Chuck Holmgreen  That's funny!! Now and then, my wife & child will walk by me, stop for a second, then say, yep still ticking!!

Chuck Holmgreen  I'm not sure when I'll be released to go back to work or drive. I have follow up appointments with both the surgeon & cardiologist on Monday.

Chuck Holmgreen  I can understand that feeling. They say it takes 21 days to create a habit. I've never been a napper. However, I'm going to have to break that habbit as my body allows me to.

Chuck Holmgreen  Thank you Brad - I really appreciate that. Yes, I'm doing well, just getting really impatient at this point.

Chuck Holmgreen  Thank you Linda. I really think the funniest part was that everyone was laughing, simply because it is nearly impossible to hold back a real laugh, but they were laughing with concerned looks because I was laughing with a look of pain on my face!

It really was a viscious circle.

Chuck Holmgreen  Mitch - my sister is already doing her positioning. She has promised to "stay back" with me!! She is 11 years my senior, about a foot shorter, about 100lb lighter and already running half marathons with her daughter.

My guess is that she will run with me then at the end, she will ensure she crosses the line prior to me -- just to make sure she has bragging rights!!

Now I need to find someone to make me a shirt that says "Ticking like a fake Rolex" that won't worry about trademark infringements!!

Chuck Holmgreen  Those three have definitely been checked off! I'll keep the rest to myself as this is a family show!!

BTW - who is this?

Chuck Holmgreen  Cindy -

We all remember being on your side and how little we liked it. That is why we turn into a cheering section when we get on this side of the process. As cliche as it sounds, the waiting really is the worst part.

You'll do great, I'm certain of it!! Then you can help the new people out that, like the rest of us, were scared to death until we found this site!

Chuck Holmgreen  Steve - May 14th will be a GREAT day!!

Yes, I chose mechanical at 44 for a host of reasons. I also had my aortic root and aortic arch replaced. With all that, I wanted to do all I could to minimize the chances of a second surgery.

I'll manage the Coumadin. That's a small price to pay to have a heart that works well again!!

Chuck Holmgreen  Hi Jimmy,

Good to hear you are running a little bit. It will be interesting to see if I feel any of the 'jiggle' you mentioned. I've played a bit with my son outside which included a small amount of jumping. I did not feel any jiggling, however it was not repetitive like jogging.

We'll see!

Chuck Holmgreen  John,

I can appreciate that. I have pushed it too hard once or twice already. In my case, a good nap solved most of the issues. Luckily, I've had a lot of practice listening to my body as I was very symptomatic prior to surgery. I'm 44 and this surgery corrected my only physical issue.

However, due to your recommendation, I will pay extra special attention to my body as I start to add in some jogging.

I really do appreciate your concern. Thank you.

Chuck Holmgreen  So far, they've been rock solid. Had the surgery on Tuesday 3/20, that Saturday morning, the surgeon's partner said he would have to look at my INR levels before discharging me and immediatly his NP said - shoot, he's been stable since Wednesday. I've not had to change my dosage yet. We'll see how that changes once my sternum has healed enough for me to start training for the Peachtree.

Has your sensitive spot on the right side of your incision started to subside at all yet?

Chuck Holmgreen  Yes, I went mechanical. Had to do something to give this white boy some rhythm!! Either that or I need to make a t-shirt that says: Ticking like a fake Rolex!!

With all the stuff that I needed to have replaced - valve, root & aortic arch, I figured that anything I could do to minimize the possibility of a resurgery would be in my best interest.

Chuck Holmgreen  Jeff,

I also got 8 pictures of the surgery. While I may bring them if we're able to get a group together around the November time frame, I'm not comfortable posting them online.

Chuck Holmgreen  Thank you Michelle -- however I'm not Superman, I'm Impatient man -- I have an "I" on my chest now, not and "S"!!

Yes, I'm registered for the PRR. And I'm more concerned about that than I was the surgery!

