Dear Friends.
24th April.Well today is the day I get admitted into the Singapore National University Hospital. Have to be admitted by 5PM and tomorrow is the ...Read more
Dear Friends.
24th April.Well today is the day I get admitted into the Singapore National University Hospital. Have to be admitted by 5PM and tomorrow is the surgery itself.
I am feeling very nervous and I pray for GOD's protection.
My heartfelt and grateful thanks to all who are praying for me. I appreciate it very much.
I have no idea for how long I will in hospital.Tomorrow is Open heart surgery and after it's completion I will be in ICU and perhaps a couple of days in the recovery ward.
So my friends I will update the Journal when I get back home. Blessings and best wishes to all those who are having surgery too during my time in hospital.
Thanks for reading!
Hello friends
Today is the 23rd April and again I received a call in the early morning asking if I could make the trip to the hospital for some more tests ...Read more
Hello friends
Today is the 23rd April and again I received a call in the early morning asking if I could make the trip to the hospital for some more tests which they assured me was necessary just before the operation.
Luckily I live quite near the hospital and the drive was always short (although they did tell me to catch a cab). I should add that initially the surgery was slated for early May but of late I found that I could only walk 50 meters and I would start to feel chest burn, shortness of breath and dizziness/feelings of fainting
The moment I told my cardio and surgeon about it, they agreed that there was no more time to lose and they would bring forward the surgery date which was originally slated for the second week of May.
So there I was at the hospital and they forced me into a wheelchair! (the cute Philipina nurse told me it was a long walk to the Dental building)and wheeled me into the Dental Cluster building! My surgeon wanted a full dental report to check for mobile teeth and any decay
or infection present in the teeth and gums.That was a surprise to me and in no time they wheeled me into the room with dr.dentist all ready with tools in hand.I had no time to panic! Never did like dentists(maybe thats why I always made sure of dental hygiene, as best I could). Well good news! Apparently I have no decayed teeth or gum infection.She did a general cleaning and was done in 30 minutes.
Then a burly guy came over to wheel me out and to the Diagnostic Vascular Laboratory.The girl at the Lab told me to be ready for a Doppler(spelling?) Ultrasound scan of my Carotid arteries.Some wait of about 15 minutes and my name was called and burly guy wheeled me into a darkened room with a male tech guy at some computer. He told me to lie comfortably on a bed and just relax.I was not relaxed at all bit tried to look it. He asked me to look to my left and tilt my head upward.Then some really cold gel was placed on the right side of the neck and he said he was scanning my carotid arteries for any blockages. Was then told to turn right and now he scanned my left arteries.About half an hour. No pain and nothing invasive. Cool! He said the report would be sent to my surgeon.
Burly guy was still there and he said he was going to bring me to see Dr. Jimmy Hon(my surgeon).I asked him if there was any more tests. He said he didn't know. Oh well I will ask Dr. Jimmy. I was wheeled all the way back to the University Heart Centre Main Lobby and then we took the glass lift to Level 3 where Dr. Jimmy's office was. Burly guy asked me if I could walk the short distance from the lift .Affirmative.
When I met Dr Jimmy Hon we had quite a long, animated conversation. It was mainly about my valve preference being a tissue/bio and he was quite adamant on my choosing a mechanical valve. He said at my age of 47, if I chose a tissue valve there was a high probability of another valve surgery in about 7 or 8 years.I told him I understood all that. That I had read Adam's ebook and did some research on Youtube and understood the risks of another valve replacement surgery but that I didn't think I could handle the pressure of sticking to a regimented program of Warfarin and the attendant do's and donts. That I was hooked on green juicing and that my love for sports like rugby (club games)and my participation in combative arts like krav maga would definitely not be in line with daily Warfarin dosage.I guess he finally relented and warned me that the months right after surgery will need to be tempered with rest and not involve too much exertion.I agreed with him. Btw no more tests! And that was it. Tomorrow I will have to be admitted before 5PM and my surgery will be performed on the folowing day,25 April.
Thanks for reading!
Hello All
Received a phone call this Monday morning from National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS) http://www.nuhcs.com.sg/ to come for some important ...Read more
Hello All
Received a phone call this Monday morning from National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS) http://www.nuhcs.com.sg/ to come for some important final Pre-Op tests and to consult with my heart surgeon as they have already set up my surgery date.
After arriving I underwent full bloodwork. After which I went for MRSA screening and was swabbed in the nose, armpits and groin .After that I was brought to the Cardiac Diagnostic Imaging Centre and given a Chest X-ray.
Then came a lenghty consultation with my Cardiac surgeon Dr Jimmy Hon. http://www.nuhcs.com.sg/patients-and-visitors/our-doctors/our-cardiothoracic-and-vascular-surgeons/dr-jimmy-hon-kim-fatt.html
He gave me an overview of what the surgery would entail,including the various risks involved. He also explained to me the valve choices available.He recommended that I use the mechanical valve, which he said was optimum for my age and would possibly also mean no valve replacement surgeries in the future.However the blood thinner Warfarin maintenance medication was vital and he explained it's use to me.He gave me some time to think it over and to call him the next day to let him know my preference.
The surgery date was now set.I would be admitted to hospital on the 24th April at 5PM and surgery itself would take place the following day,the 25th April.
One week ago I underwent a pre-op coronary angiography.I was told to fast and not eat after 12PM the previous night. Had to be at the hospital by 7AM.
I was ...Read more
One week ago I underwent a pre-op coronary angiography.I was told to fast and not eat after 12PM the previous night. Had to be at the hospital by 7AM.
I was soon called into the Angio ward and the nurse guided me to the bed that I was to rest on while waiting for my angiography. Changed into the ward gowns and then spent two hours on the bed while waiting for my turn. Around 10AM I was told to empty my bladder after which they wheeled me into the temp nurse station where I was shaven on my groin and upper thighs.I was then rolled into the Invasive Cardiac Laboratory where I was placed on a movable table, with X-ray cameras and LCD monitors around me.
A nurse came and cleaned my groin and then draped me with sterile towels.The cardiologist then came and applied local anaesthetic on my groin area.The initial injection of local anaesthetic did hurt a bit.
Then ventriculography was performed, and I felt a warm sensation in my chest which then moved down to my legs during the injection of the contrast medium for a few seconds.The whole procedure itself lasted about 25 mins and and my puncture site was compressed for about 10 to 15 minutes until the bleeding stopped and a compressive bandage was applied.
I was then brought back to my hospital bed where I had to lie flat on my back for 6 hours! Later a cardiologist would verify that I was fit to walk.
I was fortunate that I only had 2 minor narrowed arteries on the left and none on the right.I also had no blockages the cardiologist revealed.