Lynn is on a journey back to full health thanks to all the experts

Firstly, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who reached out to me after my return to these pages last week. Your kind words about missing my musings truly lifted my spirits; you’d make anyone feel good. Thank you for your continued support.

It’s amazing to see how my story resonated with so many, but also disheartening to hear from some individuals who couldn't fully relate to my experience due to their differing circumstances.

While I acknowledge my own fortune, I can only recount my journey as I experienced it. The level of concern, care, and attention I received was truly exceptional, and for that, I'm immensely grateful. There is no doubt that I was lucky. I’m not sure if it was that I was so bad coming in, but I really did get exceptional treatment.

Another person contacted me to share their experience. They were referred by their doctor to the hospital but arrived at A&E by car, sitting on an uncomfortable seat for hours, waiting, and were unhappy with their treatment. She claimed that there were loads of staff there but nobody directing them. That was in Ballinasloe. She was sent home and a couple of days later was again sent by her doctor to the hospital, this time in Castlebar, and her experience this time is much better; as I write this, she’s in her fifth day as a patient. Everyone’s experience is different, I suppose.

Many have been asking about my current progress, and I'm happy to report that I'm making significant strides on the path to recovery. I'm amazed by the quality of aftercare I'm receiving in the community, thanks to the dedicated members of the Roscommon East Galway cardiac team. The follow-up care is exemplary and sets a high standard for healthcare service.

My cardiac nurse, Carmel, has been instrumental in coordinating my care. I've had the opportunity to meet her in Mountbellew, where she has made adjustments to my medication and oversees the management of my file. I've been scheduled for regular appointments at Roscommon Hospital for various tests, totalling about four visits thus far.

Additionally, I've met with the consultant in Ballinasloe twice, and I've had a few appointments in Castlerea to meet with the team there also. These appointments typically last between 30 minutes to an hour, allowing for thorough examinations and discussions. It's reassuring to know that this level of comprehensive care is part of the public health aftercare service.

Comparing my experience to that of a friend who recently underwent surgery at a top private facility in Dublin, I am struck by the stark difference in the level of follow-up care. The meticulous attention I've received highlights the value and effectiveness of the public healthcare system. When it works, it’s brilliant.

During my hospital stay, I underwent several procedures, from a simple angiogram to a more complex examination involving a camera down my throat to check for clots behind my heart. It was a learning experience for me, as I've had very little prior exposure to hospital procedures. Additionally, I underwent cardioversion, a shock treatment to correct an irregular heart rhythm, which unfortunately was not successful during my stay in Galway. However, I underwent the procedure again a couple of weeks ago in Ballinasloe, and it was a success.

The process was straightforward. I was scheduled for the procedure at 2 p.m. on Thursday. Since I couldn't drive afterwards, I opted to take the train from Castlerea to Ballinasloe, with a change in Athlone. When I arrived in Ballinasloe, I caught a bus from the railway station to the hospital. The total travel cost was just under €10, probably the cost of a few hours of parking at the hospital. I arrived at the hospital at 1.30 p.m. and was promptly attended to by the efficient staff, who guided me through the procedure with professionalism and care. I received an injection, underwent the procedure, and woke up to the reassuring news that it had been successful.

In addition to all these medical visits, there is also a phase of cardiac rehab where we meet every Wednesday in the Trinity Arts Centre in Castlerea and take part in an exercise regime for about an hour and fifteen minutes. We have homework to complete for the rest of the week, like walking and other forms of exercise.

There’s a talk from one of many professionals about various topics. To date, I’ve been to four sessions, and we’ve had very interesting talks from a physiologist explaining and discussing the physiology of a cardiac incident. Diet is a big focus, and the Mediterranean diet features prominently. We’re encouraged to follow that, and I’m doing my best, and thankfully I was able to add a bit of the Mediterranean-type sun to it recently! We also had a talk on food labelling and what we should look out for on labels. Salt and processed foods are not our friends. That said, I feel I’ve always had a pretty healthy diet.

As part of the new regime, I’m getting a bit more exercise. I’ll soon be back up on the bike like the good old Covid times. However, until I’m told otherwise, I still need to be careful.

I also want to extend my appreciation to all those who were in touch with me during and after my hospital stay. The thoughtful cards were deeply appreciated. The power of the Marian shrine remains as captivating as ever.