On October 6, 2010...
Wow, Diana. How scary! I'm glad you got it checked out & that it seems to have been muscular, not something with your heart. Take care, Joy
On October 6, 2010...
Hi Diana
How scary for you, but so glad it was not heart related and you're already feeling better. You must have good veins for all that blood they drew. Mine are terrible. Praying this is clear sailing for you.
Fran
On October 6, 2010...
Diana,
I am so sorry to hear about your recent hospital stay. I had an incident in my recovery that sounds similar to your shoulder/arm pain. It was excruciating and I too took tylenol and pain killers to no relief. It lasted a day and a half then went away and never returned. That was at about the three month mark in my recovery. I also believe 100 percent it was from a new machine in card rehab. It is so scary ....I did not have chills or fever. Hope this is it for you.
Theresa C.



On October 6, 2010...
Diana!

What are we going to do about you?? What a scare . . . I'm glad it turned out to be relatively minor.

I've been having problems with pleuresy again . . . it goes away, I think I'm back to normal, and then wham - pain in my chest. My doctor assures me I'm ok so I try to be patient and remember it's only been 4 months and conventional wisdom is that it takes a year to really be normal. Sigh.

Feel better! And no more trips to the hospital!!

Ricki
On September 29, 2010...
Hi Diana
Great update. I too, missed rehab when I stopped but have kept it up on my own at our fitness center and sometimes when it's 78 or so, have walked outside. Rehab gave me a disc to watch on my computer and it's 8 minutes of arm exercises I do with 2# weights. Hope to eventually move up to 5#, but it does get my heart rate up and hopefully helps with the arm "flab". take care.
Fran
On September 29, 2010...
Hi Diana, so nice to read your journal update sounds like you are well on your way. So nice to hear that no more Dr appts until Feb, great! What a journey and it is so good to read and share on HVJ. So glad your foot is better.
Susan V
On September 22, 2010...
Hi Diana, I just read that part about your foot...OUCH! That my friend would have freaked me out. Anyways thanks for reading my stuff. I am kind of like you in that I really am amazed at how good I feel sometimes. Yeah I am still healing up but it's all good. Thanks for the encouragement and keep up the good work with the rehab.
On September 22, 2010...
Hi Diana,
It was great to read how well you are doing! I can't believe it has been this long since our surgeries. I think about you often. Thank you for the message on my journal. Glad your foot is doing better also. Like Fran said, I look forward to when our weather starts feeling like fall and I can go outside and not feel opressing heat.
Thoughts and Prayers are always with you.
Kimberly S.
On September 21, 2010...
Ouch! Glad the doctor fixed your foot & that you are overall doing well. I have that end-of-the-day thing too & given that your surgery was before mine, I guess that will likely be with me for a while. As you say, it’s so cool that you are able to do things again. Your posts are encouraging for those of us behind you – thanks so much & have a great day. Joy
On September 20, 2010...
Hi Diana
So happy for you although I did not know you in the beginning of your journey I can see you are really full of inspiration and spirit and so encouraging to others!
Susan V
On September 20, 2010...
Hi Diana
Great news about your foot. Hard to get around when it hurts with every step you take. Sounds like you're doing really well. Think it's pretty normal to feel pooped late in the day, especially if it's been a busy day and you've been on your feet a lot. I've always been a morning person, am up early and have the most energy before 2pm or so, then my day gets quieter and I start to lose some steam. Of course when I worked full time, had to keep going. Our bodies have their own rythym and we need to pay attention. Glad your weather is cooling off, not yet for us, here in SW FL. Take care.
Fran
On September 10, 2010...
Diana
What a milestone for you no more Coumadin!
I sm sure you will have your ft checked out infections are nasty in the ft let alone painful and annoying, better safe than sorry. Take care
Susan V
On September 10, 2010...
Hi Diana
Ouch, ouch. As a barefoot girl myself I know the perils. My one question to you would be, when did you have your last tetanus shot? Might want to check that out today and get one if needed.
Fran
On September 10, 2010...
Diana,

So glad to hear that everything is going so well for you. Be careful with your foot, think about having it checked out. Not the same thing, but I was nipped by a cat and the doctor put me on any antibiotic as a precaution. Stay well.

