My Heart Blog - OVER 50,000 Views!

Another Big Day for My Heart Under Repair!!!


50,000 Views!!!!

This has been a great experience after Open Heart By-Pass Surgery!!  Here are some stats!

Page Views is an interesting statistic!  Notice by far the largest view was Running After Open Heart Surgery!  I also had some communication with people about running.  As I have documented, people want to talk to people that have gone through Open Heart Surgery and get their feelings!

PVC's was another widely viewed topic!  This topic is not only fascinating, but confusing to the patient!  Many of us have had extra heart beats and never even new it!!

Heart News

One thing about aging, is it seems there is a new desire to learn about health!  One of the key elements of learning anything about your health is, be careful with internet resources!  Make sure you know the web site is reputable!  Check and re-check sources!

Here are a few samples:

Research - Science Daily

This site has some of the latest Heart News!  From Stem Cell research to diet news.  Insomnia and Stroke Risk, Depression and Heart Failure, and on and on…

American Heart Association

Of course, this is a very dependable site concerning heart issues!

So, just make sure what you are reading is reliable!!!

A Reminder To Anyone With Heart Issues

A Reminder To Anyone With Heart Issues!

First,  if you have symptoms, get checked!  I was foolish for about 2-3 months!  I felt the following:

Tired - sluggish and just thought it was being 57 years old & busy!

Second,  Tightness in chest.  After mowing my yard, I was winded & had a tightness in my chest.  No pain, just a VERY tight & heavy feeling in my chest!

And third, just the slightest exercise was difficult!  This changed quickly!  I was doing my morning walks & felt fine, but sluggish three months prior to my check up.  But, each month & week that past, it changed to the last month I needed to stop in the middle of my walk.  The last few weeks, I had trouble taking a complete lap around the school that I worked!!  Going up a stairs was VERY difficult!!!

If I would have waited longer, what would I have missed?

1 - My older sons wedding

2 - My younger sons wedding

3 - The birth of my first grand daughter

4 - The birth of my second grand daughter

5 - Three & a half years of retirement!

So, get checked!!!

Three Years and Three Months After Open Heart Surgery

It is time to catch up on my heart!  Over the past year the focused has changed to liver issues and skin cancer!  As a quick recap:

1 - Liver!  During my heart doctor visits, the blood work showed some elevated issues for the liver. So, off to the liver doctor!  Results were….   Fatty-Liver Disease.  Stage 2 Fibrosis.  My latest tests are good & the doctor seems happy with the results.  Blood work shows levels are back to normal and no need to panic.  Watch diet(I have a big time sweet tooth), lose some weight(all doctors say this), and see liver doctor in 6 months.  The diet is good, weight is down 10-12 pounds.

2 - Skin cancer!  Finished my last PDT therapy & had 2 areas frozen.  To see analysis read my earlier blogs.  This was again a NEW experience!  All seems well and the doctors were happy with latest results. EVEN SAID I LOOK YOUNGER!!

Now, the HEART!!  This passed week visited my cardiologist. Here are the latest results & observations:

1 - Observation - started with a new cardiologist.  One of the biggest issues in medicine is change in doctors.  Overall, I have be fortunate.  This is why YOU need to keep a diary, blog, notebook, or something!  In the end, the only constant is YOU!

2 - Results of Blood Work: (Remember, just as a football game, NO FLAGS, is a GOOD THING!

EKG Result

NO FLAGS

Metabolic Panel

Cholesterol Panel

CBC Panel

Hepatitis Results

My Second PDT Treatment

Heart is doing fine and I am one month away from my cardiologist appointment!  It will be 3 years & 3 months after my open heart surgery!  A lot has happened!  Now the latest on my second PDT Treatment!

Here is my skin care journey:

1 - Sept 7, 2013 - diagnosed with skin cancer

2 - Sept 24, 2013 - Squamous Cell removed

3 - Nov 20, 2013 - First PDT Treatment

4 - Dec 17, 2013 - Basal Cell removed

5 - Feb 11, 2014 - Second PDT Treatment

As a review - what is 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.

