3 Years And Counting For My Blog - My Heart Under Repair!

Today is the 50th Anniversary of the JFK assassination!  I was in 5th grade at the time and still remember my teacher crying!  50 years later, little did I know I would be sharing my medical experience with the world!  It has be 3 years since I started my Heart Blog!  I decided to do this for several reasons, and one of the major reasons was to share my experience with others!

I have added to my Open heart surgery experience with other medical issues the passed 3 years - PVC's after heart surgery, liver concerns, skin cancer and other smaller issues that come with the territory of aging!

Today, I will share some data that this blog allows me to see!

Audience

Views by country - out of the 46,198 total views, the top three - first of course the US had over 26,000, second Germany over 13,000, third Russia over 700.  The stats also look at browsers used & the operating systems.  

Traffic Sources

Referring sites?  Of course Google!  Google over Bing by about 7 times!  Then Yahoo.  One of the strange search words was cat hoarding?  What that has to do with heart health I'll never know!!

Posts

The top views of posts was interesting, by far the greatest was, "Running After Open Heart Bypass", then "How Does The Sternum Feel After Open Heart", and next "PVC's and Open Heart"

The statistical analysis is one of the strengths of BlogSpot!

48 Hours After PDT Treatment

It has been 48 hours and the sunburn & red blotch look is in!  Not much discomfort, just feels like a bad case of sun burn!  Applying the lotions for dry skin is helping!  Will probably not shave for a few more days!

After Treatment

• You may apply moisturizers as needed.
• The most common side effects are:
  • Burning/stinging, which could be severe, may last up to 24 hours after your BLU-U treatment
  • Redness and swelling which may last up to 4 weeks after your BLU-U treatment
  • Scaling/crusting which may last up to 4 weeks after your BLU-U treatment

Looks like this article has a longer recovery!

Also, sunscreen if I am outside!

Most patients are advised to try to avoid applying makeup or powder directly on a fresh or open wound unless the surface is fully healed. A nonirritating sunscreen such as zinc or titanium may be applied immediately after the procedure before leaving the physician's office. Sunscreens are ideally also applied twice a day after PDT. It is important to follow your own physician's instructions for wound care.

I have a zinc based lotion I will use if I golf next week!

Found this excellent article for care after PDT Treatment!

The New Experience - PDT Treatment From My Dermatologist!

OK, the medical experience continues for this 60 year old grand pa!  Almost 3 years ago, open heart surgery, PVC's after surgery, enlarged liver (still trying to resolve), skin cancer (Squamous Cell removed last month)  Now PDT Treatment!

PDT Treatment

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that uses a drug, called a photosensitizer or photosensitizing agent, and a particular type of light. When photosensitizers are exposed to a specific wavelength of light, they produce a form of oxygen that kills nearby cells.

Each photosensitizer is activated by light of a specific wavelength. This wavelength determines how far the light can travel into the body. Thus, doctors use specific photosensitizers and wavelengths of light to treat different areas of the body with PDT.

Now, what was it like as the patient?  First, nurse cleansed the entire face & placed the photosensitizing agent on my face.  I was sent to the waiting room for one hour.  I had to sit away from light and florescent light.  After an hour back to the room!

Next, eyes were covered with special goggles to cover the eyes.  And the light turned on for exactly 4 minutes and 10 seconds!  And the pain begins!  It feels warm all over your face and something like little bees (or Yellow Jackets) stinging your face! That is 4 minutes and 10 seconds of bee stings!  WOW!  You have a little fan they give you and you hold it up close to your face - ON HIGH!

My strategy?  Keep talking and asked the nurse when we reach 1/2 way.  Then when are we at 1 minute, 30 seconds………….

Afterwards, cold compresses applied to face!  Home wearing a hat to avoid sunlight!  (FELT LIKE A VAMPIRE!)  Home, was told to avoid sunlight for 48 hours!

I am now out 36 hours and my face looks & feels like a bad case on sun burn!  The bad news, need a second treatment in January!  And I know how it feels!  Next, Basal Cell removal in December!

Found this photo, of an example of a patient - IT IS NOT ME!