Its Wednesday about 11am, and this will be the last post before the op. I was taken aback yesterday by how many people wished me well. Its really quite humbling that so many people care. So this is for everyone who has wished me well. I don't know how many, if any, read this blog, but I'm saying to everyone, family, friends home and abroad and customers a heartfelt thanks - and if good wishes will do the trick - I'll be through this in no time.
One small point. I remember saying at one point that I was more scared of the dentist than of the op. Well - I lied !
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Monday, 14 January 2008
GOT THE DATE !
I was driving along just minding my own business today, when my mobile rang. It was my son, telling me in an ominous tone of voice that I "had a phone message." He really sounded quite upset, so I sort of guessed that it was going to be from Hull, and it was. The message was to ring the surgeons secretary, which of course I did as soon as I got in. There has been a cancellation and my name was next on the list, would I like to have the operation on Thursday? I didn't give myself time for nerves to kick in, I just went for it and said "YES" loud and clear.
So, I'm committed. I have to go into hospital on Wednesday afternoon, so they can manage me pre-op, then have the op on Thursday. Am I nervous? Yes, a bit, quite a lot really, but I really just want to be well again, and I'm almost (but not quite!) looking forward to it. I'm pretty sure that I'll add to this post before I go, but just at the moment I'm a bit jittery and find it a bit tricky to concentrate on much
So, I'm committed. I have to go into hospital on Wednesday afternoon, so they can manage me pre-op, then have the op on Thursday. Am I nervous? Yes, a bit, quite a lot really, but I really just want to be well again, and I'm almost (but not quite!) looking forward to it. I'm pretty sure that I'll add to this post before I go, but just at the moment I'm a bit jittery and find it a bit tricky to concentrate on much
Saturday, 12 January 2008
Last nights dance
Well we went, and we had quite a good time all in all. Its strange how, although we only meet up once a year, I seem to have become quite good friends with a few of my wife's work colleagues and their wives / husbands. I think it maybe that the actual employees of the place are so busy talking shop and so on, that we partners have to make our own conversation, but whatever, I was a little surprised and very grateful to receive so many good wishes from so many different people.
One of the things that seems to have changed a lot in today's society is the way people greet each other. It now seems obligatory to kiss ladies on the cheek, ladies who I hardly know, and I have to say that I'm not comfortable doing it. To me it seems false somehow. I mean I do only see these ladies once a year, and the "air kiss" is something reserved for my closest female friends and relatives really. However, it's quite a rarity for a man of my age to be able to hug a young girl and not get his face slapped, that I took full advantage last night.
One of the people who I hardly know is a director of the company, but he took me to one side and told me how he had had a by-pass done 10 years ago and that it really was the best thing to happen to him - ever. Judging from the way he was dancing and the energy that he had, I must believe him. I really hope I can be like it too. It would be really great to reassure someone in my position some years hence, and maybe even point them to this blog. We'll see.
We had a nice time and renewed acquaintances with several people. I managed a couple of dances (well, more like one-and-as half, really) and stayed sober all night. My son was pretty disappointed by this as the spectator sport is watching me lean on the edge of the living room door trying (vainly) to balance after one or two too many G&Ts.
The only fly in the ointment was that I had a really dreadful night after turning in. I lost count of how many times angina woke me, but it was many times. I try not to wake my wife, but she's as nervous as a kitten about me just now. In the normal course of events I would have taken myself off to the spare room, but it's pretty full at the moment and I couldn't face moving stuff around. I try to sleep sat upright, but as I doze off I slide down the pillow which provokes an angina episode. To be honest I'm pretty fed up about it and glad that things are coming to the end.
One of the things that seems to have changed a lot in today's society is the way people greet each other. It now seems obligatory to kiss ladies on the cheek, ladies who I hardly know, and I have to say that I'm not comfortable doing it. To me it seems false somehow. I mean I do only see these ladies once a year, and the "air kiss" is something reserved for my closest female friends and relatives really. However, it's quite a rarity for a man of my age to be able to hug a young girl and not get his face slapped, that I took full advantage last night.
One of the people who I hardly know is a director of the company, but he took me to one side and told me how he had had a by-pass done 10 years ago and that it really was the best thing to happen to him - ever. Judging from the way he was dancing and the energy that he had, I must believe him. I really hope I can be like it too. It would be really great to reassure someone in my position some years hence, and maybe even point them to this blog. We'll see.
We had a nice time and renewed acquaintances with several people. I managed a couple of dances (well, more like one-and-as half, really) and stayed sober all night. My son was pretty disappointed by this as the spectator sport is watching me lean on the edge of the living room door trying (vainly) to balance after one or two too many G&Ts.
The only fly in the ointment was that I had a really dreadful night after turning in. I lost count of how many times angina woke me, but it was many times. I try not to wake my wife, but she's as nervous as a kitten about me just now. In the normal course of events I would have taken myself off to the spare room, but it's pretty full at the moment and I couldn't face moving stuff around. I try to sleep sat upright, but as I doze off I slide down the pillow which provokes an angina episode. To be honest I'm pretty fed up about it and glad that things are coming to the end.
