libra rising
Well-known member
First, a big thanks to Anne for contacting Hank and getting my registration completed. Second, a big thanks to pellicle honeybunny Paleowoman @LondonAndy
for their replies to my first post which appeared under Guest, and which I now reproduce for clarity.
"Hi, everyone.
I’ve been lurking for a while gaining as much information and understanding as possible, as I’ve awaited my Fitness For Surgery, and then a date for my op.
As I now have a date (May 2nd) I thought I’d introduce myself.
I’m Geoff, 66, with severe Aortic Stenosis diagnosed last Summer. I live in Buckinghamshire some 25 miles from London, and my surgery will be at Harefield Hospital.
The first inkling was in the Winter of 2016/2017. I noticed that walking our dog led me to feel breathless and almost nauseous. As I’d just had a bad cold/virus I thought the symptoms would go away. They didn’t. By May 2017 I decided to visit the GP. He detected a ‘murmur’ and conducted an ECG. I was referred to a consultant at Wycombe General, where an echo/ultrasound confirmed Aortic Stenosis. Later tests on my carotids showed them to be clear.
In August I was admitted as a day patient for an angiogram This confirmed my AS as severe, and led to my referral to Harefield.
I went to Harefield in October, learning that I needed a dental clearance letter.
As someone with a bad gag reflex, I needed some roots removed at an NHS hospital. This caused a delay until January 30th. The next six weeks were then a comedy of errors as cancelled appointments threatened to block my ‘fitness’ for up to a month at a time.
I finally emailed my dentist’s dental clearance letter (I wasn’t risking losing it in the post !) , and confirmed receipt the next day. A week later my Fitness Specialist Nurse rang to say she was still waiting for my letter. I re-emailed it.
Since then I’ve been offered two cancellations. The first was during my daughter’s holiday, which logistically wasn’t helpful (and I thought unfair asking her to enjoy her holiday, with me in hospital.) The second was for tomorrow April 14th, but I’ve had another cold/virus, and have nasal congestion, so I couldn’t take it.
In preparation for posting, I signed up, but once signed in, am unable to post. There is simply no New Topic button. So for the last six days I've explored all possibilities. Only today I logged out, went into Forums, then Heart Talk, and found a New Topic button. Anyone understand what's going on ?
"Thanks for all your collective wisdom, which has been most helpful.
Geoff - my login name is libra rising, if I ever get to use it ; )"
May 1st Update
I was phoned yesterday by the Admissions Manager, which immediately alerted my 'cancellation' antenna. Fortunately, it was only a 2-day delay, so I should go in Thursday for a Friday op. Fingers crossed. I suspect the inconvenience was more to those around me - taking time off work to take me in etc. The upside is that I get to take my daughter's dog to the vet today, where he'll bark at anything moving.
I'm really quite excited now that I'm on the brink of starting my journey.
Geoff
for their replies to my first post which appeared under Guest, and which I now reproduce for clarity.
"Hi, everyone.
I’ve been lurking for a while gaining as much information and understanding as possible, as I’ve awaited my Fitness For Surgery, and then a date for my op.
As I now have a date (May 2nd) I thought I’d introduce myself.
I’m Geoff, 66, with severe Aortic Stenosis diagnosed last Summer. I live in Buckinghamshire some 25 miles from London, and my surgery will be at Harefield Hospital.
The first inkling was in the Winter of 2016/2017. I noticed that walking our dog led me to feel breathless and almost nauseous. As I’d just had a bad cold/virus I thought the symptoms would go away. They didn’t. By May 2017 I decided to visit the GP. He detected a ‘murmur’ and conducted an ECG. I was referred to a consultant at Wycombe General, where an echo/ultrasound confirmed Aortic Stenosis. Later tests on my carotids showed them to be clear.
In August I was admitted as a day patient for an angiogram This confirmed my AS as severe, and led to my referral to Harefield.
I went to Harefield in October, learning that I needed a dental clearance letter.
As someone with a bad gag reflex, I needed some roots removed at an NHS hospital. This caused a delay until January 30th. The next six weeks were then a comedy of errors as cancelled appointments threatened to block my ‘fitness’ for up to a month at a time.
I finally emailed my dentist’s dental clearance letter (I wasn’t risking losing it in the post !) , and confirmed receipt the next day. A week later my Fitness Specialist Nurse rang to say she was still waiting for my letter. I re-emailed it.
Since then I’ve been offered two cancellations. The first was during my daughter’s holiday, which logistically wasn’t helpful (and I thought unfair asking her to enjoy her holiday, with me in hospital.) The second was for tomorrow April 14th, but I’ve had another cold/virus, and have nasal congestion, so I couldn’t take it.
In preparation for posting, I signed up, but once signed in, am unable to post. There is simply no New Topic button. So for the last six days I've explored all possibilities. Only today I logged out, went into Forums, then Heart Talk, and found a New Topic button. Anyone understand what's going on ?
"Thanks for all your collective wisdom, which has been most helpful.
Geoff - my login name is libra rising, if I ever get to use it ; )"
May 1st Update
I was phoned yesterday by the Admissions Manager, which immediately alerted my 'cancellation' antenna. Fortunately, it was only a 2-day delay, so I should go in Thursday for a Friday op. Fingers crossed. I suspect the inconvenience was more to those around me - taking time off work to take me in etc. The upside is that I get to take my daughter's dog to the vet today, where he'll bark at anything moving.
I'm really quite excited now that I'm on the brink of starting my journey.
Geoff
