"The NHS saved my life"

I called my local GP and asked to speak to a doctor. I was dizzy and the pain in my chest had become too hard to ignore. This pain was in addition to what I was feeling in my left knee.

Ten weeks earlier I had a full knee replacement on my left knee and swelling, infection and scar tissue limited my mobility and recovery.

On the following Monday a MUP (Manipulation Under Anaesthetic) was scheduled because my knee was still swollen and apparently the process would ‘crack’ the knee, breaking up scar tissue and giving me the mobility of a fully functioning knee. My knee was swollen, bright red on the side, and burning up.

The receptionist asked if it were an emergency and I said I could probably wait until the morning but when I mentioned the chest pain she said she would see if a doctor could call back.

The doctor called me back and asked if I had taken a Covid test and if I had a temperature. She said she could see me if I made it to the practice before 6pm. The Covid test was negative but my temp was 39.3 so I hobbled to the car and as I was getting in the car the doctor called again and I told her I was on my way.

Within 5 minutes she looked at my knee and immediately put into motion a series of decisions that saved my life. She said I needed to be admitted to hospital immediately and began the paperwork. The practice was closing so she asked us to wait in our car so the rest of the staff could go home. Within ten minutes she had arranged with Borders General Hospital my admittance.

I was quite wobbly at this point and didn’t know it at the time but I had a double pulmonary embolism. Both lungs were labouring and it hurt with every breath, so much so I was doubled over. We grabbed a bag from the house and drove to the hospital.

As I was registering the lady told me to take off my jumpers and to put aside my hot water bottle. At this point my body had started to shake, big deep shakes that went down to the bone. I remember holding onto my knee as I sat in the wheelchair trying to stop it from shaking but couldn’t.

The porter was a chippy fellow and he lightened our mood a touch, a much needed distraction. I was put into a room and the orthopaedic surgeon who had taken the call from my GP was waiting. He was a quick study and had me up for a chest x-ray within minutes.

Once back in the room he said we needed to go to the operating theatre to drain my knee and I was wheeled down the hall minutes later. At this point it was around 9pm and the speed in which the teams worked together was amazing.

I have to admit draining the knee was brutal, because the first phase was done without anaesthetic so not to contaminate the fluids and the nurses who comforted me through the process have my ever lasting gratitude.

My partner was waiting outside the operating theatre and we wheeled back to the room. The surgeon came back and said it went well and the samples would be sent off but the earlier blood tests showed a high marker and within the hour was whisked off to have a CT scan.

I grew up in Chicago and have had the opportunity to be treated by some of the world’s leading hospitals but what happened here at Borders General Hospital was without a doubt the best medical treatment I have ever had, ever. In and out with the CT scan, which was a bit icky and weird when the dye went in, and back to the room.

Before 10pm the surgeon came back with the results showing the double pulmonary embolism and the appropriate treatment was promptly started. Remarkable!

Just over four hours from calling my GP to diagnosis and treatment. My GP is hero number one in my near death experience and my surgeon is hero number two - perhaps most importantly my third hero is all the folk at the NHS - nurses, porters, support, admin, everyone!

You saved my life, thank you. thank you, thank you. I shall be forever grateful.