Back from the beach...

[Bryan B]

I had a great time and it was very relaxing (like my schedule has been full or something ). My scar is healing back up nicely. As for the results...I think they are mixed. The dull constant pain I was having is gone...yeaaa! And I also do feel like I have been "freed up" and have more freedom of movement...it's hard to describe exactly. The one spot where I had most of my intense episodes of pain has acted back up some, so I may just have to live with that and pick and choose what I do and what activity is worth causing that area to flare up. It seems much more localized now...just to the right of my scar and about 2" down from the top of my scar.

I guess some reduction of pain was worth having the procedure done. I have my followup appointment this coming Monday and then will head back to Nashville. Then it's time to find a job and prepare to move at the end of November. Believe it or not, I'm looking forward to getting back to work...just hope it doesn't take too long to find something. I took lots of pictures of the beach, and will post them here as soon as I go through them and pick out some of the good ones. The weather was wonderful...for anyone contemplating a trip to the NC coast, October is my favorite month. The temps were in the low to mid 70's, Carolina blue skies, water temps in the mid 70's, and LESS PEOPLE there.

 

[Abbanabba]

Hey Bryan, sounds like you had a great break - well deserved too!! I hope things start to settle down now the wires are out. I'm sure you'll still be a little sore for a while, but hang in there.

Meanwhile, I hope all goes well on the job front when you get to that stage. I can really relate to missing work (..so very, very sad ..) but you build some great friendships and it's nice to have something to occupy your mind (..not to mention the pay packet at the end of the week either! Boy do I miss that..).

Keep us posted on how you progress

Anna : )

 

[Sherry]

Great to hear from you, Bryan. Glad you had some time to unwind before you gear up for the job search. Take care, buddy

 

[Ross]

Welcome back Shark boy! Glad to hear you got some down time on the nicer side of life.

 

[MelissaM]

Hi Bryan,

Keep in mind you are still healing from your sternal operation. It is a good sign that you felt some immediate relief. Damn those wires can pinch! The residual pain might just be more sternal healing. One of my wires was cutting into the sternum pretty good and ached for a while initially, but has gotten noticably better as time passes. The bad news is I am still getting small pockets of pus building up under the incision (its been over ten weeks ), but I figure that's gotta stop eventually.

Post beach pictures soon!

Melissa

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Sounds good on all fronts Bryan!

Best wishes as you prepare to 'move on' with your life.

'AL'

 

[Bryan B]

Pictures from the beach part 1

Pictures from the beach part 1

Here are some pictures of my parent's beach house and some pictures I took during a walk on Monday.

 

[Bryan B]

Pictures from the beach part 2

Pictures from the beach part 2

Here's some more pictures from the beach. Included is a picture of our nextdoor neighbors house, a one-legged bird, a butterfly, a boggie-boarder, and a fisherman.

 

[Bryan B]

Pictures from the beach part 3

Pictures from the beach part 3

Here's some more pics on the beach.

 

[Bryan B]

Pictures from the beach part 4

Pictures from the beach part 4

Lastly, here are some pics of the beach house, my pooch, and one of me.

 

[Glenda]

Hi Bryan, I'm so glad that you are finally feeling better. The pictures are wonderful and I love the pictures of your dog. I bet she is spoiled rotten. Good luck on finding a job and also your move.

 

[Kay]

Hey Bryan!

Thanks for the pics -- I've finally decided where to recuperate! You can expect me sometime around Thanksgiving. Don't go to any extra trouble on my account though as I probably won't have much appetite! Just the beach and that beautiful setting will be all I need.

Seriously, what a beautiful place, and what a great photographer you are! Some of those shots are breathtaking. Thanks for sharing.

Glad to hear you're recovering and your pain is improving.

God bless you,

Kay

 

[Mary]

Bryan,
I'm hoping you have room for Kay and me both! What a spectacular place to spend some time.
Thanks for sharing.
Mary

 

[Karlynn]

Bryan,
I think it's a good sign you are feeling some immediate relief. Maybe more of that pain you describe will go away when you've healed some more. I sure hope so. Best of luck on the job search.

I'm so very envious of your beach house. I've always said that if I could live anywhere in the world, I'd buy a house on a beach. There's just something about a beach and ocean that drain the stress right out of me. Your pictures did some nice de-stressing for me.

 

[Granbonny]

Bryan

Bryan

Beautiful pictures. We, too, love the S.C./N.C. beaches...We spend much time in our motorhome in Myrtle Beach, S.C...Stay right on the beach..Let the windows up at night and hear the waves. We never go in the summer. Just fall, winter, spring. Our favorite time is in the dead of the winter. Nothing like spending New Year's Eve on the beach.. Nice and cozy inside the motorhome and if lucky..A good walk on the beach on New Year's Day. Bonnie

 

[Bryan B]

I had my follow up appointment today and it went as I thought it would. I waited 2 hours and saw the surgeon for 5 minutes. He looked at the incision and said it looked fine and he released me to unlimited activity...again . He asked me how my pain level was and I told him the constant dull aching pain was gone, I have no pain after taking walks, but I hadn't done much to test out the intense pain I get when I increase my activity level significantly. I hinted to him that I thought it was interesting that the one spot where my incision bled significantly just happened to be exactly where my most intense pain occurs and he just smiled at me like I was an idiot for even thinking there might be a connection, so I didn't pursue that discussion. Oh well, I guess it's time to put all this crap behind me and hope for the best. He didn't even listen to my heart while he had me there. The one good thing that happened is that I finally got him to refer me to a cardiologist at Duke that specializes in adult congenital heart problems and valvular disease. I have an appointment with him on December 14th (with echo), so my 6 month follow-up will actually be a 9 month follow-up.

I'm driving back to TN tomorrow for a couple of weeks, will vote, then will head back to NC for a preliminary visit with my dad's GI doc and set up an appointment for my first colonoscopy before the end of the year. My dad had colon cancer several years ago, and he and his GI doc have been trying to get me in for a colonoscopy for the last 3 years. Can you tell I'm trying to get as much done as possible before the end of the year since I reached my out-of-pocket maximum...in March?

P.S. I'm going to remove these pics in a few days since they are taking up a lot of space. Feel free to copy any that grab your fancy.

 

[geebee]

Bryan,
So glad everything is continuing to improve. I am certainly sure the beach visit helped you wind down from all you have been through.
The pics are great. I am so jealous. I moved from Santa Monica to Ohio in May and I really miss this ocean. Some of these pics remind me of Santa Monica and made me smile and cry at the same time.
Best wishes for smooth sailing.
Gina