It is been 7 years since my surgery and the website had me journal my recovery and led me to write to my own blog over the years.
I have now finished my book ...Read more
It is been 7 years since my surgery and the website had me journal my recovery and led me to write to my own blog over the years.
I have now finished my book about what me and my partner have been doing since my surgery.
You can purchase our book Running All Over The World, Our Race Against Early Onset Alzheimer’s.
You can learn more about it and purchase at RunningwithCat.com
Thanks Adam Pick
Turns out the stomach aneurysm, right iliac artery, needed to be repaired. I choose the Harbourview medical center and on April 18th I had it patched up through ...Read more
Turns out the stomach aneurysm, right iliac artery, needed to be repaired. I choose the Harbourview medical center and on April 18th I had it patched up through my groin. Others wanted to do an open procedure that would have required a 6 month recovery. Knowing me that was not acceptable and I was back running 1 month after the surgery.
It took a lot out of me and for some strange reason I kept thinking it was only going to be a procedure but it turns out it was just as difficult to recover as my open surgery almost 3 years earlier. Hope to hold off my next operation for at least 5 years when they will have to go in and repair the aneurysm above my heart on my Aorta. I turn 62 years old tomorrow so happy to be above the grass and still able to run even though a bit slower. The picture was taken in Madagascar where I ran another half marathon last month. Off to Sonoma for another half marathon the middle of July and training for another one in Petra Jordan in August. No moss growing here.
Matt Sheffield Glad to see you doing so well. Very impressed with the marathons. Keep going strong.
Turns out the Aorta leading to the heart measurements came in at 4.0 which is above normal but was the same number I had prior to surgery. Unfortunately the ...Read more
Turns out the Aorta leading to the heart measurements came in at 4.0 which is above normal but was the same number I had prior to surgery. Unfortunately the stomach showed that one of my arteries was a bit large so being referred to a specialist. This is like whack a mole.
Virginia (Ginger) French SuperZip, so great to see you are not letting something like this slow you down. Love the Whack a Mo ... Read more
Virginia (Ginger) French SuperZip, so great to see you are not letting something like this slow you down. Love the Whack a Mole analogy! I'm impressed you are heading off to Cuba and still running past soooo many younger people who have never considered, let alone have, a mechanical heart valve. I would think this would be a good time of year to visit Cuba! Hugs and all good things, Ginger (Still in Oz)
Well I am 2 and 1/2 years since my Aortic valve was replaced with a mechanical valve and found out that my Aorta Diameter is now 4.8. The usual top end range ...Read more
Well I am 2 and 1/2 years since my Aortic valve was replaced with a mechanical valve and found out that my Aorta Diameter is now 4.8. The usual top end range is 3.7 and was above that when I went into surgery to replace the valve. My surgeon felt that do to my height nothing to worry about. The two Echo's since my surgery had the range around 4.0 but this last August it was up to 4.8. As it was explained to me something will need to be done if it approaches 5.5. So more tests are being performed over the next two months to see how things look. On the positive note since I do have the on-x valve the INR has been lowered to a range of 1.5-2.5 from a previous 2.5-3.5 so I can now start taking less Warfarin. All this said it is not going to slow me down. Off to Cuba next week to run another half marathon and plenty of races and travel planned for 2017.
Thanks
Tony
I will keep you in my prayers as you continue your journey. Your energy is amazing and so excited that you will continue to run. Hope you enjoy Cuba. Please keep us updated.
Terrie Syvertsen Tony- Happy to spot your post today here at the community. I hope your tests go well and you have a g ... Read more
Terrie Syvertsen Tony- Happy to spot your post today here at the community. I hope your tests go well and you have a great time in Cuba. As stated above, I hope you will give us an update. There has been no one on this site who has shown more "Life" than yourself and the encouragement and energy you pass on to us all has always been upbeat, motivating and positive.
Prayers you do well and safe in your next Marathon as well as in your travels. -Terrie
Anthony Copeland-Parker Thanks for those kind words of inspiration. I will keep you all updated. Found a new Cardiologist ... Read more
Anthony Copeland-Parker Thanks for those kind words of inspiration. I will keep you all updated. Found a new Cardiologist in Atlanta and like him a lot. I have a Cat Scan scheduled for next week so we can get a real good look at my Aortic both to my heart and Stomach.
Anthony Copeland-Parker Turns out the Aorta leading to the heart measurements came in at 4.0 which is above normal but was th ... Read more
Anthony Copeland-Parker Turns out the Aorta leading to the heart measurements came in at 4.0 which is above normal but was the same number I had prior to surgery. Unfortunately the stomach showed that one of my arteries was a bit large so being referred to a specialist. This is like whack a mole
2 YEARS
It has been two years since I had my faulty Aortic Valve replaced during Open Heart Surgery. A lot has transpired and changed in my life since that ...Read more
2 YEARS
It has been two years since I had my faulty Aortic Valve replaced during Open Heart Surgery. A lot has transpired and changed in my life since that time. The operation has put things into perspective and caused me to make some major life choices.
I retired from a job I loved after 27 years at the same company and we sold our home and put everything into storage. My life partner, Catherine and I became nomads and we have been running all over the world. Since my operation I have run 12 marathons. I ran my 64th marathon last month in Prague, Czech Republic, and have completed a race in 21 different countries.
