Diana's Journal

Its been a while since I posted on here, and thought I should give an update of things. I\'m doing fabulous. I feel great, back to doing normals things. The extreme pain I was experiencing that put me in the hospital back in October of 2010 I think was due to my incison. My incision became a keloid, very painful and itchy. This past November I finally had had enough and went to a dermatologist where she injected the incision with steriods and WALAAA....no more pain, no more intense itching, and the incision itself has deflated. Its still very wide and pretty red yet, but that doesn\'t bother me. As long as the pain and itching are gone. I can deal with the rest. I\'ve been putting on some vitamen ointments to help with the redness, too. We\'ll see what happens with them. And, since I\'ve had the keloid treated, no more intense pains in my shoulders and chests. So, makes you wonder if it was all connected somehow. Don\'t know! Life has continued on the norm. Those of you that are waiting for your surgery. Believe me, it gets better, and the surgery was a piece of cake. There are a couple of things that you have to remember once you have the surgery. Patience, patience, patience,......oh and did I mention patience. Your going to have ups and downs, it goes with the territory. But, you will notice that in time, your ups out number your downs, until you have all ups, and hardly any downs. It does get better and you will feel as good as new. But, it takes time. Had an echo a month ago and it was unremarkable. Good to hear!!! Had a CT Scan and everything looked good there, too. I have a follow up with the cardiologist next month and I should be good for a year. I did change cardiologists recently, only because to see my old cardiologist I had to travel a good distance. Where, the new one is very close to where I live and he treated me when I was in the hospital in October of 2010, right after my surgery. I liked him, so decided to go with him. I\'ll be popping in from time to time to read everybody\'s posts, but I have to admit, I\'ve been negligent in posting because I\'ve been so busy. Life back to normal. Love you all, Diana

I went to see the Rheumotologist June 2nd and I was very impressed with him. He looks like a Duggy Houser, very young. He spent over an hour with me, and gave me some scenerios. He ordered more blood work, a Sed rate, Rheumatoid Factor and several others. When I was having a flare in my shoulder, my Sed rate went up to 34, and now that I\'m not in a flare, Sed rate was back to 15. Other blood work came back good. My Ferritin did not. Normal is between 75 - 150, mine was 283. He put in a standing order for another blood workup that I\'m to have done when I\'m in a flare again, to compare. And he also gave me a script for prednizone that I\'m to take after the blood work to see if it stops the flare. I go back to him in July for a follow up. He said the blood work shows that there is something definately going on, but we have to find out exactly what it is. Can take time to figure it all out. So far, I have not had a flare for about a month. According to the history of when it hits, I\'m due for one very soon. Time will tell. I\'m wondering if I inherited something from the blood transfusions I got during surgery. Is that possible? I didn\'t have this problem before surgery. Makes you go......hummmmmmmm! I\'ll keep you all up to date. Have a wonderful summer. Diana

Well, yesterday was 1 year since my surgery. Thought about it all day and remembered how scared I was. So many thoughts rolling in my mind. I feel 100% better than I did then. I can\'t tell you how wonderful I feel. But I know you all know what I\'m talking about. AND.........TADA!!!!!! I ride my motorcycle yesterday for the first time to mark my one year anniversary. It felt wonderful, I was afraid that I would forget how to ride, its been so long, but it was just like I rode yesterday, didn\'t even skip a beat. Going to a nice ride tomorrow and I can\'t wait. Went to the rheumatologist yesterday. I like this one a lot better. He spent a long time with me and did some more blood work and we\'ll see where it goes from there. I see him again in 6 weeks, plus he ordered prednizone to take when the attacks hit to see if that will help. I think he has a few ideas of what it could be, but it will take time to sort through it all. To all of you that are facing this surgery in the future. Do not fret about it. It really is a piece of cake. Sure, you have some ups and downs, but as time goes on, your ups are way more than your downs. You are all on the right site when it comes to support, caring and love. You will get everything that you need here and then some.Hang in there, don\'t be afraid, and you will be amazed to how wonderful you feel when its all said and done. Everybody enjoy this wonderful weather we are experiencing and I will check back in a few weeks. Love to you all, Diana

