Surgery
So today I am having coronary bypass surgery. It should be between 12 and 2 this afternoon and I should be out of the anaesthetic in the evening. It's complicated by my having a non standard vascular system, I only have one coronary artery instead of two. They plan to open up my chest and graft in pieces of artery taken from either my chest (unlikely) or my leg. Then it should be about six weeks for the ribs to heal fully. The biggest problem will be that I will have limited use of my arms while they heal and will not be able to use the crutches that I need to get around because of the arthritis. The biggest plus, aside from not having the risk of a heart attack somewhen in the next few years is that I will go straight on the list for hip replacement and restored mobility.
Anyway, yesterday C accompanied me to the hospital to get me settled in. The ambulance didn't arrive until the time I was due to be there (Patient Transport was running late all over the region and the driver's satnav had sent her to what used to be the other end of the lane forty years ago but which is now impassable). Then it was an hour's wait to have bloods taken which was further delayed by my uncooperative veins. Then more tests and a chat with the anesthnatist after which C had to go to catch the last bus. I finally got to the ward about 5:30 just in time for one of the spare dinners ( a quiet nice vegetable lasagna) which will be the last I can eat until after the operation. One of the surgeons then talked me through what they were going to do and I was left to rest.
This morning I have to have my chest shaved ready for the op. I will let you know how things go either tonight or tomorrow morning.
Anyway, yesterday C accompanied me to the hospital to get me settled in. The ambulance didn't arrive until the time I was due to be there (Patient Transport was running late all over the region and the driver's satnav had sent her to what used to be the other end of the lane forty years ago but which is now impassable). Then it was an hour's wait to have bloods taken which was further delayed by my uncooperative veins. Then more tests and a chat with the anesthnatist after which C had to go to catch the last bus. I finally got to the ward about 5:30 just in time for one of the spare dinners ( a quiet nice vegetable lasagna) which will be the last I can eat until after the operation. One of the surgeons then talked me through what they were going to do and I was left to rest.
This morning I have to have my chest shaved ready for the op. I will let you know how things go either tonight or tomorrow morning.