HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART ( VALVE ) PART 7 

THE NET IS CLOSING

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. 

This is my continuing story of my heart valve disease. The Net Is Closing.

On July 21st 2018 we had just returned home from a holiday in Cardigan West Wales and as I opened the post there was a letter from Glenfield Hospital asking me to attend a meeting with my appointed surgeon Mr C Efthymiou. Although since my consultant at Burton Hospital Dr Martos told me on 13th October 2015  I would need  heart valve replacement surgery on my aorta valve, seeing the letter confirming an appointment with the surgeon suddenly hit home and having an operation became very real.

On the 25th July I drove to Glenfield with my wife Theresa for my appointment and I have to say that despite all my anxieties and fear about having open heart surgery I was surprisingly calm.

After checking in at reception I was sent for an X Ray an ECG and a blood test. Following this we saw Mr Efthymiou. In the meeting Mr Efthymiou looked at the X Ray of my heart and I asked him if my heart was blue ( Leicester City still on my mind ) he just said that my heart was very large. I was then taken into another room where Mr Efthymiou examined me.Following the examination we went back into his office to join my wife Theresa.

Mr Efthymiou then said to me that the decision to have an operation was entirely up to me and I could have the operation or walk away. I began to think that my condition couldn't be as bad as we thought, but then he said that if you don't have the operation I would probably be dead in less than three years. I said that in that case I have no choice, He explained that he has to offer me that choice and the decision is mine. Obviously I told him Yes I wanted the operation, the thought of living somehow seemed better than the option of dying.

He went on to discuss the operation and what it entailed and I asked him if I would be able to play walking football again, I also asked about the recovery period following the operation, the reason being that I had a conversation with a rehabilitation nurse at Burton Hospital and I asked how long it would be before I could go and watch my football team Leicester City. The nurse said that I would be OK after six weeks, but Mr Efthymiou said I wouldn't advise that so soon after surgery. I asked why not when Rehab at Burton told me I would be OK. He said it was my choice but he wouldn't advise it as I would be having major heart surgery. My wife Theresa then joined in by saying to me " There are more important things in life than football " but I said "There isn't", which didn't go down very well. I know she has been worrying about me ever since I was diagnosed with my condition.

Mr Efthymiou went on to tell me the statistics of how many people don't survive the operation etc   I then asked what the waiting time would be before I had the operation. Mr Efthymiou said when do you want it done, tomorrow, next week , I will be in touch.  On the 27th July I received a letter from Glenfield Hospital asking me to attend a pre - operation appointment on Monday 30th July and I would be admitted to Hospital on Thursday 2nd August  and my operation would be performed on Friday 3rd August.

On Monday 30th July I was up early to get ready for my Hospital appointment, my daughter's fiance Dave was giving me a lift. On arriving at Hospital and following the registration with the receptionist I was sent for another ECG and other tests and then it was a waiting game before I saw a consultant. I was surprised how calm I was and it was Dave that seemed on edge.I concluded that he didn't like being in Hospitals. When it was time to see the consultant I asked Dave if he wanted to come in with me and after all the questions and answers I had signed the consent form to authorise that I would be putting my life in their hands ( A bit dramatic but I have had this moment on my mind since October 2015 ) It was then a meeting with a senior nurse who gave me all the information I needed to be admitted to Hospital and then it was home.    The net is closing.