On the 29th of October I had my Surgery and began recovery.

Although they planned for me to be complicated (and had many back up plans) they didn’t need to make any extra measures during my whole surgery. They said it was systematically successful from beginning to end.

It was the 5th time I was booked for the surgery, and due to my 4 previous delays (you can read my delays here), it almost didn’t feel real or like it was going to happen at all.

Honestly, it was almost like I was desensitized to the fact I was about to have a CABG (coronary artery bypass graft).

I woke up at 5, had a shower with my special antibacterial soap, and was in bed dressed and waiting at 5:30. Before I knew it surrounded by my lovely mum, dad, my darling sister and my gorgeous husband, and we were all waiting again!

Although this time, it was for reals!

7am, just had 20mg Temazipam and waiting to go in

The Doctors came in and said they were ready for me, I gave everyone big hugs and kisses and got wheeled off in my bed.

As soon as I was out of my families site and in the room,just before theatre the tears starting flowing. I felt scared but not petrified anymore, excited but anxious, confused but informed. Many emotions were hitting me at once.

Once in the theatrenroom the nurses, doctors and anethitist were nothing but amazing and were constantly checking up on me, holding my hand, explaining what they were doing… They were just amazing humans.

Due to my anxiety I told them I don’t want to feel myself being put under, so they slowly gave my IV medication and asked me all the usual questions – what surgery am I having, is this my signature on the consent form… and that is the last thing I remember of the theatre room.

The next thing I know is I’m awake, but not acknowledging everything that just happened. All I knew is I was awake, surrounded by my beautiful family and grateful to be fixed and happy. I literally was too groggy to understand what I went through, all I could do was act on the emotions I was feeling right then and there – Love, happiness and thankfulness.

The only thing that felt yucky and annoying was ventilator (a machine that will move air in and out of your lungs, essentially “breathing” for you)

It didn’t hurt, I was just aware it was there and I couldn’t talk – lucky I was good at doing and signals 👍👌!

Me just waking up with the tube still down my throat

As my surgery was so successful I went under around 8am and woke up at 1pm. They said when I woke up I was in a bit more pain then I could handle so they let me sleep for another hour.

During the surgery they use a Heart and Lung machine. This basically means that the stick and intravenous line through my groins main artery and take control of the heart and lungs. The machine deflates my lungs completely and stops my heart from beating, it takes control of my whole circulatory system.

I woke up pretty quick, they said it would take hours, I took less then 1 hour to wake up. While I’m waking up with the ventilator in my throat the machine is doing the breathing for me and helping me get Oxygen in and pushing all the carbon dioxide. The pain I was feeling in my lungs while waking up was all the carbon dioxide pushed in my lungs from the machine.

I was really worried about the tube before the surgery, so when I woke up I think I was a bit anxious… After what felt like forever I finally had the tube removed from my throat (honestly don’t remember too much about this, at the time I was scared).

While I had the tube I asked for a pen and paper, and the rest was left to my family to decode my ramblings…

Then spent the rest of the night in ICU, with my magic button that delivered 10mg of Fentanyl.

This button was able to be pushed every 5 minutes, which meant you could use it every now and then or build up the dose by using it a few times in a row.

That night I clicked it very frequently.

I also found out the Perfusionist (the person that looks after the Heart and Lung Machine did not have to clamp my system and stop my heart, they just slowed it down.

They were also amazed at how fast it was, they said “it could take 5 or 8 hours, or more…”. It only took 5 hours!

Overall my doctor said “everything was systematically successful, we didn’t have to use any simple precautions. We had a whole back up team waiting, we also had a range of different back up plans, none had to be used”.

I am extremely grateful to be alive, and thankful for my families love and support!

I am writing this exactly a week post surgery and I’m still shocked about tee fact I have an normal amazing heart!

To be continued…