Elaine
On September 10, 2010...
Great news on the coumadin, Diana. I'm sure you won't miss that one little bit. Hope your foot heals up without any problems. Take care, Joy
On September 8, 2010...
Diana, Thanks for writing in my guestbook and giving me reasurance.I hope you can get your BP issues all corrected. I think sometime we have to tell the doctor what is or isn't needed rather than he tell us, after all we know our body better than anyone else.Glad you are doing good, Keep on Keepin on....Pat
On September 7, 2010...
Hi Diana
What a relief for you sometimes it is best to be our own advocate as I have found myself.
All 3 of my open heart surgeries 3 differnt hospitals, cardiologists, etc have recommended postop beta blockers, each time I gave the old college try. Every single time low BP and heart rate and I cont to tell them that my heart remains irritated for 2-3 months and then my heart rate settles down. Last week 2.5 Zebata a few days and I felt lethargic, dragging, went off the Zebata felt much better.
Take care and I am glad you are doing well
Susan V
On September 7, 2010...
Diana,

Good for you! I am in the process of (sort of)fighting the same battle with my cardiologist. I too just sent a week's worth of readings @ 3x/day to his office but haven't heard back yet. My pressure has been <120/80 pretty consistently... Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling well and doing so good.

Kellie
On September 7, 2010...
Good Morning Diana
Glad this was all resolved satisfactorily. Guess your doctor gets some credit for finally agreeing with you although not apologizing! glad you're feeling so well and being able to enjoy your hilly terrain without difficulty!
Fran
On September 3, 2010...
Good for you, Diana! Really, your readings & the rehab readings should be taken into consideration & you are just being reasonable to insist on that. Stick to your guns & I hope you can avoid increasing your medication. Take care, Joy
On September 3, 2010...
Hi Diana!

Good for you! BP can fluctuate and I find mine is often higher at the doctor (I guess I'm more nervous than I think). And at rehab, mine's all over the place. One day it's high, the next day low. This morning it was low/normal when I got there. After I walked my warm-up laps it was sky high. Sometimes it goes down after my warm up. Weird body! I figure if I'm feeling ok, I AM ok!

Keep you eye on your BP and relax. Enjoy the holiday weekend.

Ricki
On September 3, 2010...
Hi Diana,

Great to see you are moving along so well on your recovery. Hopefully, the BP issue will resolve itself over the next few days. One thing I note, is that when I take my own readings, I can sort of control the outputs. I used to prepare myself mentally and physically for "going to take my BP in 30 mionutes" such that I could gaurantee normal readings. My wife took over, and would randomly grab our machine and take it a few times a day, and it was always higher for her. I would encourage you to take random readings during the day also so you get a solid history of typical readings for your doctor based on a normal days routine.

Keep up the great work...

Mark
Keller, TX
On September 3, 2010...
Good Morning Diana
Seems like a wait and see attitude is probably a good on for now. Have you taken your blood pressure machine in to your doctor's office to compare with their equipment? It's probably going to be about the same, but might be worth comparing. Have a great weekend.
Fran
On August 31, 2010...
Hi Diana

You are definitely getting better if you can stand up and take charge the way you are. Good for you. My resting bp is 100/50 but I am reminded that's pill induced. Apparently it is one of the reasons they didn't want me doing too much when I was doing rehab so when I work out I wear my heart monitor to keep me aware of my readings. Nice to hear you are doing so well. Keep it up.

