This time of the year, the normal pattern of school, track practice, and big weekend track meets, is the normal way I celebrate birthday week. This year was no exception, the only difference was my new birthday of December 13th - open heart surgery! So, the 5 month anniversary was also this week!
At the 5 month date, my recovery is headed in the right direction. The healing process & strength are coming back. I took a personal day Friday & spent the morning with the chainsaw cutting up tree limbs & carrying the limbs to my wood stack. This activity went well, the only thing I noticed was some lack of strength & cardio conditioning - that should get better.
After my tree fun, I prepared for the Lancaster-Lebanon Track meet at our track. That usually means making sure the pole vault area is reading to go. More physical activity! Then preparing for the competition & the "fun stress" of competition! The girls pole vault was Fridat night and the young ladies were awesome - Kaya 2nd at 10'6, Dani 5th at 10', and Heather with a double PR at 9'! The three young ladies had an outstanding day & the day ended on a great note!
Today, the boys go! A 7 AM breakfast with the coaches, 10 AM boys pole vault, & a chance for the boys & girls team to win their fourth title in a row!
So, after 5 months, golfing, chain sawing, mowing grass, coaching, & back to school!
The goals of this blog are: 1 - Share Heart information with friends and family 2 - Learn as much about MY heart as possible 3 - Make this a positive learning experience for all!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Made it to Birthday #58!
Time to celebrate! And time to give thanks!
Tomorrow, May 12th, is birthday number 58! And thanks to a lot of people, their expertise, their hard work, and their prayers, birthday #58 is here!
Thanks to the experts! My family doctors at Mountville Family Practice! Their quick referral, to Dr. Smith, Regional Hospital & the great staff, onto Lancaster General, Dr. Burlingame, the awesome nurses at LGH, the cardiac rehab staff, & then to the Heart Group doctors! We are LUCKY to have the care we have in Lancaster County!
Friends & family! From school, to neighbors, to relatives - sister Ginny(the nurse), brother Jon(who flew up from Florida), Cousin George(who is my medical role model), Cousin Oscar(his weekly phone calls), two awesome sons, and a wife that was incredible!!!
A great church! Prayers that were felt each day. Communion at the hospital and at home! Meals that were great(and healthy!). And a pastor that not only is a great pastor, but a devoted friend!
And thank God! My faith was tested, but His presence was Felt!
Tomorrow, May 12th, is birthday number 58! And thanks to a lot of people, their expertise, their hard work, and their prayers, birthday #58 is here!
Thanks to the experts! My family doctors at Mountville Family Practice! Their quick referral, to Dr. Smith, Regional Hospital & the great staff, onto Lancaster General, Dr. Burlingame, the awesome nurses at LGH, the cardiac rehab staff, & then to the Heart Group doctors! We are LUCKY to have the care we have in Lancaster County!
Friends & family! From school, to neighbors, to relatives - sister Ginny(the nurse), brother Jon(who flew up from Florida), Cousin George(who is my medical role model), Cousin Oscar(his weekly phone calls), two awesome sons, and a wife that was incredible!!!
A great church! Prayers that were felt each day. Communion at the hospital and at home! Meals that were great(and healthy!). And a pastor that not only is a great pastor, but a devoted friend!
And thank God! My faith was tested, but His presence was Felt!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
21 Weeks After Open Heart ByPass Surgery
Monday will be 21 weeks after surgery. This weekend I cut my grass again(push mower, carried the pole vault pole bag, carried in the groceries from the car, and did another set of "real" push-ups! The only "bump" is the PVC's, and I just deal with the extra heart beats. When I exercise, I just slow down and get the heart rate below 95 & they seem to go away.
My next round of doctor appointments are in June after the last day of school - June 14th. At that time I will have more blood work, wear a 24 hour halter, and meet with my cardiologist. The meds that I am still taking are:
Heart Meds:
1 - 81 mg aspirin daily
1 - 40 mg tablet of lipitor daily
1 - 5 mg tablet of Amlodipine daily
1 - 75 mg tablet of Plavix daily
1 - 100 mg tablet of Metoprolol daily
Other Meds
1 - 20 mg tablet of Aciphex
1 - 10 mg tablet of Singulair
My next round of doctor appointments are in June after the last day of school - June 14th. At that time I will have more blood work, wear a 24 hour halter, and meet with my cardiologist. The meds that I am still taking are:
Heart Meds:
1 - 81 mg aspirin daily
1 - 40 mg tablet of lipitor daily
1 - 5 mg tablet of Amlodipine daily
1 - 75 mg tablet of Plavix daily
1 - 100 mg tablet of Metoprolol daily
Other Meds
1 - 20 mg tablet of Aciphex
1 - 10 mg tablet of Singulair