9 weeks post op

I am doing very well.  I did have a small bout of high blood pressure....went to 160/106.  It was discovered at my first day of Cardiac Rehab.  I also had gone to the beach for a week with my family and came home with a 10 pound gain of fluid.  So the nurse at Rehab wanted me to see my cardiologist soon. So when  I went in for my scheduled echo, I also saw my cardiologist's nurse.  She thought the pressure was too high and they saw some fluid behind my heart during the echo.  So, she sent me over for a CT at 2:30 the same day.  To make a long story short...the fluid was not too bad to make anyone worry and she put me on a BP med.  I started feeling better quickly.  I also had this strange pressure issue under my rib cage...but this all must have been connected with the fluid and the high BP.  My BP is now back to 120/80's (I usually was 120/70)....and feeling just fine now.

I am going to Rehab 3 times a week....every Mon, Wed and Fri.  I am not really the type that loves exercise but I am doing it.

My heart seems to be working great.  I do sometimes have some hard beats (maybe a PVC) when I lie down.  I do still have trouble going up alot of steps...but it is getting better.  I feel I am much better now than I was before surgery.  My incision area is doing ok.  Still pretty red and ugly but I am just wearing my tops and trying not to think about where and how much the scar is sticking out.  I started using Vitamin E but I see no change...I actually think it making it more sensitive to touch.....the last thing I want cause I still cannot even stand to wear my pre-surgery bras.  I am going to go get some Merderma and try that next.

My very bizarre news is that I was laid off of work.  I was actually going back a week early to help them out but I was let go.  I think I am still in shock over it.  After talking to a few coworkers, it seemed ALOT had changed in the 2 months I was gone, a coworker was fired  and maybe after hearing some of it, I may have been saved from alot of drama and stress.  So now I am looking around for something new.  It is a really bad economy out there......bad things happening to nice people  :(

To put a positive spin on this, I am enjoying the fact that I am home with the kids a few weeks before they return to school.  I am able to get my twins to their football practices (freshmen ball).  And I will actually get to see them play....their games are at 5:30 on Wednesdays.  I am able to recover at a slower rate and not push myself to hard.  Rehab can be exhausting and I am now kinda glad I am not trying to do that after working 8 hours....honestly not sure I could have the first week.  My oldest finally got his learners permit and I have had time to drive with him around the local High school parking lot. 

So there is my little update....all in all I am doing just fine.

6 weeks post op

      Well it has been alittle over 6 weeks since my surgery and I have to say I am doing very well.  I guess I thought things would be much worse but really I am getting back to normal.  I feel good 90% of the time.  I do have moments that I am overly tired, frustrated at things that still hurt and out of breath going up steps.  I guess as time goes by, I will see small improvements.  I did drive today for the first time.  It went fine.  The seatbelt is uncomfotable but I will bring alittle small something to place between me and it tomorrow.  The heart pillow from hospital is alittle large :) 
     Tomorrow, I go to see the nurse for Cardic Rehab.  I am going to go to a hospital closer to my work since I have to continue this for 12 weeks.  I hope I like it.  They want me to go for one hour, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 12 weeks. 
      Next thing I have to do is an Echo.  It is scheduled for Wednesday.  They want to get a baseline for any future echos for comparison.  I just hope he is soft with me and does not jab that wand to hard.  Echos are not an easy test.  I am also concerned about the flipping from side to side.  I just recently laid on my right side for about an hour.  NOT a comfortable position....but I am trying to work on it.  Left side is not so bad....I am actually back to sleeping on that side.
     I also am going to start back to work earlier than I originally thought I would.  I decided to go back next week part time for 4 1/2 hours ...but just 3 days, Monday, Wed and Friday.  Kinda ease back into the swing of it all.  I miss work and I am looking forward to going back.  I just hope things are like they were when I left.  Alot can change in 2 months. 
      Incision and drain holes are getting better and better.  Spent some time in the sun and found a medium size bandage the perfect thing to shield the top part of my scar from the sun.  They say not to expose it to sunlight for full year.  So now I have a silly tan line on chest.....but it's ok.  My drain holes have completly closed !  Never thought it would happen....they both are still a deep dark red but they are dry and closed...wooohooo.
       SO there is my 6 week update.  All in all I am doing fine  :)