Cheryl, Ontario
On August 31, 2010...
Hi Diana
Loved reading your post, seems you get a bit feisty when you're upset. I think part of the elevated blood pressures for many of us is that old "white coat syndrome". Just humor him and stand your ground next visit. Did they have you sit and rest for awhile before retaking it? Sometimes that works. You rock, girl.
Fran
On August 31, 2010...
Hi Diana. My cardiologist takes a similar approach on BP readings. Says he does not trust the home machines & wants me to come into his office periodically for a reading. Sure enough, it has always been higher in his office than at home, but also higher than at other doctors' offices. Go figure. Glad to hear you'll be able to get off the coumadin soon & that cardiac rehab suits you so well. Take care - Joy
On August 31, 2010...
Hi Diana,

Well, I see the doc didn't agree to stopping the coumadin now. But, only 9 more days! That's great news!!

I had stopped taking the daily diuretic on Saturday because I felt my bp was dropping too low, but my doc just put me back on that, now every other day rather than daily. I have to report back in to him with another bp log on Friday. So we'll see how it goes.

Glad to hear you're doing so well!

Kellie
On August 31, 2010...
Hi Diana,

I'm so happy to hear you're doing so well. I like rehab too, even the sweating part (which I've always hated at the gym!) I've just started going back to the gym in between rehab sessions . . . maybe I'll finally lose some of that weight I gained before surgery?

Stay well.
Ricki
On August 31, 2010...
Good Morning Diana
Looks like you've come a long way. Our surgeries are pretty miraculous, aren't they? Especially when your pre op symptoms were as severe as yours were! Great job.
Fran
On August 30, 2010...
Diana,
Glad to hear you are doing well. Rehab is a great experience, and we all benefit from it. I wish you the best news for your doctor visit.
Theresa C.
On August 30, 2010...
Hi Diana,

Glad to hear you're still doing so well. Keep up the good work and I'm keeping fingers crossed for you in regards to the coumadin and hope the doc agrees with you.
Take care,
Kellie
On August 30, 2010...
Hi Diana,
It sounds like you are doing so good. I am truly glad to read that. Thank you for your msg. I agree and do think that rehab will be good for me in more than one way. It is also reassuring to have the nurses there monitoring.
Have a wonderful week!
Thoughts and prayers,
Kimberly S.
On August 12, 2010...
Hi Diana

Just wanted to pop by and say I was thinking about and glad to read your reports that you are doing well. Take care.

Cheryl, Ontario
On August 9, 2010...
Hi Diana. I love it that you are enjoying your gardens so much - can relate to that as I enjoy that as well. It just takes me somewhere else for a while. So, it's extra wonderful that you are feeling so good while you are out there with your plants. Enjoy your time with your friend too. Take care, Joy
On August 9, 2010...
So happy you're doing so well! I've been sluggish lately . . . I went back to work last week AND they increased my cardio times and resistances and added strength training at rehab on Friday and I still haven't recovered. Rehab this morning was tough. But this too shall pass!

Enjoy your company!
Ricki
On August 9, 2010...
Hi Diana
What great news. Amazing how far you've come. I remember reading your posts when you were so light headed and weak. Amazing what modern medicine and God can do. Enjoy your visit with your friend, you'll have the energy to do the things you'll want to do with her.
Fran
On August 2, 2010...
Hi Diana!

I'm so happy you're doing so well! I haven't yet tried Mederma but I think I'll get some. My incision scar isn't bad (it's only 3 inches and most people tell me they can't see it) but my bypass scar is yucky (not that anyone other than Ron sees that!)

