"Suffering with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation"

Six weeks after my first COVID 19 vaccination in 2021 I began to experience strong and constant palpitations (May '21). It was difficult to get a doctor's appointment and as an unpaid carer, finding the opportunity to get time to go to an appointment.

I eventually managed to in the late December of that year. The doctor referred me to cardiology in the Queen Margaret Hospital and prescribed me medication (beta blockers and aspirin) to help in the interim. I was told to get a heart trace (I did) and I had to wear 24 hour monitor to record what was going on.

The medication did not make any difference to the palpitations so I stopped taking it. The doctor prescribed me a different beta blocker. I had to adjust my own dosage as I discovered I was experiencing very unpleasant side effects from the beta blocker. I reported this to the doctor and had at least three f2f visits and telephone consultations also whilst on cardiology waiting lists.

The cardiologist eventually sent out a letter and I attended the appointment. I was confirmed I had atrial fibrillation by a cardiologist at Queen Margaret Hospital after he had gone over all the test results from the echocardiogram, heart recording and 12 lead reading. He suggested that the medication I was on was sufficient despite me telling him that it wasn't helping. I didn't understand some of what he had told me about my heart. I asked him if the COVID 19 vaccination or perimenopause could be a contribution factor, to which he laughed, shook his head and said no.

I am still suffering from what the doctors are calling paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and on the same medication. I have reported all of this to several GPs in my medical practice. I have been put back on the waiting list last year and have found out that the GP put it forward to cardiology as "routine".

There is nothing routine trying to carer for a partner whilst exhausted with palpitations. I have an appointment with an GP this month with the practice. I am demanding that I am escalated from routine to urgent. I believe that level of care from Queen Margaret Hospital is non-existent as is any follow up from GPs surgery.