We have a date

We had a very confidence inspiring session with Allan's surgeon late yesterday (and I have slept most of the day in relief!!). He pointed out all the risks while leaving us feeling more confident than we have for months. Allan has more chance of being fine than someone going in for a hip replacement, he said :-) He is probably the expert valve replacement man in the country. And not only that, he has also done research and is a leader into patient experience - try to train other surgeons how to treat their patients in an internet age. He was confident without being totally arrogant. He gave us unlimited time, in spite of the fact that he had come in on the eve of a bank holiday just to see us, and no-one else. 

He showed us how big Allan's aorta is (huge!) and how small the hole in it is now it's blocked up. We talked through cow valves (no warfarin after, but shorter life) and mechanical valves (last 25 years and more, but need warfarin to stop blood clots). We're having a mechanical one, Allan can't face more surgery if he outlives the cow valve, and there is evidence that they last even shorter times in younger and more active people, and Allan is borderline on age but slap bang in the active group.

He told me that I won't need to nurse Allan, but I will need to be there as he should not be left alone for long periods to start with. So I know my role now, which I did not before. I will also have to do all the  driving for 6 weeks, which I did know.

So, dates, provided he can get an operating theatre, which we won't know until Tuesday, either May 10th or May 16th. We are so relieved. At the worst possible case he'll be done before the end of May, and he is expected to be back to walking "miles" by the time Ben reviews him after 6 weeks. What wonderful news.

I haven't ridden. We managed a walk this morning, slowly, but other than that  I've hardly been out of bed!

C