Before I tell you about the procedure I have to admit I have a bit of a problem when it comes to needles. I think it originates from my childhood when my sister had an encounter with TB. Her illness meant that I would have to endure a series of needles. Did they coax me with offers of ice-cream or sweeties if I was big and brave?……. no. They PINNED me down with five people and skewered me while I’m kicking and screaming. I’m no psychoanalyst but I’m sure Sigmund Freud would be tutting right now.
Monday 4th January 1016. I’m nervous but the Consultant has told me if they locate the suspected blockage they will insert the stents and all will be ok and I can get back to normal life. My eldest son, Sam takes me to the hospital as I’m told I wont be allowed to drive for four days after. After finding the department and checking in I’m given a bed to wait in. I have been handed a open backed nightie and a pair of disposable underpants to change into, not the most fashionable items of clothing. They check my blood pressure, insert a cannula in the back of my right hand then take swabs of my nose and groin in case I am bringing infections in with me, then we wait.
Just after lunch time I am wheeled to the “catheter ” room. I am the first of the afternoon patients for the angiogram and as I sit in the wheel chair I notice a rack of what looks like bicycle brake cables hanging up. I wish they hadn’t put me in this room as I am now fighting to stay calm. A few minutes pass and I get wheeled into a operating theatre where I’m taken by surprise at the number of people in gowns and masks here. I’m feeling panicky but I climb onto the table as they ask me to. people are talking to each other and I hear the surgeon say he is not happy with the cannula in my right hand and he wants another on in my left. There are so many working on me all at the same time I cant keep up with what’s happening. I feel the sting in my left hand as the new cannula goes in, they give me another sedative and there is a cold liquid being poured over my right arm, also someone is wrapping what I take to be a blood pressure band around my lower left leg. I feel the catheter going up my right arm and I am tensing as it feels like a knitting needle under my skin. they keep telling me to relax! how can I relax ? they give me another sedative to calm down but the surgeon keeps pulling my arm straight. I am light headed now and I am sure that if I’d had breakfast as I was told I could they would be sliding about right now.
Then suddenly it’s over. People are moving about tidying up tubes and monitors and the surgeon is talking to me. Briefly he explains I have disease in 3 of my arteries and I will probably have to undergo a triple bypass as He it not sure stenting would be the best option anymore. I am feeling mixed emotions. On the one hand I feel relief that the Angiogram is over but I am also aware that I have some major obstacles ahead of me. Back at the ward I have to wait four hours before I can be released to go home just in case there are complications. I get a follow up visit from a lady who discusses the net steps with me. I am told that the surgeons get together every other Friday (probably with a pint and a packet of scratchings) to review each patient and the best course of action needed. I will then be given an appointment through the post to go and discuss with the consultant what will happen next.
As my son drives me home I reflect on the outcome of the day and what I now face. First I realise this is going to be major surgery and second I had better start to Man up to injections. It can’t get any worse than this can it ?…..
Phil's Quadruple Bypass 