Health wise, I feel great and very satisfied with my decision to have my valve replaced with a mechanical one. The daily dose of Warfarin and the weekly testing of my blood has become pretty routine for me. I use Cardiac Remote Services to help monitor my International Normalized Ratio, (INR) and have only had one mishap where I ran out of testing strips while in Europe. I was able to go to a nearby hospital in Madrid and they did the testing for me.
I really don’t think about that part of my life, back then, since I am much too busy living life to the fullest. The operation has taught me that we truly don’t know how long we have on this earth. Both my parents lived long and productive lives but that does not mean I can expect the same.
I no longer take life for granted and try to inspire until I expire.
The only thing that I have noticed is that I do bruise easily and that is what I was told before the operation since I will be on Warfarin for the rest of my life. I can bump into something one day and see the bruise the next. It really is no big deal since that all heal rather quickly.
My problem was noticed on a routine flight physical that I was getting as a pilot two years prior to the operation since I had no other symptoms and it first presented itself as a heart murmur. I remember wondering, why me. Was it hereditary or something I might have done to cause the leaky valve. I ran into someone that does a lot of work with athletes and she mentioned that it is not uncommon for people that participate in a lot of endurance sports to get a heart murmur since the valve does not have to work as hard, most of the time. You can say it gets lazy.
Whatever the reason may be, I am very grateful for the great work of the team at the Cleveland Clinic in general and my surgeon, Doctor Gosta Pettersson, M.D., Ph.D, in particular. The heart-valve-surgery.com website was also a great benefit and thanks once again to Adam Pick for putting it all together. The ability to post ones thoughts before and after the surgery was very therapeutic and reading the writings of others, my heart brothers and sisters, on the subject was extremely helpful.
I currently post to a blog called, Run All Over The World, on my own website, PlayHard-HaveFun.com. Catherine and I have been on the road for the past 18 months and are currently traveling in South America after finishing up a 1/2 marathon on Easter Island. We land in Rio De Janeiro in a few hours and that will be stop number 157 for us with no end in sight.
Here is quote that I do live by.
Hunter Thompson wrote: "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"
Denise Campbell Thanks for writing. There is so much about the negatives of the mechanical valve and Coumadin. I h ... Read more
Denise Campbell Thanks for writing. There is so much about the negatives of the mechanical valve and Coumadin. I had my surgery in March and have had on and off worries. I'll remember all you wrote. Plus chances of another surgery are slim to none. Enjoy your trip
Kate Watson Thank you so much for sharing this! It's just the inspiration I needed today. It is a dream of min ... Read more
Kate Watson Thank you so much for sharing this! It's just the inspiration I needed today. It is a dream of mine and my husband's to travel later in life but I have fears about being able to travel long distances or internationally since I'm now on Coumadin forever. Good reminder for Denise and I both because as she says, it's hard not to worry about the potential negatives. I'll check out your blog!
Ashley Molyneaux Thank you for the uplifting story and encouraging words. What an inspiration you are! Thank you for ... Read more
Ashley Molyneaux Thank you for the uplifting story and encouraging words. What an inspiration you are! Thank you for sharing with us!
Elaine Cutri Thanks for sharing your journey! I look forward to reading about your continuing adventures on your b ... Read more
Elaine Cutri Thanks for sharing your journey! I look forward to reading about your continuing adventures on your blog. Thumbs up!
Anthony Copeland-Parker Thanks for the great comments. Something to remember is that as we get older our cells will not repl ... Read more
Anthony Copeland-Parker Thanks for the great comments. Something to remember is that as we get older our cells will not replicate as well as they did when we are younger. Knowing that we all need to make sure we are always on top of our health.
ONE YEAR
On June 12th it will be one year since my open heart surgery. It might come as a surprise to some but it has been one fantastic year. Back in ...Read more
ONE YEAR
On June 12th it will be one year since my open heart surgery. It might come as a surprise to some but it has been one fantastic year. Back in 2012 during a routine FAA medical it was brought to my attention that I had a heart murmur. Up until that point I was the picture of health and had no idea something was wrong. I was running marathons like there was no tomorrow and had just completed an Iron Man Triathlon a few months prior.
My world was turned upside down but in reality nothing much changed. I still kept running and we were on a wait and see when it came to a future operation date. I kept track of all my vitals and was told that my running was good for me. During the next 2 years I ran 13 marathons in 6 different countries and 7 different states. I was slowing down but that did not matter to me since it was in my blood to run.
In April of 2014 it was decided that it would be best to have my Aortic Valve replaced and everyone pointed me to the Cleveland Clinic and that was the best decision since I still feel they did a fantastic job. Even though they do these type of operations hundreds of times a month they made me feel like I was their only patient and in most ways like family. My surgeon was also a runner and biker and understood how much running meant to me and even worked with me to pick the best date to coincide with my race schedule.
On the day of my surgery I had 8 different holes in me at the same time. I had my heart stopped, valve replaced with a mechanical one and then started back up and my Mini Zipper chest incision closed. It still is hard to believe that all that took place. I often joke that running a marathon is like child birth. If it was not no one would do it more than once. You only seem to remember the great parts of a marathon and not how much it sucks during the actual event. Having open heart surgery is similar except I choose a mechanical valve so that I would not have to ever do it again. They say a tissue valve would only last about 15 years and with my active lifestyle I decided why take the chance of blowing out another valve.
