HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART (VALVE) Part 5
ONE YEAR ON
It has been one year since my last blog and the important thing is. I am still here. Still waiting for news of an operation and still trying to keep my mind in focus knowing that eventually an operation is going to happen!.
Since I was diagnosed with a leaking aorta heart valve I took to writing a blog to help my family and friends understand just what my mind is going through. And to help myself to come to terms with it.
Since my last blog in April 2016 I have passed another birthday and have now reached the grand age of 66. My football team Leicester City won the premier league title. Yeah !!!!! and I am still playing walking football twice a week .
Some days I find it difficult not to think about my heart condition because it is always in the back of your mind, and there always seems to be something to remind you. I was driving to a match recently and had Radio Leicester on my car radio, and out of the blue they played an interview from a Leicester Hospital talking about heart valve disease. And how if its not detected some people could just drop down dead!!!!!. Not what i wanted to hear as I was on my way to the match.
Apart from my heart valve problem I also suffer with atrial fibrillation. A condition that causes your heart to beat out of synchronisation.I have to take Bisoprolol and warfarin for this complaint, and on October 4th 2016 I had to attend Burton Hospital for a cardioversion procedure. Basically for an abnormal heart rate they try and get your heart beating to a normal rythm by using electricity, giving your heart a shock!
On the day of the procedure I checked into Burton Hospital for what should be a few hours but unfortunately for me things didn't quite go to plan. I came round from the procedure to find the operating theatre full of paramedics, doctors and nurses! Apparently the procedure had worked but my heart stopped beating for four minutes and the team had a tough time resuscitating me. Thankfully they did and I was a very lucky man that day. I was taken to intensive care and kept in hospital overnight and had several tests performed on me. I was eventually allowed home late the following day but I felt tired and weak and was ordered to take it easy for a few days, and definitely no walking football.
During a check up at my local surgery a few days later I was informed that my Atrial Fibrilitaion had returned and the cardioversion hadn't worked. Oh well!!
During a check up at my local surgery a few days later I was informed that my Atrial Fibrilitaion had returned and the cardioversion hadn't worked. Oh well!!
When I had time to reflect on what had happened I realised just how lucky I had been and how I could have easily died that day, although technically I did for a few minutes. It is a sobering thought and puts life into perspective. And I never saw any light or tunnel or anything else before you ask. Just nothingness. I wouldn't have known a thing about it.
Before I was allowed home from hospital, my consultant Dr Martos, bless him, said to me " we have to talk about your heart valve, it is getting worse! " I thought he will be having me booked in soon for an operation. But I had an appointment in the post to see him on May 2nd 2017 seven months away.
Well that seven months is now only three weeks and my mind is working overtime again wondering if an operation is forthcoming. I'll have to cross that bridge when I get to it and just carry on doing what I am doing. Playing walking football, watching Leicester City and basically just get on with my life. To be continued -------
