Surgery

[Clabby1]

I am going for major hole in heart surgery this month.the surgeon was overly brutal I was in 2 min I had 10 per cent chance of death and I probably won't survive either way.I have never been scared of anything but I'm petrified and currently not interested in my health.

Can anyone help

[Fortepiano]

The latest data on uk adult hole in heart surgery showed much better survival than this - it's generally a very safe procedure. Surgeons have to say the risks, but two minutes is brutal, I do agree. My husband was quoted the same odds for his own cardiac operation, and survived. It was frightening, but I comforted myself with the thought that this was his only chance, and cancer patients would welcome 90% survival.

Obviously you want to be at one of the best UK cardiac hospitals for this sort of surgery. You say you are not interested in your health: was the surgeon aware of your feelings? Obviously I don't know why your operative risk is higher than normal, I wish I could help, but I suggest phoning the bhf helpline.

I wish you the very best. Think 90%. Many people on this forum have had a stormy course but lived to tell the tale.

[Clabby1 in reply to Fortepiano]

Thanks for that.i am 47 and had an operation for hole in heart when i was 13.its a specialist hospital and only 3 people can do it in Scotland.he was not aware as i was taken back by his brazen attitude to it. They did phone a week later to try and calm me but cant get the thoughts out of my head

[Fortepiano in reply to Clabby1]

I agree with Heather - you are inevitably but unfortunately more likely to give weight to the surgeon's remarks than the reassuring phone-call.

The aim of calculating risk is actually to make the operation less risky for the patient: possible complications ( e.g for those who have diabetes, poor lung or heart function, or kidney dysfunction) are considered in advance and extra care put in place e.g. they may keep you ventilated and in ICU for one-to-one nursing for longer. So try to think of it as making sure that they will look after you extremely carefully. My husband had complications that were prepared for and surmounted. In a way that can be a better situation than a 'normal- risk' patient having an entirely unexpected complication that the team isn't prepared for.

Your anxiety is absolutely understandable, but try to look after your health while you are waiting - it's something positive you can do to be in better shape for surgery. All the best - Golden Jubilee has a very good record on this surgery. And do ask to be referred for cardiac rehab afterwards, it's brilliant even for those of us without the usual heart disease.

PS I did once ask a doctor to stop telling me the risks of a procedure I knew I had to have- just let me sign the consent form!

[Clabby1 in reply to Fortepiano]

Thank you

[Clabby1 in reply to Fortepiano]

Thank you

[Heather1957]

I may be wrong but often when someone is talking to us we tend to focus on and only remember the negative things. We have to be told the risks by law but sometimes that is all we'll remember. I had a bypass and prior to that an angiogram after which I was one of the unlucky ones and suffered a stroke (luckily quite mild). I have come to the conclusion, life is NOT without risks, so enjoy things while you can and what will be will be. Hopefully you'll be fine after the surgery and get back to living as full a life as you can.

[Clabby1 in reply to Heather1957]

Thank you