AFIB and Congestive Heart Failure

@shmerdloff — Is this the case at the big “Cinics” (Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, etc.) that have everything from Advanced Surgery to Outpatient preventive medicine?

@charlotteeb
Practice corporate medical

@mikeydc2008
In my limited experience I have found the big guys to be reliable. Like MSK
It's the commercial practice that has scooped up all the local doctors and are more interested in the bottom line financially, hence packing in patients every 20 minutes, oops! 15 minutes, leaving 5 min. for face to face, with time for no more than a stethescope.
Still. it's the best care in the world.

@shmerdloff — Yep! Same here in South Carolina. I thought “What Is Happening?”when my cardiologist came into the room after half an hour (after nurses did the weight, bp, ecg) and did not say anything other than mumble “heart block” and “prior heart attack” and “ischemia” as he hurried me out to the receptionist to schedule an exercise stress test ecg. Under 15 minutes! It turned out I did not have a heart block, a prior heart attack, or ischemia. 0 for 3. It seemed like he was hurrying me out to get to the next person (who probably also got only 15 minutes). I have heard the big NYC hospitals are pretty good for cardiology. Thanks!

Sad to hear so many are experiencing the same things but it helps to know, I'm not alone. Too bad money dictates so many things in life!
Thanks for sharing!

@shmerdloff
"Generally speaking, I'd rather not be 80 with congestive heart failure."

If I die before 80, I'll have my wife etch that on my ash urn. I have a few months to go.

Staffing in Cardiology is so low, that most NP are traveling personell. I was recently diagnosed with afib and am now taking 25mg of Metropolo sustaing action. Wow, I find it difficult to exert and and I am extremely fatigued.

@gal5 I'm sorry to hear that you have trouble with cardiology staffing in your location - here in the Minnesota it is one of the few specialties where we (our family) don't routinely experience a wait of three months or longer to see a doctor.
Many people seem to have the response you describe to metoprolol. For some people, their body eventually adjusts, for others a different treatment must be found.
Have you contacted your cardiologist's office for a followup appointment? When you do, be sure to tell them you are struggling with the medication.
Is there any possibility that you can travel to a nearby city for better access?

I have congestive heart failure and chronic AFIB, along with high BP and the other usual suspects. The only thing that really bothers me is that I don't have the energy to do what I used to do. I'm certainly not who I used to be. As they say, "My get-up-and-go has got-up-and-went. But I will be 96 in 3 days, so I'm not complaining. It boils down to the glass half-full or half-empty viewpoint.

You sound extremely sane. Unusual these days.