I'm glad Jeff is doing a good job for you. He is a great partner.

Chuck Holmgreen  Thank you Lily. You're description of walking outside the first time was wonderful - and familiar.

It is also great to read that you are very positive. As has been written earlier in your guestbook, that will serve you well in your healing.

Welcome home! I hope after 15 days out, you will be even further along than me!

Chuck Holmgreen  Thank you Linda. I still had a LOT of drugs going through my system at that point. I'm not sure I was feeling much of anything! But I knew I was on the other side.

I do truly wish you the very best and we'll be here waiting for you.

Chuck Holmgreen  Great to hear from you Mitch and I'm really glad to know you continue to do well. You did pay it forward and I am a grateful recipient. Like you, I'm thrilled to now be in a position to help.

Be sore tomorrow - embrace it and enjoy it --- Watch out World MITCH IS BACK!!!

Chuck Holmgreen  I'm going to admit a similarity between me and Mitch F. I've become a bit more emotional since surgery. I read your response to my wife and the realization that you read my journal again and it helped you really choked me up.

This journal site has been invaluable to me and I do my best to return the favor to others. Thank you for letting me know it is working for you. That really means a lot to me.

Regarding the stairs - you probably won't like them for the first 2-3 days, but just take them slowly. Then one time you'll cruise up them then realize - wow! That was easy!

Be well and you'll be in my prayers tomorrow.

Chuck Holmgreen  Cindy,

Allow me to be Captain Obvious for a bit. When you start walking outside, take small steps and don't worry about distance or time. You'll still be amazed at how quickly you recover.

The first time I walked the neighborhood (1 mile total) it took around 30 minutes or so. I did it today, just a few days later and did it in 19 minutes. I felt my strides getting longer today but had to force myself to shorten them going up the hills. I still got tired, but it was a good tired and I recovered faster than I would have prior to surgery. Great breakthrough day today!!

Chuck Holmgreen  Jeff,

Wonderful to hear from you. Somewhere around 4 weeks, I may start jogging a bit as well. Need to make sure I'm ready for the Peachtree and the fact that I've never been a runner.

I found it interesting in one of your posts where you were talking about your weight. I was given some pretty strong diuretics in the hospital to ensure I stayed away from pneumonia, so I didn't have the "post surgery" weight to contend with. Funny thing was, I left the hospital 10 lbs lighter than when I checked in. I'm now back up about 4 of that, but maintaining. Looking to lose about 30 more with the new heart.

We have the chest pain in common. My incision is still sensitive but not overly so. I have one spot between my pecks about an inch to the right of my incision that I've been putting a thin layer of gauze over to stop my shirts from touching it. It's about the size of a quarter.

My sternum will still ache when I�m trying to max out the spirometer, but today, I hit my pre surgery base line (3000ml). I can�t even express how much better my lungs feel and how quickly they recovered from surgery by using that darn thing!

Looking forward to your one month update.

Chuck Holmgreen  The funniest part about the Tylenol experience was that if my wife hadn't taken care of it, my sister (also an RN) was ready to go balistic!! I'm surounded by nurses!

Chuck Holmgreen  Steve, you're going to do great! Please believe it.

For me, the biggest value of this site was helping me get comfortable with the whole situation (there was a lot involved in that). I hope my posts are as helpful to those of you still waiting.

Chuck Holmgreen  Thank you Kerry. I think the Peachtree actually has me more nervous than my surgery. I've never been a runner.

I plan to finish, and I will consider that Awesome!

My prayers are with you.

Chuck Holmgreen  Agreed. Mine is more efficient now but is still getting used to the new parts. I'll be happy when it settles down into the new and better normal.

Chuck Holmgreen  Mitch, you're a trip and I'm blessed to know you. Now about those royalties, I'll give you my insurance infromation.

I've had more than a few good laughs. They hurt less each time. Made really good friends with my heart pillow each time!