Five Years Ago, My Heart Voyage Begins

Everybody has a story!  As as review, here is mine!

This week, five years ago, I decided to see a doctor!  Why?

For the previous three to four months, I was feeling tired.  This was going to be my last year of my career in education!  Year #35!  Maybe I was doing too much!  At age 57, I was still the first one at school. Starting my day at 5:30 AM, and getting to school around 6:10 AM every morning!  Drinking my coffee, eating a Tastycake for breakfast(I know, stupid!)  My first symptom, I felt tired!!!

Then, for the past 3 months, I had trouble exercising!  Usually I would walk, maybe a little jog.  Now, I was only able to walk.  And, the the past month, EVEN THAT was difficult!  Uh-Oh!  In fact, the last week in October of 2010, I had trouble taking my early morning lap around the school!  Stairs were difficult!  And, at that moment, I new what it was!  I have heart issues!!!!

But, I could finish the year!  It was my last year!  I do not have time for heart issues!  And, we have a teacher training the first week of November!  I need to get through that first, I have teacher trying to do!!  My job, as technology specialist is to assist teachers with new computers and software!  Help the teachers integrate technology in the classroom!  OK, I made it through the week!  Now what?

So, the final test!  I will to a lap around my neighborhood!  One of my normal workouts!  Guess what?  I could not make it up the hill to my house!  I stopped, caught my breath and made it home!

Time to tell my wife!  Time to call a doctor!  And the rest is history!!!

So, if you are feeling tired!  If you cannot walk up stairs - get checked!  More about my journey coming!!

Latest Health Report

Have been working on my other Blogs & need to get back to health!!!  (Sorry, Green Bay Packer Blog is more fun!)

Heart Report:
It has been 4 years & 7 months since my surgery!  And, I am able to do things in retirement that I dreamed about!
Travel - been to Korea, Scotland, (Green Bay games - 21 of them!), and next trip is Hawaii!)

Physical - playing golf twice a week, played over 60 softball & playing with grand kids! Still
tempted to try more running!

Mental - As I said when I was going through my heart issues, THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!  And,
as you age, I'm 62 now, it is REALLY important!  Stay positive, stay busy, & enjoy EVERY
day!!!

Faith - VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT.  Again, going through surgery, and dealing with adversity
I do not know how people do it without faith.  If you read this blog, and have no commitment to faith,
give it a chance!!!

So, I will begin to enter more of my health concerns & thoughts.  Every day I learn more about
my health!

Health - Year Four After Open Heart Surgery

It is very hard to believe, this is year four after open heart surgery!  What have I learned?

1 - Be proactive as a patient!  Try to learn as much as you can!  Read!  Research!  Talk to others that have been through the same medical problems.  Ask questions of your doctor.

2 - Don't stop living!  Do not sit around feeling sorry for yourself!  Set goals.  Travel.  Continue to work.

3 - Exercise!  You may not be able to run a marathon, but there are still activities you can do!  Walk.  Ride bike.

4 - Faith.    If you are not involved in a church, talk to a friend or relative that is!

So, whatever your situation, keep fighting!!!

Aaron Rogers - 2015 NFL MVP!!!

In a year ending in disappointment a a team, a player, a "special" player was voted the 2015 NFL MVP!  For Rogers, number two!  He joins:

Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers 1989, 1990
Steve Young, QB San Francisco 49ers 1992, 1994
Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams 1999, 2001
Tom Brady, New England Patriots 2007, 2010

Aaron Rogers, QB Green Bay Packers 2011, 2014

Congrats to Aaron Rogers!!!!

On this day, celebrating #2, I would like to make two points:

1 - Aaron was injured the last few weeks of the regular season, calf injury.  He still managed to put the Packers in contention for the Super Bowl, and we know how that ended. 

2 - Aaron is in his prime!  I think(and I know I'm biased) he may be the BEST quarterback in my generation!  I've seen from Johnny Unitas, to Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning & Tom Brady, oh and yes, ex-Packer Brett Favre!  And why?

Arm Strength - he has it!

Ability to scramble  - he has it!

Ability to scramble & throw - he has it!

Ability to lead - he has it! And it is getting even better!

Ability to read defenses - he has it!

Ability to stay healthy - he is fighting through it & playing hurt!

Ability to stay focused on the ultimate goal - he has done it!

So Packer Fans, enjoy the next 10 years!  

And Mr. Mike McCarthy - DO NOT HOLD HIM BACK, LET AARON DO IT!!!!

Happy New Year 2015 - A Healthy Heart Year!

Here we go!  The FAMOUS New Year Heart & Health Resolutions!

1 - Lose weight - get down to 175 lbs

2 - Give up chocolate!  OH NO!!!  Yes, I will give it a shot!

3 - Bye Bye Baked Goods!  - YES, another Albright downfall!

4 - Exercise more!  More walking - more exercise!!!

5 - And last, read more & less TV!

Here we go!  It is 7:52, January 1, 2015 and so far - so good!!

Happy New Year!!

What Do The Numbers Say About Packers vs Lions?

Here we go, it's numbers time!

Team!
Packers Total Offense 6th - 386 yds  (11th Rush -  7th Pass)  & Lions 18th (27th Rush -  11th Pass)

Packers Total Defense 12th  348 yds & Lions 2nd - 295 yds

Points Packers 21.9  & Detroit 16.8

Key Personnel

Packers Offense

Rogers 6th 4155 yds - TD Passes Roger 3rd - 36 TD - QB Rating 2nd 111.0

Nelson 4th - 1433 yds

Cobb 10th - 1207 yds

Lacy 7th - 1039 yds

Lions Offense

Stafford 7th 4040 yds - TD Passes 16th - 19 TD - QB Rating 23th 85.4

Johnson 16th - 1038 yds

Tate 7th - 1286 yds

Bell 16th - 800 yes

Packers Defense

Sacks - Matthews 10

Interceptions - Hayward 16th 3

Tackles Burnett 4th - 122

Lions Defense

Suh 8.5

Interceptions Quinn 1st - 7

Tackles DeAndre 1st - 140

The Detroit Defense has some great weapons, while the Packers offense does the same!

All Pros Packers

QB - Rogers

FB - Kuhn

WR - Nelson

G - Sitton

OLB - Matthews

All Pro Lions

WR - Johnson

DT - Suh

S - Quin

Good players and great game on the way!

Four Years After Open Heart ByPass Surgery!

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!