Granted there have been some down side to that choose but I have no regrets. The biggest is the fact that to prevent blood clots around the valve I now have to take a blood thinner once a day but looking back it really has been no big deal. I have a meter and take one drop of my blood from my finger once a week and call in the results. I consistently eat well and take my meds and so far so good. I have noticed that running or at least staying active helps a lot. I am no spring chicken, turning 60 next month but over all this whole episode has helped me to appreciate life more and it probably the major reason I choose to retire from UPS where I was a well respected Pilot/Manager with 26 years at the company and 37 total years flying airplanes all over the world.
Now as the anniversary of my operation comes and goes I am presently preparing to go on a week long cruise on Windstar Cruises out of Tahiti. After that I am going to spend a month in Tahiti and then on to Australia for the Outback Marathon. That will be Marathon number 59 for me and the 7th since my operation. I was back to running a mere month after my operation and ran the Berlin Marathon 2 months later. I love to set goals and that fact has kept me motivated over the years. As I said I turn 60 next month my goal is to run my 60th Marathon in Bordeaux France in September. I did a 50 miler when I turned 50. Ran 55 miles in two days at 55 so it seams fitting to finish 60 marathons at the age of 60 and open heart surgery was not going to stop me.
No telling what goals I will set in the coming years or what obstacles will be placed in my way but I hope that running will forever help me achieve those goals. I was walking the afternoon of my surgery and my level of fitness was credited for my fast recovery. Why mess with success. I often hear people tell me that they no longer run because of their knees or other bothersome body parts but the facts don’t lie. Those that run and stay active have fewer complaints than those that don’t.
It has been a very interesting journey and I have enjoyed the ride.
No telling what the next 20 or 30 years will be like but I know one thing for sure.
I will not be the one sitting on the couch watching it go by.
Tammy Pilcher Wow Anthony, you are an inspiration for sure! Congratulations on your amazing recovery! God bless y ... Read more
Tammy Pilcher Wow Anthony, you are an inspiration for sure! Congratulations on your amazing recovery! God bless you!
Terrie Syvertsen Anthony Copeland-Parker: AMAZING POST FROM A MOST AMAZING MAN AND HEART BROTHER. (I don't want to sho ... Read more
Terrie Syvertsen Anthony Copeland-Parker: AMAZING POST FROM A MOST AMAZING MAN AND HEART BROTHER. (I don't want to shock you with my few words here but know I do intend to lay a nice long, wordy, email to you soon, chuckle. Keep on running!
HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
Eleanor R Congratulations Tony, it is good to hear from you. I followed your journey, coming right behind you ... Read more
Eleanor R Congratulations Tony, it is good to hear from you. I followed your journey, coming right behind you on July 14, 2014. You gave me hope and courage that I could do it, too. Glad to hear you're still running and enjoying life. Best wishes to you! Eleanor
Virginia (Ginger) French Flying Mini-Z, You continue to inspire so many of us! We are so delighted to hear how this year has g ... Read more
Virginia (Ginger) French Flying Mini-Z, You continue to inspire so many of us! We are so delighted to hear how this year has gone and to know that you are still putting on the miles! Happy ONE YEAR Anniversary and many more to come. You have been such an encouragement to me, brother! Love and hugs, Ginger
Nancy D Congrats on one year and all you have enjoyed and accomplished!! I make one year in August- and whil ... Read more
Nancy D Congrats on one year and all you have enjoyed and accomplished!! I make one year in August- and while my journey pales in comparison, I have discovered walking a the ripe age of 58 and have recently started a new job where I have logged no less than 2 miles per day while working. We are all so blessed to have the level of care we have now and can make some decisions along the way that are solely ours to make in a time when lots of things are out of our control! I wish you many many more long happy active years ahead!!
Anthony Copeland-Parker Thanks to all that left me a message. We are all part of the heart village and it does take a villag ... Read more
Anthony Copeland-Parker Thanks to all that left me a message. We are all part of the heart village and it does take a village. All the best to each of you.
TCP
Neil Collins Just found this update. As I head towards surgery your story is such an inspiration. Our stories are ... Read more
Neil Collins Just found this update. As I head towards surgery your story is such an inspiration. Our stories are similar (except I have 58 more marathons to catch up with you) but endurance sports have become my new passion which are on hold until I get this new valve installed. Thanks for the update. About to lose my medical for a little while I think but all for the best....
Kathleen F. Wow this is an inspiring post! My one-year anniversary is coming up, and I had read your journal as ... Read more
Kathleen F. Wow this is an inspiring post! My one-year anniversary is coming up, and I had read your journal as I was preparing for surgery, and then as I was recovering. And, I thought of you because I was just accepted into the Berlin marathon for Sept. 2016! Now the real training begins... I've done 3 half marathons since my Ross procedure and feel fine, and am impressed to see your did 7 marathons in the year following your surgery! I couldn't have asked for more caring, generous or inspirational people to share this journey with, and I'm happy to be part of this hear village. All my best! :)
Anthony Copeland-Parker Thanks Neil and Kathleen. All is possible if you set reasonable goals for yourself.
108 Days post AVR surgery
Modern medicine is amazing. After only 108 days I was able to run my 53rd Marathon in Berlin Germany yesterday. All the stars ...Read more
108 Days post AVR surgery
Modern medicine is amazing. After only 108 days I was able to run my 53rd Marathon in Berlin Germany yesterday. All the stars were aligned. The weather was perfect and the course was flat and lined with over a million folks cheering us on the entire way. Not only did my heart perform just as I had hoped but also the rest of my body parts cooperated. That is not always the case when trying to cover 26.2 miles by foot.
