First Frost of winter 2025/26

[Paul S]

Told I might need a heart procedure earlier in the year, causing months of waiting and worry. Stumbled across a letter on my app only the other day which had gone unnoticed saying that my GP had misread electrical interference on the ECG as a heart issue!!! It beggars belief.

Better a misread ECG than heart disease, Martin? I am going in tomorrow for a double bypass. I will say that the staff are fantastic and the care absolutely brilliant, but everything takes such a long time. Every time you are seen a doctor dictates a letter and that sits somewhere for 2 weeks waiting to be checked, printed and posted. That in itself causes several months of extra waiting. It has taken since summer '24 to get to this stage, including a month ago being in hospital prepped, shaved and gowned waiting to be taken to theatre only to be cancelled. Not their fault but a massive anti-climax after getting prepared mentally for such a long time. Hopefully it will go ahead this time.

[MartinNicklin]

Fingers crossed Paul that this is soon sorted for you. No idea if you are a believer or not but I will say a prayer for you. I think my prayers have been answered on a number of occasions now.

[Paul S]

I'm a fairly militant athiest, actually, but appreciate the thought.

[LostInJapan]

Told I might need a heart procedure earlier in the year, causing months of waiting and worry. Stumbled across a letter on my app only the other day which had gone unnoticed saying that my GP had misread electrical interference on the ECG as a heart issue!!! It beggars belief.

Better a misread ECG than heart disease, Martin? I am going in tomorrow for a double bypass. I will say that the staff are fantastic and the care absolutely brilliant, but everything takes such a long time. Every time you are seen a doctor dictates a letter and that sits somewhere for 2 weeks waiting to be checked, printed and posted. That in itself causes several months of extra waiting. It has taken since summer '24 to get to this stage, including a month ago being in hospital prepped, shaved and gowned waiting to be taken to theatre only to be cancelled. Not their fault but a massive anti-climax after getting prepared mentally for such a long time. Hopefully it will go ahead this time.

Martin, What the...? Man, I'd be seething...

Paul, I can't imagine the added stress all that rigamarole has caused you. Not exactly what the doctor ordered when you need heart surgery. I didn't have surgery, but this summer I did have a catheter ablation to correct a heart arrhythmia I've been nursing for many years now. Getting on the table is scary at best. My thoughts are with you, and a speedy recovery.

BTW, no frost here yet, but we did go down to very nearly 3 degrees last night. Oh, the joys of winter. That said, tomorrow's highs are supposed to top out around 20! Then back down again closer to freezing by mid week. The roller coaster begins. Usually the real cold hits us right around Christmas, complete with the first snow. I can wait.

[Paul S]

Thanks Tom, and those of you who have sent good wishes. Op done, now back home. My objective is to grub out some bamboos by April/May! Might seem a big ask as I can't actually stand or walk for very long just now but anything is possible. :lol:

[LostInJapan]

Thanks Tom, and those of you who have sent good wishes. Op done, now back home. My objective is to grub out some bamboos by April/May! Might seem a big ask as I can't actually stand or walk for very long just now but anything is possible. :lol:

Great to hear you are home. Hospitals are not a great place to be around for long. Well, at least it's winter. Even here we are forecast to have a rain/snow mix later in the day. The fun begins...

[MartinNicklin]

Great news Paul. The pain will pass and simply be replaced by pain when you’re out in the garden getting stabbed by all those spiky things! Just take it easy and look after yourself.