PFO test & the best £300 I've spent

[redlin]

great news, managed to get down to see Dr Mark Turner yesterday (he offered to see me on Tuesday but yesterday was more convenient) - still to get an appointment that suited me and the doctor within the week I thought was amazing.

Dr Turner and Martin (the radiologist) were fantastic, very professional and very knowledegable (although you'd hope that about a heart surgeon!).

The test was quite painless and not as gruesome as I was expecting. There were three parts to the test (in my language not the doctors!).

1. an ultrasound scan similar to that of what a pregnant women would receive to check some fundamentals, the only uncomfortable bit was the gel was a little cold for about 2 seconds (I'm told that the gel is warmed for you when scanning more sensitive areas!)

2. same sort of thing again but this time with a bubble test. Martin held the probe and focussed it on the part of my heart that is need to check for bubbles passing through. Then Dr Turner inserted a needle (I hate needles, but being well practised in needle insertion, he did it amazingly without causing me any pain) into the top of my right hand. Then he attached two syringes, one with some of my blood in and the other with a saline solution. Next the two liquids were mixed together a bit like a cocktail and then injected whilst I did a long valsalva and released. This process was repeated four times to ensure accuracy.

3. A chest x-ray to check that my lungs were OK as it would be pointless having a closure procedure carried out if my lungs are knackered as I wouldn't be able to dive anyway.

Then it was a chat, a drink and a 3 hour drive back to Nottinghamshire.

The result of my test was that I have a very large PFO and was offered a date in November to have it closed. I declined the offer as we're moving to The Lizard before December and need to be lifting heavy things etc throughout so I've decided to have the procedure carried out in January which, all being well should mean that I'll be back in the water for Easter.

If anybody would like to know more, please ask. If anybody would like Dr Turner's contact details, please ask.

I was terrified that I'd have to be awake and have somebody ram a probe down my throte but this was not the case for me, and was informed that if that procedure had have been carried out on me it would be unlikely that my PFO would not have been identified.

I cannot recommend Dr Turner highly enough, if you have any concerns about a PFO at all, give him a call and discuss. He's been doing this work for over 10 years and is a very sharp cookie.

Thanks again to colinicky who put me in touch with Dr Turner, had he not, I'd be wondering around for several more months not knowing.

[triplefin]

Interesting information to read and I am sure useful for many people thx for sharing.
Hope all goes well for you later this year. As you say you'll be back in the water as things begin to warm up next year. As they discovered its a large PFO you made the right decision about not diving. All the best


PS Just think of all that great diving on your doorstep when you move! Shore diving daily from Porthkerris!

[Hellvet]

possibly not the information you wanted to hear but at least you know - we've had 3 PFO's in the last year or 2 in my cornish club and a lot of people initially worried about "what if?" they had one. I found it actually to be a huge relief once i had a diagnosis.

If you want any info about the op etc from someone who's had every side effect going then do PM me.

Good luck - hope all goes well for you...

Helen

[Ali]

I guess your going private then Redlin.


Ali

[DIVE BUDDHA]

after the second time in the hyperbaric chamber at hull they laid on the test

free gratis and i was found to be negative too !!!

and yes the test was very unnerving !!! longest 2 hours ive ever spent in an

hospital!!!

[redlin]

Yes, fortunately I've got medical insurance so don't have to wait.

I wouldn't say the test was unnerving, it was fear of the unknown prior to the test for me. The actual test was quite painless

[redlin]

Great news, my PFO has now been closed

It was a 7mm PFO

The whole procedure was quite straight forward, from a patients point of view.

I was booked into the Chesterfield Hospital, Bristol at 2pm yesterday to have some blood samples taken

At 4.00pm I went by taxi with my wife to Bristol Royal Infirmary to meet Dr Mark Turner for the operation.

I was greeted by Mark who reassured me but also explained some possible risks (damage to the heart, bleeding and a few other scary but less common stuff)

Having never had a general anaesthetic before I was most worried about this, however, after Mark had gone through the operation, the Anaesthetist came through and explain his part.

Then it was into paper pants, an arse exhibiting gown and off to the Theatre!

I was laid down on a stretcher and a needle inserted into my hand by the anaesthetist who talked me through exactly what he was doing. I was then given some stuff through the needle that made the ceiling move and then was sent off to sleep.

Next thing I knew I was awake being told that everything had gone well and was given plenty of aspirin and super aspirin.

Having talked utter rubbish for about 20 minutes, the ambulance men came and took me back to The Chesterfield

I experienced no pain from the operation whatsoever. The only unpleasant bit was when the nurse put some more tape on my wound on my leg and accidentally stuck it on my scrotum…. I removed the tape!

At 8am this morning I walked downstairs to have another scan to make sure everything was in place OK. All was OK and I was given nod to go home. My wife picked me up and then drove me back home to Nottinghamshire.

I can’t thank Mark Turner and the other doctors and nurses enough for excellent service.

Next step is for me to have a scan in 4-6 weeks time down in Bristol and then go back in early April to see if it’s closed correctly

I shall be on super asprin and asprin until Easter and then another 3 months on asprin.

With a bit of luck, if the hole closes OK, I should be back in the water in late April.

If anybody has any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch

[Ali]

Bloody hell that was quick

Glad it went well!

Ali

[Hellvet]

one more box ticked - good luck for getting back in the water.
I'm glad all's going well so far, hope it continues to be a smooth ride for you!

Helen