As a cardiac arrest survivor your cardiologist may be the most important physician you have in your life. Getting time with them can be vital to aiding your recovery but we know they are much in demand. So, if you get an appointment, it’s vital to know what to ask your cardiologist when you see them.
With that in mind, here are some of the common questions you might think about asking your doctor…
Primary
- What is the best way to contact you if I have any future questions?
- If I can’t get hold of you who should I contact?
- Why did my cardiac arrest occur?
- Where can I find out more information about this?
- What damage, if any, has occurred?
- Am I at risk of it happening again?
- What can I do to stop it happening again?
- Why was I diagnosed as idiopathic and what more can we do to find out the cause?
- How does my family history affect my heart health?
- Will genetic testing be required? (for me? for my family?)
- Are my direct family members at risk of it happening?
- Are tests for my direct family members applicable?
- Will my level of risk change over time?
- What symptoms might indicate a worsening of my specific condition?
- Will the symptoms I am experiencing now change over time?
Treatment
- I experience [pain/dizziness/personality changes/emotional swings/anger/low mood/anxiety] – is this normal and can it be treated?
- What are my treatment options?
- What are the alternatives?
- What if I don’t want any treatment?
- How often will I need to see you and why?
- What should I do if my symptoms get suddenly worse?
- Are further tests applicable?
- Why are you prescribing this particular treatment/medication?
- Why are you prescribing this particular dosage?
- Will the dosage vary over time?
- How long will I have to take this medication?
- What are the side-effects of taking this medication?
- Are there any medications, foods, drinks, supplements I should avoid?
- What lifestyle changes can I make to help my situation?
- Will my current stage of life (age/pregnancy/menopause etc) have any influence on my treatment plan?
- Will the fact I have [x] affect my risk or treatment plan?
- Who else might I get referred to?
- How soon will I be able to see them?
- Can I still have other forms of medical treatment such as an operation or MRI?
Sport and Activities
- What precautions do I need to take now I’ve had a cardiac arrest?
- Will I still be able to exercise or take part in sports?
- Are there any activities I should avoid doing now?
- Do I have to keep my heart rate within a certain range?
- Can I wear a Fitbit/Apple Watch to monitor my heart rate?
- Should I get a fitness tracker/heart rate monitor if I haven’t got one?
- What can trigger my particular arrhythmia?
- I love doing [x] – can I still do it?
- Will I get cardiac or another form of rehabilitation?
- If I don’t get any rehabilitation – why not?
ICD’s
- Why do I have an ICD?
- Why do I not have an ICD?
- How long will my ICD wound take to heal?
- What restrictions are there if I have an ICD?
- How long does an ICD battery last?
- What does a shock feel like?
- What do I do if I get shocked?
- Will I get a home monitor? If not, why not?
- Who should I contact if I have an issues with my device?
- What should I do if I am unable to contact anyone about my device issue?
LIFE
- How do I explain what has happened and/or my condition to my family/friend/colleagues?
- Will I be able to work again doing [x]
- How soon will I be able to return to work?
- Am I ok to drive?
- Do I need to contact the DVLA?
- How do I ensure that my driving licence is only suspended and not revoked?
- What is the process to get my licence back and when should I start it to get it back as to minimise the time I am unable to drive?
- What can I do if I do not feel comfortable driving anymore? (see Access to Work/Bus pass)
- Will my condition affect my sex life?
- Will my menstrual cycle have any effect on my medications?
- Will I be able to get pregnant still?
- Are there any extra risks if I get pregnant?
- Do they know about Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK? If not, get them some of our leaflets so that they do and future survivors can benefit from our help sooner.
- Where else can I get more support about my condition/operation?
- Can I have a copy of my medical report?
- What does [x] mean on my medical report?
- How can I help in future trials or research?
- How important do you think it is to adopt new treatments and procedures?
- Can I still drink alcohol, coffee or other caffeinated drinks?
- Am I ok to travel/go on holiday?
- Will the heat or cold affect me more?
- Does my condition mean I am more vulnerable to Coronavirus?
- How can I get my confidence back in my own body?
- I think I or my partner/family member is having emotional/mental health issues because of my cardiac arrest – can I/we see a counsellor?
- How can I get a second opinion?
- I have Critical Illness insurance, can you help me make a successful claim on it
We hope you find these useful and if you have any further suggestion for questions please let us know.
After our first meet-up in February 2015, I realised I was not alone. It was the first time since my cardiac arrest the previous year that I had spoken face-to-face with someone who had experienced what I had. This was also true for my wife, who also happened to be my lifesaver. From that meet-up, the idea of SCA UK was born. Since then, we have achieved a considerable amount, primarily providing information, resources and support to others in a similar situation but also raising the profile of survivorship and the need for better post-discharge care. We are starting to get traction in this, and with the formation of the charity, I genuinely believe we have a bright future ahead and will make a significant difference in the lives of many who join our ranks.