Friday, 11 January 2008
Tonights is just a very quick post. It's my wifes firms dinner dance and I'm all bathed, sweet smelling and ready to rave. So we're going, and I intend having a bloody good time - after all it'll be a little while before I get chance to go again. I might even give my wife a quick swirl around the floor. I quite enjoy a bop, but I get breathless about half-way through a record. So this year will be a bit "steady".
Next year, though, stand by for a real raver!
More news tomorrow - headache permitting...
Next year, though, stand by for a real raver!
More news tomorrow - headache permitting...
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
The Assessment
Todays post could be quite a long one, and not just because of the assessment as you’ll see.
I had a bad night last night. Somehow I couldn’t sleep. I was worrying about going to Hull today and wondering what was going to be entailed in the assessment. I expected to feel a bit like a bug under a microscope but in the event the experience was not too bad at all. First though, we had to trauma of the bathroom…
Some little time ago, I had the misfortune to take a shower and have the bottom of the bath crack on me. This of course caused a few problems with water leaking and so on. I patched it up as best I could, but we needed a new bath – and quickly. My son works at a big DIY store, but we were warned off their baths as they are apparently very thin. Instead we opted for a (much) more expensive one. I just braced myself and paid. One of my wife’s friends is a plumber and he agreed to change the bath for us. He arrived smack on time at 7:30 am and set to work. Shortly afterwards he asked for the water to be turned off. I attempted to turn off the stop cock, but it had seized, and I couldn’t shift it. Jason had a look, he couldn’t shift it either, but my trying had started it leaking.
Happiness was not the word at that moment…
Jason went to turn off the water in the street, only to find the little hatch sealed closed by years of dust and rubbish, plus, when he did manage to open it the whole lot was full of clay covering all the tap. He’s a brilliant kid though and just set to work hauling out handfuls of freezing clay until he eventually found the tap three feet down the hole – and seized !
My stress levels were heading for the Stratosphere by now, as time was marching on and although we managed a shower that morning when we got up, I had visions of being without water for some time. Eventually Jason managed to turn off the water and everyone heaved a sigh of relief. We had to go shortly afterwards and set off for Hull, both wondering what we were going to find on our return. There is building work going on at Castle Hill Hospital, actually being done by my wife’s employer, and finding our way to the unit proved to be a little challenging, but we got there eventually, checked in and waited for a short time.
My name was called and I was taken off to a small ante room where I had an ECG taken. The lady who did it was a bit of a turn, and I left her company a few minutes later chuckling to myself. Another short wait, then I was called again, this time to see the specialist nurse, who turned out to be an absolute hoot!
Together with my wife, and another lady who came in to take blood samples, I was set upon by three female musketeers, all intent on making men feel insignificant – but in banter only. If I had a serious question then Jenny (the nurse) would answer it seriously, but she managed to keep the whole thing light. If anyone is reading this before they have the procedure, then I’d better get to the point and explain what is behind the assessment.
As far as I could see it was to allow me to ask questions, but also to check me out for allergies, infections and so on. One of the big fears is MRSA and I had nasal, groin and armpit swabs taken to check for that. It seems that about 40% of the population have it living in their noses (yuk) and never have any problems, but if they get weakened, for example, by surgery, then it can be fatal. It can also spread like wildfire among sick people, so it’s important to find out if you are carrier. If you do carry the bug, then it’s a very simple matter to rid you of it. Just nasal ointments and some anti biotic. Blood is taken presumably for typing and testing and you are weighed . In fact they give you a pretty full MOT including a chest x-ray.
Of course the nurse can’t really answer the one question everyone wants to ask “When will I have the op?”, but she gave me a pretty good idea. It’s likely to be between 1 to 4 weeks. As I have to stop taking one of my tablets for a week before the op, it looks like my guess about a fortnight may be about right.
Anyway, If you've waded through all this, the moral of this tale is - don't have a new bath fitted on the day of your assessment...
Oh, and there is one final bit of info, which I hadn't thought of, and really wish hadn't been mentioned - the catheter! Yes, they insert a catheter. Fortunately they insert after you're asleep, but it comes out two days later, while you're wide awake. Now isn't that something to look forward to!
I had a bad night last night. Somehow I couldn’t sleep. I was worrying about going to Hull today and wondering what was going to be entailed in the assessment. I expected to feel a bit like a bug under a microscope but in the event the experience was not too bad at all. First though, we had to trauma of the bathroom…
Some little time ago, I had the misfortune to take a shower and have the bottom of the bath crack on me. This of course caused a few problems with water leaking and so on. I patched it up as best I could, but we needed a new bath – and quickly. My son works at a big DIY store, but we were warned off their baths as they are apparently very thin. Instead we opted for a (much) more expensive one. I just braced myself and paid. One of my wife’s friends is a plumber and he agreed to change the bath for us. He arrived smack on time at 7:30 am and set to work. Shortly afterwards he asked for the water to be turned off. I attempted to turn off the stop cock, but it had seized, and I couldn’t shift it. Jason had a look, he couldn’t shift it either, but my trying had started it leaking.
