Arrived at hospital for my repeat scan on my left leg at 8.30am for my 9am appointment saw a different radiologist quite a chatty young man who’d been doing the job for 15 years and told me he scans everything from pregnant women to testicles looking for everything from baby abnormalities to blood clots to cancer. He told me the clot hadn’t moved any further up my thigh which was really good news . He showed me the blood clots on the screen which I found fascinating. It appears the antibiotics and daily injections are keeping them stable for now. My next appointment was at 10am at the phlebotomy department I was early and arrived at 9.30am and they said they might be able to get me in early. Everyone who was arriving was having blood tests done so I assumed that’s why I was here but the head nurse practitioner called me in and said I’m not taking bloods today I want to go through the negatives of you taking Tinzaparin on a daily basis for 6 weeks. She said your susceptible to excessive bleeding if you get a cut and it doesn’t clot in 30 minutes go to A&E if you notice any bruising and don’t remember banging yourself go to A&E if you get any headaches that appear to be coming up from your neck go to A&E if you bang your head go straight to A&E and they’ll check you for bleeding on the brain . .......... I said “ I’m so glad I’m come to see you today your a little ray of sunshine and full of positivity “ fortunately she got the irony. It’s good they take the time to warn you so it was appreciated. Next stop up to the Acute Medical Ward for all my info including my scan to be reviewed. I was sat in waiting room for about 10 minutes then taken onto a ward had to take my trousers off so they could examine my legs they said they were happy as the redness that was apparent a week ago had disappeared and the swelling had gone down . The asked me loads of questions about my heart and the op and then told me tha5 they were happy with the treatment plan and 5hey would do another Doppler scan after 5 weeks when the injections had finished. I would also receive an appointment to see the heamotologist. So I keep going and hopefully it’s all sorted in another 5 weeks.
As you all know by now nothing is ever straight forward with me and I’ve had a bad cough for about three weeks and the constant coughing has resulted in me pulling the muscles in between my ribs on my left hand side this is really painful and affects movement and sleeping on Thursday I was on a local bus which was full of people and I started to have a coughing fit for some reason everything went quiet and it hurt that much I shouted out “ fucking bastard “ ( sorry) and everyone looked at me like I’d got “terets” I couldn’t wait to get off the bus . The doctor has given me a prescription for some antibiotics but I can’t use the prescription for another week because I’m already on antibiotics for my leg and he wants me to see if it will clear up on it’s own but I don’t see it shifting.
On the good news side the doctor has just told me he’s happy for me to start driving whoooooooo !!!!! I can’t believe it I thought I’d have to wait 6 weeks but the DVLA say 4 weeks it’s given me back my freedom. Jus5 drove to the post office to take a letter that needed to go by recorded delivery I was sat in the car with a stupid grin on my face like I’d just won the lottery. Happy days.
This journey has made me realise how much easier it must be if your in a relationship and living with someone who is there 24/7 to support and do the things you can’t. Unfortunately I’ve just finalised my divorce as you know and not currently in a relationship and you do end up doing things you’ve been told not too which can affect your recovery. It’s not just the physical side but having someone there all the time must help your mental recovery also.
Got my date through for my 6 week review at St Thomas in London it’s the 31st October in they’ve arranged for a scan of the my new heart valve at 12pm and then an appointment with the cardiologist at 3.20 pm so looking forward to finding out if everything is working as it should then hopefully I’ll get a date to do my cardiac rehab at one of my local hospitals
My mate Allison is going into St Thomas on Sunday to have the same op as me on Monday please put her in your thoughts and try to send her some positive energy Hope you all have a great weekend
Pete ❤️
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Hi Pete, good to hear your still fighting fit, if not perfect yet. I'm divorced too, it takes a long time to get over being alone, but you do in the end. I'm still waiting for my operation, not looking forward to it. I will be thinking good thoughts for Allison.