This time I took pictures at 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs, & 96hrs!  Have a look:

24 Hours

After 24 hours the treatment feels & looks like a severe sunburn!  Your skin is painful to touch.  You are  not allowed to be in sunlight, OR a lot of indoor lighting!  Did not take any pain medicine, but there is some pain during the first 24 hours!

48 Hours

Still a lot of redness!  The skin is still raw to the touch!  Using a lot of skin moisture cleanser.  Must still avoid sun exposure!

72 Hours

The redness is now disappearing.  And showering & cleaning face does not have as much pain!  Still have not shaved and will probably not shave for at least 2-3 more days!

96 Hours

The skin is starting to flake!!  I am losing the skin that was treated!  And the skin is itchy & starting to come off!  

The entire concept of the the treatment is to destroy the "pre-cancer" cells!  Hope it works!

Lastest Medication News & Health Updates!

It has been awhile - Took the month of January off!!

Here are some of my health updates & news:

1 - Medicine Changes:  Part of the fun of aging is the medicine we take!  I remember my mother!  She lived to be 86 & did not take ANY medication till she was 83!!  WAY TO GO MOM!!!  Your son, is not as lucky!!   Here is my list:

Aspirin - 81 mg-Daily

Montelukast - (was Singulair) - 10 mg-Daily

Pantoprazole - (was Nexium & was Aciphex) - 40 mg-Daily

     This is the new one that was changed by my liver doctor!

Atorvastatin - (was Lipitor) - 40 mg-Daily 

Metoprolol - 25 mg and Daily

Clopidogrel - (was Plavix) - 75 mg-Daily

Amlodipine - 5mg-Daily

So, that is 7!  Seven medicines that I take daily.  Here is how I started taking the medicines!

Atorvastatin - (was Lipitor)  I started this at about the age 51.  My cholesterol was high & and buy family doctor started the process!

Montelukast - (was Singulair)  I always has asthma & allergies.  Again, the family doctor suggested & the rest is history!  I do not have any allergies issues & my asthma is under control!  My doctor said it would be life changing and he was correct!

Pantoprazole - (was Nexium & was Aciphex)  Another from my family doctor!  Another life changer!  In my 40's I really started to suffer from stomach issues!  As my family doctor predicted, a life changer! This is my change as of this week!  I started with Aciphex and it worked!  The family doctor then changed to Nexium and it worked.  And now, Pantoprazole.  I will update soon!

After my heart survey:

Atorvastatin

Metoprolol

Clopidogrel

Amlodipine

Aspirin

I have had no real issues with these drugs.  For a time, as noted right after my open heart surgery, my doctors experimented with the Metoprolol.  I was having PVC issues & my dosage was raised, then lowered.  When I was taking 100 mg I was tired!  Now on 25 mg, I have more energy!

Next, Liver doctor results!

End of The Year Health Recap!

Here we are!  Another year!  Time for a Health Check!!!!

Age: 60 and aging (gracefully)

Height: 5'9" and shrinking

Weight: 186 lbs (and hopefully shrinking)

3 years since open heart by-pass surgery Dec 13, 2010 - Quintuple!

PVC's under control - irregular heart beat

Skin Cancer under control - had Squamous Cell & Basal Cell Removed Fall of 2013

Liver Disease diagnosed as Fatty Liver Disease - more of that to come in 2014!

Exercise - played over 60 softball this year!  Still gold once or twice a week (weather permitting!  And still walking 4-6 times a week (from 20-60 minutes a walk)

Diet - Trying to avoid baked goods (but they keep finding me!)  But, overall I am more disciplined!  Still have tons of Christmas cookies in the house!!!  And my sweet tooth - mostly dark chocolate if I have it!  Eat very little white bread!  Eat very little ice cream!

Mental Approach - still think I have a handle on the mental part go aging!  But, must admit, within the past three years it has been a constant focus!  Most of the issues are the new challenges - first heart issues, then irregular heart beats, skin cancer and now liver issues!  It is VERY important to stay POSITIVE and enjoy life - dates with wife, grandkids, the boys & their wires, etc!!  Golf, trail walking, & Packer Games!!!!

Next - what are my NEW YEARS HEALTH RESOLUTIONS!!!!