Went for my pre-op today. Just a lot of repeat tests - weight, height, blood pressure, blood tests, electrocardiogram, then a talk with a nurse and a lot of boxes to tick - do you smoke? are you allergic to anything, etc. Then an examination by a doctor, then a talk with anaethestist. They all stressed what a big operation it was - it will take about 3 hours - and how long it will take to recover. It will be 4/5 weeks before I start to feel better, and 6 months before I am back to normal.
I was more or less prepared for all that - I knew what I was in for, but I think it rather shocked Sylvia who got a bit emotional.
To describe what will be done (if anyone is interested). I will have a cut horizontally across my abdomen, then they move aside the muscle and other things that may be in there, till they get to the aorta. Then they cut open the aorta where the aneurysm is, insert a tube made from synthetic cloth, then sew up the aorta and staple it to the good part. Then sew my tummy up again and I will be left with a big scar sideways across my body.
The biggest risk is to my kidneys as my aneurysm is very close to the renal arteries. So there may be some kidney failure - hopefully only short term.
If there is no bed available in intensive care on the day of my operation, there is a possibility that I may not be able to have it and I would be sent home again.
That would be awful wouldn't it - all hyped up for the op and then it doesn't happen.
So all being well, I go in next Tuesday (27th) and the op will be on the 28th. As I have said before - you have to weigh up the 2% chance that something will go wrong during the op against the 10% chance that the aneurysm will rupture causing instant death. (Well almost instant, I believe it takes 4 minutes to bleed to death).
This will be my last post before my op as there is no wi-fi in hospital. So if you want to know how I am getting on you will have to phone Sylvia. But I will be back with how I feel about October 5th.
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