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From the heart

Wednesday, 20 February 2008

It was a beautiful summer's day in August when I went to my GP, Dr Geraghty, to get my blood pressure tablet prescription renewed.
As usual he checked my blood pressure and pulse but then, much to my surprise, suggested sending me to a heart specialist for a check up.
Mildly worried I arrived at the Charlemount Clinic before my appointed time of 9.30am to see a Dr Mulcahy a week later.
I sat in the car and passed the time reading over some paperwork that I needed to take care of later that day, trying to put the impending appointment out of my mind.
I presented myself on time and without any further delay I was hooked up for an ECG and then straight onto a treadmill for a stress test. I was exhausted having just about managed the 10 minutes I was asked to by the doctor’s assistant. By the time I got my breath back I knew there was something wrong and my worst fears were confirmed when I was asked to take another ECG test.
Dr Mulcahy informed me that he had spoken to a Professor Graham in Tallaght Hospital and that I was expected there straight away. I got a further shock when I was told I would not be allowed drive myself and that a taxi had been promptly ordered to bring me there.
During that journey to the hospital my mind was racing, not helped by the fact that I had lost three brothers over the past five years (one each to MS, heart disease and cancer).

Within 20 minutes of arriving at the hospital I was in the theatre undergoing an angiogram. The professor politely gave me the bad news.
I had heart disease and was suffering from two serious blockages. He explained that I was a case for immediate surgery and a double bypass.
However, he pointed out that luck was on my side in that my GP had acted so promptly as I was heading for a heart attack.
Amazing
I was admitted to the Coronary Care Unit and put on a heart monitor while awaiting surgery. During the seven days in this unit and under close supervision, day and night, I received the most amazing care and education from the doctors and staff, covering my particular problem, procedures, medication, diet, follow-up care and social services.
D-Day finally arrived and on Thursday, August 30, I was transferred by ambulance to St James's Hospital for surgery. I was now in the Keith Shaw Cardiac Unit where I was met by the surgical team led by Ms Eilis McGovern who coincidently had carried out the same operation on my employer 11 years previously.
The only dampener on that day was when a fellow patient asked what I was in for. When I told him, he replied ‘God Help You’. His reply upset me as it was certainly not what I needed to hear as I was facing into a serious operation.
I would later learn that this man had developed an infection following his bypass operation and was in hospital one month and two days much longer than he had been told to expect.
After my visitors had left that evening I was prepared for the operation, which was scheduled for 10am the following day.
I slept surprisingly well and in due course two attendants arrived to take me to the theatre where I was pleasantly greeted. In no time I was asleep and the next thing I remember was wakening up later that night in a daze with all kinds of tubes coming out of me.
I spent a couple of days in recovery with my every need taken care of by a most caring staff. I remained in the Keith Shaw Unit until I was discharged on September 10 to spend two weeks convalescing at the Park House Nursing Home. Here I rested and exercised daily, walking around the grounds, gradually extending the distance each day and doing some basis exercises that the physio had given me at St James's.
It was great to be home again even though I knew I was facing severe lifestyle changes especially in diet and exercising.
Shortly afterwards I was invited to participate in a cardiac rehab programme in Tallaght.
The group I joined consisted of four males and two females although I was the only one that had had a bypass.
The programme lasted nine weeks and consisted of a series of talks together with tightly monitored and supervised exercise sessions. The talks which were relevant and wide-ranging included subjects such as ‘hearts & minds’, ‘anatomy of the heart’, ‘risk factors’, ‘stress management’, ‘healthy eating’, ‘cholesterol’, ‘anxiety & depression’, ‘diet’, ‘medication and CPR’.
Amazing
This particular programme is geared to getting people back to normal health, so that they can get on with their lives.
The dedication of the team involved was just something else as they were so caring and considerate.
I am now another satisfied cardiac customer, I am proud to say. My experience from beginning to end was expertly choreographed and now, at the age of 64, I am getting ready to go back to work, having received my diploma and hopefully another 20 years of living.

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