Open Heart Surgery Live.

[Caran]

Just watching this now. It's amazing.
A very close friend is in hospital now to have this operation tomorrow.
I really hope she is not watching this programme!
To see them make the incision and then use an electric saw on the sternum,
And then use an instrument to stretch it open. It really makes you a bit queasy.

[tonyav]

I have watched something similar some years ago, Caran. Some interesting tools aren't there.

[marval]

We have it on here Caran, I must admit my husband is really enjoying it. I am just glancing occasionally.

[tonyav]

I am just glancing occasionally.

Would that be from behind a cushion, marval ;-)

[Cloverjo]

I didn't see the first bit but I'm fascinated now.

[marval]

No Tony, I am facing away from the television on my computer, so I just turn around to have a look.

[Patsy33]

My husband is watching it. I can't look! He had a heart valve repair about 14 years ago..

[marval]

He is brave then Patsy.

[sandyRoe]

Wasn't there a BBC television programme years ago, 'Your life in their hands'? It covered the same ground.

[marval]

Yes, I remember that one Sandy.

[anneasquith]

It's increadible.

[goodgoalie]

Glancing up at the screen during my colonoscopy earlier this year was quite enough queasiness for me :)

[retrocop]

Had the same operation in early April. The worst part is the post op agony of having your sternum wired together after being split by an angle grinder. I recall some bloke ,all very jolly,describing the procedure he was about to have done to his relatives inthe ward common room. I had been discharged and was waiting for my dressings and pharmacy pack. I could barely walk unaided and thought you won't be so ruddy chirpy and blase post op matey. I still have difficulty negotiating stairs and I feel no benefit whatsoever from a quadruple bypass. Serious pain in my wrists are a legacy also. Hey Ho. Still got a pulse. :-)
d

[retrocop]

goodgoalie
Thanks. I have got my three yearly colonscopy to look forward to in the next couple of weeks. Six years since I had my cancer of the sigmoid colon.
Apparently this procedure features in the series shown tonight at a later date. Glad I was asleep when all these ops were performed on me. Now I can see what they were up to. :-)

[goodgoalie]

Commiserations, retro. You probably remember the fun of the Picolax purgative :)
I had a gastroscopy immediately before, which was also pretty ghastly, and I could feel EVERY twist and turn of both procedures - in spite of having been given Midazolam, Buscopan and even some of the now-infamous Fentanyl. Ask for all the sedation they have - I think you can also get gas and air!

[retrocop]

Oh yes the lovely picolac. Always marvelled at the way it heats up in the glass when cold water is added to it. Should be getting two packs through the post any day now. My wife cooked Spicey lamb chops three nights ago. The next morning I said they can forget the picolax I'll settle for another dish of that on the eve of the procedure.
Last time I had it done with sedation it seemed like it was all done in less than 40 seconds. No discomfort.
Gas and Air made me chuckle. They force air up your rectum to enlarge the passage. I never knew that though I have had it done three times. :-)

[Baldric]

I was going to watch it but, .............. I had an ARV in '09 and once the angle grinder appeared I changed channels.

[Baldric]

Make that AVR . . . . Doh!

[Mamyalynne]

Unless your friend is of a particular mindset Caran I doubt she tuned in - as I said last night I wish her well for tomorrow.

These programmes are easier to watch when they don't feature you or a procedure you've had or are due for.

[Caran]

Mamya I hope her husband has recorded this for her to watch at a later date.
My brother had this operation about 30 years ago.
The sad thing is his wife at the time chose to tell him she was leaving him for his best friend just after he had the operation.

[Mamyalynne]

Oh my, cruellest cut of all.x