Hi Pete, it's good to hear things are going in the right direction for you but you do seem to take the hardest route! Being able to drive yourself around will be a big boost for you as long as you don't overdo it. Hope all the next appointments go well, just be careful you don't bump yourself, mind you that's easier said than done.
Onwards and upwards. Glad the news about your leg was good, but sorry you’ve got a cough, it’s so painful when your chest is already battered and bruised.
I didn’t drive for six weeks, but then I had my husband to chauffeur me about, must be really difficult on your own. Nigel had the week off I came home from hospital and then went back to work, he does early and late shifts so was only really on my own for half a day at a time. It is so easy to overdo it though, even when someone is there, so must be even harder on your own. I think you’re doing really well and keeping such a positive attitude. I’m sure your heart check up will be fine.
Take care and I’ll send both you and Allison some positive thoughts.
Hi Pete glad your getting on ok and things are moving forward. 4 sleeps until I can drive though excited I am a bit apprehensive as I took my turn driving home. P.s sometimes I wish I was alone to deal with all this just now constant when do you think you can do this- go there- should you be doing - should you not be doing- maybe it’s in your mind etc etc.... so being alone can sometimes be a good thing 😉 take care you and mod keep us all updated 💚💚
That’s so funny hearing the other side of the coin !!! The one that would get me is “ maybe it’s all in your mind “ they ought to pair us up post op so your with someone who understands lol 😂😂😂😂
Keep focussed on your recovery honestly driv8ng again was fantastic and gave me a real boost just when I needed it
I try to keep upbeat as you know and I’m sure things will sort themselves out another 5 weeks sounds along time for the daily injections but in the grand scheme of thinks it is a small period of my life
Love your posts. But I was told no driving for 12 weeks. Was it because I am female and they wanted to keep me off the road! Sorry about your pulled muscle in your chest, it us probably being made worse with the coughing. Keep us posted.
If the cough stops the ribs might improve it’s a bit of a vicious circle but I’m sure it will sort itself out
Pete ❤️
Hi great to hear the clot has not moved and you can drive again,I live on my own and it was so hard not having my car to go to appointments etc and of course trying to do to much is another problem, looking forward to your next installment and I will be thinking positive thoughts for Alison, take care char xx
I will thanks I am off to Spain at 3 o'clock, it's pouring up here, a great day to be heading to the sun ☀ 😎, take care and I hope your recovery continues to go well and your cough gets better, take care char xx
Wow I’m so envious wish I was going with you I’d kill for some Spanish sun how long are you post op just wondering about how long before you can fly !!
Hi it's heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy I have, the reason I couldn't drive was getting an ICD fitted,not actual surgery, the only thing they can do is a transplant which is obviously quite daunting, I will find out by the end of the month if I am going on the list, I have to do the cpet test again as they think the results were incorrect, so mabe things aren't as bad as they thought, fingers crossed I have dodged the proverbial bullet this time, I will enjoy the sun meantime woohoo xx
SO sorry you have no one with you for mental support. The first few weeks after my heart attack I was afraid to be left on my own or go anywhere "Just in case" even though my partner is utterly useless. He'll do practical things but talk about it? NO way. He even went to bed when they took me in with the HA. I admire you a lot for the way you have coped with all these set backs. I know what a relief it is to be able to drive again. Well done
Some people are emotionally immature and put their head in the sand or pretend things aren’t happenning thats how they cope but I can imagine that’s so frustrating the other night I watched television all night as I didn’t want to fall to sleep mad I know but the brain is a complicated thing and can play tricks on you
Really very pleased that things are progressing albeit slowly. Great that you now have the freedom to drive. Good that you’re staying positive and strong. Sending lots of hugs and positive thoughts to Alison. I know that these posts will have been so helpful to those waiting for surgery. Take care. Zx
So pleased to hear your blood clots are going well. You deserve some good news! I would find the pictures totally fascinating if it was someone else's body but looking inside my own is something different altogether! Know what you mean about being on your tod. But then again if you're not with the right person it could be a total nightmare. How great that you can drive again! Not having wheels makes life so much more complicated.
