Always thinking of you...wishing you well.
We Love You
Brenda and Stuie

How do you spell TERRIFIC
J-E-F-F-R-E-Y
We Love You
Brenda and Stuie

We're sending you lots of love and warm wishes...and then some!
Brenda and Stuie

Hi Jeff,
I'm up late (too much on my mind to sleep) and I just saw a picture of your beautiful family.
We have ordered Adam's book and it should arrive tomorrow.
I can't thank you enough for sharing your research, personal story, emails and mostly your generous "heart." You, Chris and Stretch have been such a blessing. As my surgery date grows closer, I am ever thankful for this large network of people who have shared their experiences of what awaits me.
I will be in touch when an exact date is set.
Blessings and continued good health,
Mollie

Jeff,

Yes, I'm a little behind on catching up. I'm thrilled you're able to play ball. I understand about your physical issues for work. I got out to clean up our planting areas and bushes. Everything was fine until I tried using loppers to trim up a certain tree that likes to branch out from the bottom! Can't do much of that yet!!

Great to hear your other sensitivity issues are getting better as well.

Best wishes in the remainder of your healing.

Chuck Holmgreen.

Good for you. Wednesday is my 3 month & it's like it never happened.

Loving it !! Am on the road a lot. Cheryl will take special care of you !

Hugs to carol. Be well. Talk soon

Nanc.

Sorry I forgot to sign, this is Holly!

Good news! Glad you are doing so well. It's encouraging to read the positive updates!

Hi Jeff,
You sound great. I totally understand that you would not be back to work yet. I have noticed how physically demanding a chiropractors day is. It certainly requires you to be at your best. It sounds like you are on your way though.
Keep it up.
Jane

WONDERFUL!! WONDERFUL!! WONDERFUL!! WONDERFUL!!
Love You
Brenda and Stuie

Playing baseball at 2 months is amazing! I doubt you are sliding headfirst ala Pete Rose yet though! I love it.

Keep breathing through your eyelids...

JHMattingly

Awesome update Jeff!!!

So happy for you and your family!!!

Keep on tickin!
Adam Pick

Way to go, totally amazing! Something for all us to strive for. Keep up the good work.

-Mitch Friedman

Hi, Jeff -- Keep those positive updates coming. Wonderful news.
Selma

Great update! I notice that you hesitated to tell us how many runs you batted in, or exactly what you contributed to the team. LOL Really, we're so happy that you're doing so well. Is there any chance you'll be in NY this summer? We'd love the opportunity to see you and the family. You're not really all better until Dr. Meshel examines you. Ask any of the kids. We love you a lot. Marcia

Hi Jeff, awesome update!! Loved reading how ell you are doing. I added the cover photo of Adam's face book page to "my photos." I had to smile when i saw you, Nancy, me and Mitch. We have come so far!! Janis Kielbasa

Great update!! Glad you are doing so well.

Jimmy Johnson

Jeff, sorry I haven't posted a response to your latest updates, but I'm more than glad to hear you're doing well, and enjoying your exercize, etc. I hope work is going well for you, not too stressful, etc. Another quick update would be much appreciated.... I hope the family is great, too. Any plans to see Stelzer in the near future for a follow-up???? Take care, love to hear from you soon. ~ Ken

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the update - happy to hear that all is going well, including your return to the great past time of baseball. Like you, I'm also allergic to housework .... but I'm afraid that preceded my surgery. I'm right behind you on recovery -- this coming weekend I'm planning my first post-surgery camping outing in the north Georgia mountains. Take care
- Jim Smith

Hi Jeff, good to hear you are doing good and I wanted to say thank you for talking with me, it really helped me to make my decision and to just feel a little better about the whole process, I'm scheduled for May 7th right around the corner. Not sure if I can get away with the no household stuff for too long but I'll try for as long as I can. :))

Cindy Pastrano

Holy abridged updates, what happened to the dissertation???? Great update. Glad you are doing so well. Yeah, I hear you can't do housework for at least a year.... Sorry Carol!

Take care bro, all great with me too.
-Mitch Friedman

Yeah yeah...nice try. I see vacuum cleaners and dishwashing in your future!

Dude, you are rockin' it, just like I knew you would. It keeps getting better and better!

Continue to breathe thru your eyelids.

JH Mattingly

Funny, I can't seem to do housework either! Glad to hear you are doing well. Keep it up!

Chris Barnes

Great to hear Jeff!!

Linda beat me to it -- I thought housework was forbidden - forever!

I'm really glad you are healing so well.

