Dr James Rosengarten 2020-08-20 Person 5 5 0

I was told that I had suffered a heart attack when I became unable to stand, speak more that a few words through lack of breath, became clammy and felt wretched, however the condition rapidly improved when I laid down for ten minutes or so. I had no chest pain, no tightness, no weakness or discomfort in my arms, in fact I had none of the normal symptoms associated with a heart attack. I had a stent fitted which made not one jot of difference and I noticed that the ‘attacks’ were becoming more frequent but again after a few minutes laying on my side the condition simply went away. Over the ensuing six years I had many tests but nothing untoward was found. On my last visit to the consultant I was put through a vigorous workout, wires attached to arms, legs, chest etc but despite getting a little out of breath, I was sixty nine by then, the machine to which I was attached showed no irregularity. The consultant explained that he could find nothing untoward and suggested that I carry a portable machine with all the wires attached in order to record one of my now regular attacks. I explained to the consultant that I could easily bring on an attack and demonstrated this by crouching down and standing up quickly twice. For the first few seconds the machine kept it regular rhythm, however I could feel the onset of an attack and a few seconds later the consultant and accompanying nurse appeared transfixed by the rapid and irregular motion of the recorder, being bound by many wires I could not lay down as was my normal answer to such an episode and for this reason I became more faint as the seconds passed, however the consultant soon removed the pads and wires allowing me to lay down. The incident described above lasted longer than the customary five or ten minutes, it took a good twenty minutes before I began to feel well enough to stand, however the consultant insisted that I remain in hospital over night, I was discharged the next day. The consultant explained that he had had a consultation with other experts and passed me on to Doctor Rosengarten. After six years of taking medication which made me very lethargic which contributed to rapid weight gain, six stone in six years, I at last had a logical explanation of my condition. Mr Rosengarten explained that I had arrhythmia and tachycardia, he explained that the condition can be treated by way of ablation. Mr Rosengarten went into great detail concerning the nature of my condition and how the ablation would work, he explained the risk involved and that the operation would take only a few hours and that I would be conscious at all times. A few weeks later I attended the London Hospital where Mr Rosengarten again spoke with me giving lots of reassurance before the operation which he carried out himself. I had stayed in an hotel the previous night in order to be at the hospital by 07.30. It took me over twenty minutes to walk to the hospital, six hours later it took only six minutes to return to the hotel to collect my overnight bag. I have no complaint about my previous diagnosis although I did object to being told that I was in denial. I would like to add that the staff in the reception ward and in the theatre were so very professional and kind. It is now two years since the ablation and I have had no recurrence of the condition, I am loosing weight at about the same speed at which it came. I would like to express my gratitude to Dr Rosengarten, not just for his obvious skill and professionalism but for the manner in which he explained my illness and his attentiveness before, during and after the treatment. In closing I realise that this explanation of events may be overly extensive but I truly believe it is important to recognise talent and ability when found. I thank Dr Rosengarten, his team and the NHS which was founded in the year of my birth.