Golf and Open Heart Surgery!

I have discussed my love of golf and how the game of golf was part of my preparation for open heart surgery & part of my recovery from open heart surgery!  Today is July 13th, 2012 - 19 months after open heart surgery!  And this was a great week of golf!

Monday, shot a 76 (36 on the back 9!)  And it was from the senior tees!  And today shot a 83 from the regular tees!  So, part of my heart plan is golf!

     1 - It is a great social time with my golfing buddies!

     2 - Good easy exercise - not my top exercise, but it is exercise.

     3 - Competition - against myself & my buddies.

     4 - Mental Workout - Golf is a thinking game!

Dates from the past........

     1- December 13, 2010 - My Open Heart By-Pass Surgery  - As I was going under before surgery I had two thoughts - God's hands on my surgeons hands & playing a round off golf at my home course - Fairview in Lebanon County.  I pictured the holes, my shots, the weather, the smells, & everything that makes golf great!

     2 - April 25, 2011 - 19 weeks after my surgery, my first round of golf!  Easter Monday, a great feeling!  A beautiful spring day, 3 buddies from my high school class of 1971, and my home course - Fairview!

     3 - July 13, 2012 - 19 months after my surgery, I'm in a great zone!  Had a great week of golf.  My son's bought me a new driver for Father's Day that I am hitting straight & far!  Monday are my retired buddies from the world of education!  And Friday are the guys that are still in the classroom!  Monday we play senior tees & Friday regular tees!

So, thank you golf!  And thank you to my golfing buddies!

Exercising with PVC's

Today I decided to wear my heart monitor & check how my PVC's were doing during my workout.  Well, guess what? NO PVC's!!

Starting heart rate was 67.  I walked & ran the old rail-trail off of Spooky Nook Road (one of my favorite road names!)  I did a 3 mile workout, mixing in some jogging with my walking.  My average heart rate was around 95-98.  When I did some jogging & surges (my speed work - boy was I flying!), I got the heart rate to 115.  My heart monitor showed no PVC's.

What's up?  I think I attribute my results to a few things.

1 - Dumb Luck - I think PVC's are very crazy things!  They are very unpredictable!

2 - I think I am getting in better shape - watching diet, exercising, & trying to get my rest when needed!

3 - Removing stressful life choices - I love doing things, but I'm trying to take away the more mentally stressful & frustrating activities!

4 - Ignoring the PVC focus.  I try not to wear the heart monitor very often - maybe three - four times a month.  I do not focus on researching the PVC's, except when I see new data & research from the medical world!

5 - I'm a year and a half out from my open heart surgery - TIME HEALS!

During my research with PVC's, I have discovered the many reasons for the PVC's.  Maybe I am making progress!

Three Days After Seborrheic Keratoses & Cryotherapy

Three days out from Seborrheic Keratoses & Cryotherapy.  Not too bad.  No pain or itching.  Scabs formed on the 5 areas that were frozen.  Overall the process has been no problem!  I guess when you compare this to open-heart surgery, well NO COMPARISON!

More on Seborrheic Keratoses. Found a You Tube video - Seborrheic Keratoses

This video does a nice job explaining Seborrheic Keratoses & giving example of these skin problems.  They also go on to describe the treatment.

Here are examples of Seborrheic Keratoses

Healing After Seborrheic Keratoses & Cryotherapy

This is day #2 after Seborrheic Keratoses & Cryotherapy.  After zapping my Seborrheic Keratoses, my one darker mark, beauty mark, started to ooze blood.  The other marks seem to be scabbing.  This ends day two of the treatment for Seborrheic Keratoses by using Cryotherapy.

I decided to wait for the use of the Picato for the Actinic Keratoses.  I think I will use this after the  Seborrheic Keratoses heals in a week or so.  I will continue to research the use of Picato.

From Heart Disease to Other Aging Issues?

Today I will deviate from my heart health to skin health!  At the age of 59 I thought it was time to see a skin specialist - Dermatologist!  After many year of sun exposure - coaching, golfing, fishing, and other outdoor activities I thought it was time.  I have several marks on my face & one on my right shoulder - today was my check-up!

Visited the Dermatology Associates of Lancaster at 1650 Crooked Oak Drive.  My visit was rewarding - NO SKIN CANCER, but I have several marks that need work.  My two issues are:

Actinic Keratoses

According to the Mayo Clinic - Actinic Keratoses:

An actinic keratosis (ak-TIN-ik ker-uh-TOE-sis) is a rough, scaly patch on your skin that develops from years of exposure to the sun. It's most commonly found on your face, lips, ears, back of your hands, forearms, scalp or neck — areas of skin typically exposed to the sun.

An actinic keratosis, also known as solar keratosis, enlarges slowly and usually causes no signs or symptoms other than a patch or small spot on your skin. An actinic keratosis takes years to develop, usually first appearing in older adults. Many doctors consider an actinic keratosis to be precancerous because it can develop into skin cancer.

So, this one is one to watch - it may turn into skin cancer!

Seborrheic Keratoses

According to the Mayo Clinic - Seborrheic Keratoses:

Seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik ker-uh-TOE-sis) is one of the most common types of noncancerous skin growths in older adults.

A seborrheic keratosis usually appears as a brown, black or pale growth on the face, chest, shoulders or back. The growth has a waxy, scaly, slightly elevated appearance. Occasionally, it appears singly, but multiple growths are more common. Seborrheic keratoses don't become cancerous, but they can look like skin cancer.

Seborrheic keratoses are normally painless and require no treatment. You may decide, however, to have them removed if they become irritated by clothing or for cosmetic reasons.

This one does not turn into cancer!

So what did we do today?  The Seborrheic Keratoses was frozen!!  And, they should go away.  The  Actinic Keratoses will take a special cream for three days - Picato.  I had a choice, the cheaper cream would have taken about a month!  This will be three days of treatment.  The healing process is 2-4 weeks.  It will possibly mess up my face for a few weeks, but removing and avoiding skin cancer is key!!!!  More on the use of Picato coming up!

Happy 4th of July!!

Wishing all a Happy 4th of July!  It is time to celebrate our country & how lucky we are to be Americans!  We are not a "perfect" country, but I think the best example of freedom & helping the world be a better & safer place!

Go USA!

Proud to Be an American!!!

Heat and Exercising!

This week in good old Pennsylvania the heat is on!  Temps in the 90's & high humidity!  Summer in Lancaster County, PA!  I don't know how the Amish do it!  Long Pants, long sleeves, a hat and of course the married guys have that lovely beard!

If you are working outside or exercising BE CAREFUL!

Good article from the Mayo Clinic - Heat & Exercise: Keeping Cool in hot Weather

Exercising in hot weather puts extra stress on your body. If you don't take care when exercising in the heat, you risk serious illness. Both the exercise itself and the air temperature increase your core body temperature. To help cool itself, your body sends more blood to circulate through your skin. This leaves less blood for your muscles, which in turn increases your heart rate. If the humidity also is high, your body faces added stress because sweat doesn't readily evaporate from your skin. That pushes your body temperature even higher.


Common Sense!  Especially if you have had open-heart surgery like me!  Work or exercise early in the morning or late in the evening!  Drink lots of liquids (not beer)!  BE SMART!