Finding The Right Doctor – A Patient’s Experience Peter 1
My Atrial Fibrillation Journey Started in January 2004 2
3 After May 2008 Before May 2008
4 Still taking Medications
Pre May 2008 Post May 2008 Digoxin Digoxin Bisoprolol Verapamil Ramipril Ramipril Bumetanide Bumetanide Amiloride Amiloride Warfarin Warfarin 5
March 2008 Saw Respiratory Consultant When did you experience the breathlessness? She suggested I may be intolerant to Betablockers 6
May 2008 Because of the Respiratory Consultant’s observations my Cardiologist Agreed to take me off Bisoprolol Tells me it will make no difference Refers me to a specialist to discuss an Ablation procedure 7
On 2 nd Day of Stopping Bisoprolol Breathlessness so improved My Wife & I did a ½ mile walk 8
Now doing 2 to 3 mile walks 9
June 2008 Saw Consultant at Harefield Hospital about Ablation Procedure Absolutely Fantastic Consultation 10
June 2008 After Seeing OH Doctor Twice Started Phased Return to Work Now I’m back at school full time 11
Who were the right Doctors for me? My GP The OH Doctor The Respiratory Consultant The Consultant at Harefield 12
What have I learnt? My Symptoms – breathlessness, fatigue, bloatedness and fluid retention are what Doctors expect from someone with Atrial Fibrillation Symptoms mainly same as side effects of Betablockers Consultants aim to choose the medication which is best for our heart. However, in my case, and I suspect others as well, I had to wait too long for the one which was best for my body. At a time when we have a real need there are a lot of Doctors out there who are willing to understand where we are coming from and help us. 13
One tablet ruined my life for 4 years Caused me to have 9 months off work. Felt as if I was living under a shell with no future. Without tablet got life back and a future 14
Thanks to the Right Doctors I now know that there is life after a diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation 15
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