Haven't been as active on here these last few months due to the worsening of my Cardiomyopathy.
Basically my left ventricle is enlarged and out of synch with the right ventricle, the shortness of breath, doing any task whatsoever was really getting me down.
I have had a defib(ICD) fitted in my upper chest for ten years but it only paces the right ventricle.
My cardiologist mentioned that there is a brand new wireless piece of technology which synchronises the left and right and would I be interested in taking part in the trial, which as it stands has around 300 patients worldwide taking part.
This is it.....
youtu.be/ro33O-eNMR8I jumped at the chance..
So, after a few consultations with the incredible team of surgeons and cardiologists at Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital along with some tests on myself to see if I was compatible for the trial, I was given the green light.
I was admitted on the Wednesday morning and was taken to theatre early afternoon and I had the battery and connecting transmitter implanted under general, which took just over three hours.
Then on Friday I was back in the Cath theatre for anther three hour procedure, only this time under local, where-by the surgeon went into the main artery in my groin, up and over the lungs and down into the LV of my heart, before burying the tiny grain of rice sized receiver into the wall of the left ventricle..A very tricky procedure which could've gone either way..
It was only the surgeons second time he done this operation but he was super confident and I had every faith in him to do the job.
Eventually he turned to me and said we are in and all done.
The dozen or so people in theatre were in awe of what they had just witnessed, radiologists, physiologists, nurologists, they were blown away with the technology involved.. one of the nurses was in tears..This was only the fifth time this procedure has taken place at LHCH.
I had just taken part in ground breaking surgery, which if successful, will help people with heart failure around the world.
I had a chest x-ray and some blood tests done on the Saturday morning and was discharged later in the afternoon and flew home in time to watch the might reds smash Man City 3-1 the following day.
You're wanting to know if it's made any difference aren't you?
Well, the trial is a double blinded trial, so I have been assigned to one of two groups.
Group A has had the device turned on and is pacing in synch as programmed
Group B on the other hand hasn't been activated and will rely on the placebo effect along with a regime of meds to take
I will be monitored every two months and after six months they will inform me of which group I was assigned and the device will be switched on if I was assigned to group B as will everyone who is taking part.
I say double blinded, as even the surgeon and everyone in theatre didn't know either..
I do feel better though I must admit.. my breathing is much better.. but is that the blood thinners they've given me and the overall positivity?
I went back to work yesterday, still can't drive though until next week.
Anyways, just thought I'd share this with you all..
If you have heart failure or know someone who has, hopefully this style of technology could help you or a family member?
One thing I will say is how utterly professional and caring every member of staff was at LHCH during my 3 day stay.
I don't know whether it is just me getting older but the surgical team of around a dozen must've had an average age of late 30's early 40's.. super confident surgeons embracing the technology.. In fact one of the chaps had an Ipad in his hand stood next to the surgeon looking at the mass of monitor screens to my left..
Don't think i'm quite ready to meet the bearded man in the white robe just yet !