Cardiologist for afib/palpitations around Joburg?

[r4nd0m]

Hi all,

I know a certain few of you have heart problems and trouble with palpitations and such.

Can you please recommend a good cardiologist for the above in Joburg (or surrounds)?

Also, what's a good place (or way) to get cardioversions done?

I know I'm making the process sound like a drive-through, but if you've been through the rigmarole, you'll know that once you're shocked and you feel better, you want to get back to doing things.

Checking into casualty, waiting hours to be seen to and then shocked only for them to book you overnight is the sucky part about experiencing these episodes.

Regards

 

[Ancalagon]

If you know what the issue is and just need something done, then see Dr Israel Obel. He is old, but good.

If you don't know what the problem is, and need some investigation done, stay away from Obel. He's not good at it.

 

[r4nd0m]

If you know what the issue is and just need something done, then see Dr Israel Obel.

Well I have afib brought on by congenital abnormalities, this much is known.

My current medication (bisoprolol 7.5mg) isn't working to control these and it plummets my BP a few moments after taking them. I feel like a sloth all day with brain fog.

Do you think he can suggest a better or more permanent solution? I see he does cryo-ablation. I wonder if that's an option for me.

Thanks for your input @Ancalagon

 

[Ancalagon]

Chat with him about it. Problem is, you'll need to pay for an initial consultation first.

If he says that you need to do a Holter monitor test to determine what is going on, do it and then wait for the results. If he says that the results are "inconclusive", then find a new doctor.

I had PVCs bad enough to cause pretty debilitating fatigue, but somehow, he never found anything worth treating, after a year of seeing him.

 

[marine1]

Dr JP Theron at union hospital is absolutely incredible

 

[r4nd0m]

I had PVCs bad enough to cause pretty debilitating fatigue, but somehow, he never found anything worth treating, after a year of seeing him.

Well that's not positive. It's interesting how many of these doctors (even my current one) downplay the symptoms. I've even had one tell me "relax, you won't die" while my heart was racing in casualty. Fun times.

 

[Ancalagon]

Well that's not positive. It's interesting how many of these doctors (even my current one) downplay the symptoms. I've even had one tell me "relax, you won't die" while my heart was racing in casualty. Fun times.

I could reach out and strangle them when they do it, and I hate to break it to you, but this is EXACTLY what Obel did.

He reassured me it was "nothing serious". Thanks Obel.

Nothing serious but I have to take time off work because I'm so exhausted I can't think.
Nothing serious but I get woken up in the middle of the night by my heart beating too hard.
Or I can't fall asleep because my heart is beating too hard.

Yeah, totally symptoms I can live with! Thanks Prof! All I needed was that pep talk!

It is totally normal for healthy 30 year old males to have heart problems! Yeah totally normal!

 

[Ancalagon]

Cardiac nurse: "You're a healthy 30 year old male, you're lying down, and your heart rate is going from 80 up to 115. This isn't normal. I'm worried."
Obel: "We'll do another Holter monitor test and see what comes up."

<gets the Holter monitor results back>

Obel: "Well it only recorded 4 hours out of 72 hours, but those 4 hours were fine, so you're good to go!"

 

[r4nd0m]

Wow dude. My doctor believes in dosage increases to solve problems.
2.5mg bisoprolol -> 5.0mg bisoprolol -> 7.5mg bisoprolol

Bet you he'll say 10mg on the next visit.

For interest sake, how did you solve your problem or are you still experiencing the episodes?

 

[animal531]

I could reach out and strangle them when they do it, and I hate to break it to you, but this is EXACTLY what Obel did.

He reassured me it was "nothing serious". Thanks Obel.

..

It is totally normal for healthy 30 year old males to have heart problems! Yeah totally normal!

Well, I've been getting heart palpitations since std 9...sometimes it just happens. I'm on Cardicor 2.5 which seems to work fine for controlling mine.

Maybe if you have a good GP you can try some other variations of the meds. Unfortunately I'm not in JHB so I can't help you with actual recommendations.

 

[r4nd0m]

Unfortunately I'm not in JHB so I can't help you with actual recommendations.

Appreciate your insights nonetheless.

 

[Nemesys]

Eish....... I may be wrong but the medication mentioned above are beta blockers mainly used to keep heart rate down and control BP
My cardiologist is in Bloemfontein. I used to take Aricor but due to the high level of Iodine content and the resultant side effects my medication was changed to 200mg Tambocor to regulate my heart rhythm and a very low dose of Bilocor to control my heart rate. The problem with an irregular heart beat and a-fib is that the blood can clot in the Left atrium which can cause a stroke.
I would suggest that you consult with a good Cardiologist.

 

[cguy]

I suggest buying yourself a Kardia device. This way you can get diagnosed whenever things are happening, rather than those BS Holter monitors that they only give you for a short period of time.