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good to hear

Originally Posted by pritch

Good luck for a speedy recovery.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by pritch

The MP3 players just keep getting better.
The speakers get a bit expensive though: Bose in the bedroom, Harmon Kardon in the kitchen, and Altec Lansing on my desk at work...

Don't need those - got a roomful of speakers in the lounge, some in the dining room, another stereo in our bedroom, and a couple in the basement, so all we're shopping for is a decent MP3 player. Don't think we'll go Apple though - Gadget Steve at work and Pudding Pimp at home have put me off, despite my in-laws' total buy-in with multiple ipods in their family.

Good luck for a speedy recovery.

The MP3 players just keep getting better. My new Nano is a fraction of the size of my old iPod but it has the same storage plus a colour screen and a video camera. All for a bit over half the price.

The speakers get a bit expensive though: Bose in the bedroom, Harmon Kardon in the kitchen, and Altec Lansing on my desk at work...

good to hear you are ok. well at least you got to plan, my surprise of the week included A very quick trip into hospital (p 1) and hour later a little metal tube addition to my heart, a stay at ccu for 4 days now im home licking my wounds lost my license for 4 weeks off work for same period and now paying for the local chemist kids education.

OK, Thanks everyone for your kind support, but I'm not gonna reply to you folks individually, as both hands are sore(ish). Angio went well - the worst bit was getting the shunt in the back of my left hand. Thanks to the "Magic Happy Juice" (as the anaesthetist called it), the procedure was pleasant (no feeling of wetting myself, or of heat, possibly because they prepped three sites for the catheter - left and right groinal region, and right wrist. Happily (?) they went with the wrist, despite being told my cardiologist "usually goes for the groin"). Hence the sore wrist.
Heart's blood vessels are all good - saw them on-screen; they're like hosepipes.
Gave the vifferbabe a fright - I was back in my bed, and the nurse (Natalie) was working on my wrist, when she realised she'd left the sutures behind. So while she was away, I conked out: eyes rolled back in my head, swallowed my tongue, the whole bit. Yay.... Not my favouritist experience.
As for the music - I went with "Everything That Happens will Happen Today" - the cardiologist loved it. No use using an MP3 player, as I doubt I'd be able to wear it in theatre. But (however!) I'm buying one sooonly, as I need summat to occupy myself with during recovering from "The Biggie". Still not looking forward to that, but I'm not worried too much about the TOE.
And "Yay! My kidneys have kicked back into life again! I had to drink lots at the hospital (4 teas, about 1500ml of water, to wash the dye out), but only about 200ml came back out, so I was feeling very bloated. All good now.

CD! CD's are so last millennium. Time to get yourself a digital music player. Then you can take most of your music with you.

Be kind to the nurses...I am one and I read your blog, just try to breathe through it and it will be over before you know it, valves can be replaced these days the technology is so amazing that you will see your recovery time is much shorter than you anticipate once you have the surgery. Good Luck with angio, don't be scared and remember they're just taking pictures..

Angio dye trace will convince you that you've wet yourself. But you won't have. It just feels that way.

best wishes old man. Thinking of you 2morrow & again next friday. Hope the nurses are real sweet.

Good luck Vif with the results. You'll be a bit preoccupied so wouldn't worry about the music too much. The angio is straightforward and with luck you'll be able to watch the dye trace on a screen at the same time. Fascinating stuff.

As for the TOE - I'm not a big fan - so I informed the doc of this who smiled and next thing I woke up in a recovery bed.....No pain, no choking, no problem. Course I missed seeing the echo screen I didn't care. End result for me was a mitral heart valve repair from which I'm currently recovering.

Best wishes.

I'm filling me head with Metal Licker so I can always play it back no matter what's on the CD player in the surgery. Dunno if I'm allowed a camera in there though...
The lady/nurse on the phone sounded all right - she had a Dutch accent and my wife's parents are both Dutch, so that's a good thing mebbe...

Great to hear that things are happening! Two Fridays off in a row... just hope the boss appreciates POETS day.

CD? Take an ipod so you can control the tunes as the moment dictates.
You know that photo's of the pretty nurses are mandatory, for the rest of us plebs?

It seem obvious to say bugger you have it at all, but bugger it anyway.
I know it seems a really big ordeal to get your head around especially if your used to being in control.
Is not as big as it was 15 to 20 years ago, they are pulling tickers out and fettling them almost routinely for different reasons and from tiny infints to really old farts.
Do a real cost benefit analyses before settling on going private, there is a good chance the same surgeon burns the candle in the private sector as well as public, it just the time thing and how you feel about it.
A family member went through a similar thing and looked into going private but decided to go public (Auck Hosp has a brilliant ICU) and use some of the money he would have spent taking his wife away for a long trip around America...on a bike....one each..and they had to learn!!
I guess it gave him something to look forward to after the op and recovery period and something bigger than the op, if you know what I mean.
There is a good chance you will be hugging a pillow when you cough or sneeze for sometime afterwards, sounds strange, I wont elaborate lol

Hi again, just read this blog. I was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at the ripe old age of 37. I went to the doctor about my ears and she happened to listen to my heart and said - you have a heart murmur! It is something you have to get your head around as it is an intimation of our mortality. I agree with the others - focus on the positives - better to find out now when they can stilldo something about it. Look at it as having a new lease on life!

I think going private is definitely the right way to go. Could be 6 months, could be 9 months, who knows. Relying on the public system is a risky business - a risk you don't need to take.

Thanks, !

Hello Vifferman

I've had both an angiogram and TOE - the anticipation of the procedures is much worse than the reality (as always).
Fond "memories" of the TOE - best drugs I've ever had I use the term "memories" loosely as you are unlikely to have any memories of the procedure itself.
Angiogram - painless but the solar flare effect of the dye is....hot as hades!

Good luck!

Originally Posted by p.dath

Good luck Vifferman. Sounds like fate is now on your side considering the timing. Perhaps reflect on the "good" things this will bring to you. You could take up a hobby that you can practice from a bed or chair while your recovering. This is probably going to bring your family together. And just think, no house work or chores to do!

Just keep focusing on the positive.

Thanks Mr Dath. Hobbies.... Hmmmmm.... tiddlywinks? Knob polishing for beginners? Crochet?

Good luck Vifferman. Sounds like fate is now on your side considering the timing. Perhaps reflect on the "good" things this will bring to you. You could take up a hobby that you can practice from a bed or chair while your recovering. This is probably going to bring your family together. And just think, no house work or chores to do!

Just keep focusing on the positive.

Originally Posted by raftn

All Ican say is Stay positive, and good thing they found it now and not later! All the best.

Indeed, yes indeedy!
Thanks very much for your kind words and your support.