It was not my fastest time but I wanted to enjoy every minute so I did the marathon exactly according to plan. Started out slow and slowed down through out the race. This was however my post surgery personal best and I think I can improve on that time in my next upcoming race. You know me, I love setting goals for myself.
In contrast the Men’s world record was shattered by over 30 seconds at a time of 2:02:57. That was nearly one third of my overall time. As a added bonus I can say I ran at the same Marathon where history was made. When I would have usually hit the wall, at mile 20, I started taking pictures and waving at all the well wishers. I felt great.
I must credit the skilled surgeons and team at the Cleveland Clinic lead by Dr Gosta Pettersson, M.D., Ph.D. We had all along planned for me to be in position to run this Marathon when my surgery was scheduled back in May for the June 12th surgery date. I followed their instructions to the “T" and I am so grateful to them for helping me achieve my goal.
Moving forward I have one more Marathon planned in Des Moines, Iowa in the middle of Oct with a half Marathon a week later in Miami. Next year is booked solid with 10 marathons on the Calendar to far off lands like Tokyo, Japan in February and Ayers Rock, Australia in July. I appreciate all the support along the way from beginning to end. Adam Pick has done a fantastic with his vision for this website where we all can connect through out the process. The well wishes have been up lifting and the ability for me to express my inner most thoughts was very therapeutic.
This, however, will be my last journal entry as a slide back into normal life as just another runner. The mini zipper scar which is quickly fading away will be my only reminder of what has transpired over the last 2 1/2 years when I my General Practitioner first mentioned to me. “ Do you know you have a heart murmur.” My life has forever changed and in my opinion for the better.
One of the things I hope will always stay with me is patients. Going from a type “A” personality, someone that had never spent a day in the hospital to where I am today has taught me that. It even played out during the race yesterday. I use to look at my watch the whole way and try to improve my times but with what I have learned, be patient and enjoy each and every moment.
Wishing you all the best.
Tony Copeland-Parker
AKA TCP
Toni
Anthony
MZ for Mini Zipper
MM for Marathon Man
Eleanor R You are amazing Tony, one of the first journals I read when told the dreaded "Do you know you have a ... Read more
Eleanor R You are amazing Tony, one of the first journals I read when told the dreaded "Do you know you have a murmur?" I have enjoyed your journey and it has given me strength and encouragement to undertake my own. I'm now 12 weeks post surgery and while never a runner (at 68) I am in cardiac rehab three times a week, getting back my strength and independence. Continue running and flying and enjoying life. Best wishes to you, Eleanor
Virginia (Ginger) French Tony, The Man, what an inspiration you have been to me since I first was blessed to meet you on this ... Read more
Virginia (Ginger) French Tony, The Man, what an inspiration you have been to me since I first was blessed to meet you on this website! You have always had a bright spirit, and your words and examples and understanding have encouraged me as I followed you on this journey! May God richly bless you with continuing good health and the Joy of Life. You are one of the people I have met here who will always be remembered and have a place in my prayers and in my heart. I hold you in high regard with respect and love and hugs, Ginger
Joaquim Cimoes Dear Anthony thank you for sharing your wonderful experience. A lot of hugs for you from Brazil.
Adam Pick TCP, Toni, Anthony, MZ and MM - Thanks for the kind words and that fantastic picture. And just in tim ... Read more
Adam Pick TCP, Toni, Anthony, MZ and MM - Thanks for the kind words and that fantastic picture. And just in time for Oktoberfest. :) But seriously, you are an inspiration to so many of us. Here's to another 53 marathons! Keep on tickin! Adam
Joan Napier Congratulations! You are inspirational!
Anthony Owens Hello Anthony! I posted a question about what's life like with having a mechanical heart valve and be ... Read more
Anthony Owens Hello Anthony! I posted a question about what's life like with having a mechanical heart valve and being on blood thinner for the rest of your life and was told to reach out to you because you're the man. My surgery is this month. I'm 43 and leaning toward the mechanical valve because it last longer but you must take blood thinner. How has your life been with this adjustment taking the blood thinner? I saw the photo of you having a beer(cool pic!). Did that have any interactions with the blood thinner med?
Pure Skill and Determination
Part 2
This is where the rubber meets the road. This being the rubber of my running shoes on the road in Berlin Germany. Throughout ...Read more
Pure Skill and Determination
Part 2
This is where the rubber meets the road. This being the rubber of my running shoes on the road in Berlin Germany. Throughout the process I have talked many times of achieving my goal of running my 54th marathon a mere 108 days after open heart surgery. I have prepared myself as best I can both before and after surgery and that is the skill part. I know what it takes to run 26.2 miles and I put a recuperation and training program together to achieve my goal. It is not like I could go out and by a training program off the shelf and apply it. I am sure few people have attempted such but one thing you can say about me is that I definitely one of a kind.
I am still waging a battle with the FAA to let me fly a few more times before I retire. At least they can’t stop me from running so with both my Cardiologist and General Practitioners blessing I have arrived in Berlin today. The race is not until Sunday and knowing me it will take around 5 and 1/2 hours to complete. The weather is looking to cooperate with a low around 50 and high in the mid 60’s so no excuses for me not to put my best foot forward and get “R” done.
