Today. December 13, is 4 years after my open heart surgery. I hope this blog has helped others! I hope this blog has informed others! I hope this blog hale ME stay focused!!!
Let's review the past four years!
1 - At age 57, my last year in education, I had a feeling! It was gradual, and it progressed to the point I new I was in trouble! Sometime around September-October, I was tired! I felt, just typical for a guy who, was in his last year of education, still coaching, and doing too much! The long days of 6 AM to 6 PM were starting to catch up to me!
And then, late October I new EXACTLY what it was! A long time buddy had open heart in April! All my reading & studying said, heart issues, a blockage! I had teacher inservice classes to teach the first week of November, and I was determined to do this first!(STUPID). I had trouble walking around the school! I had trouble walking up steps!!! After my inservice, I tried to walk around the block of my house, and had to stop several times! It was time to call!
2 - Called my wife & told her! Called my doctor & he said see me right way! To make a long story short - family doctor, to cardiologist, a heart cath & 3 blockages - 50%, 60% & 99%!!!! WOW!
3 - Decided to pick a different doctor - my family doctor was affiliated with a certain hospital & I wanted another! Fortunately, it was no problem! I wanted the Heart Group with the MOST experience! BUT, had to wait 3 weeks! That meant, NO PHYSICAL activity!
4 - Heart Surgery! The mental prep was critical! My faith was critical! My family & friends were critical! And the day arrived, Monday, December 13th, 2010! Up early(5 AM), at hospital at 6 AM. Nurses prepped me, that put me under & I'm on my way!!! Plan was for 3 bypasses!
5 - Five - six hours later, I wake up! WOW! My back was killing me! My throat was DRY. And the breathing tube was still in my throat!!! I WAS ALIVE! THAT IS GOOD!
6 - Four days in the hospital, and each day was a journey. Like I said, the first PAIN was my back! My chest felt pretty good, except when sneezing or coughing! (GRAB THAT PILLOW) My pain meds made me a little goofy! Percocet!! NOT GOOD!
7 - Home - first shower - AMAZING! Getting dressed - WIFE HAD TO HELP! Visits from home nurse & physical therapist were great! Recovery was slow & steady!
8 - Cardiac Rehab! Great people, great experience, lot's of learning, and a few set backs!! Day 2 of rehab, kicked out! Had PVC's. Never had before, but no more rehab! More tests, nothing definite, back to rehab! Still have PVC's! Fooled with meds, had another heat cath, NOTHING! Make a long story short, STILL have them 4 years later!
9 - Bought a heart monitor for exercise, and it will show me when I have PVC's usually at a heart rate around 110-120!
10 - Four years later, feel pretty good! I really am doing anything I want, but no crazy physical things. Golfed 50 times this year, went to Scotland, played senior league softball, and walk regularly. Still have not jogged a lot!
So, if you are having heart issues - GET CHECKED! I was STUPID & LUCKY!
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Visit To Family Doctor
OK, it has been awhile! Time to start focusing on my "Heart Blog" & not my "Green Bay Packer Blog"!
Today was the visit to the family doctor - the game plan was:
1 - Talk about the other doctors in my life!
Dermatologist - Liver Doctor - Heart Doctor (My dentist & eye doctor don't count)
2 - Flu Shot
3 - Future Stuff
Physical - March 2015
Liver Doctor Appt - Nov - Dec 2014 - Feb 2015
Dermatologist - PDT Treatment
Heart Doctor Appt - Feb - March 2015
Colonoscopy - 2016
Future considerations …….
Pneumonia Vaccine
Today was the visit to the family doctor - the game plan was:
1 - Talk about the other doctors in my life!
Dermatologist - Liver Doctor - Heart Doctor (My dentist & eye doctor don't count)
2 - Flu Shot
3 - Future Stuff
Physical - March 2015
Liver Doctor Appt - Nov - Dec 2014 - Feb 2015
Dermatologist - PDT Treatment
Heart Doctor Appt - Feb - March 2015
Colonoscopy - 2016
Future considerations …….
Pneumonia Vaccine
Who should consider pneumococcal vaccination?
Pneumococcal vaccination should be considered by people in the following groups:
- Adults 65 years of age and older
- People > 2 years of age with chronic heart or lung disorders, includingcongestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease,alcoholism, spinal fluid leaks, cardiomyopathy, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or emphysema
- People > 2 years of age with spleen dysfunction (such as sickle cell disease) or lack of spleen function (asplenia), blood malignancy (leukemias), multiple myeloma, kidney failure, organ transplantation, or immunosuppressive conditions, including HIV infection
- Alaskan natives and certain American Indian populations
- If elective surgical removal of the spleen (splenectomy) or immunosuppressive therapy is planned, the vaccine is given two weeks prior to the procedure, if possible.
Future considerations …….
Whether they've had shingles or not, adults age 60 and older should get the shingles vaccine (Zostavax), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although the vaccine is also approved for use in people ages 50 to 59 years, the CDC isn't recommending the shingles vaccine until you reach age 60.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Three and a Half Years After Open Heart Surgery
Have not posted in awhile! That is good health news! Too busy living life! That is good! How about a recap & look at life 3 1/2 years after open heart surgery!
Age I had open heart surgery - 57 years - 7 months
Age now - 61 years - 2 months
My health age 57 years - 7 months - could not walk around the block!
