 Well that's another day spent at yet another hospital... More checks, tests and prodding and poking, mainly by trainee doctors all keen to learn. Much fun when Professor Tick-tock turned up to supervise proceedings and tell me what they were going to do with me. "Right then!" he balled at the trainees, "Who is this gentleman and what's his problem?" "No I don't want to know what sex he is! What are the first two facts you should be telling me? Eh?" "Well, seeing as you don't seem to bloody well know, I'll tell you! How old he is and what his occupation is. For all I know he might be another heart surgeon or astronaut! And another thing, what's his life expectancy if we don't operate?" "Er... 5 years?" They all sheepishly agreed. "Nonsense" he shouted, "this man will be dead within two years, if we don't operate soon!" (Terrific - I thought to myself.) "Another thing" he added, "he might die on the operating table, a very small chance I admit." (Even more terrific - I thought to myself.) "Who's with him?" "Er... his wife is in the waiting room outside." "Well get her in here man! She needs to hear all of this. Wouldn't you agree?" (By this time , I couldn't help but burst out laughing.) The day wore on and I have to make the decision about whether I want to have a pig valve transplant, (would need replacing at ten year intervals) or an artificial valve (guaranteed for life, but would need warfarin daily.) Decisions, decisions... Dentist tomorrow and probably Oxford next week for the op., if not then, the week after.
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I admire your sense of
I admire your sense of humour, good luck with the op whether you choose to go for heart beat pig meat or rat poison!
I second that...
I'm beginning to get first hand experience of the frailty that comes with age. When you're blessed with the indestructability of youth, the thought of being 50+ seems very remote and distant but when that day dawns accompanied by a creeping bald patrch and hairs that grow out of your ears at an alarming pace, you realise that early onset age related something or other losses are the inevitable consequence of a mispent youth!
Not that I'm complaining but I know too many people who were good clean living types who did nothing to excess but exercise and fitness training and then got very sick and died! Having invested heavily in being a lifelong reprobate, I am now awaiting probate so I can get a rebate, but the parts of me that started their existence in someone or something else are relatively maintenance free. In fact there are few outward signs of the replacement components other than a few tram lines decorating areas of skin that were pretty always follically challenged at the best of times. My good lady has never complained that the working parts are a little slower just that I have a slight tendency to oink at a propitious moment!!!!
Seriously though, good luck Nick!
Report as Spam [Pig Meat]
Okay nice to chat with you in the exclusive Big Paul Brother chatroom. My late mum was on Wafarin and it engenders haemophilia in some people and if she cut herself I would have to immediately phone paramedics. She fell over in Plymouth Station 2 years ago and I couldn't believe the amount of blood that appeared so suddenly it was frightening.
Tkae care Bluey
andi
Choices choices
Nick
I didn't get a choice, as the surgeon was convinced that a pig's valve would be attacked by the same nasties that had caused the valve failure in the first place, so I guess it partly depends on the cause of your problem and the compromises you'll have to make after the operation. Presumably pig's valves aren't an exact genetic match for us humans, so you'd probably have to have anti-rejection drugs - worth asking the medics about. The warfarin business is a very minor inconvenience really: just regular pills, with varying dosages resulting from the regular blood tests. For those, I have a choice between short journey to Newbury hospital, followed by long wait for bloodsucker, spent reading or listenign to iPod (a Roy Harper podcast fits nicely!), or a longer, traffic-jammed journey into Reading followed by no wait whatsoever. One of my colleagues at work is able just to visit his doctor's surgery: I guess that depends on how your local PCT has arranged its affairs. Whichever valve you go for, the biggest changes demanded of you will be diet and exercise, both of which I'm struggling with at present. One thing, you'll probably be a lot fitter than you were before, so you won't be able to join the "army of layabouts on incapacity benefit" that the radio has been banging on about the last few days.... but you will be able t have three months' guilt-free lazing about at home (apart for regular exercise of course).
Perhaps we should start a Stormcock bionic hearts club and go for rambles together in the Cotswolds!
Bob
We have the technology. We can rebuild him.
Go for the artificial option. You know it makes sense, and you can avoid all those "bringing home the bacon" jokes...
Looking forward to the continuation of this blog and having you back on the podcast soon to hear all about your escapades. Best of luck Nick, a sense of humour and endless cups of tea will pull you through just fine, I'm sure.
Paul.
Oxford Blues
Hi all
Well, another entertaining day yesterday. A trip to the dentist for a checkup, polish and clean (a pre-requisite for admission to hospital). One antibiotic later, an hour before treatment; a filling, x-ray and general clean-up later, I was presented with a bill for £105 if you please + the prescription charge for the antibiotic and I'm now ready to rock'n'roll!
Oh yeah, a couple of packs of nicotine patches to stop me crawling around the walls...
So, I'm now sitting here on pins, waiting for the hospital's 'phone call about the admission date next week. Hmmm... I've got to buy a pair of pyjamas, something I'm not accustomed to wearing
Damn I'm going to miss the next podcast!
Tom's going to help me load up my Sony Ericsson with MP3s tonight, because I don't know how to do it...
Apropos music suggestions welcome for this occasion.
Nick
Oxford Blues
The management of the NHS is preposterous! Having run around like a blithering idiot these last few days, I've just been called and informed that next week's appointment has been cancelled. This is really good therapy for the old blood pressure...
Now re-scheduled for Monday 21 January
Nick
Rescheduled again to Thursday
I just had a brief chat with Nick on the phone. His op is now scheduled for this Thursday. He's understandably somewhat distracted by everything at the moment so isn't doing much online, and asked if I'd let everyone know. He'll be back in due course :-)
All the best Nick
I'm sure it will all go swimmingly well but here are good wishes anyway
Bob