Yesterday I went back to Glenfield for the first time since leaving the hospital after my operation. Although I had to wait for ages and waiting room was noisy and crowded, I liked going back.
I saw my surgeon and another lady who I hadn't met before, possibly his secretary. They were both very, very pleased with my recovery, and couldn't believe I was doing so much as I was already. They confirmed that yes, I can be driving again now and pretty much be back to normal apart from lifting, which I still can't do until the end of October. That and horse riding are the only things, so although I'm disappointed that they won't bring the date I can ride again forward a bit, I'm not too fussed. They looked at my scars too and said they were both fine and where I was worried about infection, the scar was actually fine and didn't need treating at the doctors again. They were extremely pleased that my chest scar was 100% healed and that my femoral artery scar was almost done too.
I took the dates that my various tablets run out in to him and I've been told that once the tramadol runs out, he doesn't want me having any more of that now. After that I have to start to reduce how much paracetamol I take until I'm off it completely, still taking aspirin each morning though and will be until about 6 months post surgery.
I'm being transferred back to my cardiologist now, who is the person that I saw for all my check ups before surgery and the person who put me forward for surgery a year ago. They want me to see him once before I go back to Uni, to bring him up to speed with everything. By the sounds of it I will just have my 6 month post op check before going back to my yearly check ups as before, so it's very nearly the end of the road for this particular operation. It's been an adventure for sure and has opened my eyes to the world of CHD so much more.
Because of this I am getting really involved with my friend Hayley's group 'PATCHES Bravehearts'. We're a subgroup of the charity 'Patches Heart Group' and are currently a Facebook page, but I've been making the website and that's soon going to be going live and becoming a big hub of our group. We are a support group for Teenagers and Adults as we feel there is a lot less support for people of our age who are starting to go through their CHD journey without their parents help anymore. I'm so so happy to be really getting involved with this and feeling like I'm giving something back to the CHD community.
Talking of Hayley, on Saturday night, my school friend who also has CHD, Emily and I decided to surprise Hayley by turning up to her Wedding reception! Since she had put an open invite to her Facebook friends to the occasion, it meant that Emily and I could plan it in secret and turn up without telling anyone. We decided to go on behalf of the rest of the Patches Bravehearts and gave Hayley and her wonderful husband Brett a little gift and a card from all the Bravehearts.
Whilst we were there we met the wonderful Maria, who is the founder of Patches Heart Group and her daughter, the fantastic Casey-Beau, the reason that Patches Heart Group was started. Casey also went into hospital for surgery just 6 weeks ago and it felt quite special for the 2 of us to be dancing away together as if nothing had happened! We had a lovely night and I want to wish Hayley and Brett many, many happy years together and with their little monster Bradley! (who incidentally looked very dashing in his little suit!).
Although the surgery element of this, which was the main reason why I started this blog, is nearly over, CHD is something that's always going to be a part of me. Getting involved with the Patches Bravehearts and Patches Heart Group is something I aim to do for the rest of my life, so this blog will always have something to be talking about! I'm always going to be Cow Heart Girl.
If you would like to hear more about my day to day antics that aren't heart related, check that out here. If you would like to follow my heart story in bitesize chunks, you can find me on Twitter @CowHeartGirl.
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