatever, I shall be going -- gather thee rosebuds while you may, these days. Next week I have a DPD scan at Oxford to check for Amlyloidosis in the heart  -- scheduled in March, postponed three times already.  Ironically, I feel safer in healthcare settings than I do in restaurants and shops -- I'm still almost entirely self-isolating except for visits to hospitals and the GP.

Changes here too

by raynorfolk - 2020-10-12 13:05:42

I had a check up in late August and was told my next check up would be in six months. This surprised me as my prior ccheck had been three months before. I was told my battery had one year remaining - it's in it's 13th year. Normally I would receive a letter giving me a date for my next appointment shortly after the last test. In September I got a letter saying I was on a waiting list and would be contacted in due course with an appointment date. Also I found that my heart rate had been lowered from 70 to 60. I phoned the Hospital and was told that this would make my battery last longer. I'm quite happy with all this and am not looking for advice - just adding to the debate.