Reality check

Monday 10th of May 2010 was one of those days. My wife and I had been to Leamington Spa for a few hours and on returning I was  beginning to feel a bit nauseous. I decided to ring the emergency medical service and they sent an ambulance to take me to the Drop In Centre at Coventry  and Warwickshire hospital. The doctor who checked my state of health confirmed what I already suspected ie my blood pressure was too high and he suggested that I go immediately to University Hospital in Walsgrave possibly for overnight monitoring and testing.
  After a series of blood pressure checks, blood test, x-ray and scan I was allowed to return home next day even though I felt better my blood pressure was still high. I am now taking medicine for the BP and have to return to the hospital next week for checks at the Hypertension clinic.Later scans revealed an aneurysm which I am now having regular scans on to monitor the present condition. As at December 2011 it is at 5.2.
At 13th April 2012 it is now 5.3 and am having scans at 3 month intervals.
The latest ultra sound scan on 3rd January 2013 is still showing 5.3.
Scan in July 2013 was 5.5  and at this stage action is required. Went for fitness test in August and am due to go to Rugby St Cross Hospital on 10 September 2013 for CT Angiogram. Now February 2014 and am due to attend The Royal Free Hospital in London 24th tomorrow to have a stent fitted in an artery before  a decision is made about what action is to be taken for the aneurysm problem which is somewhat complex.
 Stent not being fitted and was admitted to the hospital to await surgery on arteries around the heart. Quadruple Bypass operation took place on 7th February successfully at the Heart Hospital and a few days later developed Shingles which meant a weeks isolation.
While in hospital had several visits from my son John and Patrick Rooney  ( who lives in London.)
Discharged from hospital on 31st March and driven home by hospital transport. Problems with a leg wound which became infected meant a visit to Walsgrave Hospital where I had an operation to drain the infection and another to close and stitch the wound(23rd May). Had stitches out 30th May.
Went to London by train with son John 6th June and walked from Euston station to The Heart Hospital (1.25mls) where I spoke with Mr Kolvekar (surgeon) who was satisfied with my condition after looking at the X-rays.
       Started driving again 13th June.Started 5th Aug at Watch Close fitness exercises. CT Angiogram 6th at Walsgrave. 22nd Sept still attending Watch Close 2 times /wk. Went to The Royal Free Hospital on 10th Nov 2014 for Op following day - problems with stent so Op cancelled and now possibly after Christmas.
Returned to The Royal Free Hospital on 5th Jan 2015 for op ( triple fenstrated aortic aneurysm repair)  on 6th. This was successful and I was discharged 10th Jan.
 Now publishing this on the blog as hopefully this concludes a series of events that may not occur again any time soon.
What I have learnt from this experience is that prevention is better than cure but there is not always a choice and sometimes people get lucky.