"Before, During and After my Heart Attack"

One morning mid May 2019, whilst having a shave I felt different in my chest and as I had just eaten breakfast I felt I had a spot of indigestion. How wrong was I but my wife knew different.  I did not want to call the ambulance so we went to the GP surgery to see if the nurse would see me for an ecg. I was seen straight away, had an ecg then the duty doctor saw me, who in turn called the ambulance.

Once in the ambulance I was informed I had moved onto having a major heart attack but still did not have any pain only a feeling in my chest. The professional input from the GP, Ambulance Service, Shrewsbury Resus Team and all on the Shrewsbury Cardiology Ward was exceptional.

Two days later I was transferred to the Royal Stoke Hospital for an angiogram and it was there I was diagnosed as requiring heart bypass surgery. I remained at the Royal Stoke Hospital until I received a quadruple bypass in late May. Prior to my surgery I had met my consultant who explained in detail what type of surgery I was to have - although of course I was worried he did help alleviate my fear and gave me lots of confidence in him. All the staff from cleaners, nurses, consultants were very polite and caring professionals.

Five days after surgery I came home to recover. During this time my GP at The Beeches Medical Practice, Bayston Hill made appointments to see me every few weeks. Six week post operative I started 12 sessions of gym work with The Shrewsbury Cardio Assessment Team plus also attended with my wife five group meetings on various heart related topics - all very beneficial to us both and good meeting up with people and relatives who had gone through the similar experience in terms of a heart attack.

On my follow up appointment with my consultant at Stoke it was identified I required admittance back into hospital as I had a lot of fluid in my left lung, it appears this can happen in this type of surgery but for only a low percentage of people. 24 hours later I was admitted and underwent the procedure. Not nice to go through but a great relief once the fluid went. 

Today I completed all my sessions with the Shrewsbury Cardio Assessment Team and feel very grateful to all staff within this unit  for helping me get back to what my active life was before the attack in beginning of May 2019.

Finally the Cardio Aftercare that is offered for Shropshire patients is excellent and I urge anyone who are offered onto the aftercare programme to accept and complete the course. A huge thank you to all staff the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Royal Stoke Hospital, I am so very grateful to you all.