well, it seems like an eternity since I last posted on here. My little world had been turning itself upside down and inside out. I have gone for almost every test available and I’m sure any phobia towards needles have been drawn out in the form of a hypodermic. The first of the tests began at New Cross hospital on Fri 29th Jan in the form of a ” Ultra sound ” which is called for to test the operation of the heart valves and some other checks. It may sound a little perverse but I quite enjoyed this as it involved a nice little lady rubbing oil over my chest in a darkened room and NO needles. ( ok I need to get out more ) I was told I wouldn’t hear anything unless there was a problem
The next test was the CT scan. This was performed at West Bromwich General Hospital on wednesday 3rd of Feb and my Son (Connor) accompanied me. I knew from reading the leaflet that they had given me I would probably end up having either some sort of dye injected into me or I might have to drink a fluid shortly before the scan. Just my luck it turned out to be the injection. I had to dress in the NHS nightie again then I had a Canola slipped into my arm so that they could administer the dye while I was in the Machine. After very little waiting they called me into the Scan room. The Scanner was like a giant polo with a bed on a runner going through the middle. I was told to lie on the bed with my arms above me and, after a few practice runs they Injected the dye into me. The dye felt like hot water being poured down the front of me and I felt it flowing downwards throughout my body and that was the end. After getting dressed I was told he would be along shortly to remove the canola from my arm and I could go home. 40 Minuets later and a press on the nurse call button saw him come rushing in apologizing that he had forgotten me. I tried to gain some sort of insight as to what the result was but he just said I would have to wait two weeks to find out from my doctor.
The next test was a Echocardiogram on the 4th Feb which was Identical to the CT scan but performed this time at the City Road Hospital and my daughter (Kiera) accompanied me here to make sure I didn’t run off with the nurse. The same NHS standard unit of two weeks was given to me to receive the results. Time is a funny thing and in years to come scientists will understand why it speeds up on a weekend when you are not at work and slows down while you wait for test results.
Monday 15th Feb, I’m at work when the phone rings. There is a lady from the hospital asking me if I can go in for the Bypass Op on Wednesday. I’m suddenly aware that I haven’t answered her and I am desperately trawling the depths of my mind to come up with a reason why I can’t . I tell her “yes”. As my senses slowly return I realise that I still haven’t had the CT results back So I ask if they have had them. She promises that she will check and phone me straight back. 10 am Tuesday morning and after a few phone calls I have tracked her down. I need to know what’s happening so that I can arrange work etc but I am only getting her answer phone, so I leave a message. Just after lunch time I finally get through to her. She explains the Surgeon has been off ill but is unsure for how long so I should go for Blood tests just in case. The rest of the afternoon is spent at New Cross hospital filling forms and giving blood, without any fuss I must add, OR a lollypop. Wednesday morning and the surgical administrator phones to tell me Op is a no go as the Surgeon is off sick all week and I should get a call in 2-3 weeks time!
Monday 22nd Feb. My appointment with my doctor is here so I should get the CT results. This is a big news day. He tells me that the 2-3 cm shadow they saw on the x-ray has shown up as a “twisted” rib that I had broken in my youth. He also said the CT scan had shown up a few “nodes” on my lungs but they were probably nothing to worry about but just as a precaution they have referred me to a chest specialist on the 8th March who will give me a definitive answer. Before I leave the doctors I mention that I have chipped the bone in my elbow. I can feel the bone piece move below the skin and it hurts like hell if I lean on it. It hasn’t seemed worth mentioning up to now. He refers me for a x-ray on it at Rowley Regis Hospital and I am in and out in no time at all. I get those results in two weeks….
Phil's Quadruple Bypass 