In my mind the hard part is behind me. This is my third Marathon this year with 7 accomplished last year and one more to do in Oct in Des Moines to round out 2014. I feel that I am very in tune with my body and plan on starting out real slow and slowing down all the way to the finish. I want to be able to keep my head up and enjoy the tour of the city by foot and try my best to keep a smile on my face.
This is where the determination part comes in. There are going to be miles where I will second guess myself. Doubt my abilities and have every part of my body beg me to stop. It is Berlin and I am sure there will be cold beer at the end and I will use every fiber of my being to cross the finish.
I would ask you to wish me luck but as you know.
Luck has nothing to do with it.
It is pure skill and determination.
I will update sometime after the race.
Thanks
Tony
I don't know how you were able to keep up with your running. I'm going to get my second DNS next month. I had signed up for a half marathon series before finding out about my leaky valve. I'm out of breath and dizzy by mile two. No way I could run 13 miles right now.
Anthony Copeland-Parker That might be true but I suggest that you look at your schedule and put something on the calendar tha ... Read more
Anthony Copeland-Parker That might be true but I suggest that you look at your schedule and put something on the calendar that is realistic in the near future. At the time I wondered if Berlin was realistic just 15 weeks after surgery. It was a stretch goal but here I am.
Tony
Happy trails to you
Here is my 8 week post AVR update. Health is doing great and I am ahead of schedule for the Berlin Marathon in 51 days. I sometimes have ...Read more
Happy trails to you
Here is my 8 week post AVR update. Health is doing great and I am ahead of schedule for the Berlin Marathon in 51 days. I sometimes have to remind myself I even had surgery. The return to work was not that bad and it actually felt like I had never left.
This whole experience made me think more about retirement and I have decided that March 1, 2015 I will take the plunge and start the new chapter in my life. I have been working steady since I was 14, delivering papers ,and feel 45 years is long enough. I have been blessed with an outstanding career in Aviation so there is no time like the present to turn the page in the book of life.
I have not finalized my plans but the title of this chapter will be, Run all over the world. I have met some great people over the years and don't be surprise to get a message from me that I am running in a town near you. Don't worry about leaving the light on a nearby Marriott will do just fine with lunch or dinner on me.
I am going to hold off giving any more updates with the last one being how it felt to run marathon number 53 in Berlin. I truly appreciate all the support and look forward to reading the stories of others as they go this road less traveled. sharing of our collective experiences has helped immensely and hope that my adventures have also helped others.
Tony
All systems are go for my return to work tomorrow.
Had my thread mill stress test today which I aced. I must admit that I trained for it.
Ran a 5K on Saturday, ...Read more
All systems are go for my return to work tomorrow.
Had my thread mill stress test today which I aced. I must admit that I trained for it.
Ran a 5K on Saturday, did a 5 miler on Sunday and 3 miles on Tuesday. Everything looked good and my Cardiologist gave me the green light. My INR is finally in range at 3.2. I knew it was going to be a good number when they pricked my finger and they did not even have to squeeze my finger to get plenty of blood for the test.
I still don't have my FAA medical so I can't go back to flying but that is only part of my job so I guess I will be flying a desk for awhile. This will be the first time in my 37 year career. Undecided on how long it will take to get my medical back. My FAA doctor, which I see next Wednesday, does not think it will take long but others feel it might take 3 to 6 months. Don't see what the hold up could be since my old valve was not doing such a great job and as long as I was not having any symptoms they let me fly. This one is doing great but maybe it is the old stop and start the heart thing that has them concerned. No big deal I will take it all in stride.
The count down continues for the Berlin Marathon in September, 66 days to be exact and now the training begins in earnest. Good thing for me since I have already done 52 of them I don't have to do the dreaded long runs. Eight mile will probably be the max and maybe I will throw in a half marathon sometime between now and Berlin just for the fun of it. Already planning on another Marathon in October. Des Moines should be a good place to visit that time of the year.
It is funny to realize that I really have nothing on my calendar after January. Maybe it was because I was not sure I was going to be around then. Now that everything is looking good health wise it is time to put a few more great adventures on the calendar.
I have managed to keep some sort of exercise going so far this year. We are on day 204 in 2014 and I have managed to get in at least 30 minutes of some sort of exercise each day. That would entail 310 miles walking, 440 miles running and 81 miles on my bike. That would include 98 miles walking, 33 miles running and 11 miles on my bike since my operation 6 weeks ago.
The only other thing left to do is to get my own INR testing equipment. I have a letter from my Cardiologist saying that regular testing is a requirement so I hope to convince my insurance company to bypass the 3 month waiting period and get a unit right away. Right now it is taking about an hour out of my day to get it done in the doctor's office. Speaking of insurance it looks like the final bill is going to be around 150K for the valve replacement. Not meaning to get into a debate about insurance but can't imagine what my choices would have been with out health insurance.
I have heard it be said that the filter between your mouth and your brain has a tendency to malfunction from time to time after open heart surgery. It seems to be working fine now but I will put it to the test when I return to work tomorrow. I was pretty outspoken before hand so no telling what is in store. I am sure I will always treat others as I want to be treated. That is how my Mother raised me and in her memory of her passing a year ago this past Sunday I will try my best to think about that before I open my mouth.
