Jane,
I have a 4-year-old daughter also named Jane--it's a bit rare for kids these days, but my mother's middle name, plus the name of other significant people in my life (my wife is Laura, though). As for the heart stuff, I had surgery 12/12/07 for mitral valve repair and have been struggling with a fast heart rate since shortly after I got home. My resting pulse regardless of medication (metoporal, Topral XL (name brand), diltiazem, and now Verapamil) hovers near 100 bpm, with occasional drops to 90s when I'm really relaxed. Recently have had symptoms of pericardial effusion, and it was confirmed to be a small infusion (extra fluid inside my pericardium, slightly inhibiting my heartbeat). Edema is persistent despite furosemide use for the past 4 days--lose 5 lbs. water by evening, and regain it overnight. :-(
On the other hand my blood pressure has stayed within the normal range, sometimes going into hypotension (systolic below 100 mmHg) on higher doses of Toprol XL. I'm sorry about your troubles with high blood pressure. As for the driving, I was released to drive about 4 weeks after surgery due to me living in a somewhat remote rural area, and having small children while my wife worked. The driving was a bit scary at times, especially with snowy and/or icy roads, but by God's grace I never even came close to a collision or a slide-off, or a slide through a stop sign. I couldn't lift above 10 lbs. otherwise, though until I was past 6 weeks post surgery.
Do obey your doctor's instructions to the letter about weight limits. I did, even though it made me feel terribly guilty watching my 75-year-old mother hauling feed sacks for my chickens (btw her heart was examined by echocardiogram two days ago--she thought she should have her mitral valve checked--and her doctor was astonished that her heart function, including valves, was like that of a physically fit 25 year old woman). I feel a bit less guilty now.
I also made sure to absolutely stop all sneezes (press finger tips inside front of nostrils with a steady firm pushing up while pulling gently away from your face--more effective than finger on the central septum for me), and was able to do so for 6 weeks. This success was despite allergies that normally make me sneeze 5-15 times a day. If you let a sneeze by, be prepared for a lot of pain, unless you're able to firmly protect your chest during the sneeze. Use your coughing pillow or a wadded up jacket and hug it firmly to your breastbone whenever you cough--tighter if you sneeze. When you've graduated from the pillow or can't reach it in time, cross your wrists with your elbows firmly pressed against your lower ribcage, and with the wrists crossing over your heart, firmly hold your collarbones with your fingers (right hand on left, left hand on right clavicle). Then squeeze your chest during the actual coughs--I instinctively do this with sneezing fits now, even though it's probably no longer necessary.
When I reached 6 weeks, I didn't abruptly start carrying my kids around, though I longed to (I can do it now--Yay!), nor resume feed sack carrying. I did, though, incrementally increase the amount of stuff I carried. Started at a 1/4 5 gallon bucket of water, then two of the same, working my way through a pair of half buckets by 10 weeks out. Starting at about 12 weeks I was finally able to carry 50 lbs. feed sacks over my shoulder, pick up both kids (KC, 7, weighs 70 lbs.), and carry two nearly full buckets of water to the chickens and a single to the goats. I still haven't attempted climbing or weight lifting, but have managed a couple of normal push-ups in the past week. Tight hugs and other stuff that pulls on my breastbone still causes some pain, so I'm careful there.
The reason why I'm telling you this, is because I have a good friend who tried to do things a lot faster (rock and gem club hobby--very large rocks just after 6 weeks) and made it so his breastbone still hurts 2 years after surgery (wonderful results with his heart!), but he can't even lift 30 lbs. (he used to lift over 100 lbs. petrified wood or other rock specimens easily) and pulling is completely out. Treat the breastbone like any other healing broken bone and use pain as a helpful friend to figure out what your limitations are. You are in my prayers, too.
Take Care and God bless,
Chris
