Learning Latin

So I am in need for surgery on my heart.

The level of urgency depends on who you speak to, and the extremity of my situation depends on which test has been carried out and the view of the surgeon - once they have reviewed the results thoroughly & with a second opinion.

It appears that a Dr Singh, at Basildon Hosptial, has agreed to take on my case, though I have not had any offers of an appointment.

(Out of curiosity, what happens if no surgeon 'agrees' to take on your case?)

What I find interesting is the language used to describe various heart conditions. It all sounds like Latin - and I can barely remember the French I learned at school!

I was just beginning to get to terms with Left Ventricle, Aortic Valve when they threw in some artery bypasses and some wonderfully latin terminology to explain what will be done to resolve my heart issues. Even the print out from Angiogram required translation by my daughter (she's a Community Nurse and understands Clinical Latin).

I'm hoping that use of this forum and site will become my Rosetta Stone for Heart Conditions.

Officially, I am need of an AVR, Leaking LV Repair, 3 Artery Bypasses - and I experience a variaty of Ectopic Heart Beats that can impact on my activity levels, sleep and diet - so far (feel sure we could squeeze a bit more in if we tried)!

Each day I survive on a cocktail of Rivaroxaban, Epleronone, Bisoprolol, Candesartan & Monotekulast (with my Blue and Brown Inhalers).

I've almost completely eliminated dairy & salt, and cut down on my red meat.

Ultimately, I want to get back to being able to walk about various places taking photographs (travel, street and architecture are my subject matters of choice). Cycling would also be nice - but walking without getting out of breath would be nice. Working for a living would also be nice.

[080311]

Hello Brand,

Welcome to the forum, I had AVR and bypass done nearly 4 years ago, can honestly say that having my surgery gave me my life back, and I thank the very clever medical team that mended my wonky heart every day.

I was 68 never had any illness that needed hospital intervention so finding out my body was letting me down came as a shock.

Having the surgery was very straight forward for me, I was in hospital for 7 weeks before my op then I was transferred to a specialist heart hospital there just 7 days.

There are plenty of us here on the forum who have been where you are now and if you have any questions someone will be along to help.

You will soon be travelling on the mended heart road we are all travelling on.

Stay safe Pauline

[Hidden in reply to 080311]

Thank you. I suspect, like others and like you did, that Iwill have plenty of questions.

[Hidden]

Thank you for the welcome. I have to assume that all have a goal to aim for with recovery.

[Scout2017]

Hi Brand -

Walking and cycling about taking photographs has been a big part of my recovery (heart attack, cardiac arrest and 2 stents last year). I'm sure it'll work for you too - just take it easy to start with! Good luck with the surgery. B.

[Hidden in reply to Scout2017]

I've always followed advice given by clinicians - but thank you for the good news. MAybe I will get to see the world through 'new' eyes...

[Pollypuss]

There are many videos on utube explaining what will happen during the op. However I have not fully watched any because I felt is easier on the mind not to. You are in the hands of experts who know what they are doing and consider bypass op “routine” . I went with the flow for my triple so to speak and it was fine that way for me anyway

[Hidden in reply to Pollypuss]

Thank you. No intention to watch any ops on Youtube or TV. My wife used to watch all such things - not sure she still is given the personal dimension. It is my intention to adopt my usual stance on treatment. Trust in the clinicians, and make sure they put me out for the count if they wish to slice and dice. Oh, and make sure we are agreed on what they are supposed to be doing

[080311 in reply to Hidden]

When I was in hospital the cardio nurse came with a portable CD player and a CD produced by BHF that went through the the heart surgery, she asked me to watch it and then get my husband to watch when he came for visiting, that didn’t go down very well! Thought he was going to pass out! The thing that got to me was no one had mentioned joining my sternum with wire it freaked me out, not the going on bypass stopping my heart or any of the other stuff. Had not thought how they would join me back up, when I saw the surgeon for my check up post op, I was asking about my sternum and he said that new bone would grow over the wire and in about 18 months my sternum would be stronger than his. The thing I found really helpful was a dairy written by a lady who had OHS, it answered all my questions from going to the toilet to the white stockings you have to wear when you get home and the way her and husband coped! It was produced again by BHF don’t know if it’s still available but a really good read.

[Hidden in reply to 080311]

Sounds good except for 'watching' the op. Suspect my wife would go for that - she loves to see other peoples take on things as a guide on what to expect. I'll have a look on the BHF web site to see if they still have that available for her to watch. Given current download speeds on the internet, should be able to download to view in about 5 minutes tops