Tony
Well I can easily say the worst is behind me and I am well on my way to a full recovery. I was able to get a full night's sleep last night and looking forward ...Read more
Well I can easily say the worst is behind me and I am well on my way to a full recovery. I was able to get a full night's sleep last night and looking forward to a day without having to take a nap. My energy level is almost back to normal and I have settled in on a weight a few pounds shy of where I started but what seems optimal for me right now.
My INR number is hovering around 2.1 which is a bit below the desired 2.5 to 3.5 range but I might be one of those that requires the max dosage of Coumadin each day. Another check on Monday along with the required Echocardiogram to see if my Ejection Fraction is back up to the recommended 55-60%. If so then I should get clearance to start back running. I must admit that on Sunday as a birthday gift to myself, while I was out for a 4 mile fast pace walk, I did jog on and off. It felt great but I could tell that the current medications I am taking had some negative effects on my performance.
I am currently taking Beta Blockers and Ace Inhibitors to lower my blood pressure and slow my heart rate to enhance the healing effects for my heart but the down side is when you ask for more output from the heart it is if the heart has a governor and no matter what it will not go above 90 beats a minute. So you have to be real careful or you can get dizzy or even pass out if you over do it. I meet with my Cardiologist next Friday and hope that my Echo looks good and he can start to cut me back on the Meds and let me return to my normal exercise routine.
As I pilot I love numbers and here are some for reference.
28 days since my AVR surgery
190 days that I have completed 30 minutes of exercise each day. That would include 3, 10 minute walks in the halls the day after my surgery and including a 5K race I walked on the 4th of July in 45 minutes.
79 days until the Berlin Marathon which I am on track to complete. I might need the entire 6 hour and 15 minute time limit to complete but I have yet to DNF, did not finish, a race I started.
Last but not least, because of this new valve, which by now I can hardly ever hear click closed,
360 days until my 60th birthday.
Thanks to all of you that have followed me along the journey. I have decided to update less frequently unless there is a grand milestone along the way. I appreciate everyones' support and well wishes but it is getting real close to getting back to the work a day world and all the fun stuff that goes along with it. If all goes as planned I will be returning to work in two weeks. I hope I adjust well to getting back into the routine but if not I guess others will have to adjust to me.
I realize that this is an over used phrase but after having 8 different holes in me at once not including the Mini Zipper and the whole heart stop and restarted reality.
LIFE IS TOO SHORT
Tony
Time does fly when you are having fun or when you are on the other side of surgery. I do remember how slow the days went by in preparation for surgery.
My ...Read more
Time does fly when you are having fun or when you are on the other side of surgery. I do remember how slow the days went by in preparation for surgery.
My health seems to be improving just as expected. I am now having many more great hours than just okay or bad hours.
I am now able to take two walks a day for a total of 2 miles and my pain as it were is under complete control by just two doses of Tylenol, regular strength, a day. I am still unable to sleep all night and require only one nap during the day. That desire for a nap hits me like a ton of bricks. On minute I can be wide awake and the next I can't keep my eyes open. Still can't sleep on my side or stomach as before.
My INR took a dip yesterday to 1.7 so they have upped the amount of Coumadin to 10mg for yesterday and Sunday with another finger prick scheduled for Monday. I was able to talk to the nurse and also received information in the mail about a portable testing unit so after 90 days I will be able to do it myself at home or on the road.
I must admit the blood thinning situation is a bit worrisome but I am sure we will get the number steady in the 2.5-3.5 range in awhile. In an effort to help move the number in the right direction I will cut out all salads for the time being. It does seem counter intuitive but I can simple replace those veggies for others. I also noticed that my Centrum Silver over 50 men formula has Vitamin K, 200% of vitamin C and and E. The B-Complex that I have been taking also has 500% of C. CoQ10 is also on the do not take list even though the hospital had it on their approved list of vitamins for me. I will have to go back to the drawing board on my vitamin selections and be more careful as I move forward.
My numerous entry and exit points including the MZ, mini zipper are all healing nicely and only have an occasional cracking sensation of the chest wall during my daily activities. I was happy while in the hospital not to actually hear the clicking noise of the valve but now that I am home while I am trying to sleep I can hear it. I guess the noise of the AC system while in the hospital was able to drown it out. No big deal, I will now just put some music on while going to sleep and understand after awhile I will adjust. It is much better than the sound of the murmur just prior to surgery and I was able to get use to it.
Going to try to go some extra distance on the walking this weekend. On Saturday going to try a two mile walk with a 20 minute a mile of faster pace. Sunday up the distance to 3 miles but at the same pace. Along the route I will make sure there will be somewhere I can cop a squat if necessary half way thru. I was able to get 1.75 in during my morning walk in 30 minutes so all is well on the exercise front. It still stings a bit when I see someone run by me but I will wait until I get clearance from my Cardiologist when I go see him on the 18th of July.
My weight is coming back at a rate of 1/2 pound a day. Have to be careful since one sign of heart problems is putting on 3-5 pounds in a short period of time. That is a sign that ones heart is in trouble and starting to take on water. So much to do and remember. Good thing I don't have to go back to work for awhile. Actually I could not imagine trying to do my job in my current condition. I guess I will get a good idea when that might be when I go see my Cardiologist. The only other question to answer is what hoops I will have to jump through to get my FAA Medical back so that I can continue flying once I get back to work.
Tony
There is no place like home
Especially if you have completed the once in a life time Hospital Endurathon.
Glad I trained for the event and was rather young. ...Read more
There is no place like home
Especially if you have completed the once in a life time Hospital Endurathon.
