Well, 40 years have passed by in a flash! This weekend I will be celebrating 40 years after my high school graduation. Today we had a golf outing and talked of the high school days, our families, and of course our operations & medications! Yes, it is here, I am now officially in the senior citizen category! I'm definitely on the young side, 58, but I'm there! Why,........
1 - I'm retired! After 35 years in education, I'm retired, but still waiting on my first retirement check!
2 - I'm medically challenged! 10 inch scar on my chest, medications every morning & night, and starting to worry about the stock market!
3 - I'm ready for grandchildren! After talking with my old high school buddies, I need to see if my two sons are ready to begin that family. Jared is getting married in November & Josh is looking at maybe next year!
4 - I'm ready for my second career! Like I have mentioned before, I will be looking at many new possibilities! More time volunteering at church, part time jobs, and tackling a little fishing, golfing and my love of history!
40 YEARS! Class of 1971! What a change! Now I know a little how my parents felt!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
More on How I Feel Eight Months After Open Heart Surgery - Meds
Here are my latest Meds:
Medicines Old – Before Open Heart Surgery
Aspirin EC Tab 81 mg 1 per day AM
Lipitor(Atorvastatin) 40 mg 1 per day PM
Singulair(Montelukast) 10 mg 1per day AM
Aciphex(Rabeprazole) 20 mg 1 per day AM
Medicines New – After Open Heart Surgery
Amlodipine 5 mg 1 per day AM
Plavix(Clipidorel Bisulfate) 75 mg 1 per day AM
Metoprolol(Lopressor, Toprol)50 mg 1 per day AM
Isosorbide (Imdur or Isotrate) 30 mg 1 per day AM
My body has seemed to get used to the medicines that I am taking. The only thing I feel is the Amlodipine & Metoprolol, beta blockers, are keeping my heart rate down & I do feel tired more after lunch time (need a nap)! I I have NEVER been the napping kind of guy!
Like I have said before, I really feel great, except for the PVC's. And if I do not get my heart rate passed 100, I do not even feel them! The Imdur, which gave me massive head aches the first week, is now no problem.
So, my medical sense (I think I'm a natural) is, the meds are doing nothing for my PVC's! I still wonder, what I would feel like with some of the meds, especially the beta-blockers? Like a good boy, I will continue to take the meds & keep an eye on my PVC's. Remember, in September I will be tested again, and we will see what the doctors say.
My guess is I will need an Ablation? I will ask if I could try to drop certain meds and see how I feel first. Her will be my suggestion:
Medicines Old – Before Open Heart Surgery
(KEEP THESE THE SAME)
Aspirin EC Tab 81 mg 1 per day AM
Lipitor(Atorvastatin) 40 mg 1 per day PM
Singulair(Montelukast) 10 mg 1per day AM
Aciphex(Rabeprazole) 20 mg 1 per day AM
Medicines New – After Open Heart Surgery
Amlodipine 5 mg 1 per day AM STOP THIS?
Plavix(Clipidorel Bisulfate) 75 mg 1 per day AM CONTINUE
Metoprolol(Lopressor, Toprol)50 mg 1 per day AM CUT TO 25 MG
Isosorbide (Imdur or Isotrate) 30 mg 1 per day AM STOP THIS?
As you can see the changes I will suggest will be the Amlodipine, Metoprolol, & Isosorbide!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Thirty-four Weeks After Open Heart Surgery
It has been 34 weeks & almost 8 months after Open Heart Bypass Surgery! Let's take a look where I am at at this time:
My incisions: Good web site showing the bypass procedure -
Bypass Grafting - http://www.heartsurgeons.com/pr1.html
Chest - the 10 inch scare on my chest has healed well. There is still a slight numbness about one inch on either side of the scar. I have no pain & can do pushups, hit a golf ball, use a chainsaw & other activities without any discomfort.
Right leg - the vein removed from my leg was from just below the knee up to the groin. The incisions have healed. I am still numb on the left side of lower leg. The doctor said that this may always be the case in that area of the leg. I can walk & jog without discomfort.
Left arm - the radial artery was used from the wrist up to my elbow. The arm is doing very well & I have no numbness in any part of the arm. Another good web site showing this is:
Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery
Internal Mammary Arteries - This area of surgery never really felt different. The location, near the chest incision, just seemed sore as the entire area of the chest.
More on my recovery in the next blog.
My incisions: Good web site showing the bypass procedure -
Bypass Grafting - http://www.heartsurgeons.com/pr1.html
Chest - the 10 inch scare on my chest has healed well. There is still a slight numbness about one inch on either side of the scar. I have no pain & can do pushups, hit a golf ball, use a chainsaw & other activities without any discomfort.
Right leg - the vein removed from my leg was from just below the knee up to the groin. The incisions have healed. I am still numb on the left side of lower leg. The doctor said that this may always be the case in that area of the leg. I can walk & jog without discomfort.
Left arm - the radial artery was used from the wrist up to my elbow. The arm is doing very well & I have no numbness in any part of the arm. Another good web site showing this is:
Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery
Internal Mammary Arteries - This area of surgery never really felt different. The location, near the chest incision, just seemed sore as the entire area of the chest.
More on my recovery in the next blog.
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