Sunday, April 29, 2012

DAY 55 - Recovery

Had a fight with nausea today and I wasn't the winner.  It's going to be really tough to gain weight if I can't keep food down.

Meds:   Coumadin, Bupropion, Multaq, Triam/HCTZ, Vayacog,  aspirin 81mg,  multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil 

Saturday, April 28, 2012

DAYS 53 & 54 - Recovery

These two days made up for my recent non-productive day.  Had a great workout on three machines at cardio rehab then had a late lunch at an all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant in an effort to gain back some of the 26 lbs I lost since this time last year.  With Darryl's help I moved all the gardening stuff from the feed room in the barn to the garden storage shed next to the greenhouse.  This was lots of walking up and down the incline to and from the barn.  To challenge myself even more, I walked down the road to the mailbox today.  Our cabin is 100 ft higher in elevation than the row of mailboxes at the end of our road, so walking back up is no small feat.  I was slow, but I did it.  I couldn't do that before the heart surgery when my heart was malfunctioning.  

Meds:   Coumadin, Bupropion, Multaq, Triam/HCTZ, Vayacog,  aspirin 81mg,  multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil

Thursday, April 26, 2012

DAY 52 - Recovery

Nausea stole my day.  I resorted to taking medicine for it that makes me drowsy so I spent a lot of time sleeping.  Not a productive day, however, I did not have a sore throat.

Meds:   Coumadin, Bupropion, Multaq, Triam/HCTZ, Vayacog, Promethazine, aspirin 81mg,  multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

DAYS 50 & 51 - Recovery

Fighting a sore throat these two days.  For me a sore throat is a precursor to bronchitis so I've been using my heat treatment to fend it off.  I felt better early this afternoon so I went to cardio rehab and worked out for an hour then ran a few errands and picked up some groceries.  Probably not a smart thing since I'm feeling worse this evening.  I'll be staying home tomorrow. 

Meds:   Coumadin, Bupropion, Multaq, Triam/HCTZ, Vayacog, aspirin 81mg,  multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil, echinacea, vitamin C

Monday, April 23, 2012

DAY 49 - Recovery

I was allowed to drive my car today for the first time since the surgery.  It spared Darryl from having to take me to cardio rehab which was good because he's not feeling well.  He's been my willing chauffeur all these weeks and has patiently waited for me at more medical appointments than he cares to count.  Thank you to my wonderful and caring husband.  I don't know what we would have done had he not been retired and had this time available.  

I had a good workout in rehab.  I did a half-mile on the Rex machine and burned up the treadmill.

Meds:   Coumadin, Bupropion, Multaq, Triam/HCTZ, Vayacog, aspirin 81mg,  multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil

Sunday, April 22, 2012

DAYS 47 & 48 - Recovery

It's been two months since my surgery.  When I think back to how frail and weak I was during those early weeks I realize I've come a long way in a short time.  I was bothered by nausea yesterday, but had more physical energy than previously.  Lots of energy today and not so much shortness of breath now that I'm taking a very low dose of the beta blocker.  Began taking the diuretic I took prior to the surgery that my body tolerated well.  I hope it works in lowering my blood pressure because I don't remember having any side effects with it. 

Meds:   Coumadin, Bupropion, Multaq, Metroprolol, Triam/HCTZ, Vayacog, aspirin 81mg,  multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil

Friday, April 20, 2012

DAYS 45 & 46 - Recovery

Instead of walking a mile on a flat plane, yesterday I did my walking on the incline of our property.   I walked down to the lower pasture and then all the way up to the top pasture and then down, down again to the woods where the pasture begins and back up.  I wasn't alone as both goats and my little duck joined me.  Since ducks aren't made for walking and being a small breed, his legs are very short so he waddled along.  My pace was slower than normal, but I did get my exercise and I had no shortness of breath.

Today was exciting because I had my first day of cardio rehab.  This is a three month program where I will attend three days per week for an hour each day.  It's like going to a very well equipped gym, except I have to wear a heart monitor and am supervised by a registered nurse who instructs, directs, takes my blood pressure frequently and monitors my heart rhythm.  I am so looking forward to rebuilding muscle and gaining fitness.

