3 days Ago By Evening Standard
Max George has revealed he had a second heart operation after his first surgery left him in agony. The Wanted singer, 36, had a pacemaker fitted after being rushed to hospital in December following issues with his heart. However, the device gave him “flickering sensations” that got steadily worse and he had another surgery last month to correct the issue.
After the successful procedure, the Glad You Came hitmaker had a biopsy on his lungs which left him “coughing up blood” for five days. Discussing his ordeal, George told The Sun on Sunday: ”I was trying to get back to good health but was still having a flickering sensation for weeks after I had my pacemaker fitted and it was gradually getting worse and worse. When my heart rate went up, it was causing a shock in my heart which was making me jump all the time.
My chest was shaking. ”I thought I was on the road to recovery but when I was told I needed a second operation I was nervous, as pulling the pacemaker wires out of the heart wall risks bleeding on the heart. I didn’t have a choice, though.
I had to have it done.” The Strictly Come Dancing star said he felt “really nervous” the night before the surgery and couldn’t sleep thinking about the potential complications. He was supported by his girlfriend Maisie Smith, 23, and his mother Babs and was conscious but heavily sedated when he underwent the procedure.
The singer recalled listening to Oasis during the operation to relax him and transport him into his “own world” after fears he would “bleed out”. Though the second operation was a success, George’s doctors discovered he had developed enlarged lymph nodes on his lungs that needed a biopsy. He explained: “The doctor did warn me there is a small chance that I could lose my voice.
That was pretty worrying, but I decided I needed to take the risk.” After the “painful” biopsy, he had a “tough” recovery, suffering chest pain and coughing up blood. He was later given the all-clear and is now focusing on getting his health back on track with daily dog walks after his health issues left him the “least fit I’ve ever been”.
George also credited his girlfriend for being a “great nurse” and supporting him throughout the ordeal. The singer previously recalled writing his will from his hospital bed while convinced he would die before surgert. “That first night I wrote a will, I thought I was going to die,” the musician said.
“When you get told that, you really realise what your responsibilities are. I’ve got a partner, Maisie, I’ve got a family. I’ve got two little nephews and all of that stuff really comes to the front of it all.
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