How do you feel when you wake up?

[KimC]

David,

I won't give you the "alpha male" response. I tend to support Tom's approach, although maybe a good bucket of cold water to "snap out of it" may work for some.

I think it's more human to accept that it's going to take some time for you to feel confident again. You're stronger than you think at the moment.

Have you tried any cardiac rehab programs? There are some good ones in DC with young people who share the same life-threatening conditions as yours. Talking, writing and praying or meditating will help you get throught it, too.

Denying fear or that you now have limitations will only keep your sadness at bay for awhile ... depression is that spider under our bed that comes out and bites us every now and then. Pretending that it's not there doesn't make it go away.

Again, these are my personal thoughts. I know that my husband and brother are much more the type to live happily in denial. Of course, they don't have heart disease, so who knows how they'd react given that gargantuan heart-mind-and-body hurdle! I believe we're all much stronger and more human because of our health challenges.

God bless,

 

[Davidcv67]

No children...just dogs. I AM relativly happy but I am definitely a different person since my surgery 3 years ago....the mental part is knowing that the next surgery is the BIG one and would make my valve replacement look like the sniffles.

Point is that I have lost the disipline and I know I need to regroup and get it together. I have a great job and a very loving wife, so I AM truly blessed in that regard.

We all have issues and challenges and it is truly AWESOME to have a group of people like yourselves to share.

I love to hear what the tricks and techniques everyone uses to keep going even in the face of the worst!!

 

[Peggy in Alaska]

Mondays are always bad

Mondays are always bad

David:

I work full-time, have 3 kids, a great husband and I am being monitored for possible tricuspid valve replacement. I have a terrible time getting up in the morning because I feel so old. Especially Mondays! I don't want to leave my bed,

I can relate to the frustration you are feeling Re: exercise or the lack of it. I've watched my decline over the years, from a half-marathon, to now. Can't imagine jogging faster than 10 minute miles and nothing more than a couple of miles at one time and even that is pushing my abilities. I absolutely hate it! My weight has gone up because of the lack of calories burned daily, and I hate that, too.

Had a really bad stretch - diagnosed with a congenital heart defect that I didn't know I had, lost my Dad to lung cancer, lost my father-in-law a couple months later from congestive heart failure, lost my only sister-in-law to breast cancer 4 months later, Yikes! I was a mess.

But I decided I had to change my attitude, and stop looking back at all the miles I used to record, and pay attention to what I can do now. I work out about 50 minutes - 5 days a week, and whenever I get negative feelings about the fact that I can't run a half-marathon, I thank my lucky stars that I can still do the healthrider and the fat burn program on my in-home treadmill.

I've lost 5 lbs. since Christmas, and hope to lose a bit more. You need to realign your attitude with anything that might work. Set aside time each day to do something for you. Read a book, volunteer time to a charity.

I know you can find something to help you with the attitude.

Take care.