Happiness was not the word at that moment…
Jason went to turn off the water in the street, only to find the little hatch sealed closed by years of dust and rubbish, plus, when he did manage to open it the whole lot was full of clay covering all the tap. He’s a brilliant kid though and just set to work hauling out handfuls of freezing clay until he eventually found the tap three feet down the hole – and seized !
My stress levels were heading for the Stratosphere by now, as time was marching on and although we managed a shower that morning when we got up, I had visions of being without water for some time. Eventually Jason managed to turn off the water and everyone heaved a sigh of relief. We had to go shortly afterwards and set off for Hull, both wondering what we were going to find on our return. There is building work going on at Castle Hill Hospital, actually being done by my wife’s employer, and finding our way to the unit proved to be a little challenging, but we got there eventually, checked in and waited for a short time.
My name was called and I was taken off to a small ante room where I had an ECG taken. The lady who did it was a bit of a turn, and I left her company a few minutes later chuckling to myself. Another short wait, then I was called again, this time to see the specialist nurse, who turned out to be an absolute hoot!
Together with my wife, and another lady who came in to take blood samples, I was set upon by three female musketeers, all intent on making men feel insignificant – but in banter only. If I had a serious question then Jenny (the nurse) would answer it seriously, but she managed to keep the whole thing light. If anyone is reading this before they have the procedure, then I’d better get to the point and explain what is behind the assessment.
As far as I could see it was to allow me to ask questions, but also to check me out for allergies, infections and so on. One of the big fears is MRSA and I had nasal, groin and armpit swabs taken to check for that. It seems that about 40% of the population have it living in their noses (yuk) and never have any problems, but if they get weakened, for example, by surgery, then it can be fatal. It can also spread like wildfire among sick people, so it’s important to find out if you are carrier. If you do carry the bug, then it’s a very simple matter to rid you of it. Just nasal ointments and some anti biotic. Blood is taken presumably for typing and testing and you are weighed . In fact they give you a pretty full MOT including a chest x-ray.
Of course the nurse can’t really answer the one question everyone wants to ask “When will I have the op?”, but she gave me a pretty good idea. It’s likely to be between 1 to 4 weeks. As I have to stop taking one of my tablets for a week before the op, it looks like my guess about a fortnight may be about right.
Anyway, If you've waded through all this, the moral of this tale is - don't have a new bath fitted on the day of your assessment...
Oh, and there is one final bit of info, which I hadn't thought of, and really wish hadn't been mentioned - the catheter! Yes, they insert a catheter. Fortunately they insert after you're asleep, but it comes out two days later, while you're wide awake. Now isn't that something to look forward to!
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
A little speculation
Tomorrow,s going to be one of those red letter days in this saga. I have to go for my pre-assesment for surgery. That being the case, I'm going to indulge myself in a little speculation as to how things will go. I'm assuming that I'm fit enough to have the operation, if not I'd better start getting measured for a shroud. The various tests are scheduled to take somewhere about 2 hours, so we'll set off in good time to get to Castle Hill Hospital. My appointment is for 12:45, so we'll be away by about 11:00.
If I pass all the tests, and I really aren't sure what they entail, I have been told at sometime the op should be about a fortnight later. I would make that either on Monday the 21st or the 28th of January. I have a feeling that the intakes will be on a Monday, though, of course I could be completely wrong.
If I'm right about either date it means that I should be through the worst of the immediate aftermath by our anniversary (the 20th of Feb, darling, just in case you thought I might forget) I hope so, but of course it all depends on tomorrows outcome.
Of course, I'm probably completely wrong, but I hope to have some idea of a date for the op soon now.
If I pass all the tests, and I really aren't sure what they entail, I have been told at sometime the op should be about a fortnight later. I would make that either on Monday the 21st or the 28th of January. I have a feeling that the intakes will be on a Monday, though, of course I could be completely wrong.
If I'm right about either date it means that I should be through the worst of the immediate aftermath by our anniversary (the 20th of Feb, darling, just in case you thought I might forget) I hope so, but of course it all depends on tomorrows outcome.
Of course, I'm probably completely wrong, but I hope to have some idea of a date for the op soon now.
Friday, 4 January 2008
Blood
I came upon an interesting fact today while browsing throught www.heart2hearts.co.uk. It sems that the average by pass patient requires between 2 and 4 units of blood during the op. To be honest I wasn't sure how much a unit is, but it turns out that it is 454ml or nearly a pint.
My wife is a blood doner, and has been for a number of years but I can't donate having the health I do. It just struck me that there must be thousands of people like her who go to the blood centres and give blood for people like me to receive.
If you're one of them - thank you!
My wife is a blood doner, and has been for a number of years but I can't donate having the health I do. It just struck me that there must be thousands of people like her who go to the blood centres and give blood for people like me to receive.
If you're one of them - thank you!
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