I had another discouraging setback this afternoon.  I was overcome with shortness of breath while walking a short distance from our car into a grocery store.  This was the first time I experienced this since Saturday.  The shortness of breath is the most debilitating factor of all the varied symptoms I've had.  Darryl pointed out that I stopped taking the beta-blocker on Saturday and had no shortness of breath Sunday and all this week till now.  Because of my high blood pressure I went back on the beta-blocker  Wednesday night.  You don't have to be a super sleuth to determine that the beta-blocker could be the culprit.  I need to find another way to control my blood pressure.  This time I'll slowly wean myself from this medication instead of going cold turkey to avoid the rebound effect.  To add to the problem, the antidepressant I'm taking can increase blood pressure.  Oh, how I wish I could just get off all these drugs.  They may have saved my life, but they're now killing the quality of it. 

Meds:   Coumadin, Bupropion, Multaq, Metroprolol, aspirin 81mg,  multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil, 2 bananas (potassium)



Wednesday, April 18, 2012

DAYS 43 & 44 - Recovery

My life seems to be two steps forward and one step backward.  Yesterday was going great until the seat belt hit me in the eye, the same eye that's recovering from a broken blood vessel.  I thought it looked bad then, but now that it's bruised, swollen, and even bloodier it looks totally horrid.  I've taken to wearing sunglasses both indoors and out, day and night. Maybe I should consider wearing safety goggles. When taking a heavy-duty blood thinner, the consequences of minor accidents are compounded.  At least it's only one side of my face that will scare away mice and men, the other side looks fine.  

I did an amazing job on the stress test at the cardiologist's office yesterday morning.  I could not have done that 3 days prior, so now I'm free to drive and begin cardio rehab.  Today, for the first time, I walked up the stairs to be barn loft without any problem.  That's also something I couldn't do several days ago.

I haven't taken the beta blocker, Metroprolol, since Saturday.  I so want to get off some of these meds, but it looks like I still need this one since my blood pressure has been rising steadily ever since.  Today at 163/103 it's become outright scary so I've started taking it again. 

Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, Metroprolol, aspirin 81mg,  multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil, 2 bananas (potassium)

Monday, April 16, 2012

DAY 42 - Recovery

Although I was a bit lacking in energy, it's been another good day.  That's two in row!  Darryl has turned kitchen duty back to me, once again I'm chief cook and bottle washer. It's so much easier to face food when I'm not feeling nauseated.  

Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg,  multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil, 2 bananas (potassium)

Sunday, April 15, 2012

DAY 41 - Recovery

What a difference a night makes!  I can finally say that I feel good, in fact, I felt better today than I have all year.  Last week I was about to give up, thinking I would never feel well again.  This morning I awoke with no chest pain, pressure or tightness, no coughing, no feverish sick feeling, no nausea.  Apparently bed rest and my sun/heat treatment (even minus Acapulco) conquered the bronchitis.  For the first time since the heart surgery food actually tasted good, even wine and chocolate.  I ate more today than I did all last week.  For the first time since September I was able to walk up the inclines on our property without huffing, puffing, gasping and holding onto trees due to shortness of breath.  I feel so much younger and optimistic about being able to enjoy life again. Of course I still look like a mini-monster with my one red eye. Where is a pirate patch when you really need one? Feeling this great physically is a big boost to me mentally.  Is it too much to ask for the same for tomorrow?


Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg,  multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil, 2 bananas (potassium)

Saturday, April 14, 2012

DAYS 39 & 40 - Recovery

I was rejoicing because this was the first week in 2 1/2 months that no medical appointments were on my calendar.  Then I spoiled it by having to see the eye doctor yesterday.  My intense coughing from bronchitis broke a blood vessel in my eye.  I look mighty scary with one red eye.  Other than looking terrible, this is no problem and will go away by itself in a couple of weeks, but since I have macular degeneration I needed the retina specialist to make sure it wasn't bleeding behind my eye.  While in town we stopped at the mini-mall and walked a mile.  Later I spent time in the greenhouse absorbing the sun's heat to heal my body. 

Adding to my 112 lbs is not going to happen until I get over the nausea, regain my appetite and taste for food, rid my body of phlegm which I think triggers the nausea, and stop throwing up.  My clothes fit me when I was 10 and 20 lbs heavier, but now I'm lost in them.

I accomplished nothing today, which is discouraging since there's so much that I want to do, but maybe by having a full day of bed rest I'll be able to say goodbye to the bronchitis soon.  


Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg, Metroprolol, multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil, 2 bananas (potassium), Mucinex, echinacea, vitamin C, Metoclopram 

Thursday, April 12, 2012

DAYS 37 & 38 - Recovery

I guess I was naive to think that recovery from a major surgery would mean getting a little better each day.  For these past two days I've been down with what feels like bronchitis.  I've already had it three other times since Feb 23 and have had two rounds of antibiotics.  It makes me feel sick and weak all over along with the coughing, phlegm, throwing up, and the pain and tightness in my chest.  Darryl's been working with me to do deep breathing exercises which were painful at first, but I really think it's helping.  Years ago when I was working in Mexico City and came down with this ailment, the doctor suggested I go to Acapulco and lie in the sun on the beach for a few days.  Well, since my bikini days are over and Acapulco is too far away, I came up with an alternative solution.  I sat in the greenhouse.  It was so wonderfully warm in there.  I felt the sun's heat penetrating and healing my body.  While I was in there I forced my weak body to assemble two shelf units. I still feel sick but better than this morning. 


Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg, Metroprolol, multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil, 2 bananas (potassium), Mucinex, echinacea, vitamin C


Tuesday, April 10, 2012

DAY 36 - Recovery

Except for washing a few windows and reorganizing drawers in the mud room, I didn't accomplish much today.  My whole body felt so tired, so exhausted.  Apparently I overdid it yesterday. 

Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg, Metroprolol, multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil, 2 bananas (potassium) 

Monday, April 9, 2012

DAY 35 - Recovery

The depression is finally lifting.  I feel so much better both mentally and physically today.  Just as I chipped away at the greenhouse floor project and finally completed it, today I started painting primer on a section of the garden storage building.  I also "Walked Like An Egyptian" doing a mile on the grade school track. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVrNV_5LhNE

Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg, Metroprolol, multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil, 2 bananas (potassium) 



Sunday, April 8, 2012

DAYS 32-34 Recovery

Depression looms large these days and is lasting longer than I ever remember.  I've stopped taking Namenda, the Alzheimer's drug that was prescribed to prevent Post-Operative Cognitive Decline that is caused in many patients by the physical and mental stress of such a major surgery.  I think Namenda may be the reason I'm sleeping so much and continue to be drowsy the remainder of the day.  After it's out of my system I'm hoping I'll also have more mental and physical energy.  I've become a slacker with my walking and haven't done more than a half-mile these past days, however I did finish bricking the greenhouse floor.   


Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg, Metroprolol, multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil, 2 bananas (potassium) 

Thursday, April 5, 2012

DAY 31 - Recovery

I'm glad I walked a mile on the grade school track first thing thing this morning because depression hit me pretty hard later in the day.  In addition the day became even more sad when I found that one of my dearest friends lost her mother.  Becoming an orphan isn't easy no matter how old you are.  This afternoon my little fluffy white Jersey Wooly bunny, Weston, died in my lap as I was grooming him.  At seven years old I knew he wouldn't be with me much longer and the last few days he became less active.  It's hard to lose a precious pet.  He was so sweet.  He loved kale and clover and could rapidly make a carrot disappear.  My little menagerie is dwindling.  I'm down to 2 goats, 2 cats, 1 duck and 1 turtle.  Animals were vital to my survival of childhood so they'll always be meaningful to me.  

Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg, Metroprolol, Zantac, multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, Omega-3 fish oil, 2 bananas (potassium) 

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

DAY 30 - Recovery

It's been six weeks since my surgery.  When I think back to how difficult it was and how much energy it took to just hold my body up during those first days at home one month ago, I've come a long way.  I was slow this morning, but I logged a mile on the track and later reclaimed my Susie Homemaker role by cleaning the bathroom.  I would have wrapped up setting the bricks for the greenhouse floor, but I ran out of bricks.  Running a mile up a mountain road won't happen anytime soon, but give me another four or maybe six months and I'll be claiming that Rocky moment.  I couldn't do it without all the wonderful support and encouragement I'm receiving from Darryl, and so many of my friends and relatives.  I thank you all from the bottom of my rebuilt heart. 

Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg, Namenda, Metroprolol, Zantac, multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, 2 bananas (potassium) 

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

DAY 29 - Recovery


Another day, another doctor.  Saw the local cardiologist today to get an EKG of my heart.  I'm thrilled to say that It's beating in perfect rhythm. Logged another mile, this time with five laps around the elementary school track.  I look forward to the day that I will be running the mile instead of walking.

Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg, Namenda, Metroprolol, Zantac, multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, 2 bananas (potassium) 

Monday, April 2, 2012

DAY 28 - Recovery

The cardiothoracic surgeon released me from his care today.  Dr. Steven Leyland is a skilled surgeon, yet a very humble man.  He noticed something about my mitral valve on an echocardiogram that three other cardiologist overlooked.   He had more testing done and brought in a specialist to verify the problem.  If this had been missed, I would have had a less invasive ablation procedure done to my heart, but it would not have solved my problem.  Near the end of my first week in the hospital when others thought I should be released, he sensed that something was not right.  He suspected I might have a rare genetic disorder that could cause my blood to hyper coagulate.  A CAT scan showed I developed blood clots in my lungs. He brought in a hematologist and a lung specialist.  By detecting this and taking action, he saved my life.  My local cardiologist and another in Spartanburg, SC will be overseeing the remainder of my recovery.

Shortness of breath limited my walking today.  I made a couple of treks to the upper pasture and walked less than half a mile on the track at the elementary school in town.


Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg, Namenda, Metroprolol, Zantac, multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, 2 bananas (potassium) 

Sunday, April 1, 2012

DAY 27 - Recovery

The view from my hospital room in the heart care unit was roof tops - flat ones and at different levels.  It looked perfect for a high-rise chase scene, but the only movement I saw was clouds floating by.  Inside my room was not as serene. 

Several days after open heart surgery the dressings on my chest  were removed.  The nurse remarked that it looked very good.  She said I was lucky to have a surgeon with small hands because it was the smallest incision she'd ever seen.  When I  got a good view of my chest for the first time, I almost went into shock.  If that was what good looked like, I didn't want to ever think about bad.  Had someone glued a 4 1/2-inch dirty reddish-brown rope to the center of my chest?  My whole chest was ugly.  Black and blue bruises spotted my skin.  A half-dozen sensors were stuck in random places that connected to a heart monitor.  Two drainage tubes protruded from my stomach area and wires from the temporary pacemaker were poking out.  I thought the cut would have been lower like totally between my boobs so it could be passed off as cleavage.   I had no idea the incision would start less than 3-inches from my throat.

Just as the scar doesn't look anything like I expected, the pain was also a surprise.  There was none.  How could my skin have been sliced open, my breastbone sawed and pulled apart and my heart have been cut into and I don't feel anything?  Paper cuts hurt worse than this.  Each patient was given a pretty heart shaped pillow to hold against their body to ease the pain when they'd cough or sneeze.  I used mine to prop up the portable heart monitor case that seemed a little too heavy to be considered portable. 

Even though there was no pain from the heart surgery, I still paid my dues in the pain department.  Once the blood clots formed in my lungs the pain in my right lung was constant and stabbing.  Who knew that blood clots could be so painful?   

The temporary pacemaker and the drainage tubes were pulled out and eventually the bruises faded.  Some random marks remain as does one of the drainage port incisions that, due to a fold of skin over the scar, looks exactly like a second belly button.  It's  right in line and about two inches above my real belly button.  Yeah, real cute.  Like I've always wanted another navel.   The dirty rope stuff on my incision was an adhesive that held the skin together, rather than stitches.  It started falling off after five weeks and now I'm left with a deep red line.  Thankfully it's flat but there is a small pocket of swelling where it starts at the top.  I've always thought that scars on guys were sexy, on old ladies, I'd say they look more Frankensteinish. 

Today was a step backward.  I experience total exhaustion and nausea most of the day.  I pushed myself to set a few more bricks in the greenhouse and did some potting in the plant yard.  Like yesterday I walked the incline from the cabin to the barn.  I also had a shepherd's moment when I walked the goats to the upper pasture where they grazed while I sat on the ground and took in the view and the clouds. It was very peaceful and relaxing.  

Meds:   Coumadin, Furosemide, Bupropion, Multaq, aspirin 81mg, Namenda, Metroprolol, Zantac, multivitamin, vitamin D, I-Caps, 2 bananas (potassium)