Glad I trained for the event and was rather young. Got a PR, personal record, first time out and do not ever plan on doing another one.
Usually I get a medal and T-Shirt on such endurance events. In this case my heart pillow will substitute as the T-Shirt and my brand new On-X #27-29 mechanical valve will serve as my medal.
There were a number of things I never thought I would learn.
Not in any particular order.
How to snap and tie a hospital gown with one arm hooked up to an IV.
How to ask for more hospital food.
That I would lose 10 pounds in a week without dieting.
Judge the blood draw staff on promptness, courtesy and overall effectiveness.
I even got out of bed and asked why the 4 am stick was running late.
Over a dozen ways to tell someone that what was going to happen was going to hurt all while smiling.
How to escape in my mind from a hospital.
The chopper daily and nightly schedule.
The importance of having fresh spare noise cancellation headphone batteries.
What INR, International Normalized Ratio, stands for and how it's movement varies widely from person to person.
That the surgeon that you have is always the best one on staff.
It is quicker to go from fully dressed to ready for open heart surgery then to go from hospital gown to your car on discharge.
How great sunsets really look.
How sweet the words "wake up" can sound.
That being cold is relative but being hot is unbearable
How to operate a multifunction hospital bed with one hand with eye shades on.
That pain is truly temporary.
How great the sound of two beeps after hitting the pain pump in ICU is.
That it is harder to forget what you don't want to remember than you thought.
That your heart is pretty smart and after surgery it knows that it is now time to get some rest all by itself.
That I would fear being at home not hooked up to all the machines.
This one caused a panic attack on the first night at home.
The trip home wore me out and got all the information to when call their 24/7 number and when to call 911.
Blood pressure and heart rate were both up and my entire chest and left shoulder blade hurt.
The spiral began. Did they let me go to soon,etc? After nearly two weeks of being tested, observed, monitored etc it was now time for me to figure it out all by myself. I had read stories of others ending up at the ER and I feared that was where I was headed. Sleep deprivation did not help matters. I managed to calm down took two Tylenols and crashed for 10 hours.
Felt much better yesterday and hope that I am well on my way to recovery. I am sure there will be some twists and turns along the way. I have read how people have decided when to go back to work. Right now I am figuring that if I can't run then I should not subject others to a hostile work environment.
Went to get my blood checked today and my INR number was 2.1 with a goal of 2.5 to 3.5. Only a drop of blood from my finger was needed so my arms were very happy.
While there I scheduled my 7 day post op with my GP and my 4 week post op Echo and office visit with my Cardiologist. Hopefully by then my heart will no longer need the rest and that my Injection Fraction is back to near 60% as before surgery.
Only decision to be made now. Second half of World Cup Soccer or Nap Time.
Tony
Rehab in the Hospital
Not exactly what I had planned but I will take this delicious dish on a silver platter any and every day as opposed to the alternative. ...Read more
Rehab in the Hospital
Not exactly what I had planned but I will take this delicious dish on a silver platter any and every day as opposed to the alternative. My INR numbers are slowly climbing and I actually got 5 hours of sleep last night during 3 well timed naps. I did dream each time so I was glad to know that I was able to reach deep sleep.
I did not realize how much I took sleep for granted. I would get in bed watch a little TV and off to sleep I would go. I did not have to set an alarm because I knew that 7 hours later I would be waking up.
Something else that was pointed out by an comment to one of my posts is how I underestimated the how the lack of endorphins was going to effect me. I simply thought that if I was able to get out and walk the halls a dozen times a day for a total of an hour or so that I would be okay.
NOT
With those pieces of valuable information I will now be able to understand as to why I am not my totally positive self. What I am going thru is simply temporary and right now is somewhat out of control. However my attitude is something I can control and I am going to start working what I can control more, look to the future more, and stop dwelling on the present and the past.
Yesterday the manager of the floor saw me out walking with my favorite running shoes on and suggested that I go to the Rehab facility near by my room today and I am like a kid waiting for my parents to wake me up on Christmas morning. They are open from 10- Noon so have my entire day planned around being able to go and maybe even take my heart rate up a notch or two. My original rehab plan was to wait until after I got home and then sign up with the local hospital after a week so this is great news.
It was as good as I had hoped. With my vitals up on a screen for the folks to review and Blood pressure taken every 5 minutes I was able to get in a slow walk for 20 minutes straight and around 6/10's of a mile. I now have a goal for tomorrow. Do a little bit better. My heart rate drooped a bit after my mid day nap and blood pressure is also more in line with what it was prior to surgery. Icing on the cake will be an afternoon walk on the roof top lounge. Oh happy day.
It did not matter that it was 90 degrees out the fresh air was worth its weight in gold.
I had some fun when a chopper landed near by so I imagined they dropped in to pick me up and get me out on the day that I had originally hoped. I did have a good laugh with that one. During the time on the roof I was also able to reflect on the fact that only one week ago I had the major of all major surgeries and by all accounts I am doing great.
Decided to name my scar MZ for Mini Zipper so you can tell that my positive attitude is back in full bloom. Thanks to all that have read my ramblings and that have sent me much needed words of encouragement. I also look forward to read the stories of success, setback, sidesteps, etc of others that have gone down this road or by those that will be soon be hearing the sweet sounds of the words, wake up because in reality you were only sleeping.
