Over The Mountain!!! I made it!!!

[Mark Wagner]

Good job Lem! I drove over the road to get away from the heavy lifting, for one year. I hated being away from my wife and family so much, but it really gave me a chance to heal up. I'm sure you will find something soon. Great uplifiting post! It gives us all courage to face the future.

"God be with you." ... Mark

 

[hensylee]

Hey, Lem - how well I remember your first post - and how upset you were about the whole thing. And here you are a brand new person among us. Isn't it wonderful how things turn out.

I just read this thread from first to last and it is a great testimony for valve surgery and stick-toitiveness.

You just keep on doing this well and you will have a great life - the one you were so afraid of facing a couple months ago.

Love -- Hensylee (Ann)

 

[lemdonuts]

To Granybonny

To Granybonny

My first name is Joan! So that is why I knew i was in good hands at HMC when the Eurchrist minister said she was from St. Joan Of Arc -- who was a warrior! I knew I would do well -- though I did expect to see my dead father when i was on the operating table but alas I didin't God has something in store for me to do and time will tell what. When i took the trip from Pa to Ny I took my pain pills ans sleep most of the way!!
Sorry I didn't answer you sooner but .... As to bills when I was in the hospital I was presented with a swer bill for over $2000 for a rental property that i own -- the bill is from 1992!! I was getting upset but have just deceided to work on taht when I get better.

i'm in Pa today and at libray -- going home in a short I drove over here myself -- FREEDOM!!!!!!

I've screwed up my computer at home so don't know if I'll be back on line. As to bills I run a trucking company and CANNOT PAY LATER MY BILLS ON AN AVERAGE RUN $4000 a month!!!

ttfn
Lem

 

[lemdonuts]

Thank you All!1

Thank you All!1

As you ca see I'm in Pa and leaving for NY in a while -- i drove for the first time today -- it was great short but great!!

I am still a little short of breath -- the doctors say this will improve in time is this correct????

Other than that I will see what the future will bring -- this has taught me to learn NOT to be sooo uptight -- Before the surgery I did write myself a letter to remind myself of how afraid I was!! Again thank you all very much.

Lem,

 

[Ross]

Your shortness of breath should improve greatly over the next month or two. Just keep walking and doing what your doing and it'll snap back.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Lem,
Keep using that breathing machine and it will improve, mine did.
Also when you start cardic rehab that will help. Good Luck with your recovery.
Dave

Keep your fires small!
______________________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[lemdonuts]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks you Ross and fyrfytr for info -- yes I still use the breathing machine can only get it up to 1250 -- but that is great for me!!!

Walking the hills will start Thursday to go swimming -- i walk 60 min every day -- no haven't done and cardi rehab -- don't really see why!! Don't like to get on tread mills or bikes -- no about diets am now looking into Dean Ornish -- have been mediatiating which my breathing has finally settled down so that i can!!

It is almost 6 weeks from surgery and everyone including docotor tells me I am going fantastic but i must admit I was concerned about the breathing it was worst than before the surgery!!

I still need to take a pain pill around 5 or 6 the area above my brest gets quite sore -- i try no to lift so that does limit what i can do -- no need for naps anymore -- see my card a week from this Thursday sooo I'll see how i do with my swimming I really don't like to walk -- I also find that the sweat really irritated my inscion so need to take a shower when i come home --

When does the pain go away?? I'm off meds for afib for hear and doc told me in time endurance will come back but ... I really am not that bad it was worst after my appendixs and beleive that was a year -- thanks a lot
Lem

 

[Ross]

Your pain should be very diminished by now. Maybe not all gone, but it shouldn't bother you to the point of medicating. To go totally bye bye, my pain took about 3 months. If your still having that pain, mention it to the Doc, you might have a wire or two giving you fits.

 

[lemdonuts]

Thanks Ross!

Thanks Ross!

Yeah sometimes it feels like Barb wire pricking me!! Last night I didn't need a pain pill!! --By the way when I left HMC they also gave me a "puffer" to use for my lungs -- I finally finished it on Monday -- July 14th -- I'm going swimming for the first time tomorrow we shall see how I do -- in the meatime I'm still walking 60 minutes a day -- today is 6 weeks since I had my surgery and yes my breathing is improving -- I know i told the cardiosurgeon that I could breath better before the surgery and he was pissed at me!!! But I guess my walking has paid off I am getting that water off my lungs!!
ttfn
Lem

Ross you are a sweet hear now don't let that go to your head!!!

