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David's StoryI recently had a triple bypass undertaken by Mr Dimitri at University Hospital Coventry; a centre of excellence. How can you thank someone who has saved your life!!! Much of the hospital procedure has been covered and there is little to add. For some reason, I was not at all nervous since there was nothing that I could do but present myself to be sorted out. My only concern was the bed push to the operating theatre but I was lucky since the pre-med knocked me out and the next thing that I knew was waking up a day later in IC. The operation was off-pump [beating heart] which reduces the internal stresses and speeds up recovery time. The mind boggles to think that they can undertake such an operation by this method! One thing that I will say to anyone thinking about the operation is that the success rate is 98.5% with, perhaps, a further reduction of 2% due to complications, mainly infection. Compare this to driving a car or walking the streets to put it into perspective. The alternative? Instead of a normal life span you are faced with an early and possibly miserable death. No contest! I am fit, never smoked, do not drink and not overweight. How could I have a heart problem? I had no chest pains other than a different sensation in the middle of my chest when I over-exercised or sometimes when I was under pressure. People did say that I had a high colour and my eyes occasionally became bloodshot. BP tablets had stabilised my blood pressure and the doctor confirmed that my heart was sound. So what could be wrong? He sent me to Solihull hospital for a treadmill/ ECG and the operator confirmed after only two minutes that she had seen enough; great, no problem then. The shock came when I received an appointment to have an angiogram. This was a simple procedure involving passing a camera up to the heart from the groin. No pain or discomfort whatsoever. It was discovered that two of my arteries were only 10 and 30% effective and the others were not much good either. What a a shock to learn that I was a case for an early heart attack! In fact, I learned after the operation that I had about 6 months to go; makes 98.5% pretty good odds don't you think. I should have been discharged after 4 days, again the mind boggles, but being awkward, I ran a temperture and this became six days. I am very fortunate in having an incredible wife who even took me to the loo during the night. In my view, anyone coming out needs close supervision since the first week, in particular, is not a bundle of laughs. You will feel tired in the extreme and begin to wonder if it was all worth it until you remember the 98.5% I don't know if this was unusual but my first night at home was accompanied by severe hot sweats that needed a change of clothing on three occasions reducing to two on the second and we set up a fan for the third. It had gone by the fourth. No longer will I treat female hot sweats as nothing in particular! This is now my fifth week and I will be seeing Mr. Dimitri shortly. It has been a gradual recovery and psychological or not I awoke after week four to find that I was no-longer tired and I could walk as I pleased. In fact, as far as I am concerned it is behind me and subject to watching my diet and taking my medication, that is it. No point in dwelling on my misfortune since I am now sorted and except from the zip down my sternum and some marks on my left leg, all of which will lighten, that is it. I am, in fact, lucky, since the problem had a solution whereas the unlucky people are those with other ailments who can only ask how long have I got. I would be delighted to answer any non-technical questions if anyone wants any further information. With kind regards David You are here: Home >> Your Stories >> David's Story |
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