Barbara Helen's Journal

It seems our incredible the time flies once your surgery is complete. I had my surgery on July 4th, was discharged ôn the 12th, and was able to attend my daughters law graduation from Oxford University on Friday last week, the 21st...... . I. Have lots of medical appointments to attend .....(Rest!!??) My Gp tells me I am anaemic.... so looks like a course of iron tabs ( oh! No!!.......). and it seems I am fighting some low grade infection..... which my white blood cells are coping with......., at least that goes someway to explaining my extreme tiredness and ' aches '. Thank you for all your support and advice which mean such a lot..... whether you are this side of surgery.... or still waiting. my love to you all, Barbara, xxx

Each day I am slowly getting there....... its very slow.... yes, but I knew it would not be a picnic. I have good days and bad days........ Gradually , I am learning to take each day as is comes, doing one extra small task a day..... knowing how to listen to my body...... some days I can do more, others .......i can't. I have my first Cardio rehab on 16th August....... an echo on the 24th , and see my Surgeon for a follow up on 16th Sept. in between..... countless blood checks, i.n.r's and. a gp follow up appointment....... so I am kept busy in between!!!........... I guess at this moment in time......(my op having been on July 4th 2017,)...... is discovering aches and pains I never thought. I would have...... finding it hard to find a comfortable position????.......... Oh well!!,..... baby steps. I wish all my fellow heart brothers and sisters every success in each of THIER own Personal journeys, whether pre or post op. My love to you all.xxx

Today, I was walking with my little Cavalier King Charles. I was feeling, low, apprehensive, damp ( it was raining steadily), and as we headed back home , breathless and shoulders and right arm aching....... me, not my dog, haha, I started to formulate poem in my head....... on getting home, and after resting......I put pen to paper.....I thought my heart friends may in reading it, feel not QUITE so alone. This is in no way meant to take the place of this very excellent site....... I AM YOUR HEART....... Hello!! I bet you did'nt expect to hear from me on this site???? We are very best friends, we've never been apart , I go everywhere with you for I am your heart.....I do everything with you, for I am your heart. You have never seen me ......I am held in your chest, behind your ribs i'm protected best. God knew you would need a friend you could trust , when he had to be elsewhere as sometimes he must. ....... I am that friend, and we are never apart, for I am your heart............... . We were together when you were born as you started your life, sometimes with ease and sometimes with strife. When you started school....I was there.......... When you started school......I was there. When you first fell in love I skipped a beat, living life to the full can be such a treat.......... At the fair...... on the Roller Coaster you rode with delight, though it has to be said that it gave me a fright.. You got your first job , and the years went by as planned, .......everywhere we went was with God's hand. We face life's trials...... the good and the bad, what makes us happy ,what makes us sad. However just. Lately I've felt the strain, When I found it hard to fill a vein . I let you know that all was not good, but you misunderstood and did more than you should. Pains in the chest and an ache in the left arm, Surely, they couldn't do YOU much harm??. Should of breath I try to keep pace, but the palpations make me race. A Cardiologist does tests and can plainly see, that I am struggling,..... and this shouldn't be!!. He refers us to a Surgeon as an operation is best, It would seems I need a well earned rest. You see....... at the end of the day you sleep, whilst I stay awake and continue to beat. Dont get me wrong, for this is my trade, This is the purpose for which I was made. Countless times I beat, each day, each week, each year, For you are very special and we are never apart, for we live for each other......I am. your heart. We have Angiogram, and echoes , all the tests make us weary, ...... it all leaves you exhausted , tired, and teary. Information overload seems the task of the day, which surgery to have, what valve, what way?????.. A bypass or repair ,replacement or more,....... so many advances to discuss and explore. Tissue valve or Mechanical your minds in a spin, What is best for us?...... what to put in???? It seems the Surgeon will say what is right, (and then you know of a very good site!!). With everything in order and a surgery date set, O2, heart meds and a hospital bed. We'll both undergo surgery and my needs will be met. An experience neither of us wanted to discover, Let's get me repaired and we can start to recover. There will many a day when we both feel rough, Though, we can't thank the Surgeon enough,. The Anaesthetist gave us a well deserved rest, the Physio, nurses and all the rest. With pillow held gently across your chest, you will protect me .......as I get over my rest. The Nurses say look after me, handle with care, I'm your very best friend and will always be there. Do Cardio Rehab, the nurses say, and gentle exercise every day. Eat a heart healthy diet to keep me strong,......., Do as instructed and we can't go wrong,. Slowly but surely .....we'll be back on an even keel, living our life like a well oiled wheel. We have a good many years to live life together, respecting each other what ever the weather. We both know that one day..... we will have to part.....BUT THATS NOT FOR A LONG TIME........ With love from your( Loyal and indispensable ) heart.. *. By Barbara Helen. Dance.

All my love, prayers and best wishes to Valerie, Katie, Andria, Vicki, and Thomas. for successful surgeries and smooth recoveries. Thinking about you all, and wishing you well. Xx