Ricki
On August 2, 2010...
Good Morning Diana
Can feel your confidence and energy across cyberspace. Our surgeries are miraculous, aren't they? Let me know how you do with the Mederma. I used it for a month, applying it 2-3x a day. Didn't feel it helped at all. hope you have better results. One advantage the guys with the hairy chests is that the scar blends in better! Take care, glad you're feeling so great.
Fran
On August 2, 2010...
Hi Diana. So glad to read that you are feeling so good at 9 weeks. I'm just approaching 2 weeks so it's nice to know what may be possible a few weeks from now. The more I read about rehab, the better it sounds. Keep on getting better & I'll look forward to hearing that you're at 100%. Take care, Joy Vera
On July 27, 2010...
thank you diana for responding to my posts.it ment so much to me just by reading what you have wrote give me confident to go on,i will certanly go on with my wedding.o and my girlfriend name is also diana.actually you guys smile the same way.lol continue to progress ok D
On July 26, 2010...
SIS, I WAS SURE YOU WOULD FEEL '16' AGAIN..... AND YOU SURELY ARE WORKING ON IT........ PRAISE GOD FOR THIS MIRACLE AND ALL THAT YOU CAN DO NOW. 'IT WILL ONLY GET BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

LOVE YOU SO MUCH, BIG SIS
On July 26, 2010...
Hi Diana
What great news. When we're going through some of the tough days after surgery it's always so wonderful when one day it's behind us. Starting rehab made the difference for me too. Just completed #21!Take care.
Fran
On July 22, 2010...
Hey there Diana! Isn't it AWESOME to feel like a new person? I think you will notice that with each rehab session your energy will increase and you will want to do all sorts of things. I too still have some occasional soreness (although nothing like the first 2 weeks after surgery) around my incision - and I can tell you when it's going to rain or get colder.
I feel your pain on the Coumadin issue. My previous 2 INRs were 1.8, so they increased me to 4mg, and then my next INR was 3.99! my primary doc said it takes at least a year for your body to become used to the Coumadin so expect the levels to be up & down. have you gotten a medical ID bracelet? You might want to consider one in case (God forbid) you are unconscious so the emergency workers will look for it & know you're on COumadin.
Keep up the good work & good luck with rehab!
Kathy Jamison-Patnode
On July 21, 2010...
Hi Diana,

It is so good to hear that you are doing well and rehab is a plus. It has been a little over 10 weeks post op for me and I still have the incision tenderness and discomfort. I guess it is just a matter of time that it will lessen for both of us.

Elaine
On July 20, 2010...
Hi Diana

You are sounding just so positive that I have to commend you for your attitude after all you've been through. I agree with you that it doesn't take all that long for the surgery to become a distant memory until you read a new member's journal entry describing the fear they are experiencing etc. and then it comes back pretty clear. At least though we can now sit back and lend our compassion to the others coming along after us. Anyway, I hope you are getting ready to make plans and move on with your life. We have been blessed.

Cheryl, Ontario
On July 20, 2010...
Hi Diana!

I'm glad you had a good day at rehab. I've been feeling so much stronger since I started. And my incision pain is getting much better . . . Probably not related to rehab (!!!!) but simply a matter of time. Being a couple of weeks behind me you can probably count on yours getting better soon too.

Good to hear good things from you"
Ricki
On July 20, 2010...
Great news, Diana. Everyone should go to rehab if they can, it is so beneficial. I wasn't able to go yesterday because of car problems (first one I've missed of 17). Honestly felt more sluggish yesterday. Will have to get to our neighborhood fitness center and at least walk on the treadmill. Hope the incision pain finally goes away. I am 4 months post op and still get a twinge every now and then, but it apparently is the sternum healing. Keep moving.
Fran
On July 16, 2010...
You go, Girl! You'll love it.
Fran
On July 14, 2010...
Diana,
So glad to hear the good news...you were the one I was most worried about through this journey together on HVJS. It was especially hard when we did not initially hear from anyone, so I am extra happy that you are doing so well. It is amazing the change we feel in our bodies post-surgery. I now realize how bad I actually felt....by this I mean tired. I feel so wonderful now, and I am glad you are on the way to feeling great also.
Take care,
Theresa C.
On July 14, 2010...
YOU ARE ONE TOUGH SISTER.............. SOON YOU'LL BE 16 AGAIN...... LOVE U SO MUCH, BIG SIS
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