Chuck Holmgreen

So glad to hear your good news. Keep up the good work! We hope to see you soon.
Shirley and John Schultz

Thanks for checking in with those of us in the waiting room. Loooove hearing the progress reports.

Gotta laugh about the "no housework" part. When I quit smoking years ago, I managed to get away with SO MUCH, blaming my brattiness on "Oh, sorry, I just quit smoking."

Selma K

Hey Jeff...I was told I could NEVER do housework again, lol, lol, lol!!!
Glad to hear you are doing so well, I am as well. Still have some shoulder issues and my incision is in the sensitive, itchy stage, but other than that no issues. Well, actually I really want to come off the Toprol, my blood pressure is on the low side and it makes me feel "draggy". My cardiologist cut it in half last week and said I could probably come off completely when I see him in July. When do you think I can see my chiropractor? I know better than to ask the MD...you know what they will probably say. I sure think he can help with my shoulder. Take care.
Linda THE Tiger

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL & MORE WONDERFUL.
Now it is time for a vacation!

Love, The Tamarkins

Sorry I couldn't get with you today, well yesterday, about the baseball reporting. I'll be with you soon as get this phone worked out.

Looks like you may be back playing at the end of this season...RIGHT??? :O) LOL?

Great to see you're doing so well!!!

Vic/Tigers

You will have a lot of weird sensations for a while, especially being very active. I still have them 6 months out.

Very happy for you Jeff.

JH

PS: And yes, jogging *is* running. I know how you guys think. lol!
--Donna

Jeff--I enjoyed reading the long update--thank you for posting! You're a doc, so I shouldn't be giving *you* advice, but still….don't run yet! Jim's doctor told him no bouncing. And today, 4 weeks post op., he still can't run. If the sternum doesn't heal right, it will forever be in two pieces. You don't want that! Do stairs, walk, but don't run. My 2 cents. Anyway--check with the cardiologist and make sure. It's too early for the sternum to be healed yet.
Blessings,
Donna Smith

What's up buddy???? Sorry for my delay in posting, I had to wait for the Cliff Notes to come out for your journal entry. I guess not reading long posts is a Friedman thing. Also, loved the anatomy lesson.

I had back pain too, but mine was spasms. In addition to valium, my doc said try to move around more. I also had the pain you describe on your lower chest atthe bottom of the sternum. Ithurt to stand up straight. Mine subsided with time, but I also worked on stretching it out by trying to stand straight as often as possible. Some days were better than others.

All your "bads" sound normal and should subside with time. Your "goods" are impressive. Keep up the good work.

Talk soon,
-Mitch Friedman

Jeff,

Great to hear that overall things are going very well for you. I also have had a little bit of lung pain that you've described, however mine seems much more similar to the 'stitch' you get when under heavy activity and not breathing deeply enough. I find if I back off the spirometer, I get them more often. If I use it like I'm supposed to, I don't get the lung pain. Maybe that means mine is not a rib head issue.

Anyway - keep up the great work! It's fun to watch the progress of those of you that went before me. It helps to keep me motivated to keep moving!!

Chuck Holmgreen

You don't know a Nother lady from st Louis. Just cuz u went to Logan -

Did I tell u we lived 1 block from Logan about the time u went there. SmAll small world.

N

I guess I should have warned you about the steps in your house. I had trouble with them also....and that was 8 years post-op.

Al C

Hi Jeff,

I had the same "rib head" pain you describe, and at 5 months out, it is still there but not as bad anymore. Mine was also bad when I would take a deep breath (only on the left side), and also when I would use my pects to flex or roll my shoulders forward. I was told it was costochondritis. I know that as soon as I started lifting weights it got worse, even though there was no pain while I was actually lifting them. Now my left shoulder is extremely sore with tendinitis, and I believe it is related to the rib pain. I was using my pects a lot while land sailing a few weeks ago, and my sternum and shoulder have been sore ever since. I've read other journals of people who have the same problem. Just wish I knew how to get rid of it!
Glad to hear you are doing so well otherwise. Let me know if you figure out how to fix the rib pain:)
Deb Ziegler

Great to hear that you are doing so well Jeff:) You and I know that it would be a fast recovery. Sure would like to see you at our next game, Sunday, April 15th against the A's at Seminole HS in Sanford. Game time is 10 AM. Happy Easter to you and your family:)))

My Best, Vic

Sorry about "healing ailments" ... give it a little more time and keep an eye on it ... a whiskey every once in a while helps too ... if you cant drink it... try rubbing it on ... j/k ... BIG {{{hug}}} and greetings from OMQ

And wow. U have a lot of patients !!

