Patient Testimonials
Sunday 25 November 2012
Why I am glad I took the advice of Dr. Forbat and I continued on my warfarin!
“Four and a half years ago Doctor Forbat carried out a Cardioversion procedure to treat my Atrial Fibrillation.
I’m pleased to say that I’ve enjoyed good health until recently when the Atrial Fibrillation suddenly and unexpectedly returned. I was reading my book in bed around Saturday midnight having just taken my evening medication of Flecainide and Warfarin when for no apparent reason the fibrillation began. It was a very unpleasant experience with my heart racing and skipping beats. I didn’t feel I should take extra medication at the time but the fibrillation continued throughout the night and I decided to take my morning medication a little earlier than usual. Within 10 - 15 minutes the racing and skipping “switched off” and my heartbeat calmed down.
Throughout Sunday I continued to monitor my pulse rate periodically and in the early hours of Monday morning, to my great relief, it had returned to normal.
When Doctor Forbat first started to treat me he prescribed Warfarin as one of a mix of drugs. I was very reluctant to take it as I associated it with adverse side effects but at his insistence I accepted his advice. I must say that I have not noticed any side effects. However, I believe that without the protection resulting from the Warfarin, I might well have had a more damaging outcome. Once again I am grateful to Doctor Forbat for his sound advice and I have great confidence in him”.
He has since slightly adjusted my prescription and carried out a Heartview scan and an Echocardiogram. On the basis of the results he has been able to reassure me with a favourable report.
Friday 21 September 2012
"My story in brief " - Mum has valve surgery and cardioversion at 40yrs.
I'm a wife and a mother of two lively young children. Since turning 40 I'd been finding myself feeling increasingly 'stressed', exhausted and suffering from frequent dizzy spells.
In Spring 2011, my GP detected a heart murmur. An echocardiogram revealed a leaking mitral valve assessed as 'high-end moderate'. Over the next 6 months, I felt my symptoms become rapidly worse. It was at this point that I decided to contact Dr. Forbat. He was able to see me a couple of days later.
From my first appointment, I had no doubt that I was 'in the right hands'. Dr. Forbat thoroughly assessed me, putting me through a number checks, blood tests, ECGs, an echo, fitting me with an event recorder for a week and, a little later, arranging an MRI. It was the MRI which provided conclusive evidence that I required surgery. I found it hard to believe what was happening so quickly to me. Dr. Forbat guided me through the next stages. He arranged for me to meet with a surgeon who specialised in mitral valve surgery. Then a date was set and, twelve months after first being diagnosed, I found myself in hospital having surgery. A repair to my mitral valve was intended but was not possible and so a replacement was done.
Over the next week, Dr. Forbat visited me several times in hospital and then sent me home with a 'Doc@Home' unit. This is a fantastic piece of kit which enables the patient to record their own blood pressure, ECG and various stats and send this information direct to Dr. Forbat on his iPhone. It reassures the patient that they continue to be monitored and it supports Dr. Forbat in detecting changes quickly.
Three weeks after surgery my heart went arrhythmic and a month or so later I had to undergo something called an 'adenosine challenge' and then cardioversion. This was to be done as a day case but nevertheless, after everything I had recently experienced, I wasn't keen to go back in to hospital and I was anxious about the process. Dr. Forbat talked me through it all in advance so that I knew exactly what to expect. The cardioversion proved a success and six months later I feel fully recovered and better than I've felt for several years.
Dr. Forbat still checks up on me from time to time. I have greatly appreciated his approachable manner. He has always been directly contactable by 'phone/text/email. It's never too early or too late in the day and he has always been timely and prompt in his responses.