A lot of things have happened since my last post. After looking around for a job since my operation in May, I’ve finally got one. Well technically I have two part-time ones. They’re both Assistant Psychologist posts working with people living with chronic pain. Seems everything’s worked out quite nicely as I nabbed the positions when I’m finally fully fit! I should point out that it took me almost 100 applications to get these jobs, and that including me browsing a jobs website around a week after my surgery in the patient computer room (whilst pumped full of medication which made it extremely hard to read anything at all!).
On the topic of psychology...where have all the psychology bloggers gone?! Seems that everyone’s had to dash off into hiding after one anonymous blogger was outed to her company.
In terms of my heart there are a few things to mention. Sternum wires...god damn them! They leave these in you after sawing your ribcage open and it holds everything together during the recovery. They don’t bother to take it out as it would require another operation. I have a mental image of what my chest x-ray would look like...lots of jagged lines all over the place, tied in knots to hold the bones together. Why do I bring this up? Well I’ve noticed that I can feel them poking out slightly. If I arch my back out in a stretch I can feel a wire poking out uncomfortably. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about, but it sure is annoying!
I went ahead and got the swine flu vaccination. Seems I’ve had a bad reaction to it as it’s sent my heart rate up to a 100 and given me some bad symptoms. I’m hoping these will pass...I worked hard to get my pulse back down to 70! So if you’re a patient and thinking of getting it, just consult your cardiologist. Opinion tends to vary depending on the cardiologist.
Part of my keloid scar has reduced thankfully, but it still looks hideous and sticks out. I’m considering the dreaded injection of steroids which apparently can help. Will decide a bit later on...
Showing posts with label Swine Flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swine Flu. Show all posts
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Interview, Job Offers and a Racing Heart
I went to see my cardiologist and all seems well. The only issue is that I have developed something called a keloid scar. A keloid scar looks elevated and as it’s been bloated right up, and is very pink. But I can live with that. The cardiologist says that some people are just prone to developing it after surgery and that is should heal on its own. However, a quick search on Google tells me it might not be common for keloids to heal...-gasp- lying doctor! Well either way I’m not too worried because as long as my heart is functioning then the scar can look however it wants!
Now for the big question – swine flu. Rest assured people, swine flu is not more risky for people with valve replacement! However, my GP did say that if I do feel any flu symptoms they will put me straight on the medicine as a precaution. And in terms of normal flu, it now seems that I have to be given a flu jab every winter just like my granddad! I actually don’t mind this either because I hate getting the flu so bring on the jab!
Now another topic. In terms of any dental appointments. For those of you that are new to this topic, it’s common for heart patients to have antibiotics before any type of dental procedure because the nasty stuff in your mouth can go straight to your heart and cause an infection. Now for some reason the guidelines have been changed saying there is no evidence that antibiotics help and your dentist will probably tell you that you don’t need it. Don’t listen to him! There is a lot of criticism about this decision to say antibiotics aren’t needed, and there doesn’t appear to be any clear evidence either way. So until some researchers out there give some hard evidence, just take the extra precaution. Especially if you have a mechanical valve.
I feel like I’m writing a blog for the NHS...so let’s add a personal touch before I bore you all. My heart rate seems to be going down. On leaving hospital it was stuck around 90-100 bpm. What I’ve noticed for myself is that with exercise, the resting heart rate seems to go down. Half an hour on the treadmill every few days or so does the trick. Anyway, right now it’s slipped down to the 80 point (high 70s on a good day!) which is great. The only problem I had was being thrown into a stressful situation – a meeting with a researcher and his team to discuss a project. My heart was racing throughout – partly because this researcher can be very intimidating at times, but also because I was offered a job! He has money to throw at a project I’ve developed, however he wants to take control and turn it in to something else with a different focus. I think it will benefit the clients I see but I’m going to turn down the job (I’m mad I know). And on the job front I also received my first interview!! That also sent my heart racing but I haven’t noticed any problems. My interview is next Tuesday and I just hope I can stay calm and not have anything strange happen – e.g. suddenly get chest pains and get distracted because of my worries!
P.S. For the person who found this blog wanting to know about sex... Yes you can have sex after valve replacement. As soon as you can handle stairs then you can go right ahead...just use your common sense.
P.P.S. Anyone with any questions about the whole surgery experience, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll answer it in my next post if I can!
Now for the big question – swine flu. Rest assured people, swine flu is not more risky for people with valve replacement! However, my GP did say that if I do feel any flu symptoms they will put me straight on the medicine as a precaution. And in terms of normal flu, it now seems that I have to be given a flu jab every winter just like my granddad! I actually don’t mind this either because I hate getting the flu so bring on the jab!
Now another topic. In terms of any dental appointments. For those of you that are new to this topic, it’s common for heart patients to have antibiotics before any type of dental procedure because the nasty stuff in your mouth can go straight to your heart and cause an infection. Now for some reason the guidelines have been changed saying there is no evidence that antibiotics help and your dentist will probably tell you that you don’t need it. Don’t listen to him! There is a lot of criticism about this decision to say antibiotics aren’t needed, and there doesn’t appear to be any clear evidence either way. So until some researchers out there give some hard evidence, just take the extra precaution. Especially if you have a mechanical valve.
