Dear Readers, you were all so supportive when I announced that I had a ‘dicky ticker’ as Monsieur Alphonse used to say in unreconstructed BBC comedy ‘Allo ‘Allo that I wanted to send you a quick update. The echocardiogram did confirm that I am the proud possessor of a bicuspid aortic valve, but my GP decided to see if she could find a cardiologist to tell her a bit more about how bad it was, based on the report. At the moment there’s a three-month waiting list to see someone if you have a heart problem, and as I am off on holiday shortly (more details tomorrow) she wanted to check what I could and couldn’t do, and what I should be aware of.
And at this point envisage unicorns and rainbows, because not only did my GP manage to get hold of a helpful cardiologist (a feat in itself considering how overworked everyone in the NHS is) but the consultant said that the report showed that my heart was currently working well, and that all that was required was a routine referral to cardiology, followed by an annual echocardiogram to ensure that all is still well. The cardiologist apparently finished the call by saying ‘tell your patient to go off and enjoy her holiday’.
So that’s exactly what I intend to do, and what a relief! I will still, of course, be sensible and build up gradually to anything strenuous, but at least it looks as if open-heart surgery is not immediately on the cards, and the prognosis for anyone with a bicuspid aortic valve, with monitoring and treatment, is as good as it is for anyone else.
So, while I’m not a great fan of real fireworks, here is a photo from Vancouver, which just about sums up how I feel.
Photo by Larry Chen from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Excellent news!! Enjoy your well-deserved holiday, and let all the stress of class work and medical issues melt away.
Great news indeed now go an have a great holiday!
Great news, what a relief for you! Hope you have a wonderful holiday.
Hooray! Have a lovely time on holiday. If anyone deserves a holiday, it’s you.
Great news!
Great news to get up to! To echo the cardiologist, enjoy your holiday.
Excellent news! Enjoy your holiday.
I’m so pleased for you. Enjoy your holiday, safe travels, & come back refreshed.
That’s very good to hear and thank you for sharing in such a down to earth fashion. I liked your ‘scientist’s curiosity’ and will bear that in mind myself.
Thank you Jean! I’m always intrigued by what’s going on in my body, and I think a bit of curiosity helps to to soften the blow….
Joining the morning chorus here to welcome your good news. Hope you have a lovely time.
Fantastic news – especially before your holiday so that you can enjoy it without worrying. Don’t be surprised though if you get out of breath for the first few days until you acclimatise! Have a great time. 👍😊
Thanks Mike! We are taking it very steady, but it’s lovely to be here…
Pleased to hear this. Have a great holiday!
Great news – what a relief for you! Your GP and the helpful cardiologist are examples of our health service at its best. The NHS is under a lot of strain at the moment – as we all know – but there’s still a lot to celebrate in the month of its 75th anniversary.
That’s great news! I’m so pleased to hear that you can relax now. Being monitored yearly … piece of cake. They’ll catch anything if it worsens. 🙂
That must be such a relief! Brilliant news and have a great holiday.
That is great news, I’m so pleased for you and you must be very relieved. It’s also good to hear such positive stories from the NHS. Have a great holiday!