Well, almost a year since my surgery and things are really coming along. We have our motorcycles in the shop to get them ready for riding season. Won\'t be long now. I\'m heading to a rheumatologist again June 2, the 1 year anniversary of my surgery. Still having problems with severe chills, fever and shoulder,arm pain from time to time. Family doctor is really leaning towards a auto immune problem, and since I have a couple already, whats another one, right? We shall see. Otherwise, I feel wonderful. Incision still bothers from time to time, and found out that my incision is a keloid and will be that way. You can google it. Other than itching and sore from time to time, its not too bad at all. Don\'t think I\'ll do anything about it right now. If it gets worse, there are a few options I can consider. But its good for now. We\'re all settled in our new house, had a beautiful deck built and looking to do some finishing in the basement. Make a man cave for Dwight. Started on Weight Watchers and doing pretty good with that. Lost 10 pounds so far. Its slow, but a really easy diet to follow. Jennifer Hudson is right, it works! Everybody enjoy your summer. I\'m looking forward to some really nice motorcycle rides this year. And we are going to start our shooting activities again. Things are back to normal. I will let everybody know what the rheumatologist has to say. Diana

Hope everybody had a great Easter holiday. And I hope that everybody in the midwest is ok with all the tornados out there. My thoughts and prayers are with all. Well, I\'m now being treated for Lymes disease. I found a tick on me the other day and the mark it left was very strange, nothing like I have had before. So, off to the doctors I went. They started me on antibiotics right away. It was a teeny tiny tick and I just knew it wasn\'t good. I don\'t feel bad at all tho, which is a good thing. My arm finally stopped hurting and the fever has gone. I have another doctors appointment next Monday and we will chat about what could be with my arm and go from there. Otherwise, I feel wonderful. I can\'t believe that I\'m 11 months post op. How the time flew by! I even mowed the lawn for the first time since surgery and felt wonderful afterward. Sneezing is getting a lot easier and hardly even hurts anymore. Have a terrific week and I\'ll be in touch again. Diana

Happy Easter, Everybody! Its been a while since my last post, and the pain that I thought I had beaten, showed its ugly head again 2 days ago. My arm feels like somebody is stabbing me with a knife, very painful, chills and fever and short of breath. Last night it was 101F. My last bout was in December, and I really thought it had worked itself out, whatever it was. Have no idea what it is, but I\'m thinking most likely a pinched nerve, but the fever has me stumped, and the doctors. I have an appt. with the family doctor next month, and will talk to him about it then. If history repeats, I should feel better within the next day or so, but in the meantime, the pain is pretty intense. BAck on muscle relaxers and pain pills for a while. Otherwise, I\'ve been feeling absolutely wonderful. Tire easily, but that is to be expected. Anxious to get the motorcycles out, if it will ever stop raining!!! At least the temps have warmed up some. I thought ole man winter was never going to go back to sleep. I have my one year anniversary check up with my cardiologist in June. Can\'t believe it will be one year in just 6 weeks. Time sure does have a way of flying by. Joined Weight Watchers to get rid of the extra weight I somehow managed to put on after surgery. So far, lost 7 pounds in one month. Not as quick as I\'m use to loosing, but its something. Its very easy to follow and don\'t feel deprived of anything. One of the easiest diets I\'ve been on. Makes me feel I can do this! And as Jennifer Hudson says, \"It works!\" Everybody have a wonderful holiday, and I will be checking back in. Diana

Wow.....where did the time go??? Its been a long while since I posted, and Ricki just sent me a message, so thought I better get busy and post an update. I\'m doing wonderful! I\'ve been working out at the \"Y\" thanks to the cardiac rehab giving me a 3 month membership after I graduated from rehab. I\'ve put on about 20 pounds since the surgery and I\'m struggling to get them off. They went on so fast, and has been very difficult to get rid of them. I\'m hoping once the weather breaks and I become more active as the weather warms, that will help. My shoulder problem has resolved itself, it seems. I shoot with a doctor at our gun club, and I had discussed with him my shoulder problem, and he told me that its not uncommon with this kind of surgery and to do nothing about it, that it will resolved itself in time. Which, it seems is doing just that. So, that\'s a relief. Plus, a fitness trainer at the \"Y\" is giving me some excercises to help with the shoulder, too. So, all is good. I have been having some palpitations but seems to be trigger when I drink too much coffee, so I have regular coffee in the morning and then switch to decaf in the afternoon, and that seems to help. Other than that, I feel great. My incision bothers from time to time. Especially when the weather is going to be bad, but nothing that is unbearable. A little bit of hydrocordisone cream does the trick. Life is good!!! It feels great to be myself again. Anxious for the weather to get warmer so that I can get on my motorcycle again. Sure did miss not riding last year. In the spring, I will start shooting again, too. It was my decision to hold off shooting because of my shoulder problem. By spring, I should be good to go. Looking forward to that. I think of you all often, and hope that everybody is doing well. Diana

