Barbara's Heart Valve Journal

It has been a year and 20 days since my valve surgery. It doesn't seem possible that the year went by so quickly.

I feel great, I can walk, climb and bike faster than ever.

Seems like it all happened ages ago.

Best of health to you all,
Barbara (Boston)

Yes, it's been that long. I am feeling great, like new. Went back to the gym after 6 month on Monday night and did Pilates mat class. Felt fine the next day too. Thought I'd be crippled ;-)

Life is great. Seems like ages since my surgery on February 3rd. I can walk distances without being out of breath. Perhaps while on Cape I'll dust my bike off and go the Farmer's Market on Saturday.

Hope everyone is doing great as well.

Barbara

You are an inspiration to all those who will undergo this procedure. You were kind to share the vitamin E capsule trick(rub the contents on the scar to lessen the redness.)

/Easter best wishes are sent your way. Carmella

Life is good going into week seven. The only issue I seem to have is realizing, and sometimes too late, that I am not to lift 10 lbs or more. What's a girl to do when she lives alone and does everything yourself? I screwed up a week or so ago lifting groceries I shouldn't have. I paid the next week with a very sore sternum. I didn't tell the doctor, of course, it was over and done with.

Last Saturday I sat in the entrance of my trunk waiting for someone I knew going into my condominium building I could ask to lift groceries and put them on the cart and take to my home. The concierge was on break, so I just waited for a familiar face. I finally sighted a man I knew in the building -- and he happily took the groceries to my door on the cart while I put my car in the garage.

Next Monday I go back to Beth Israel Hospital for a echocardiogram and then two weeks later I visit my cardiologist for a check up. I think by then it will be over 10 weeks. Hopefully he'll give me the okay to go back to the gym. I think my whole body has turned to mush not working out since the end of January. Hopefully it will all come back as quickly as it went away.

The end of April I have sheduled a caratact operation on my right eye. So I will be working with a good ticker and be able to see better. Good grief, it's a bitch getting older and having to do all this repair work. I plan on being tip top shape before summer.

Wishing you all a happy Passover and/or Happy Easter and Spring.