This is a story about everyone who helped me recently. I felt a slight and intermittent pain in my chest over the weekend and thought it was perhaps muscular (I had been fighting with a hedge in my garden!) When the pain happened again late on the Sunday afternoon and this time both my arms above the elbow felt tired, I thought it best to call NHS 24. This is my journey....
I spoke to Yvonne who said she would be looking after my call and put me at my ease, she asked if anyone was with me and could that person get me to a hospital. The answer was yes, my husband was. I was then put through to a nurse whose name unfortunately I didn't write down. She told us to go to Forth Valley hospital and when I said we were NHS Fife patients, she said it was closer and to go there rather than the Victoria in Kirkcaldy (it does take half the time) I was told if things got worse along the way, to stop and call for an ambulance.
Happily we arrived at A&E in Forth Valley, we were asked to take a seat and had just sat down when my name was called. From there it was a blur! Taken to triage, bloods taken, hooked up to a machine and a Doctor came along to inform me I had had a heart attack.
Having never experienced any problems previously, this was indeed a shock.
I was moved up to CAU where I was given a room, something to eat and stayed the night, where I was visited by numerous members of staff. More bloods, more checks, more machines...all with great professionalism, kindness and humour!
The following day, Dr Scott said she wanted to check it wasn't anything to do with my lungs as I had said it was a bit sore when I took a deep breath. I also had a CT scan (again everyone was amazing) I was then moved to a room in Cardiology. The porters were brilliant too - always ready for a laugh and telling me how many steps they had done that day!
As an aside, the lentil soup was delicious :)
In cardiology Shay and her team were lovely, again many checks throughout the day. I also received a visit from a lady who explained about foods, exercise etc. after having a heart attack and where to look for information should I need it .
I was then told it may be a few days before I went over to Edinburgh but again I was lucky as Shay informed me I would be going the following day. Come Tuesday and Rosie and Jim(?) came along to fetch me in the ambulance over to Edinburgh. Rosie was driving but I had a great conversation with Jim on the way over.
On arrival, I was taken to ward 103 and given a room there. Flotty and her team took great care of me. Once again being fed and watered!
In no time I was taken to the theatre and Dr Henriksen's team set to work. Within what seemed like ten minutes, I was back on the ward with a stent in and I had to wait for a few hours to ensure any bleeding had stopped.
My husband came to collect me and were home by 11:00pm
We are however, not finished there. Within days, I had an appointment with my GP, Dr Broome. so thank you to all the staff at Oakley Surgery. I meet Ashleigh the Pharmacist at the practice and I received a call from Nishala the Cardio Rehab nurse at the Queen Margaret, who is really helpful and is still looking after me. I then have a follow up Echo, again at Forth Valley to ensure all is well.
In finishing I would love if you could pass on my sincerest thanks to everyone who helped me at NHS Forth Valley, NHS Lothian and NHS Fife, for doing joined up care and communicating with each other. To the A&E, Clinical Assessment and Cardiology. To the teams at Little France and for the after care at Queen Margaret as well as my GP practice. To all the doctors, porters, nurses, pharmacy staff, domestics, ambulance staff, echo teams and CT as well as X-ray staff.
Both my husband and I have always said we won't have a bad word said about the NHS (due to the treatment we have received in the past) This only goes to cement that feeling and I cannot find the words to thank everyone enough. Thank you!
"My Heart Attack"
About: Fife Community Services / Community Cardiac Specialist Service Fife Community Services Community Cardiac Specialist Service KY11 4UW Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Accident & emergency Forth Valley Royal Hospital Accident & emergency FK5 4WR Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Cardiology Forth Valley Royal Hospital Cardiology FK5 4WR Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Clinical assessment unit Forth Valley Royal Hospital Clinical assessment unit FK5 4WR General practices in Fife General practices in Fife KY7 5LT NHS 24 / NHS 24 (111 service) NHS 24 NHS 24 (111 service) Queen Margaret Hospital / Cardiology Queen Margaret Hospital Cardiology KY12 0SU Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France / Cardiology & Coronary Care Unit Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France Cardiology & Coronary Care Unit EH16 4SA Scottish Ambulance Service / Patient Transport Service Scottish Ambulance Service Patient Transport Service EH12 9EB
Posted by LuciaToots (as ),
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