The certain lady from st Louis adores u But as an ADD I admit that 3 page- single spaced emails lose my attention. I just look for the dirty parts & since yours did have any - I blasted thru it pretty fast

I saw good news & bad news & I ran thru that enuf to know that you'll be ok. So that's a good thing

Can't wait to see u 4/24. Carol too

Am back in fla keys - prior to going back to programs which will be 4/14 at Foxwoods. Hear it's cool up there still.

Bottom line - I read the good news & am glad it's going well

Me? I haven't had any issues yet - its hard being perfect. - !! Ha ha. Be well. C u soon

Lady from st Louis AVR. 2-9-12

Dr Jeff, So glad to hear you are doing so well with your recovery. Relax, enjoy the time off, get your strength back. Missed you but Dr Frank did good. Happy Passover Happy Easter Hope to see you soon
Lois and Carol

Hi Jeff, Carol...and family
Wishing you a Happy Passover...and a Happy Easter.....
Love you... ..be well....stay well
Brenda and Stuie

Hi Doc. Great update. My biggest problem was also mid back pain. I felt it was a rib head misplaced when they bowed my sternum open. It was a few more weeks than this before I could get it adjusted but that helped alot. Also ice. When I began lifting again I also started developing pain in both shoulders, which I also thought was from the opening of my chest, but have come to feel is more likely from the CLOSING of the chest and the extra inward pulling of the chest muscles altering that anatomy. In addition to massage I got accupuncture which I think helped all the key areas--stimulate the immune system, and the circulatory system as well as helping recovery of the soft tissue damage. Also I took Tylenol for pain over advil/motrin. Seemed to work better. I used to take anti-inflamatories all the time but a few years ago switched to Bromelain (I'm stll not sure how it is spelled) which is a digestive aid that works great as a natural antiinflamatory.

Next week will be 8 months post surgery for me (April 10 is my 58th BD and the surgery was on the 11th) and last night I did 1 hour hot yoga sculpt, snowboarded all day Sat and Sunday , olympic weightlifting 2 days last week, yoga and runnining and a full work day. Better than before as you can already see. Hoping your heart and health give you many many years of joy and love for you and your family. The Holdays coming up, Easter and Passover, give us all opportunities to remember just how luck we are.

All the best to you and all my heart healthy and soon to be heart healthy friends.

Jeff Pheffer

You are already walking 2.2 miles at a brisk pace only 3 weeks after surgery? I am not sure if I can walk that far at a slow pace and I didn't have the surgery. Ha ha. I guess I need to start moving a little more. I am happy to hear that your recovery is going so well. Take care.

David Schindler

No way - did u really get to meet Jane p. from Scarsdale in NYC? She & I were. Bonding from the start. Most helpful. Sounded like my mentality.

Will ck in soon. All is well. My first program is 4-14 up in mog sun. Think I told you.

Still take a nap here or there. But feeling great.

Hope all is well in your home

Hugs. Nancy. St Louis.

Hi Jeff,
Great to read your 3-week update and all the progress you've made. Yes, it's truly a blessing that we live in a time and place where our highly compromised hearts can be healed. Take care
- Jim Smith

Jeff,
All good!!! What you say about not realizing how symptomatic you might have been before the surgery until you can compare post-surgery... Bingo! You will find more and more of these instances popping up. A really good thing to look forward to!
Good luck with the weights - I'm jealous (I can hold a grudge a long time, I guess!) - I was advised to stay away from them for a lot longer than you were. But I got back to it in due time, and when I hit 40 (four years post-surgery) I was in the best shape I was in my entire life, and I might add looking better too, if I may be so bold. So keep it up, know your limits, and do the right thing. You should be fine! I'm also glad about the cough-sneezing thing. I remember my first sneeze, weeks and weeks post-surgery - not fun! But as with everything, you'll get over it when it happens. Sometimes worse to suppress it, but you seem to have the technique!
Looking forward to more good words. Your progress is amazing. I'm so happy for you, and though I don't really know you - I'm proud of you!!!
All the best,
Ken
P.S. - For your friend - Foxwoods isn't so bad for CT casino-going, either!

I'm so glad you are doing so well! And all the information that you put in your updates is so helpful...thank you! Keep up the good work!

Jamie McGuire

Dr. Jeff. I am sooo happy that you are recovering really well. We just love reading your jounals and love your poems. Keep up the good work and get well soon. It's amazing to me what they can do nowadays!! Take care!!!
Connie Kiewel @ Hunter's Creek Elementary School