Thank you for your message it means a lot your right if your with someone it has to be right living with someone just because it’s a habit or the fact that your scared to be alone must be hell. Im hoping one day I’ll meet that person who makes my heart flutter again if I do great if I don’t then that’s ok too
Hope your heart doesn't flutter too wildly, Pete (haha)! Great attitude, don't try too hard to find love and it may just find you when you least expect it!
Are you on ramipril as I was told by senior cardiologist nurse when I had started a cough ramipril is the cheapest go to your Drs tell them about your cough and youl get something good.
Good to read above PMS,well since we last msg its gone pear shaped.
Came into Glenfield as a day patient a week last Saturday for an Angiagram, they knew about my Aortic valve but then found I had a dilated Aortic Root and one narrowed coronary artery !....So (and as I type the Docs just called to say my scan results are still not here from last Thursday arghhhhhhhhh) .... so he said "You can go home but there is a good chance we will not see you again !! with the symptoms you are showing and what we have found today,its your choice,here if you have an event you stand a chance,out there you will have none" well it doesn't take a science degree to make a call on a statement like that and have been here watching films and trying to become the world suduko champion which im shit at but getting better just managed to finish one in the Beano Lol !
My family and friends have been brill in fact I insisted wifey went to a wedding last Friday without me, she took daughter, just arrange some visitors I said between 1045 am and 8pm I had 10 it was great to see everyone but I was knackered.
When Doc came to my bedside and told the wife and daughter what was happening and how serious it was obviously there were tears but when all had pulled themselves together daughter broke the ice " Ill load some films on my tablet dad first one on will be DEAD MAN WALKING well we pissed ourselves laughing !
Not all bad im in a 3 bed side ward its quite at night where as the main ward for the first two nights was like a farm yard ! have two great roomeys and made a friend out a fella who went out Friday we are planning a golf day next year in aid of BHF !!
Treatment wise doubled my bisoprolol but had to go back to 1.25 as I got dizzy spells !
Taken a while to complete all tests scans and investigations but now I await a decision from the surgeons for the date of the op hopefully this week and docs just said should be out in a week, as open chest surgery was going to happen anyway the aorta problem just makes the op longer as they were going in that way anyway and whilst there they will bypass that coronary artery.(which is good as stents would have meant drugs for life)
Well thats how it is for now ! carry on making us all laugh Pete we have little gems like the sister asked me mate if hed opened his bowls today ! he replied"Bowels ive only just opened me F---in eyes"
If your out there Measham Fox is that Leicestershire/South Derbys boarder as im out at Whitwick !!!
Sorry things have changed so dramatically for you but the good thing is they can deal with it all in one go so it’s still just one recovery mate.
When I had my angiogram done they thought I had a decended Aorta but when the surgeon measured the results everything was fine so see what the surgeon says when you speak to him rather than the cardiologist but if it needs doing he or she will sort it it just means a longer op
While we’ve been chatting over the past few weeks I feel you’ve got the right attitude and a good sense of humour and trust me you do need both . It sounds like you’ve got good family and friends around you and that’s important post op sometimes they get it and sometimes they don’t so if ever they don’t get it I’m there for you pal to help chat things through just hit the chat icon on this site and private message me and I’ll help as much as I can. I do forget I’m only 4 weeks post op and I get the impression you may be impatient like me so learn from my mistakes after the op take everything slowly and it doesn’t matter one f...ing dot whether your recovery takes 12 weeks 6 months or 9 months the only thing that matters is you get your life back and move on from this life changing event
I’m routing for you pal so keep me up to date with what’s happenning and remember positivity positivity and more positivity with the off joke of two thrown in helps you with your recovery
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what’s the longest anyone has been on here since heart attack? 
7 days post and home.
Hello - I'm new on here. 
2023 started on a downer again.
What a difference a day makes