Well, had my appt on Thursday, and I\'m afraid was a waste of time. The doctor seemed very disconcerned and acted like I was being silly for being there. He examined me, everywhere except my shoulder! He ordered blood work, urinalysis and chest and shoulder xrays, but said he felt that it wouldn\'t show anything. I told him that they performed all those tests when I was in the hospital in October, but he decided to run them again anyway. I wasn\'t impressed at all. My shoulder continues to give me trouble and pain. I will wait it out unless it gets worse and when I go for my checkup with my family doctor, I will talk to him about possibly going to an ortho, and have him take a look. Maybe some physical therapy will help. I see my neurologist the 23rd, I might pick her brain, too. Things are going really well. Being bothered with a sty right now. I get them periodically. Have to have my family doctor call in a script for ointment for it. I had my Echo last Monday and that went really well. The tech said my new valve was working wonderfully, and even showed me. I can tell its working good because I\'m feeling better every day. The 2nd of this month marked 6 months since my surgery. My gosh, where in the world does the time go. My energy level is increasing a little at a time, but I still tire quickly and then its like somebody flipped my switch to OFF. Then I\'m done. After the holidays I will sign up for the \"Y\" and will continue my workouts, and work on increasing my energy more. To all who have yet to go through your surgery, good luck, it really isn\'t all that bad. I found it to be a very positive experience. And to those that are on the healing side of surgery. Go at your own pace, and listen to your body when it has had enough. Remember, that you had open heart surgery, and even tho you feel like a million bucks, your body is still healing. Take it slow but steady! Diana

I now have an appointment with the rheumatologist, it is Dec. 9th at 3:40 pm. I\'m anxious to see whats up and where we go from here. My shoulder/arm/clavical/neck area has been sore on a constant basis. Some days worst then others. Friday was my last rehab, and was a happy day because it was an end to another chapter in my journey, but at the same time, very sad, because I will miss all the friends that I met along the way there. Including the nurses, Jo, Marty and Brenda, and the other girls, they made excercising really fun! But, I will continue excercising at home and building more energy and stamina. I\'m feeling really wonderful these days other than the hiccup of my shoulder. Doing more, still tiring by the end of the day. Like Ricki said, the energy wanes quickly, especially when you are doing more each day. My incision doesn\'t hurt near as much anymore, only when the weather is going to get nasty, and then it doesn\'t hurt as much as itch. My chest feels pretty good, still feel a twinge when I sneeze, but that\'s it. This week is going to be a true test of my endurance. I have company coming for Thanksgiving, so starting today when I get back to the mountain, I have lots to do to prepare. Cakes and Pies to bake, casseroles to prepare, etc., all the yummy stuff. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone and I will let you know how my appt goes with the rheumatologist. Diana

Thank you all for your concern and posts to me. Just a little update, I\'m feeling a lot better. The fever was gone the next day, and the pain started leaving the next day, too. Feeling really good now, almost back to normal. I still have some stiffness and soreness in my shoulder, but other than that, feel really good. Don\'t know whats going on there, but waiting to hear from the rheumatologist for an appointment. Hopefully once I get to see them, they may shed some light on it. Don\'t know. Thank you all for your concern and well wishes. You guys are total gems. Diana

