"I feel I am not getting any help"

In April 2011 I consulted my GP about dizzyness after exertion which had been getting increasingly worse over the previous 12 months.

I was referred to a cardiologist, 3 appointments were cancelled and I was only seen in September. The next appointment with the cardiologist was cancelled 4 times and eventually I was seen end of December. He found pericarditis.

I was referred to the TB clinic and the consultant thought that TB was very unlikely. Beginning of this year I was feeling very unwell but the cardiologist took no notice and my GP prescribed Diazepam (! ). Later the cardiologist referred me back to the TB clinic and an interdisciplinary conference came to the conclusion that TB was unlikely.

Beginning of May 12 I had my last appointment with the cardiologist who just shrugged his shoulders and said it probably was just a virus infection and discharged me although the pericardial effusion had not cleared up. I was feeling better then but not well and I was so desperate that I went abroad for a medical consultation, at great expense.

In the end I did get a diagnosis - Lyme borreliosis. I realized that it would have never been diagnosed in the UK as I was being dismissed as neurotic and no tests or check-ups were arranged.

Coming back from abroad I presented the blood test result to my GP. This was end of May. Eventually I was referred to Infectious Diseases, was seen in July and I am still waiting for treatment. In the meantime my cardiac symptoms have been worsening considerably. I asked my GP for a referral to a cardiologist - as advised by the Infectious Diseases consultant. he got me an appointment for December. I asked him if this could be sooner as I am very concerned about developing cardiomyopathy but he told me that he was unable to do anything.

All along I had the impression nobody knows what to do with me and so only the absolute minimum is done with long delays, maybe in the hope that I would run out of patience and just go away. I feel I am not getting any help.