HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART (VALVE) PART 4
MORE TWISTS AND TURNS
Since
learning that I had a heart disease problem and I was diagnosed with
a leaking heart valve, my mind has been in turmoil. And so I thought
I would write a blog so my family and friends could hopefully
understand just what I was going through.
Since
my angiogram last October and Dr Martos gave me the news that I would
need my aortic heart valve replaced, my mind has been all over the
place.
I
have spent time on the internet finding out just what the operation
entails, and I have been trawling through different web pages reading
about other people that have had the same operation. I can tell you
it is scary stuff! Do you know that they actually break your rib cage
to get to your heart! And take your heart out to perform the
operation! And keep you alive with a machine until the heart is
replaced! Scary stuff indeed. But the scariest thing for me is
actually trying to come to terms with missing the last few weeks of
the football season !!!!!
Ever
since Dr Martos told me I would need the operation and he was going
to recommend six months when he meets with the surgeons. I have been
worrying myself sick knowing I will miss the last few games of the
football season,especially as my team Leicester City have made a
promising start to the season, but it is something I will have to
come to terms with. I am also finding it hard to sleep. I keep waking
up with the thought of my condition and the reality and the serious
nature of my aortic valve disease, after all it is a life threatening
condition.
I
continue to play walking football and occasionally I struggle to get
my breath, especially now the days are getting colder, but apart from
that I feel OK. I have to keep telling myself to get on with my life,
but always the impending operation is in the back of my mind! I Have
also joined another walking football group in Swadlincote. This one
is played indoors and it is fast, but I cope OK and will carry on
playing twice a week as long as I can. Despite my heart valve problem
life is good.
Christmas
and the New Year have come and gone and we are now entering 2016 and
the thought is my operation is getting closer! I still haven’t
heard anything from the hospital. They said that I would probably get
called to have a check up to make sure that I am doing OK. No news is
good news I suppose. Theresa wants me to chase them up, but I'm
thinking the longer it takes then the more chance I have of seeing
the end of the season, especially now Leicester are top of the league
and are looking good.
I
am carrying on with my life and then February arrives and I have a
letter from Burton Hospital informing me to attend a pre operation
appointment on 15th February. My mind goes into overdrive
until I think something isn’t right. They wouldn’t be doing my
operation at Burton! I realise then that the pre operation is because
I am to be fitted with a heart loop monitor! It doesn’t make sense
to me .
On
the 15th February I attend Burton Hospital and the nurse
explains about the heart loop recording device. I said that It didn’t
make sense to me especially as I am waiting to have a heart valve
replacement operation! After the pre operation procedure the nurse
says she will contact Dr Martos and inform him of my concerns and get
him to contact me.
I
had just returned home and was telling Theresa about my pre operation
as the telephone rang. It was Dr Martos. He explained that I was to
be fitted with the heart loop recording device because of the dizzy
spells and black outs I have been having. I explained that I haven’t
blacked out since last June and I haven't had a dizzy spell for
months. He also couldn't believe that I was playing walking football
twice a week! He also asked if I can walk 20 meters without getting
out of breath! Dr Martos then explained that I wouldn't be having an
operation, he said that the surgeons said my heart valve was a
moderate condition and not bad enough to operate on and I was to be
monitored every six months to make sure I was OK. He also explained
that I could go 10 to 15 years and not need an operation but I could
also deteriorate quickly. He also said from what you have told me,
forget about the heart loop recording device and forget about the
operation. Get on with your life and I will see you at the end of May
for your ECG. To say I was overjoyed is an understatement and I will
now get to see out the football season and hopefully my team
Leicester win the premier league title. Happy days.
Just
a week later I was playing Walking Football at Swadlincote and I
struggled to get my breath. That night as I lay in bed my chest was
tight and my heart was pounding fast. The next morning I was in the
doctors surgery at Measham and the nurse practitioner sent me for an
ECG. After the ECG I went straight back to see her with the results
and she told me to wait in the waiting room as I was to see a doctor
right away! I saw doctor Charles and he arranged for me to wear a 24
hour recording device to monitor my heart. I went back to see him
after the device was removed to get the results. Dr Charles explained
what had happened to my heart and said I have a condition called
Atrial Fibrillation and I will probably have to take Warfarin or an
equivalent drug for the rest of my life and I was to see him again
the following day to decide which drug is best for me. After
receiving good news last week my mind is now in turmoil once again!
On
the Friday morning I went back to see Dr Charles and he explained
that I wouldn’t be prescribed any drugs after all. He said he had
studied my case carefully and using a scoring process I came out as a
low risk for having a stroke and so I would just carry on as normal,
if I feel out of breath I just have to relax or pace myself but if I
feel ill or have any concerns I have to go straight to the surgery.
Once again Happy days !!!!
My
Birthday on March 21st has passed and I am now an official
OAP. My team Leicester City are sitting at the top of the Premier
League. I am still playing walking football twice a week and I am
looking forward to the summer. At the moment life is good. Happy Days
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