Well, things were going quite well, and then on Tuesday all hell broke loose again. The same thing that happened in October that sent me to the hospital, happened again Tuesday. I woke up feeling sore, my shoulder didn\'t feel right. As the day progressed, it got worse. By Tuesday evening, I couldn\'t move, the pain ungodly. It started at my shoulder, across my clavical into my neck and halfway down my right arm. Even hurt to take deep breaths. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worse pain, I would give it a 15. It was that bad. I couldn\'t get warm, I was shivering, even had 2 heavy blankets on me, but still freezing. I took my temp. and it was 101.2. I tried to stay on the couch to watch TV and try to distract from the pain, but it wasn\'t working. The tears started to flow. I took a muscle relaxer and a pain pill and went to bed. Luckily, I was able to sleep. Woke up Wednesday, and that pain had subsided some, and my temp back to normal. Today, my shoulder and arm feels like I have excercised it really hard, that kind of soreness. I called my family doctor and told him what happened, and his reply was \"Very perplexing\". He said that he wanted to refer me to a rheumatologist. I reminded him that they did all kinds of blood work for that, and that my cardiac nurse at rehab felt it was a pinched nerve caused by the surgery and they way they laid me out to perform the surgery, he said he knew, but what concerns him is the fever, that you don\'t get a fever with a pinched nerve. So, I told him OK, sounded good, that he was the boss. So, now I\'m waiting to be contacted to make the appointment. So, we\'ll see what happens. Something needs to be found out tho, because I can\'t take that pain much more. Its like a pain I have never experienced before. I\'m thinking that maybe this is a separate issue and has nothing to do with the surgery. Other than that, all is going well. I finish my rehab the 19th. I\'m glad that I\'ll be done with it, but at the same time, sad. I will miss all the people and the nurses, we certainly had a good time. I will make a point to pop in from time to time and say hello. If anybody ever experienced a similar problem like I\'m describing, please let me know. I wrote to Adam and I\'m waiting to hear back from him, too. Diana

Just to update, all is going very well. I\'m back in rehab again and enjoying every minute of it. One of the guys I mentioned did come back dressed as Darth Vadar again, so will post his picture in my album soon. I\'m 20 week post op and other than the chills from time to time, I can\'t complain. Even my incision has gotten to the point where it doesn\'t hurt much anymore. Still itches from time to time, I\'m guessing that\'s a good sign of healing. I\'m feeling stronger each day. The body is an amazing vessel. Everybody that is about to embark on this journey, I wish you nothing but the best. I know everybody here will give you support and loads of encouragement. Diana

Just an update to my latest hospital stay. All is well. I am still experiencing chills from time to time, but they are not as violent as when they sent me to the hospital, 2 weeks ago. Before surgery, I was a very warm person, walking around in shorts year round, but since surgery, I have to bundle up, no more shorts. Very strange, and I\'m wondering if this is a result of the surgery. Has anyone else experienced this after surgery? Yesterday wasn\'t a good day. I ached all over. Might have been one of those down days, I suppose. I would think that 4 months after surgery, I would be over the down days, but guess not. Otherwise, I\'m doing well. My nurse in rehab got me 6 more weeks of rehab since I was admitted into the hospital. So, I\'m enjoying that and thankful that I have 6 more weeks. We have so much fun. One of the patients came in last week, he is a retired police officer, with a really big sense of humor, dressed as Darth Vadar. Music and all to make his grand entrance. We all died laughing. His nurse wasn\'t in, so he is going to do it again Monday. I\'m going to take my camera to take some pics and I\'ll post on here. Enjoy your week, Diana

