Paul's Posts

Friday 13th, 10 years ago today (Friday 13th Freddie Kruger by day😱) I was in surgery for a successful Complex Mitral Repair. Time has flown and the memories continue to fade along with my scar. Sad that the early part of my blog documenting pre-op and hospital stay was lost during the transfer to the new system a while ago, but c'est la vie. Brilliant that Adam still keeps this website going strong and growing, it made such a difference at the time of surgery and the months post op recovery. I was in NSR for 9 years after Cardioversion and then started atrial Flutter ~6-8moths ago just after my COVID booster - it may have just been a coincidence. So I'm back on meds (20mg Rivaroxaban daily) while they work out what to do with me 😳. That said I'm pretty asymptomatic and only discovered the Flutter when my BP monitor alerted me. It could be so much worse. Otherwise, I am still fit & healthy and play golf 3-4 times a week - a leisurely 6.5 mile walk each time ⛳️🏌️😎 I remain so indebted to the NHS and the brilliant Dr Frank Wells from Papworth, to say he changed my life is an understatement. For all of you awaiting your operations, hang in there, the results can be miraculous. This site is a great source of support. Good luck and good health. Stay Safe PaulStill a fully paid up member of the Zipper and Zapper club (awaiting a repeat zapper entry)

Friday 13th, 9 years ago today I was in surgery for a Complex Mitral Repair, but is seems much longer and the memories have faded along with my scar. Brilliant that this website is still going strong, it made such a difference to me and my family at the time of surgery and the months post op recovery. I have been in NSR for 8 1/2 years after Cardioversion. For anyone interested I not on any drugs, I am fit & healthy and now retired. My exercise now playing golf 3 times a week. I can't thank Dr Frank Wells from Papworth enough, to say he changed my life is an understatement. For all of you awaiting your operations, hang in there, the results can be miraculous. This site is a brilliant source of support. Good luck and good health. Stay Safe Paul Still a fully paid up member of the Zipper and Zapper club

HI to all HVJ friends, I just can't believe it is now 5 years since my Mitral Valve Repair and 4 years 8 months since my DC Cardioversion which put me back into NSR and I've been there ever since - priceless!! just returned from playing a round of golf, walking on a hilly course with ease - now if only I could have scored better! Had a couple of instances where I thought I was in Afib, got checked and found I was only throwing ectopic heartbeats - no problem, nothing to worry unduly about and I still had my p-wave so a happy camper I haven't run for a yer after loosing my Mojo but I know I need to restart and will do ... Tomorrow😉 is a definite maybe for just doing that. I'm still pretty fit, healthy and enjoying life even tried my hand at kitesurfing - just maybe a new addiction It feels a little surreal that my Brother-in-law went in for a Mitral Valve Repair on Tuesday, but ended up with a mechanical valve. He's in recovery, so far good. I scared him a little with black humour when I rang him while he was waiting to go down to surgery and said I was about to celebrate my fifth anniversary of being dead (or at least my heart stopped for a few hours) and soon he would be able to join the zipper club and in twelve months celebrate his own anniversary but be much much healthier. It's a good job they had already given him the happy drugs😎 I now have only few memories of the surgery and can attest to it only getting better with time For those of you still waiting, it can feel scary but the benefits are enormous, and while it maybe daunting now, remember to take your time and look back and see just how far you have come especially during your recovery! find a surgeon you can trust and lean on your friends on this site, they (you) are an invaluable source of support. Thanks to all my HVJ friends who helped along the way, pass it on..... Paul