 

[lemdonuts]

sweet heart!!

 

[Ross]

I don't know about that, but if you insist, it's o.k. with me.

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Joan

Hi Joan

Lem Hey, hey, hey...hands off Ross He's mine ( And Lyn's (his wife)..but she doesn't like computers and doesn't know about our Cyber affair About that swimming so soon. Be careful, if you are planning on a stroke that requires using your arms... You may pull something in your chest..I had severe pains from windexing windows and mirrors too soon..Reaching out..had sharp pains shooting thru shoulders, ect. They don't last long, but enough to think you are having a heart attack My first swim was yesterday. 16 months post-0p..Had been in pool last summer just to do mild exercise. This summer, water too cold..from all the rain in June. Coumadin does that Yesterday, I did reach forward for a goodfree- style. Today, can feel a little in my Neck. I am sure you are in better shape than me. I stick to walking 1,000 steps a day....and I, too, have steep hills. Take care, Bonnie

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi lem!
you sound like you are recovering right on schedule and sound great.
joey was in pain for quite some time and he was short of breath in the beginning as well.
in fact, he was worried about it, but it improved with each new day.
just try and be patient, keep doing your walking, breathing, and rest.
please keep us up to date on your continued progress.
be well, sylvia

 

[lemdonuts]

It was SOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!

It was SOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!

I went swimming on the 17th Thurs and on July 18th!!! With the belssing of my surgeon!!1 I was suppose to start last week but was a little nervous so I waited until it was 6 weeks -- see my cardio next week so if any problems will be able to dissuce with him. On Thurs I swam for a mile doing the back stoke and the crawl at first I had trouble breathing and I thought oh sh*t this was the reason i had the surgery but after a 1/4 of a mile doing the backstoke I tried the crawl and could -- I did a whole mile though I wanted to do my usual 2 but I used caution!!! I then worked out doing walking and jgging and jumping jacks!!! Also I just got off this puffer thing that had meds in it that they gave me to take home form the hospital to clear up the fluid I had on my lungs I finsihed that up July 14th! I felt good!! Friday I swam anothe 1.5 -- Great and did my walking - jogging -- jumping jacks --- What I had notice on Thurday but didn't think about it till I got home was that before the surgery I was totally out of breath when I did jumping jacks and now it was only slight -- sure enough I confirmed it on Friday SO YE MY BREATHING IS GETTING BETTER!!! Also only took 1 or 2 pain pills this week!!!!

Monday and tuesday I will also swim!!!! Yes I will be careful!!!! I started to ack the last 3 full laps -- my chest sooooo I didn't go for the 2 miles only 1.5 and only 6 weeks after surgery!!!! No I will not do anything foolish to delay my recovery!! I am also doing medication and a little yoga -- only shoulder -- head and the corpse (where you lie on the ground) and trying to start breating from the stomach area instead of the shallow breathing that I've been doing)

ROME WAS BUILT IN A DAY but...

I am NOT as tired as I was after my reputured appendix --- I feel GREAT and am getting stonger each day ---my emotins still are off a little --i.e. I just want to start crying for no reason!!!!


But life is good!! AND I can swim --- I might mentio that I count every single lap almost like my own personal mantra!!!!

ta ta for now

I screw up my computer so am at the libray again but gives me a chance to get out lol!!!

 

[bvdr]

What a nice post! You've even got me a little excited to start my own rehab...too bad I have to do the surgery part first!

Betty(bvdr)

 

[lemdonuts]

I found...

I found...

The worst part was the waiting!!! I now know next time what to expect!!! I had a few fortunaley a few freinds and family menbbers that had me convince I was going to see my father --- he dies a few years ago!! But atlas that didn't happen --- best thing I did was to swim the day before the surgery and to play my polka music on the long trip to HMC and the morning of the surgery!!! I'm sure you will do find!!! Godd luck!

Lem

 

[lemdonuts]

BVDR:

You might want to try mediation!!!! This would be good to calm those pre-surgery gitter!!! I've been reading Dean Ornish HE is one hell of a docotr I would love to meet him!!!! He treats the whole person not just the heart --- after all the heart is the center for our emotins as well as our well being!!!!

ta ta for now!