My health now - golf twice a week, walk 2-3 miles a day, cut grass, played senior softball, traveled to Scotland & Korea, work part time, and well, you get it, I'm living life.
In the past 3 1/2 years I have been at my son's weddings - Nov. 11, 2011 & Oct. 20, 2012
And, enjoyed birth of two granddaughters - July 30, 2012 & September 12, 2013!
Retired from educations June 2011!
Retired from coaching June 2012!
And played over 60 softball!
And enjoyed many, many, many round of golf!
Walked under an underground tunnel at the DMZ in Korea!
Toured castles, sipped whiskey, and counted sheep in Scotland!
Heart is feeling great, yesterdays exercise, a 60 minute walk started with a resting heart rate of 70 and got the heart rate up to 95-105.
I have battled Skin cancer the past 3 1/2 years.
Learned my liver needs some care & diet change!
And, will try to be more faithful on my Heart Blog!
Age I had open heart surgery - 57 years - 7 months
Age now - 61 years - 2 months
My health age 57 years - 7 months - could not walk around the block!
My health now - golf twice a week, walk 2-3 miles a day, cut grass, played senior softball, traveled to Scotland & Korea, work part time, and well, you get it, I'm living life.
In the past 3 1/2 years I have been at my son's weddings - Nov. 11, 2011 & Oct. 20, 2012
And, enjoyed birth of two granddaughters - July 30, 2012 & September 12, 2013!
Retired from educations June 2011!
Retired from coaching June 2012!
And played over 60 softball!
And enjoyed many, many, many round of golf!
Walked under an underground tunnel at the DMZ in Korea!
Toured castles, sipped whiskey, and counted sheep in Scotland!
Heart is feeling great, yesterdays exercise, a 60 minute walk started with a resting heart rate of 70 and got the heart rate up to 95-105.
I have battled Skin cancer the past 3 1/2 years.
Learned my liver needs some care & diet change!
And, will try to be more faithful on my Heart Blog!
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Exercise and PVC's
Time to review PVC's! As mentioned in my early blogs, I suffer from PVC's. I could have had them my entire life, but my open heart surgery made me aware(and my doctors!) of them! As a review on PVC's, take a look at the Cleveland Clinic Website:
Remember, the Cleveland Clinic is the top heart hospital in the country! As a review, this is how I discovered my PVC's:
1 - Had Quintuple Open Heart Surgery December 13, 2010.
2 - Began cardiac rehab, January 2011. After second session was "kicked out" of rehab, because I was having PVC's during my exercise program.
3 - Had a second heart cath - all by-passes were working fine.
4 - Changed my beta-blocker Metoprolol from 25mg to 50mg to 100mg and continued to have PVC's. And they seemed to occur at a lower heart rate. First, the PVC's came at a heart rate of 95-100. Then, on 100mg, the PVC's came at 90-95.
5 - To make a long story, short, after experimenting with my metoprolol, we agreed on 25mg. The more I used, the more lethargic I felt. And the PVC's were not interfering with my exercise. I just managing them and worked passed the PVC's.
After 3 and 1/2 years I still have the PVC's. I wear a hear monitor - a Polar Watch with a band around my chest. I know I have the PVC's, because the monitor goes crazy around 95 to 110 heart rate. As I increase my pace, the monitor will read - 75 - 80 - 85 - 90 - 95 - 191! If I back off my intensity to 90-95 heart rate, the PVC's stop!
So, I continue to exercise, but keep a watchful eye on my monitor. I really do not "feel" the PVC's, but I get the strange reading on the heart monitor.
I continue to exercise and try to maintain a positive mental approach! More on that later!
Premature Ventricular Contractions
Remember, the Cleveland Clinic is the top heart hospital in the country! As a review, this is how I discovered my PVC's:
1 - Had Quintuple Open Heart Surgery December 13, 2010.
2 - Began cardiac rehab, January 2011. After second session was "kicked out" of rehab, because I was having PVC's during my exercise program.
3 - Had a second heart cath - all by-passes were working fine.
4 - Changed my beta-blocker Metoprolol from 25mg to 50mg to 100mg and continued to have PVC's. And they seemed to occur at a lower heart rate. First, the PVC's came at a heart rate of 95-100. Then, on 100mg, the PVC's came at 90-95.
5 - To make a long story, short, after experimenting with my metoprolol, we agreed on 25mg. The more I used, the more lethargic I felt. And the PVC's were not interfering with my exercise. I just managing them and worked passed the PVC's.
After 3 and 1/2 years I still have the PVC's. I wear a hear monitor - a Polar Watch with a band around my chest. I know I have the PVC's, because the monitor goes crazy around 95 to 110 heart rate. As I increase my pace, the monitor will read - 75 - 80 - 85 - 90 - 95 - 191! If I back off my intensity to 90-95 heart rate, the PVC's stop!
So, I continue to exercise, but keep a watchful eye on my monitor. I really do not "feel" the PVC's, but I get the strange reading on the heart monitor.
I continue to exercise and try to maintain a positive mental approach! More on that later!
Monday, April 7, 2014
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!!
50,000 Views!!!!
This has been a great experience after Open Heart By-Pass Surgery!! Here are some stats!
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!!
Saturday, April 5, 2014
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!!!
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!!!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
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!!!
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!!!
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