The Family's All Together Again.

Before my operation I had already booked a few days off work so that I could watch the Ryder Cup, being played in the US this year, and stay up as late as necessary without having to worry about getting up for work the following morning. 

It was coincidental that it coincided with my recovery from my operation, I refuse to call it a procedure, despite what the medics think. To me, it will always be an operation, they cut me open, did things and stitched me up - that, in my opinion, is the definition of an operation!

When my brother in London knew I was having the op, he said he would come and visit me for a few days afterwards, and so he arrived on Wednesday and has stayed through the weekend. We've spent a couple of days visiting the Butterfly House and a local National Trust property with the hope we could get some nice photos, but as normal this summer, the weather did not play ball. 

I didn't take my camera, as I knew I would not be able to do much with it as it's quite heavy and I wouldn't be able to hold it to my eye as I cannot raise my arm above my shoulder but my brother passed me his at one point, as he has a screen that can be angled to allow you to use the camera at a lower position and very soon I realised I just couldn't hold the weight of the camera.

At the Butterfly camera I tried taking photos on my mobile but even that was a problem, again because I cannot raise my arm high enough to see what i am taking. It would seem my photography days are on hold for the time being.

Then, last night my other brother and my sister-in-law came over for a family meal and we had a lovely evening together. Especially with everything that has been going on for the last few weeks, it was lovely to have everyone around me for an evening. 

The end to a perfect few days would be if Europe could win the Ryder Cup - could be a bit of a tall order that one!

Getting back to normal

I went to work today. Just for a few hours but it was good to be back. 

After all, I'm not ill and if I'm sensible I should be fine. My shoulder is tender but not painful, I haven't had any painkillers today. The bruising is coming out so it isn't looking very pretty (don't worry, I won't be posting and photos) and it is still reminding me that I shouldn't use it too much. I am learning my limitations, but it was good to be back in the office. I know there are many jobs where it wouldn't be possible to be back at work so soon but it's nice to get back to a bit of normality.

Itchy Stitchy ...

One week on and I'm thankful to be sitting at home, operation over, the fear and anticipation gone, the anxiety of the day behind me and the worry of what would happen gone.

It wasn't good at the time but now, 3 days on, I am surprised how little discomfort I am in, how much I have been able to reduce the painkillers and how much I can actually do. 

I am still sleeping on the sofa as I cannot find a comfortable position in bed, but I can wash & dress myself. I wasn't looking forward to getting my hair washed and dried but today we did that with the help of a pillow between me and the sink.

They said the pain was similar to when you have a tooth out and controllable with over the counter painkillers. After the operation on Wednesday I didn't believe that was possible, but it was. I've had nothing stronger than paracetamols and ibuprofen and have spent the majority of the time since I came home pain-free (although I did have to get up during the first night to take some).

So, they didn't lie to me when they said recovery was quick. I have to be sensible with my left arm and not lift it above my shoulder for 6 weeks yet keep it moving to avoid a frozen shoulder. I have to be ultra-cautious with my wound to keep it clean to minimise any risk of infection as, with the pacing wires going direct into my heart, any infection would be really serious. I had a big shot of antibiotic into the wound before they stitched me up and I've a 5-day course of tablets to take. 

And as I sit here typing this, the biggest issue is the itchiness of the wound, it's healing and driving me mad. 

So much progress in so little time.

I do need to say a massive thank you to all my family and friends who have been so supportive throughout, from the accident, throughout the tests, the diagnosis and finally through the operation and after. It's helped me amazingly to know you were all there for me.

Roll on Wednesday when I can drive again! 

Double Booked.

The letter confirmed that my TOE is booked for Sept 19th at 8.00am. Then, 5 days later I received another letter from the hospital. 

It read: Your appointment is booked for Sept 19th at 8.00am to have your permanent pacemaker fitted.

Ah, I see a problem there. 

First thing Monday morning, I rang the hospital. It turns out it's all the fault of the missing form and a Consultant's holiday.

The end result is I don't need the TOE - Yippee!

But I do now have a date for my pacemaker fitted and this time next week I will be sitting at home, the procedure over and the recovery process begun.

Yikes!

Transoesophageal echocardiography( TOE Heart Scan)

More grown up stuff:

I have received my form transferring me to the hospital where my pacemaker will be fitted. Ahead of that time I need another scan of my heart, this time from inside my body. This is a very simple explanation of what I have to look forward to next.

Transoesophageal echocardiography:
In this test you swallow a probe that is attached to a thin tube connecting it to the ultrasound machine. This views the heart from within the oesophagus (gullet) which lies just behind the heart. This can give a clearer view of the heart than normal echocardiography. It is done in situations where a very detailed picture is needed.

So, that's a day out for me not to look forward to. I can have sedation (yes, please) although that will mean I am out of action effectively for the whole day (who cares?). So, roll on the 19th. I suppose I have to be positive and be grateful they are being very sure what they are dealing with before they go ahead.

