The Hard Truth
One of my doctors actually phoned me up a few days back to tell me that she had referred me to NUH heart clinic to talk to a surgeon there.
So i went down on mon to see Dr Jimmy Hon, one of the heart surgeon about my surgery. He told me about my condition, the available treatments, the risks involved and the consequences. I guess doctors always have to prepare his patients for the worst as it is their responsibility to do so. So he told me i MUST do a heart valve replacement with a mechanical one as my heart valve is severely damaged and the blood is literally leaking like a free-flowing tap. However, i can choose to either do it by the traditional way of opening my chest then my rib cage to get access to my heart, or i can go by the side of my body and get access in between my ribs (minimally invasive surgery). The minimally invasive surgery is a new method which gives better result such as shorter recovery period, smaller scar, less infection. However, there are risks involve such as the operation death rate is 4% and i may have stroke, becoming handicap, blood clog at heart which is dangerous,life long medication to dilute my blood so that is wont be so thick to clog up my heart and dangerous pregnancy. Despite all these risks and consequences, i still have to undergo this surgery since i do not have other choices. When all these facts are thrown to my family and i, its really very hard to digest immediately.
The very next day, i went to visit another surgeon who will be the one doing the minimally invasive surgery. He is Associate Prof Kofidis. He is the one who brought this new surgery technique from western countries into Singapore. Hence i did a research about him and turn out, he is reported by the newspaper and have mnay successful cases. Therefore i have decided to choose him as my surgeon and the date is set on 23sept2013 at NUH since he will only be back from vacation on the 18sept.
With this, i guess i have to stop schooling for one sem to concentrate on recovery and the school is kind enough to help me in admin matters. kinda sad that i have to lack one sem but health is the most impt thing right now. and i have to remain positive and have strong willpower!
God bless me!
The Hard Truth
One of my doctors actually phoned me up a few days back to tell me that she had referred me to NUH heart clinic to talk to a surgeon there.
So i went down on mon to see Dr Jimmy Hon, one of the heart surgeon about my surgery. He told me about my condition, the available treatments, the risks involved and the consequences. I guess doctors always have to prepare his patients for the worst as it is their responsibility to do so. So he told me i MUST do a heart valve replacement with a mechanical one as my heart valve is severely damaged and the blood is literally leaking like a free-flowing tap. However, i can choose to either do it by the traditional way of opening my chest then my rib cage to get access to my heart, or i can go by the side of my body and get access in between my ribs (minimally invasive surgery). The minimally invasive surgery is a new method which gives better result such as shorter recovery period, smaller scar, less infection. However, there are risks involve such as the operation death rate is 4% and i may have stroke, becoming handicap, blood clog at heart which is dangerous,life long medication to dilute my blood so that is wont be so thick to clog up my heart and dangerous pregnancy. Despite all these risks and consequences, i still have to undergo this surgery since i do not have other choices. When all these facts are thrown to my family and i, its really very hard to digest immediately.
The very next day, i went to visit another surgeon who will be the one doing the minimally invasive surgery. He is Associate Prof Kofidis. He is the one who brought this new surgery technique from western countries into Singapore. Hence i did a research about him and turn out, he is reported by the newspaper and have mnay successful cases. Therefore i have decided to choose him as my surgeon and the date is set on 23sept2013 at NUH since he will only be back from vacation on the 18sept.
With this, i guess i have to stop schooling for one sem to concentrate on recovery and the school is kind enough to help me in admin matters. kinda sad that i have to lack one sem but health is the most impt thing right now. and i have to remain positive and have strong willpower!
God bless me!
