Ole's Guestbook

Well Ole....Have a great run on Saturday! So happy for all of the community sharing the progress after OHS as it gives us all hope, inspires us to be all that we can be and do all that we are capable of doing. I am going to try to swim at our 48 hr. fitness club while Gary hits the In Shape gym. We are finally learning to enjoy the exercise part of our lives that had been lessened as I recovered but we are on our way moving forward now, aren't we all?! Take care Heart Brother.

Ole- Congratulations on your 6th. Month Anniversary! I am curious on whether or not this time seems to have gone by as fast as mine did. At first it was careful and slow and then you turn around and the months have gone by! The best of luck to you on your upcoming Marathon. Where are you running? Have a great time and know how glad I am for your progressive healing.

Ole! Congratulations on being in such great shape on your 100th. I have to say that every time you post I am impressed with how you never fail to bring out such positive "can do" energy and we all benefit here at the community for it. The love you have for your Family touches many mending hearts! It is amazing that each of us in this community has the ability to pull together our individual strengths and admitted weaknesses but mostly "fertilize" each other as Spring begins encouraging finding our strengths having us reschedule and work around our weaknesses as we continue to heal and grow stronger. Even though we may not be in the same shape as the next person you continue to remind us of what we are capable of, making each one of us aware of all the potential to grow and make changes each and every day if not in a physical way surely mentally. You have demonstrated that it is not too late to begin important and much need changes in how we go about guiding ourselves to try new things as we make our way, at our own speeds along this healing path. By the way the fact your BS meter is primed and ready makes me laugh(though probably wasn't your intent) because your great insertion of "Humor" among your posts many times is enough to lift the spirits and make each one of us feel light hearted enough to get up and move towards our goals sparked by your examples. Pointing out that our mental outlook on a day to day basis is as important as seeing the physical potential within us too that maybe we hadn't recognized as well as we should have but now can fully appreciate. I know many of us benefit from your honest recounting of experiences along the way as we all follow the challenges of heart valve surgery. Thanks heart brother!

Hi Ole, I wanted to thank you for your posts on cardiac rehab. Even though I had started jogging a bit on my own (I'm 9 weeks post-op) and was able to jog for 30 minutes on a treadmill last week (while keeping my heart rate within the correct range based on the formula your case manager gave you, and below the number my doctor had given me), I thought your point about also monitoring blood pressure was a good one. I decided to go to cardiac rehab and had my first session this week. Like you, they want to keep my systolic blood pressure under 160, and it turns out I hit that while walking fairly easily on a treadmill with an incline of 10, going from 100 to 160, while my HR only went up to 118. Based on this, I may have been exercising too hard on my own, even though my HR was barely in the target range. So your post helped me get on track - I'll stick with cardiac rehab and make sure my blood pressure and heart rate are both within a safe range! This is a good example, too, of how we shouldn't compare ourselves to other people's progress. While we may think we *should* be able to do something at 9 weeks post-op because other people have, it's important to take individual differences into account. I'm happy that rehab and the opportunity to be monitored is available to me, and I appreciate so much that you (and others) shared your positive experiences with it. Knowing you had the same systolic blood pressure ceiling of 160 gave me confidence that I was probably being given the right advice to slow it down, even though I felt like I could go harder. Thank you!!

Hi again. Before I push away from the computer to exercise I wanted to mention the "thing" I have for the movie "Frozen" as it applies to adding it to my indoor area to work out. I would not normally have even seen this movie but have heard the angelic voice (not) of my little 7 yr. old neighbor "Addision." Since Christmas this small voice over our fence( streaming out from their family play room window) it touches my newly mended heart to the core to hear the promise in her voice of all the wonderful things I hope life sends her way. This little gal is in remission (leukemia) and stole my heart when we first moved in here to our house 2 years ago at a time she was very sick. Their side garage door faces our side garage door where we frequently engage in conversations that are surprisingly lengthy, fun and uplifting. She told me early on I was wacky while watching me up on the 8 ft. ladder painting the side of our house with a 4" paint brush. Slowly, methodically and careful not to fall for many days this delightful child watched and entertained me with her singing different songs and kept me great company during her summer breaks from the heat outdoors. She began accompanying me on my 5 mile bike rides around the park and when not with me she would race in her all terrain vehicle with me around the park with her little helmet on. Her brothers with her as all three kept me great company as I was not sure just how many days I could continue riding as symptoms were playing at the edge of my life growing closer and closer to my ability to exercise. Her laughter being contagious and having her around as I struggled with my getting ready for surgery I found more strength and was able to rid myself of much able to fear building days before I went in. All of the tests she has gone through have not been easy and watching her running free with growing strength with her two brothers kind of touched me and possibly made me hitchhike off of her pure enjoyment of the moments flying by and the greatness in living each and every day to the fullest. Just before my surgery she had to undergo some tests which were not so easy but the kid just faced it(used to the tests as being a part of her world). I remember praying one night to God to make her strong and take me if it had to be. After all I have been blessed with 65 yrs. and she had so much to live for. I had never prayed like that before and as it were Go wasn't into trading that day and her test continue to show her in remission so I felt double blessed before I was rolled on in to surgery. So it was a Frozen Christmas theme for me and my little buddy next door and I continue to heal while hearing the laughter and love that pours from the house next door and am very pleased to learn the words to any song I may sing over the fence with her as it tickles my sternum that I have been blessed with this added support while She and I continue to heal and follow our path of recovery. I Celebrate the day as I Celebrate our Heart Valve Community.

Thanks for your feedback regarding the AAR and AVR. i go in for surgery next week and have positive days and anxious days/nights. I am very greatful for the support of my wife and family but this has been a mental challenge! Updates such as yours are also very encouraging! Thx again

Hi Ole, Glad to hear your recovery is going well. I'm curious about your activity level post-op. I'm also super active, I'm 39 and while not a runner, I'm a cyclist. I've been walking a lot for recovery and am feeling good. Were you told how much you could/should do as part of your early recovery? I'm walking as fast as I can, the next step up would be a light jog but I don't want to push too hard too soon. I'm sure you want to get back running as soon as possible. I haven't been able to find many stories about athletes recovering and what they've done to get back on the horse. Regards.