"I only need one word awful!"

What I liked

Food was absolutely first-class, I never had a bad meal. But that was the only shining light during my stay.

What could be improved

I had two procedures cancelled twice whilst I was actually in my bed in hospital. It eventually took over 17 months from diagnosis of my heart problem to get my operation. But the "so called" aftercare is really the thing I have most to complain about. It is now some 4 months since my operation and I feel worse as the weeks go by. I am able to do far less than when I went into hospital, and I am beginning to regret having the procedure. I am experiencing eyesight problems (eyesight blacks out) and feeling as though I am going to black out and sweating profusely whilst this is happening. I am also very unsteady on my feet - I had none of these symptoms before my operation. My GP says it is due to my blood pressure not being right and heart rate being too fast. I was not warned this would happen during my 2 week stay in hospital. I left hospital totally unprepared for what is now happening to me. . I am beginning to be fearful of going out in case I faint. I wrote to the surgeon's secretary on 21 September asking for some information - no reply. Chased reply by emails on 17 and 21 October 2011 - nothing! Narda. Eventually today I rang PALS and they will follow it up. Really, the whole situation is aggravating for a patient trying to recover from heart surgery. I feel caught between a rock and a hard place because my GP keeps saying it is my blood pressure, but I am thinking something has gone wrong with my operation.

Anything else?

After care is sadly lacking at Royal Brompton. I attended a check up 3 months after my op. I saw a doctor - didn't get told their name - they said keep daily record of my BP and Pulse rate and consult with my GP. My GP looked at my daily record on 27 September and I am not due to go to see them again with readings until 1 November. In the meantime I am almost having blackouts and eye problems and no-one seems to be able to help me!