So, I have had my MRSA test to make sure I am clear and not taking anything in to hospital, that was a simple cotton bud swab of my nose and groin area, 2 minutes, no pain - that, I can do.

In the meantime one of my friends has put me in touch with someone who had a defibrillator fitted (similar to a pacemaker, just does a different job) several years ago, and has had a replacement fitted as well. I had a long chat with him last night and asked some very daft questions which he was happy to answer. I'm still feeling relatively calm about things, although I do have the occasional wobble, normally when I'm left on my own for too long. (Yes, I know, don't be left on my own too long!)

Still, at least the sun is shining so the walks to work are enjoyable, talking of which.....

Time to go.

I've become difficult to buy for!

Yesterday, seven years ago, Neil and I were over in California, getting married. The years have flown by and yet, when I think of all the changes that have happened, all the houses we have lived in, and the living here, living abroad, living here we have done, it's impossible to see how we could have fitted it all in without the passage of those years.

We don't go overboard on gifts at anniversary times, although it is an unwritten law that there has to be a card on the breakfast counter if he wants to be able to return home for dinner. My husband is not good at remembering dates. He usually needs a clue, and sometimes the devil in me decides not to give him any clues, just to see if he can drag up from the depths of his mind, that there is something for him to remember.

With everything that has been happening lately, our anniversary even crept up on me without a lot of notice. In the US it was Labour Day, or should that be Labor Day. We especially chose the Labor Day weekend as it would mean we could spend more time with our friends in America before they needed to return to work, but in the UK it is not a holiday date so we didn't serve as a reminder.

So, whether deliberately or not, Neil did not get any subtle (or otherwise) hints from me about the upcoming anniversary.

Yet, I did get a card yesterday and a gift, although I have now become (apparently) officially difficult to buy for. A basic interpretation of that is, now I have cut saturated fat out of my diet he can no longer dash into the shops and buy the most expensive box of chocolates anymore.

But, ever the quick thinker, and knowing I have a sweet tooth, he knows I can have Jelly Babies and I am now the proud owner of a rather large box of Jelly Babies which will take me up to Christmas to eat. 

So, he has managed another year without disgracing himself by forgetting our Anniversary. 

Oh, how did he manage it? A very good friend of ours who came with us to California for the wedding never forgets to send us a card, a couple of days early to avoid being late - and Neil had picked up the post that day. There was the subtle hint he needed with time to dash out an buy the very necessary card for a further year of married bliss!

Happy Anniversary Darling.

Echocardiogram Time

A few days after my meeting with the doctor where I was told I would need a pacemaker fitted, I rang the hospital to see things would start to happen. It was difficult enough getting my head around what I had been told, but without any timescale to work to, I was constantly wondering 'what of something happens between now and me getting my pacemaker'. As I had been told it was only happening at night, it meant sleep was very restless, even Neil was telling me he was checking on me 2 or 3 times a night to see that I was ok.

The Cadio-respiratory dept had no record of my form telling them I needed a scan. I rang the following day, which by now meant 5 days had passed, long enough for a piece of paper to reach one side of the hospital in out-patients to the other, even if it was relying on being blown by drafts from opening and closing doors. Claire could tell I was worried and so she took control. 'I'll ring the doctor's secretary to check your notes and then call you back when we know what's happening,' she told me over the phone. I checked she had the right contact number for me and left her to do what she said.

Within half an hour my phone rang. Claire confirmed that the form had gone missing in transit, but that the secretary confirmed I needed the scan and , as it happened, they had a free appointment that afternoon, if it wasn't too short notice.

No, I would be there.

On arrival I was introduced to Tracy, her and Claire will be my aftercare team. Once the procedure is done they will do the follow up appointments to check everything is working ok, and that I am ok. I felt relaxed with them both so this was good news.

Tracy took me through to the treatment room and asked me to undress. The scan is done similar to an ultrasound scan on babies. She applied a cold gel and then ran the machine over my skin. I could see my heart on the monitor and occasionally, I heard the whooshing sound it makes as the blood pumps through. After a few seconds I decided not to look at the monitor as the picture shows lots of marks, little pin-holes and other odd shapes and I thought I would be better not looking as I didn't know whether this was all as it it should be or not. I preferred not to give myself anything else to worry about.

All the time Tracy was taking the scan she was talking to me about what will happen, how I was feeling and about the procedure itself. After it was all done I started to get dressed again while Tracy went to get some booklets on pacemakers, the tests I had done and what they all meant and also the condition that I have. I hadn't been given any information like this before and really only knew what I had been told or seen on the internet. 

I felt so much more settled about the whole situation by the time I left the hospital and felt there should be a Claire or a Tracy on standby when I had come out of my 1st appointment where they told me I needed a pacemaker, I would have slept a lot better over the past few days if I'd had chance to talk things through at the time.

So now, it's more waiting. The scan results will be seen by the Cardiologist and then they will refer me for the procedure. Tracy said it would probably be about 5-6 weeks but that I should ring the secretary next week and she should be able to give me some better idea.

So, time for me to go and read some booklets.