Road to Recovery

Day Six of recovery and Andrew is in the Park...

The peaceful tranquillity washes over me as I take in the beauty of Llangunnors evergreen. The morning light breaking through the tree's, mist silently hovering above the playing fields, my dog taking a crap on the grass... Milo! You couldn't wait until we got home could you? He looks at me with his big brown eyes the same as anyone would look at you whilst relieving themselves, 'Dude seriously, some privacy?'

Oh well, I suppose the bending will help with the circulation, yet it doesn't make the big black bruise down my leg any less painful. It feels good to get out, get that fresh air into my lungs. Though every step rocks me with fear, that I'll feel that ectopic beat that has tormented me these past months, that un-synchronised misstep within my hearts rhythm that sends it tunnelling down the path of no return.

With each step I hope that it won't be the case. The signal up here on the mountain carries the same strength as the caffeine in a hospital coffee... and I'm not sure what I'd be more upset about if my heart kicked into one of its episodes? That the past surgery was for nothing and I was back to square one or that I'd have to drag my body through the wet grass of the misty playing fields like some kind of commando who should have been kicked out the helicopter long before it left the cadet school.  And then there's the dog, it's not like I've got myself a Lassie here, who would run immediately to alert the neighbours of my peril... 

'Whats that boy? Andrews stuck down a well?... Oh, Andrews unwell! Quick show me, John! John! Get help!'

No, I tell my dog I need help and he'd happily sit there licking my face. It might have been more beneficial for me if I'd have gotten a Husky or one of those St Bernard's where I could just hang onto his neck and he could just drag me home. Unfortunately my little Cavalier King Charles can barely drag his big floppy ears along without tripping over them...I didn't quite think this through.

But nevertheless each step also fills me with great hope. There is no missed beat, quickened heart rate or any divergence from my pace makers stabled rhythm (as of yet). Yes my thigh where they fed the tubes feels like its had a knife grinding away against the bone, my chest holds all kinds of discomforts which seem to come and go as they please and the painkillers I've been consuming to fend off the pains make me want to do nothing but sleep. But at least the shoulder pain that plagued me so heavily has since faded into a passing ache, that's reason enough to celebrate at the moment. So Milo, fetch me that stick and let us march into the days of glory with our heads held high, and the hopes and dreams that perhaps, maybe even soon, everything shall be right again... No Milo, thats a sock.

They Can Rebuild Me...

'Unfortunately Dr Stuart has been off with back problems...' The nurse said and judging by the pile of notes in which she had struggled to lumber into the room I wondered if I had been the sole cause of it. With my Doctor having conversed with various other consultants from my local hospital on  a weekly basis, lugging out Volume 2 of my notes to every phone call may very well have 'done him over.'

The drive up was glorious, the sun was shining and the traffic flowing like a quiet stream on a summers day. While the Wife allowed me to take the wheel on the way up, I was not permitted to also make the drive home. This didn't matter as by then I would have medicated myself to the point of unconsciousness and the journey would seem like a quiet dream.

Parking was a breeze also. Ever the victory is finding somewhere to park near the Hospital full stop, let alone within the first few minutes of arriving. That accomplishment is definitely going on my Top Ten Hospital Arrivals, right next to the Presidential Style Escort I received many years ago.

The wait within the clinic was short too, only a few minutes there and I'd been called in to get my ECG done. I made the usual passing comment 'I'm Dextrocardia' and braced myself to elaborate my condition further. There was no need, I was dealing with a pro here. Unlike the last time in which a Nurse, Sister, Doctor and finally a Cardiologist arrived on the scene to absolutely confirm that yes, the chest leads go on the opposite way with the limb leads staying the same. Had I known then that I was in for such a waxing with all the uber-sticky-stickers being stuck on and ripped off I would have taken the effort to shave it off myself beforehand. There was no such questions or confusion this time though... Bam! on they went and Bam! off they came, next patient please! 'Mooooooooo!' Like a cow being passed through to the next field.

The pre-op nurse was lovely and flicking her way through the pile of my notes so large that it would have brought a tear to even George R R Martins eye, the discussion began.  She asked if I'd been hospital in the last six months... We all had a good chuckle at that one, but believe me the tears were real. She hadn't seen me at the hospital before so was trying to get up to speed with my history, discussions were had whether she should have a quick peek at Volume 1 of my notes, but then dismissed that idea as it would be to time consuming to get the JCB out to bring the round.
She then went on to explain what exactly the surgery would entail...

The catheter AV Node ablation is a procedure in which cryogenic freezing is used to ablate the atrioventricular node in an effort to stop the Super-ventricular Tachycardia... Sound simple, yeah? I've no fucking clue either.

Basically they shove a load of wires up into my heart, give it a little zap from the inside to initiate the fast rhythm then freeze away the bits of tissue that are acting all silly. IF that doesn't work then they'll go straight for the AV Node and get rid of that, effectively wiping out my own hearts pace maker, thus making me 100% reliant on my newly fitted electronic pacemaker, so I implore you, please do not come near me with a magnet or any electrical device that could possibly hinder or stop it as yes, I may fucking die and it will be all your fault.

But the hope is that once this had been done I should encounter no more trips to A&E on a weekly basis, which is a shame really as I'm gonna miss my 4am chats with the Ambulance crew and Resus staff. But I'll be back fighting fit... Bigger... Stronger... Faster... They can rebuild me... They have the technology...

Taking a walk... For Charity

Time to get fit fatty

So I recently had my yearly checkup and the main outcome of it (other than perhaps find a cheaper place to park... say, for free) My Cardiologist determined that I should be undertaking a bit more exercise.
 Now, I'm hardly the beached whale washed up on the sofa, covered in crisps and chocolate shouting at my wife to hurry the midday hog roast snack along...

No.  I'd say I've a fairly ripped physique, with the washboard stomach and my big guns resting upon my arms.  But maybe I do need to work on my cardio and perhaps put a bit more effort in each week to break a sweat.

So in light of this I thought I'd set myself a little challenge, while raising money for a good cause at the same time.


The Goal

My intention is to do a walk.  The walk will be around 20 miles long and the route will be leaving my mothers house where I grew up in, walking to my local Hospital where I spent many weeks during my childhood and returning to the start.

The route is in representation of a journey I undertook many times when I was younger.


The Donation

At the moment I'm not entirely sure as to which charity I intend to do the walk for.  I also have considered giving donations to the children's ward of my local hospital to be used to purchase entertainment for the youngsters. Again, at the moment this is all just being considered and is under 'construction'

The Team

I would like to thank all my friends and family who will be joining me on my quest, my wife especially who will be whipping me into shape for the event.



Keep watch, I will be updating any progressions of the idea and eventual goal.  I will also be advising of my training progress... Last night I banged out a 10 minute run on the Wii Fit, I'd say that's enough for this month... Now wheres my sofa?