13 weeks post open heart surgery 1

Good morning everyone, Are we all excited about the Olympics opening ceremony tomorrow evening? I'm looking forward to being able to watch all the Olympic events and am looking at this a one of the positives of being in hospital. What's your favourite event? Is anyone going? Please email me with pics or comments at claire@chesterfitness.co.uk and I'll get them on here. Update on the old health front... I had another TOE yesterday and the heart is under the same stress as last week which means the bacteria haven't done any further damage and so the surgeons and microbiologists have decided that it's best to keep me on 3 to 4 more weeks worth of strong IV antibiotics to really blitz these pesky bacteria and then operate then, when I stand a minimised risk of another infection (omg, don't think I could go through it a 3rd time in less than 6 months) The other choice I now have to make is what valve to have. Option 1- cows pericardium valve (this is the ne I currently have). This is not really an option because it hasn't worked this time. Option 2 - mechanical valve. Tic toc tic toc... If I choose this, u will hear me before u see me as this valve is noted for its sound and this could be soooo annoying when trying to sleep, or indeed watching a film, or taking an exam, ha ha, or being n a plane next to someone, I'll end up being accused of having a bomb on me he he he. The other more serious complications of a mechanical valve are that you can't ' binge drink' :-( Now I'm not a binge drinker but I do like a good night out with friends and am partial to the odd after party he he, but these means that all that has to stop. So think I'm gonna become a yogi, body builder, walker, dog lover, traveller business extraordinaire. It also means it complicates the option of having babies, but to be honest, I think ve come to the conclusion that this will not be a part of my life and maybe will consider adoption in the future! Or like I say, I'm gonna just have loads of dogs and become the crazy dog woman that all villages have. Warfrin also means you have to avoid certain foods high in vitamin K and also sports such as skiing, mountain biking, contact boxing, and 50 shades of grey 'hard limits' ;-) The pros of the mechanical valve mean I wouldn't have to have another operation for 20-30 years if all goes well. Option 3 - human heart valve and ascending aorta transplant. This is probably the option I'm going to go for as it means there is less risk of a reoccurring infection and I can drink and basically lead a normal life, but the massive deisadvantage is I would need the operation doing again in 10 years time. Decisions decisions!!! What would you choose?? Ultimately it's in the surgeons hands and he has said when he opens up my chest and looks at the heart he will decide on the day! They have confirmed they will take pictures of the op for me..... Looking forward to hearing from you all soon Claire xx

12 weeks post open heart surgery

Hi everyone,

How's 'the outside world' doing? Iam feeling like I've been detached from normality for so long now. To do the simplistic of things such as go for a meal with friends and family, or enjoy a evening at the pictures seems such an appealing and also faraway way of life. Gone our my days of rushing round here there and everywhere. When I get out of here, it's a slower pace of life all the way!!

Speaking of getting out of here........

BAD NEWS!!!!!!

I've got to have the whole open heart surgery done again!! I'm totally devastated. I basically have a heart infection and it's eating the new valve. It's the worse thing that could happen. The surgical team are gutted. it is a massive set back and this 2nd operation carrys massive risks, with it being so soon, and also with infection being present in the body. If this 2nd valve gets infected... Well..... Let's not think that way. But it's bad bad bad........
The second operation will be next Friday and I will be taking regular video blogs as soon as I can speak and hold an iPad. I'm not looking forward to it, as I know ow what to expect, the pain on waking up from the operation, when they are taking out the draining tubes etc. urrrggghhhhh, can't even think about it without feeling sick!
I'm trying to get my strength up by eating loads of fruit and calorie dense food. I have managed to loose 12lbs but my aim now, is to put 6-7lbs back on in preparation for the operation, as il probably need all the energy I can to get me through it.
Then ill embark back n the clean eating 3 weeks post op.

Thank you for all your support guys.


Claire xx

Day out from broadgreen to Liverpool royal

Good evening fitness peeps, So, I've had the most fun today that I've had in a long time!! I had a day trip from broadgreen to royal Liverpool for a PET scan... Hmmm. Never google stuff if curious..... On doing so...PET scan.... Used for detecting cancer?!? WTF. Anyhow,, went for one. I had my own bodyguard ha ha. We got the ambulance to the royal. Have you ever been there? It's like terminal 1 Manchester airport! They had designer glasses stall, make up stall, I was half expecting a swimwear and bikini stall!! We sat for a wile in the waiting room, and then I got asked to go to a small room. Basically they inject u with nuclear radioactive stuff and then you have to sit quietly for an hour, toilet it circulate. Then they take u into the scanner and you lie with you arms above your head. Well, all I can say is..... 50 shade of grey kept bloody popping in my head as my arms were going dead after half an hour and I just kept thinking, god, I'd be no good ha ha ha...... Got back from the royal to broadgreen, via a little bit of mischievousness, which I can't say ha ha, then waiting for the results. I. Going to be in here for at least 3 more weeks and then long term antibiotics. That's the latest update. I can't seem to upload videos or images onto the iPad, so il keep taking the video blogs and upload them on my return home. I'm going to write 2 more fitness articles this weekend. So will upload these once they've been edited. Big hugs Claire (darlo04) xxx

10 weeks and 3 days

Hi guys, Thought I'd give you a little update. I can't seem to up load any pictures on here via iPad, and as I'm stuck in hospital.....I know...can you still bloody believe it!?!?!then you'll have to wait for pictures I'm afraid.
Lots to report. I've been feeling unwell pretty much since the operation. Maybe the odd good day thrown in, but I've slowly got worse to the point where now I'm havin 3 or 4 rigour attacks a day. For those that aren't familiar with these, it's where the hands and legs go really cold and then you start shaking uncontrolably for an hour or so, then temperature spikes dangerously to around 40degrees.
So after havin had 3 bad bouts, I had to be readmitted back into hospital on Friday. So so I'll, i felt exhausted. I couldn't walk or move I was that drained. They took 3 sets of blood cultures and one whilst I was having a turn. I then had another 2 turns yesterday and was in desperation as I just felt so bad. The surgeon came to see me and he was stumped. They'd had a meeting at the royal Liverpool hospital with all the top consultants as my case has not been seen before. Then last night they'd made a break through, however, it's not great news.
Will tell you more over next 2 days as I'm having ct scan and an echo this afternoon, but basically they've identified a bacteria in the blood.they just need to source the cause of the bacteria!

Will keep you updated.


See you soon


Xxxxxx