DAYS 312 - 324 RECOVERY

Some days are full of surprises, but not always the kind one wants. Went to the doc last Friday suspecting I had bronchitis again.  Instead of being acute or chronic, with me bronchitis should be called serial, but then again, I guess that's what chronic means.

Before I knew what was happening  I was taken on a "joy" ride in an ambulance to the hospital ER. As they were wheeling me out, I yelled back to the nurse, "What about my bronchitis?" Just prior to that I asked her why I couldn't just drive myself to the ER. For the second time she looked at me as if I'd lost my mind and answered, "If your heart's not working, you won't have to worry about the bronchitis."

Having had open-heart surgery just eleven months ago, I felt cheated that my rebuilt heart was giving out on me so soon. For what they cost, medical procedures should surely come with some kind of guarantee or warranty, say of, at least a year. I also had a fleeting thought that maybe this one did come with a lifetime one and I had reached that limit. Although my symptoms shouted heart attack to the medical staff, it was only a severe case of bronchitis like I thought initially. Five hours later I was happily on my way home with a prescription for an antibiotic in my hand.  

Meds:   Amiodarone, Cardizem,  Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, B-12, L-Arginine, Glucosoamine, Calcium, Garlic, Aspirin, Omega-3 Fish Oil, Vitamin C, Doxy-Cycl-Hycl

DAYS 296 - 311 RECOVERY

A few days ago I strapped on my ankle air cast and knee brace and with my goat, Olive, took a walk down the long incline to the mailbox.  I was able to make it back up to the cabin without needing the goat to pull me, without stopping to rest and without huffing and puffing.  What a difference a year makes.  My rebuilt heart is serving me well.  Now if I could just get the scary high blood pressure under control. 

I wrapped up physical therapy yesterday.  The reevaluation shows I have regained full range of motion in my ankle although one side shows a bit of weakness.  Nothing that can't be corrected by doing the exercise routine they outlined for me to do at home.  

Meds:   Amiodarone, Cardizem,  Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, B-12, L-Arginine, Glucosoamine, Calcium, Garlic, Aspirin, Omega-3 Fish Oil, Vitamin C