Good Friday, Good Healing, & Good Faith!

As I mentioned earlier in my experience, faith has made this entire process possible for me.  The Easter story is one that many of us can relate to, especially in troubling times.  There was denial!  For two months, I ignored the signs and tried to fix it myself.  In the Easter story, there is denial. 

Matthew 26:69–75 (NKJV)

69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” ... 

Fortunately for me, I got passed the stage of my "heart" denial & looked for help!  Talked to my wife Sue & of course the first thing she did was make a doctor's appointment.  Listened to my doctor & followed the path to repairing my heart!

Starting with Good Friday, it is time to get passed denial in our hearts, and not just the medical part of of our lives, but the spiritual part of our lives!

Have a "focused" GOOD FRIDAY!

At Times I Forget?

At times I forget I had open heart surgery!

When I sleep.  Before heart surgery there was the anticipation.  Before the doctors visit November 16th, I knew something was wrong.  When I new I needed surgery, it was hard to sleep some nights,  After surgery, it was like sleeping with glass, I didn't want to break anything!  And the meds, at first they made it difficult to sleep!  But four months later, working and coaching, I AM SLEEPING WELL!

When I move & lift & for the first time mowing the grass, I sometimes forget I had open heart surgery.  The breast plate is healing and I feel stronger.  I am almost ready to start regular pushups!  And Monday I go golfing for the first time since surgery!

I try not to forget that eating is important!  As I mentioned in an earlier blog, my busy schedule makes it difficult to eat at the same time & to have the time to prepare!  I really need to focus the next two months till the end of school!  Breakfast is OK, lunch at times is difficult, and by supper, Sue and I are usually both very tired after a long day!  NEED TO PLAN!

My meds I take seem to be handled well by my body.  I feel tired because of some of the meds & m schedule, but I seem to be OK with the routine.  The Metoprolol, for my PVC's I think does kick my butt, but hopefully with improve my heart beat issues!

All in all, I feel I am making progress!

Learn More About PVC's

Found this great website about PVC's.  Have a look at: Heart Rhythm Society - PVc's.


One thing they mentioned is they are very normal.  And, you can learn to tolerate the PVC's.  I think that I have been able to tolerate!  The site is great because it shows a visual of the heart & a heart beat with a PVC.  This is what mine look like at cardiac rehab!

Another reading I found interesting introduced me to more PVC vocabulary:

Yes, many people have multifocal PVCs.  For any one person, however, a holter monitor can determine if you have unifocal or multifocal PVCs.

A great look at PVC's can also be found at:  Ventricular Arrhythmias - PVC's 

This site gives great definitions and pictures of different abnormal heart beats. 

And last, another site about PVC's - Premature Ventricular Complexes (PVCs)

FOUR Months after Open Heart Surgery

This is my four months after surgery update!  At this point of my recovery, there are days I forget that I had surgery!  Below is a list of things that remind me!

*  After a shower when I see my 10" scar in the mirror!
*  When I walk my son's English Bulldog and he sees a rabbit!
*  When I take my "handful" of meds!
*  If I lift more than I should - 25-50 pounds
*  At rehab when I have my crazy PVC's
*  When I walk around the block - uphill - I feel the PVC's
*  When I get a hug at school or church from people that have not seen me.

And, when I go to bed at night - I am sleeping well!

My cardiac rehab should be over in two weeks & I should play my first round of golf on April 25th!!!

PVC Triggers

More research.  How about reasons?

Found this interesting article about PVC triggers at Yahoo answers:

* Anxiety/Stress
* Chocolate
* Caffeine
* Cocaine or other stimulant
* Calcium/magnesium imbalance
* Dehydration
* Exercise
* Hormonal imbalance
* Hypercapnia (CO2 poisoning)
* Hyperstimulation of the Vagus nerve
* Lack of sleep/exhaustion
* Overeating
* Low copper
* MSG

 I'm looking at a couple on this list! 

PVC's and more PVC's

I am on a mission!  Had cardiac rehab today & the PVC's are back & persistent!  Here is what I have noticed -

FACTS
After I was kicked out of rehab for the 3rd time I was put on 100 mg of Metoprolol.  The other variable is I'm back to work (41 more days but who is counting till retirement) and coaching - so long days!  The cardiac rehab is now in the afternoon, instead of in the morning.

WHAT I HAVE NOTICED
At rehab I am now throwing PVC's during my first 20 minutes on the treadmill.  When I was on 50 mg of Metoprolol, exercising at 8 AM at rehab, and not working I would get passed the treadmill with no PVC's, but would have them when I took it up a notch on the rowing machine or elliptical.  My heart rate is now showing PVC's at 90-100!

So, what is next.  I have 4 more rehabs & I am finished - the game plan is to not get kicked out & wait till my cardiologist appointment in June.  Until then, I will continue to workout, wear my pulse monitor, and be careful.  I also found this interesting article about supplements & PVC's at:
The American Heart Association & PVC's

Below is the discussion:

Re: Bigeminy after heart bypass Posted: Apr 10, 2008 8:41 AM   in response to: heartofwisdom	Reply
Work with your docs but I take supplements that has reduced my PVC's by 95% and on most days, I feel virtually nothing. I've had bigeminy PVC's for over a year. 2 to 3 capsules of Omega 3 fish oil 1,000 mg each (cheap $10 for 3 mo supply) 2 250 mg Magnesium (cheap under $5) 100 mg CoQ10 $$$ very expensive ($36/month) 1 to 2 bananas/day for the Potassium 2 750 mg Coral Calcium/day ( $9 2 mo supply) I also take a Multi Vitamin Eliminate all caffeine (coffee, tea, colas) Also, when the PVC's come for a visit, try coughing hard a few times or hold your breath and bear down and tighten your stomach/ab muscles for 5 to 10 seconds. repeat if necessary. It has never failed me I must tell you that until I started taking the Fish Oil, Magnesium and the CoQ10, none of the cardiologists meds worked so I know that the supplements work. For a fast, soothing relief, soak in a bath tub of Epsom salts (loaded with Magnesium) your body will absorb the Magnesium. Hope that this helps

Interesting!  Will need to print it out to take to my cardiologist.  I have started to take Omega 3 fish oil - 1200 mg per day.  I seem to be OK on it, I only feel like swimming upstream once a year!

Long Day!

Trying out the new heart.  Today was a long day.  At school by 6:15 AM, classes throughout the day, track meet at Elizabethtown, home at 8 PM!  Fourteen hour day!  I'm trying to eat better & get to bed early!  And will take a day or two off from track practice, but must get to a couple cardiac rehab.


The next 4-6 weeks will be the busy part of the schedule!