Wrapping up the saga: Apparently, I'm now "Really very well".
by
, 4th December 2010 at 13:42 (3959 Views)
At least, that's what the farmer/part-time cardiac surgeon said. He has now "discharged me from his care". I have had all the followup tests (plus a few extra), and so that is basically it. My heart is now as normal as it's going to be (permanent arrhythmia and a plastic ring around the valve notwithstanding). Shame my shoulder/arm is still a bit fookt, and I now have dizzy spells my GP and cardiologist (and apparently the renowned dairy farmer/ hobby surgeon) are stumped by.
I guess you can't have everything.
I also guess I really should have asked, "What did you do to my arm while I was unconscious?" but his "Yeah, well that happens sometimes" sort of precluded much discussion about it. I reckon it had something to do with "the power tools". Or maybe not...
After...hmmm.... 5 months of physiotherapy and exercises, my left arm can now move almost as freely as my right, but is a bit weaker, and I currently have more pain than I have had for a long time, and much more often. Sometime it feels like someone is stabbing me through my shoulder with an icy cold stilletto (a very interesting and sometimes not unpleasant sensation). Mostly it just feels very tight and stiff, like the muscles have turned into wood, and very sore.
I'm not complaining. I've had an interesting experience, my life expectancy's 'normal', and all in all, I'm better off than I was. I may need some plastic surgery, if the lower couple of inches of my 'zipper' doesn't settle down and stop forming kelloidal tissue, but I'm hoping the expensive and smelly restorative cream I'm applying to it will convince it to behave. If not, well.... apparently the plastic surgery's "minor" and I feel my experiences have made me pretty well equipped to handle such trivia.
Oh and despite some determined beer drinking, most of the weight I lost during 13 days in hospital has stayed off. Bonus!