"My Atrial Fibrilation"

After trying at home and using the maximum amount of my medication  to get my heart back into rhythm I  took myself up to A&E because I know from previous Atrial Fibrilation attacks that is would require help. From arriving at A&E to my departure the next day I received excellent care from everyone at the hospital. The A&E receptionist recognised straight away how breathless I was and when I said I am in A/F he went and alerted staff in A&E.  After booking in I was taken straight into Resus and put on ECG and from there doctors and nurses were in attendance straight away and I was reassured. 

The doctor organised an IV drip with the drug required to try and get my heart back into rhythm,  explaining everything to me. All the nurses were excellent too. I can't praise the help, kindness and dedication to all of the people who work in A&E dealing with others who were coming in as I was being treated.  They are all amazing and I witnessed real dedication the staff paid to the man in the opposite cubical to me as well. Although I spent a lot of my time on a trolley but in a cubicle, it was still comfortable. The, air conditioning was on as it was a very hot day. I was comfortable and asked if I would like drinks and sandwich.

Later I was put onto a cardiac ward with view that if I didn't come out of A/F I would be going in the morning to theatre with general anesthetic to have shock treatment.  But just before in the morning as they came to take me to theatre they realised I had not long got back into Rhythm. Relief to me.

On the ward all the staff again amazing, I was on Johnson ward. My only complaint and that was nothing to do with the staff was an elderly woman in the next bed kept calling out, pressing her buzzer as well as shouting.  The nurses would come to her straight away and they came lots of times, getting her out of bed when she asked. They gave her pain relief, made her comfortable on many occasions  they treated her with the greatest of respect.   How they did I don't know.

I have admiration and huge respect to all of those amazing staff, receptionist, the housekeeper who did the teas and meals.  Even when I was nil by mouth they did acknowledge me as they passed.  But once it was clear I didn't have to go to theatre and I could now drink and eat, staff made sure I got a jug of water, cup of tea and something to eat. The food was lovely.

Although A&E were busy my treatment and stay was 1st class. 

My A/F normally gets back into rhythm after my medication at home within about 12 hrs but the 5 times over a 3 yr period when I  have had to go up to A&E I have received fabulous, wonderful care.

The cardiologist is referring me to a new treatment in Nottingham or Leicester. In the meantime I will be having appointments and follow ups at the Cardiac clinic at Lincoln .

I left feeling better and knowing that they do really care and impressed and felt valued as a person who's life hopefully might be  improved by new modern technology and impressed by the cardiologist's knowledge and compassion. 

They are all amazing and I feel very privileged to have been treated there at Lincoln county hospital.