Now for something to think about for those that have their date set and are now counting down the days. Here at the Cleveland Clinic they give you an online password to what they call Guided Imagery. I also went online and found a great meditation application called, take a break! Meditation Oasis. I highly recommend both. With Guided Imagery they have several different meditation sessions. One for general use for you or family members and also one pre operation and one post operation. I found the pre operation sessions particularly helpful. It asks you to think of the perfect experience that is easy to remember and just prior to surgery while they are hooking you up go to that happy place. It really works. When asked my level of stress while getting ready for surgery on the scale of 0-10, I was easily able to answer ZERO.
Thanks
Tony
I don't want to use the term bad news but in this case my hopes of being able to leave the hospital tomorrow have been dashed. The good news is that I had ...Read more
I don't want to use the term bad news but in this case my hopes of being able to leave the hospital tomorrow have been dashed. The good news is that I had my heart pacing wires removed today. They were actually up against the heart and are used to either increase or decrease ones heart rate. They did not actually have to use them but were there just in case.
My heart rate has been a very steady 70 or so beats per minute however is about 15 beats faster than it was pre-operation. I guess I will either have to adjust to the new resting rate or work on it, when able to start running again. Blood pressure is in the high normal range so they also have me on Beta Blockers to bring it down. My usual level of exercise will also help to keep it in the normal range.
Now the not so good news. My INR number, the International Normalized Ratio, is normal for a person without a mechanical valve. Right now it is 1.1 but the blood clotting factor needs to be between 2-3. The blood thinner, Coumadin or as we see on TV a lot warfarin, has not kicked in yet so I will be hooked back up to an Heparin IV for awhile to help get the number up. Needles to say I cannot leave the hospital until they get the number to the acceptable range. There are a number of precautions while taking Coumadin, which I will have to do for the rest of my life, but still feel that they are worth not ever having to do this again.
Right now just taking it one day at a time and will always remember when the nurse asked me to wake up and I realized I was alive. Actually your hearing is the first to come back and clear vision the last so when I heard her I first thought they were trying to bring me back to life but realized that they simply wanted me to wake up so I could breath on my own.
No sleep in stepdown for that matter. I expected to be up after the operation in ICU but had no idea how difficult it was going to be to get a good night ...Read more
No sleep in stepdown for that matter. I expected to be up after the operation in ICU but had no idea how difficult it was going to be to get a good night sleep while in step down in my hospital room.
I am not much of a day sleeper so catching an hour nap is about all I can muster. I usually get 7-8 hours of sleep a night and I am a very light sleeper so the nightly rounds are starting to catch up with me. Two things I have noticed is a headache that won't go away and I am a bit cranky.
Here is the routine between 10pm and 8am
Oral medication plus a stick to the belly at 10pm
Vitals check at 11pm
More meds thru a intravenous line at 12am
Someone sticks their head in and asks how am I doing at 1am
Vitals at 3am
Someone checks 4 am
Blood draw at 5 am
More meds thru intravenous line at 6am
Vitals at 7 am
More oral meds plus shot to belly a 8am
That does not include the several times I have to get up to use the rest room. All fluids in or out most be measured.
I asked for a sleep aide last night so at least instead of staying awake between pokes and prods I was able to fall back to sleep most times. That helped the headache and hopefully I will return to my cheerful self after a nap sometime today.
I also should have tried to sleep on my back prior to this operation. That is a required skill. Needless to say I am a side or belly sleeper which I have not been able to pull off yet. Before hand I could only sleep on my right side since my murmur had gotten so loud it would reverberate off my ribs and keep me awake or wake me me up if I turned that way.
You live and you learn but hope to never have to use this experience again.
Tony
No pain no gain
Being a runner you hear that a lot. However going thru this I must say that for now I have actually had no pain. Some discomfort from time ...Read more
No pain no gain
Being a runner you hear that a lot. However going thru this I must say that for now I have actually had no pain. Some discomfort from time to time but I have managed to be able answer, zero, when asked about my level of pain. Sort of worrisome since I expect it to creep up me at anytime as the drug dosage is deceased. I am truly learning to be a patient patient.
Just finished a 10 minute walk around the area and think I might do another loop in a few but a doubt it since I don't want to overdo it.
I did learn something after surgery and that is, there are several ways to replace my valve and I was completely wrong on what I thought was going to occur. It is my fault since I really did not want to know how the sausage was made. I figured they were the experts so just went with the flow. My surgeon said he was going to do a mini incision and I thought that meant I was getting Minimal J Incision Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery. That was crack pot research on my part before hand.
In my mind I thought it was a horizontal incision right below the breast bone or port access. We had discussed 2 months ago full median sternotomy which is vertical down the chest. Turns out he was talking about minimally invasive sternotomy which is about 1/3 the size. So far so good but I did learn a valuable lesson when it comes to your body. If you have any doubt keep asking questions until the doubt is completely gone. I usually go with the thrust hut verify approach but lent more on the trust side in this case. No harm no foul since it all worked out in the end.
Tony
I'm writing this for my brother, Tony, at his request. He's out of surgery, out of recovery. When they took the breathing tube out his words were "things were ...Read more
I'm writing this for my brother, Tony, at his request. He's out of surgery, out of recovery. When they took the breathing tube out his words were "things were perfect in every conceivable way." He's resting, hopes to be able to write his own posts very soon. Thanks to everyone for their messages of support and encouragement!