"Box ticking exercise"

In March 2016 I began to throw up/headache/pounding in head/vision disturbances the occurrences became more frequent and the effects more severe over time until I had a 5 day episode in November during which I fell unconscious that resulted in a hospital stay in Tunbridge Wells, the Neurologist there believed this was just due to a bad reaction to a drug I was given and I was just suffering from a migraine.

In January though I started blacking out during these episodes and was hospitalised when I had a 6 day "migraine" where by the last day my heart rate was going as high as 200, normally it drops during these episodes.

I was in the CCU (Cardiology Care Unit) and they were satisfied nothing was wrong with my heart so my care was transferred to Neurology, which is where my problems really began.

To start with the cardiology doctor booked an EEG test on neurology's behalf, but after 12 weeks I heard nothing else back.

After seeing my GP I found that Kings had requested an MRI to be performed, but no one had booked it.

I also found that the neurologist I was due to see was leaving so I would see someone else, two MRI scans were done and after 24 weeks I finally saw the Neurologist.

They said the blackouts were due to vagal syncope, which is what was written on my hospital discharge letter, but no tests had been made to confirm this, they just assumed it, and then asked me some questions on the past 2 months.

They told me that my spinal MRI was fine, I assumed they meant just regarding the cause of the episodes, but later documentation never mentioned the major back operation I had 7 years previously that he appears completely unaware of.

They then said I was just suffering from a migraine and prescribed a new medication, they said also they would not be seeing me again as the doctor was only temporary there, but I later found that they had discharged me from neurology to my local GP.

I thought something was wrong when I mentioned about my heart rate often dropping during these episodes and they said I should see a cardiologist, although I had spent 9 days on a cardiology ward being tested!

I later received a letter that described my medical history as suffering from 2 migraines a month that last 1-2 hours with the only major operation being when I was 4 (the operation on my spine was obviously too minor to mention....).

Even the symptoms were very different, I do not have photo-phobia, just an intense pressure in my head that makes closing my eyes feel more comfortable (even in the dark).

To end it he put a small addendum that said they thought I should not drive, and that was it - indefinite, even though I had told them it takes hours of feeling unwell before I get bad enough to blackout.

It was clear in hindsight the doctor did not read my medical history, nor care about my well being, the objective of the meeting was just to get me off the waiting list.

The level of care given was abysmal, I have written two letters since but received no reply.