Survivor 52 - my story

[Survivor1952]

Whilst I have posted on others 'story' lines I realise that I've not said anything about my own in one place. So here goes ...

In October of last year I had an angina attack, not sure what brought it on. Within a day or two I was in A&E with chest pains and unable to breathe. It passed and I was sent home with 'nothing found'.

A week later I went to a follow up appointment in Ambulatory Care and, once again, nothing found. Fast forward to May this year and I had an appointment for an echocardiogram turn up, it had been booked by AC. The next day I got a letter from the local hospital, a Cardiac Consultant, whom I had not seen, had signed my episode off as a viral infection.

So, 17th May and I have my scan, I'm told I've had a heart attack in the previous week. I'd not been 'right' since October with spells of getting very breathless on exertion. I'm also told I'm being admitted there and then. After a lot of thought my partner and I conclude the attack was the night before, I'd slept badly with persistent indigestion, or so we thought.

Within a day or so I'm told I'm going to Papworth on the 21st for an Angiogram and possible Angioplasty. Nil by mouth on the 21st from 5 a.m. At 8:00 I'm loaded into an ambulance and taken on my journey. 9:00 we get there, time passes and eventually, at 17:15 I'm told I've been cancelled for the day. Slight issues getting food but something did eventually turn up, not terribly nice though as the kitchens had closed for the day.

That night is nil by mouth again, at 08:00 on the Monday I'm wheeled down to one of the Cat Labs (catheter labs) for the Angioplasty. Two hours later I go back to the ward with two stents in place. Conscious throughout and feeling much better now. Thursday comes and an echo is done again as a precaution prior to discharge. And the deja-vu hits as I'm told I'm staying as I've got a leaky heart valve, I'm down below 20 on the scale when a healthy adult should be between 60 and 75.

So three weeks or so now follows of building up my strength, I'm on a cardiac monitor 24/7 and have been since being admitted, yes, even during the trip by ambulance. It was about a fortnight after my first admission to hospital before they'd let me go and have a shower, that first one was blissful!

We reach 12th June, I'm told my op, Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) with a precautionary bypass (CABG) on one artery where they didn't place a stent, will be on the 14th, my partners birthday. No, I got bumped again to the 16th. There was an op in the theatre that I was supposed to go down to that started at 08:00 and was still going on at 17:15. I still wonder and hope that the poor soul involved made it.

So the 16th is now my time, theatre schedule says p.m., surgeon says a.m. Turns out he had traded theatre slots with a colleague. I remember going down to theatre, climbing onto the operating table and starting on the nitrous. That's it until I come round in Critical Care. Feel OK, sore chest and leg and tubes and dressings everywhere. The next 24 hours are a bit of a blur, but I had a bout of Atrial Fibrillation (AF). That passed with medication but I had a second bout which delayed my return to the recovery ward by a day.

Monday comes and I'm back on the recovery ward, a different side to the hospital than before and not overlooking the helipad anymore :-(. I'm walking round the ward on the Tuesday as I've got rid of the urethral catheter by then although I'm still pushing round a drip. I get sign off from the Physio on the Wednesday. She seemed surprised by how much I was able to do so soon.

Thursday and I'm discharged, a day late due to the AF but happy to be going home feeling much better than when I was admitted. Many a story I could share and some probably best kept to family and close friends.

Finally here I am just over 8 weeks from being under the knife (and circular saw) and I'm walking at least two miles a day as my exercise having built it up gently (not missed a day for the last month now), completed my first physio rehab class yesterday (that was more of a workout than I expected but really enjoyed it even if my co-ordination and balance are both a bit awry) and looking forward to getting back to a normal life, something I've not had for 10 months or so.

[Cliff_G]

Lovely story, thanks for telling. Really good that you're able to get back to some activity so soon, that's a really good indicator.

[Yumz199725]

Wow thanks for sharing your story, you have been through so much I wish you well and hope you can get back to your normal life as soon as possible take care x

[Tos92]

You’ve been on quite the journey! Thank you for sharing this with us, I can’t imagine that what you’ve been through has been easy but it definitely gives other hearties in your position hope.

All the very best.

Tos

[MountainGoat52]

Hi Survivor1952,

There's so much in your post that I can relate to. You're even of a similar age! Papworth for me as well, but I had my op at the old premises as it was 5 years ago. I had to smile about your reaction to being allowed to have a shower... it was the same for me. There was a small high level open window in the shower room I used and I stood by it for several minutes breathing in the fresh air feeling how good it was to be alive!

One of my interests is hill walking and I was quite fit before my op. I was therefore quite surprised how much the op took out of me. However, like yourself, I set off doing longer and longer walks and it wasn't that long before I was back on the hills. Now I mentally thank both God and the team at Papworth when I reach the summits... last week I was on Ben Lawers.

With my very best wishes for the future,

Gerald

[Survivor1952 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Thanks, your reply gives me a boost. Whilst not a serious walker I do enjoy being out and about and it supports me in my push to get back to a good level of fitness.

Team at Papworth are superb.

Great to hear from you.

[Bingo88]

WOW You have certainly had a rough journey with health problems and you have done so well to get back to a good level of fitness already by the sounds of it. Hope you keep going from Strength to strength. Brian

[LadyZ13]

Great to read your story! You're making amazing progress for having had surgery on 16 June! Aren't Papworth brilliant? I had a brief stay after a heart attack in March and couldn't fault the care.

If you're in the Wednesday morning cardiac rehab group then we may be in the same 'class' I don't know how many times a week they run it, but I'm finding it very beneficial. Let's hope neither of us are back in Papworth toooo much more in future.

[Mancunian1]

that’s a great recount you have there and in many ways similar to mine, I’m 10 days post CABG and slowly getting back into a routine with a positive 1% feel good factor everyday. The best of good wishes for your continued recovery.

[Survivor1952 in reply to Mancunian1]

I’m now living a normal life, no blood thinners, I run 5k once a week and I am 10 minutes faster than a year ago when I did my first one, I’m faster than a few in my age bracket but I’ll never challenge the ‘athlete’ brigade. I’ve lost a bit more weight and I’m at my ideal. Odd little muscle or joint twinge here and there that are probably age related but nothing heart related. I feel really good now.

[Mancunian1 in reply to Survivor1952]

That’s a really positive story.