I feel like I’m writing a blog for the NHS...so let’s add a personal touch before I bore you all. My heart rate seems to be going down. On leaving hospital it was stuck around 90-100 bpm. What I’ve noticed for myself is that with exercise, the resting heart rate seems to go down. Half an hour on the treadmill every few days or so does the trick. Anyway, right now it’s slipped down to the 80 point (high 70s on a good day!) which is great. The only problem I had was being thrown into a stressful situation – a meeting with a researcher and his team to discuss a project. My heart was racing throughout – partly because this researcher can be very intimidating at times, but also because I was offered a job! He has money to throw at a project I’ve developed, however he wants to take control and turn it in to something else with a different focus. I think it will benefit the clients I see but I’m going to turn down the job (I’m mad I know). And on the job front I also received my first interview!! That also sent my heart racing but I haven’t noticed any problems. My interview is next Tuesday and I just hope I can stay calm and not have anything strange happen – e.g. suddenly get chest pains and get distracted because of my worries!
P.S. For the person who found this blog wanting to know about sex... Yes you can have sex after valve replacement. As soon as you can handle stairs then you can go right ahead...just use your common sense.
P.P.S. Anyone with any questions about the whole surgery experience, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll answer it in my next post if I can!
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Please Let Me Jump Out of a Plane After Life Threatening Surgery...
So I was curious to see what the main reason was for visitors stumbling upon this blog (other than being a regular reader). To my surprise...nearly every person who finds this from Google is wanting information on swine flu and aortic valve replacement. Now I’m not here to mock anyone but I did find how one person found this site funny: “Will having a pig valve give me swine flu?” That did put a smile to my face but I felt it was important to say that you will not get swine flu like that! If you catch it, it will be from another person. You have nothing to worry about having a pig valve if you choose that route.
The rest of the people seemed to want information on swine flu and valve replacement in general. Now I don’t have the answers concerning the risk to valve replacement patients yet, but I am seeing my cardiologist tomorrow and plan to ask him this question and will put the answers on here for anyone curious.
My appointment tomorrow is the usual follow up to check how my sternum and scar are healing, and to see how my heart is. I thought it was a good idea to make a list of questions I wanted to ask:
• Will I be able to do sky diving?
• Is the yellow gross puss normal (I only have a tiny bit left on the scar)
• Will I be able to fly a plane? No, seriously. (I want to get a license for that!)
• When can I start running? (I’ve only been doing brisk walking now)
• When can I do weights?
I don’t plan to ask when I can go back to work. I already know that I can, but plan to visit my GP and give a sob story of how the supermarket I work for makes me pull heavy cages and life heavy things. Hopefully I can get a month extra off! Oh...by the way, don’t call me a cashier! Whenever someone asks what my career is I casually say Research Assistant (and conveniently miss out the voluntary part!)
As an update of where I’m at 8 weeks post-op...I feel no pain really apart from when I wake upin the morning. Even then, this is usually minimal. Sneezing can still make me feel like a bomb has just gone off in my chest but apart from that, it’s okay! I’m also walking very briskly now (at a speed of 6km an hour). I tend to walk about 3km a day – gets you very sweaty after all that work. I feel like I can if I wanted to but want to wait to see what the doctor says first tomorrow. I think I’m recovering quite quickly but that might be down to my young age. I can’t wait to test myself on the treadmill to see if there’s an improvement in my stamina like I was promise! Oh, and before I forget, my pulse tends to rest around 90bmp. I’m not happy about that, but have noticed if I do regular exercise it will come down. If not, then it goes back up. Need to ask the cardiologist about that.
The rest of the people seemed to want information on swine flu and valve replacement in general. Now I don’t have the answers concerning the risk to valve replacement patients yet, but I am seeing my cardiologist tomorrow and plan to ask him this question and will put the answers on here for anyone curious.
My appointment tomorrow is the usual follow up to check how my sternum and scar are healing, and to see how my heart is. I thought it was a good idea to make a list of questions I wanted to ask:
• Will I be able to do sky diving?
• Is the yellow gross puss normal (I only have a tiny bit left on the scar)
• Will I be able to fly a plane? No, seriously. (I want to get a license for that!)
• When can I start running? (I’ve only been doing brisk walking now)
• When can I do weights?
I don’t plan to ask when I can go back to work. I already know that I can, but plan to visit my GP and give a sob story of how the supermarket I work for makes me pull heavy cages and life heavy things. Hopefully I can get a month extra off! Oh...by the way, don’t call me a cashier! Whenever someone asks what my career is I casually say Research Assistant (and conveniently miss out the voluntary part!)
As an update of where I’m at 8 weeks post-op...I feel no pain really apart from when I wake upin the morning. Even then, this is usually minimal. Sneezing can still make me feel like a bomb has just gone off in my chest but apart from that, it’s okay! I’m also walking very briskly now (at a speed of 6km an hour). I tend to walk about 3km a day – gets you very sweaty after all that work. I feel like I can if I wanted to but want to wait to see what the doctor says first tomorrow. I think I’m recovering quite quickly but that might be down to my young age. I can’t wait to test myself on the treadmill to see if there’s an improvement in my stamina like I was promise! Oh, and before I forget, my pulse tends to rest around 90bmp. I’m not happy about that, but have noticed if I do regular exercise it will come down. If not, then it goes back up. Need to ask the cardiologist about that.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
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.
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.
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