Friday 14 January 2022

C'est Chouette!

 For those of a nervous disposition, who are inclined to faint at other people's descriptions of their operations, rest assured this is the last time I will be talking about my pacemaker op.

As an aside, for a time I lived in Brazil with my then boyfriend.  He was of a nervous disposition when it came to details of operations.  Part of his job was shepherding visiting American management round the local chemical plants.  On one such trip the visiting elderly American was enthusiastically describing his quadruple by-pass operation over dinner.  Said boyfriend fainted at the table and had to be helped from the dining-room by elderly American and nearby waiter. 

Anyway, I digress.

Part of the impeccable National Health Service in France includes post-operative care by nurses every two days to check all is progressing well with healing and to clean and replace the dressing.  So this is what I have had for the last two weeks.

Every nurse who has peeled back the dressing has exclaimed when they have seen the work of the surgeon.  I think I have the best operation scar in France.  It is immaculate.  It has been described as "jolie", "impeccable", "magnifique" and my favourite: "chouette" which literally means "owl".  

So I have an owly scar! Of which I am very proud. And the surgeon should be too. I will tell him when I see him in three months time.

5 comments:

  1. Good that the skin is coming along nicely. I hope that what's inside is doing as well. My old school French went to cabbage first and owl after, but the trendy way of French would please your surgeon.
    Take care. Lesley

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    1. BTW I read that with a pacemaker one should keep 2 ft away from an Induction Hob ! L.

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    2. Hi Lesley, yes, you are right about induction hobs. Fortunately we have nothing so fancy! And I'm hoping you are right about the inside. Given the quality of his work outside I'm optimistic.

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  2. Hi Sue
    I'm just catching up with your recent news. All slightly unnerving for those of us who can remember when that kind of intervention was still rather experimental. My grandfather had a pacemaker installed back in the seventies, when I think it was still quite cutting-edge. By now, it's probably really quite 'ordinary'. I certainly hope so! And that you barely notice the change...

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    1. Hello Pomiane, thank you for dropping by - good to hear from you. You are right, I think it's now one of the most common ops on the planet. Interestingly, I do notice the change - feeling much more energetic and happier now that I know my heart is behaving itself. And feeling fortunate it's been done so speedily. Hope the new addition is giving much pleasure.

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