Pete's Story

Hello to everyone, I was inspired to write this following reading other people’s stories on the web page heart2hearts.

My name is Pete and my story starts on the 27th November 2005, I was playing golf and was on a few occasions found to be short of breath, this I put down to the coldness of the day.

A bit later that night I suggested we have a walk to the pub (to the wife), within yards I found myself struggling for breath. I lied and said I was not bothered about going, later that night I woke up unable to breathe. An ambulance was called and off the A&E for me, I had tests and was allowed home about 8:45am, but was told I would need to come for a treadmill test in a couple of days.

On the 29th I went for said test I was on the treadmill just short of 7 minutes and had to give up, I rested and then said “do the results go to my doctors”?, as I had to go to work. The lady who had done the test informed me I was “going nowhere”, other than into hospital. Apparently I had had a mild heart attack, but was in danger of a massive one that would probably kill me.

That was the day I stopped smoking and I NEVER will put one in my mouth ever again, I rang my wife & explained I was going into hospital.

I was given the spray to help with any pain and settled down to a stay in hospital, on the 8th December I was given an angiogram which revealed 3 blockages of 70% on the left side. I was informed that I would need a CAT scan to find the artery on the right hand side, and next day went for the scan.

The doctor came to see me later in the day & explained they had found the artery but it also was blocked and was not in its correct position. I was told that I would need a quadruple bypass and that I would be having it on the Monday 12th December.

That weekend my head was full of all kinds of thoughts mainly round what would happen to my family if I did not survive the operation. On the Sunday the nurse came to see me & found me in floods of tears over these very thoughts. She was fantastic and consoled me and told me all would be fine and that they could give me something to help me sleep during the night (which I gladly accepted)

Tracy (my wife) came early the next morning to be with me and to come to theatre with me; I remember her coming with me and the anesthetists saying I was just about to feel a sharp prick in my wrist and then it was a blank.

I woke up many hours alter in Intensive Care at around 2 am the next day, and using the most terrible industrial language (a side effect of the anesthetic).

I woke up to find an eight inch wound on my chest, and one on my left arm that runs from my wrist to my elbow the one on my left leg runs from my ankle to just about 4 inches above my knee.

I stayed in here for a couple of days and various tubes were removed the most evil being the chest drains, an experience I never want to go through that again once satisfied I was strong enough I was transferred to a ward.

My stay on the ward was uneventful & I went home on December 17th, it was great to see my family again. During my first few days at home, I found myself inexplicably bursting into floods of tears for no reason. I was told that this was normal due to the huge shock my body had received and would ease off with time (I still have my moments though now).

My wound began to weep and on the 27th December I was re-admitted to hospital with an infection in my sternum wound.

The infection was pretty serious and I had another 3 days in intensive care, before being transferred to the progressive care unit and then a ward. During my 3 weeks back in hospital I was given so many antibiotics I rattled as I walked.

The nursing staff were fantastic no matter where I was in the hospital, and my wife has been an absolute rock for me. Yes it is us who have the operation but we must spare a thought for our relatives who must go through every emotion under the sun.

As stated earlier I spent 6 hours in theatre but she had this time worried out of her mind, with nothing she could do my life was in other people’s hands.

I have now been home just over 2 weeks and on antibiotics as the infection has come back but I feel we have nearly defeated it I am starting to feel better as days go by. The biggest change I have noticed is how easy I tire out even after little exertion, I can now sleep at the drop of a hat.

I still look back at the last 10 weeks and I am amazed just how quickly my life has changed forever, I am just under 2 stones lighter which is fantastic but still look pale and find it amusing that I have such a lack of colour.

I am grateful that I have been given this second chance some people are not so lucky, but I am still amazed that it has happened to me I always considered myself fit if overweight I played golf twice a week and walked for miles it just shows us not to take life for granted.

I owe my life to the surgeons and staff especially Mr Sarkar and his team without them I would not be on this earth to write this, also to the nursing staff at the Northern General hospital in Sheffield. I would like also say a gigantic thank you to my wife (Tracy) who has been there for me all the time and has been fantastic and whom I love more and more each day of my life. Also my son Mark who has helped me immensely & is like a minder for me, where I go he goes.

What I would say to people about to under go this operation is that the benefit from it is far greater than not having it if I did not have it I know the consequences, I now look at life so differently and plan to lead my own life better.

That is me not riveting nut as I said it has changed my life for ever in a way that I thought unimaginable 3 months ago. I have set myself goals of getting back to work and playing golf again, I know it will take time but I have determination and the love of my family to help me though.

I still have my good & bad days but I suppose everyone does, but the good ones will soon outweigh the bad ones.

If anyone wants to contact me they can on peterblade@tiscali.co.uk

Thanks

Pete 47

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Pete's Story

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