On Easter weekend I was admitted into Ward 8 of the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend for the subclavian/carotid graft to “repair” the lack of pulse in the left arm.

       I had a 2nd echo scan ( the 1st one was strangely missing from my medical notes)prior to the operation and was asked by various surgeons/anaesthetists for the reason I was on 8mgs per day of warfarin. I said that I had been told that I had had a (silent) heart attack and had deposits in the coronary arteries. They said my heart was healthy with no signs of ANY other major blockages and no VISIBLE SIGN OF any serious heart disease in fact was quite good considering my age, previous habits ie smoking and drinking and all the stress I am going through.

 I was told to stop Warfarin with immediate effect.

The Anaesthetist suggested a mis-diagnosis, over exuberant mis- interpretation or even that the heart condition was diagnosed with the wrong echo scan.

 I was released 2 days early (6.00 a.m Easter Sunday). Still no pulse though.

I then suffered extreme pain following infection of the donor site, my left leg donor site swollen and weeping pus.

The site of the graft/bypass over my left clavicle was purple, swollen and very sore. and required 2-3 weeks of Augmentin.

I now have increased blood flow in my left arm but STILL no pulse but have been discharged with the same problem with which I presented

but also now with no right radial pulse specifically caused during the investigation for my now “misdiagnosed” heart condition.

I thought I had a heart attack