Bazz's Story

Today is the 9/08/2006 and its great to be alive

before Xmas I was complaining about a pain and being breathless whilst walking,I knew exactly what it was for 10 years earlier I had the same problem, yes the dreaded angina attack in which I had a stent inserted, THE PAIN IS BACK 04/01/2006 I had been ignoring the pain and breathlessness for over 12 months struggling through when I had to exert myself. To this day I don't know why I ignored the pain, so I thought I'd better get checked out with my GP he took my blood pressure which was 240/140 by all accounts that’s rather high,my GP then gave me medication which were blood pressure tablets going back on a 2 weekly basis to have it checked, anyway as it was after Xmas and I was a footy fan I went to watch football, the car park is about 300yds from the ground and it was a freezing cold day, I got to the ground and was struggling for breath and had pains in my chest and arm but as soon as I sat down I felt so much better the pain went, my breathing improved and the rest of the game passed by with out any problems.

After the game finished I walk back to my car again clearly distressed at this time, I got back and sat in my car and again felt fine, driving wasn’t a problem, as my brother and sister were with me, at the time they insisted that I go to the hospital for a check up, but me being me I amused them by saying yeah I'll go when I get home. I got home sat down felt fine then my brother phoned and said why wasn’t I at the hospital? Any way after a long debate I decided to go, my wife driving me. I got in the hospital was seen by a triage nurse then admitted into the A&E with wires drugs and God knows what else being given to me. I was then admitted to the mau dept where again I was seen by many people and really didn’t know what was happening. I had a quiet night, no sleep but peaceful, after two days I was admitted to the cardiac ward where I was diagnosed with a mild heart attack, had the echo scan ect ect and it was only a mild attack, so after a 3 week stay in hospital I was transferred to another hospital for a angiogram. I was watching the angiogram and the doctor was chatting to me then he halted the procedure and said it was pointless trying to put stents in as the blockages were to severe.

I got back to the room and was told that I needed a quadruple heart by pass and it needed to be done asap so I was sent home and 4 days later I was admitted to hospital and had the op, the op was the most painful I have ever had my chest sternum was hell and breathing deeply coughing sneezing is not recommended, but alas the physio comes round and they make you cough to get any thing that is lying on your lungs, well that does hurt but after a few goes you sort of get used to the pain and the pain killers kick in making it quiet pleasant in a perverted type of way (LOL) After 5 days I was discharged but before I was discharge I had slight temperature and my leg was not a 100% where they took the vein out, anyway I got home and within 24 hrs was back in my local hospital, I had to be readmitted with pneumonia, pleurisy, leg infection, and a blood clot on my lung. I was again hooked up to drips, injections penicillin, pain killers and more or less 24 hr care. I was not aware of what was going on but I do remember every time I moved or the nurses tried to move me the pain was unbearable I had to have echo scans, x-rays all at my bedside as I was in too bad a way to move, anyway after time I did recover and up to date I’m still sore, not fit at all, no energy. On a scale of 1 to 10 ten being in good health I feel about a 5, but one thing is I’m alive to tell the story and would I have it done again? Yes is the answer, but I have learnt that if you are going for the op talk to the doctors, explain to them how you are feeling and your fears, if your not feeling too well when they discharge you (temp weeping from leg ect ect) tell them... the one thing they all say, be it the doctors nurses or even your own GP "its normal” hell how do they know its normal? Was it normal when I got rushed back in? It is a frightening and lonely time where you feel so much alone, but don't despair all cardiac hospitals have a members group where ex patience can be contacted and have a chat with us, these people they can save your life and help you through your pain and solitude, if you would like to contact me please don't hesitate I’m a great listener chapmanjohn@ntlworld.com....I have to say that all the doctors nurses support staff were brilliant and very caring.. I was one of the unlucky 1% that experience problems so if your offered the op talk to people who have had it and I’m sure you'll have no problems ....

thank you Barry Chapman

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Bazz's Story

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