"I nearly had a heart transplant in Sheffield"

At the end of May 2005 my health began to deteriorate rapidly and was taken to The Northern General Hospital in sheffield. After being there for a few days it was determined that I had 2 blocked major arteries, major scarring on my left ventricle from numerous previous heart attacks (which was news to me) and my heart had become enlarged.

All the above left me with severe attacks of arythmia and angina. So poor was my condition that I could not be operated on at that time and was allowed home to recuperate on a strict regime of medication.

When I met my consultant later in the year he informed that owing to my very limited performance on my exercise test, he was putting me on the list for a heart transplant. As you can imagine this was a bit of a blow, but made me all the more determined to get better.

I bought myself a static exercise bike and pedalled and pushed myself for all I was worth. Guess what? over a period of 3 months I started to get a little better and asked to take the physical again. The nurse overseeing the results was incredulous when she compared them to my previous ones.

This prompted my consultant to alter his prognosis away from a transplant.In August this year I had a double by-pass and a left ventricle reduction. I was amazed by the results as i felt so much better even three days after the operation (broken ribs, stitches et al)hat I actually broke into floods of tears. For anyone who knows me this is hard to believe.

Now four months on I am doing physiotherapy, feeling much more like my old self again, my strength is returning, though I've still to get the stamina back. It's looking good.

In conclusion my thanks to all the staff at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield (special mention to my surgeon Mr P.C. Braidley who as well as saving my life, works very neatly and my consultant Dr Al Mohammad who never kept me in the dark about anything, works like the devil, with the patience of a saint).

Nothing was too much trouble for any of the hardworking staff on the Chesterman ward and every patient was made to feel that they were the most important thing there.

I have never had surgery before and this was a good way to start! please, please don't shy away out of fear. In my hospital it was professional, caring and effective and the result is terrific.