Off to See the Wizard

So tomorrow is the penultimate day. I’m being admitted in the afternoon where I think they will show me around and introduce me to the staff. Of course the doctors and surgeons won’t be there because they’re far too busy, and I say this without any tone of sarcasm (I’ve already met the doctors and surgeons a few weeks back)! So my first night at hospital will be pretty comfortable depending on the type of dinner they give me... I wonder if they take requests... Pizza...mmm...

Anyway, back on topic! After my night’s sleep I’m going to be carted off to surgery which I’ve been told takes place before 9am. I don’t think I’m going to like waking up that early in a strange environment. And from there...well I have no idea! But I’m going to try and remember as much as possible to write down in this blog because I know there will be some people who are preparing for the same operation who want more information about the process.

So as you’ve already figured out, this blog won’t be updated for a while. I’m expecting to be in the hospital for about 6-8 days...and you know what, I’m still not worried about it! I think tomorrow when I’m actually inside the hospital then that will really test my nerves. What’s kept me relaxed about the whole thing is that the nurses don’t see you as another patient, but as an individual. I’ve rang the hospital a few times for various questions and the nurses know me by name as soon as I speak. They actually remember the last conversation we had on the phone, even if that was 2-3 weeks ago. And they’re also not in a rush to brush you off – I find myself being the one who has to try and end the conversation!

So anyway that’s that. Everything’s set and the next time I post I should be on the way to recovery (assuming nothing gets delayed)!

P.S. I just realised I’m going to miss the Champions’ League Final...nooooo! I have my priorities clearly set as you can tell.

Finally Putting My Degree to Use

I haven’t really spoken a great deal about my personal life, so let’s change that. Also, this post is also related to valve replacement, so fear not if you were just after information regarding that! Currently I’m a Research Assistant in the area of psychology, investigating the role of music chronic pain. I’ve always had a strong interest in the area of pain and music, so two years ago at university it was an area I was reading up on. Now one piece of research I did come across concerned patients who had just had open heart surgery. The researchers found that patients who listened to sedative music after their procedure had 70% less pain distress compared to patients who received standard chair rest. Of course when I came upon this research I had no idea that I would be in a position to see how this worked on myself! I was always under the impression my operation would be minor - through my veins in my arm. Obviously I was naive and did not understand my condition fully.

So, the geek in me is now quite interested in running a little pseudo-experiment whilst in hospital to see if and how the music can help me. Part of me doubts the impact it could have. But considering that I’m currently asking clients who suffer from chronic pain to exercise with music, I strangely think that I have some sort of obligation to at least try. What’s the worst that could happen, right?!

On another simple note, for those of you reading this in preparation for your own operation I’ll answer a few simple questions that I myself had:

• Gowns are provided by the hospital. Imagine if hospitals didn’t do this? I’m pretty sure there would be cliques forming over the type of gowns people wore!
  
• Operations usually take place in the mornings, possibly even before 9am. Make sure you find out if your surgeon has been in an all nighter. Do you really want him going in your heart with a lack of sleep? And this is not a silly concern because it does happen and operations are cancelled because of it.
  
• Be prepared to be tossed around the surgery calendar at short notice. Nothing is confirmed until the day you turn up at the hospital and you know you have a bed.

Look at that, I haven’t even had my operation and I’m becoming an expert already. Go me!

Patch Adams and ....Swine Flu

A week and a half away from surgery and the updates I can make regarding the wait is a little thin at the moment. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to talk about something related, but also different: Robin Williams. How is this related? Well I'll come to that in a second but can I just say that he is the funniest man alive! He's a brilliant actor (c'mon, don't tell me you weren't moved by that film Jack!) but the best of him is his interviews and stand up. He's so full of life and energetic. Well a few weeks back I found out that he also has Aortic Stenosis. For those of you aren't patients of this heart disease I'll quickly remind you that it's the narrowing of the aorta and if left untreated it will close up completely. He had his surgery a few weeks back and is apparantly making a good recovery.

I think for some reason it's reassuring to know that someone you admire has gone through what you are about to and made it out okay. No I'm not one of those crazy fans (I realise this post might make me sound like one). I'm sure thousands of people are in my situation at the moment and 95% of them will make it out of surgery, but as I said it feels different when it's someone you're a fan of. Given his age, and the amount of energy he has (the guy literally bounces off walls) it's that cliched thought of - if he can go through it and recover, then so can I.

On a different note...what a time to go into hospital! I heard that there are around 800 suspected cases of Swine Flu in America at the moment. God knows how many there are in England at the moment. Knowing that you're going to have your chest cut open, the sewn up again and be susceptible to infection has made me very cautious. I'm literally ducking out of the way every time someone sneezes. Knowing my luck I will catch the damn thing then infect everyone in intensive care unit at the hospital.

Or is that all a myth and you only catch it if you have sex with a pig?

I joke of course.

No really, stay away from the farmers.