Well, just when you think things are getting back to normal, reality jumps up and bites you in the ass! Just spent the last 3 days in the hospital. It started on Saturday. Got up and started normal things we do on Saturday and I noticed a twinge in my right shoulder. Didn\'t think anything about it, so went about my day. Got ready to attend Dwight\'s secretary\'s wedding. While at the wedding my shoulder was getting more painful and I was beginning not to feel very good. We left to go home and going to the car was a chore, I was out of breath, and was very hard to get into the car and I thought what the heck!!! I didn\'t feel this bad since before surgery. We got home and I changed and sat down to relax. my shoulder getting more painful. Dwight went to bed and I sat to watch some TV. I had the chills ungodly. I got up to check my temperature and it was normal. So, I climbed into bed thinking if I get under the covers I\'ll warm up. But the shakes and chills were pretty violent. I just couldn\'t get warm. I managed to get to sleep and woke up Sunday, my shoulder hurting like the dickens and I was so cold. I took extra strength tylenol and even took a pain pill, but it didn\'t help. Finally, I took my temp again and it was 100.4. The pain in my shoulder unbearable. I started to cry it hurt so bad. I went in to Dwight and told him I needed to go to the hospital. So he took me. The ER doctor was really nice and he said he wanted to admit me because of my history of just having open heart surgery and a history of blood clots. He wanted to do a Echo but couldn\'t do it til Monday. So, in the meantime, he wanted to start me on IV antibiotics and start some blood work. Its amazing I have any left!!! Anyway, they finally took me up to my room in the PCU around midnight or so. Monday they did more blood work, all kinds of blood work, more antibiotics, more tests. Echo, chest xrays, xray of my shoulder, ultrasound of my neck and arm, legs, stomach, Cat scan, EKG, more blood work, more antibiotics. I think I had 4 different kinds of antibiotics and about 6 to 8 bags all toll. The cardiologist came in to talk to me. He said that everything was coming back good, and the Echo came back looking good, but he couldn\'t see if there was any infection on the valve itself, so he wanted to do a TEE procedure to get a better look. I wasn\'t happy about that and told him the only way I would agree to that would be if he would knock me out. He said he would agree to that but instead of the cath lab to do the procedure they would have to book an OR instead. So, I had that test done yesterday, and he did as he promised. Evidently they put me in a twilight sleep, I didn\'t feel anything, and was asleep enough that I could breath on my own, but out enough not to know what was going on. He said that everything went well and there was no infection that he could see. So, they came to the conclusion that my shoulder pain was muscular and must have injured it somehow in rehab on Friday. And my chills and fever was a severe reaction to the flu shot I got on Tuesday. So, they wrote me a script for a muscle relaxer and rest and sent me home. My shoulder is feeling a lot better, and my fever gone. My throat is raspy and tender from the TEE procedure, but other than that and feeling slow, not doing too bad. My rehab nurse came by on Monday to visit with me and give me support. She is just awesome. She\'s really the one that talked me into having the TEE procedure along with Dwight. I missed my last rehab session, so she is going to see if I can get extended on my rehab to fill in the sessions I missed with my foot and this last episode. I have to call her in a bit to see how she made out and to let her know that I\'m now home. They want me to follow up with my family doctor and my cardiologist within a weeks time. I\'ll followup with my family doctor, but not going to with my cardiologist. I saw a cardiologist within my insurance group and they are forwarding all the reports to my cardiologist, so I don\'t feel the need to see him. So, maybe now I\'m done with all this hospital stuff for a long time. I hope, I hope, I hope!!!!! Its good to be home once again. Have a great week, everyone. Diana

Went to my family doctor for a check up and all went well. I asked him to check my blood count to see if I was still anemic, and the blood work came back real good. Guess the unplugged feeling I have is just part of the recovery. I did ask him about my incision, because its still quite sensitive. He told me it looks good, that I should use hydrocortizone cream on it to help with the sensitivity and itching. Doesn\'t want to see me until February now. I\'m done with doctors til next year. YEEEEEEHAAAAAA!!!! Progress!!! I have about 3 rehab visits left and I\'m through with them. It will be sad, because I really enjoy going. But, I am going to continue on my own at the local gym. My foot is all better. Only took a couple of days to get back to normal after removing the sliver of wood. Good as new! Pat, praying for you as you begin your journey. We are going to get a whole bunch of rain tomorrow. We certainly need it, but they are calling for 3 to 7 inches. Think that\'s a little overkill. Everybody enjoy the rest of your week and have a wonderful weekend. Diana

Just a little note to let you all know that my foot is all better. I did end up going to my family doctor to remove the half a tree I had in it. ;) Actually it was a hugh sliver of wood that went straight into my foot. I tried to get it out, but all I ended up doing was pushing it further in. My family doctor was slick and got it out in a matter of a minute or so. I couldn\'t believe how big it was, and neither could he or his nurse. But, all better now. I\'m coming up to the end of my rehab. I\'m slated to end around Oct. 8th, and another chapter will close on this journey. I\'m going to continue on my own and go to the gym to workout and a friend of mine and I are going to meet and start walking since the weather is getting beautiful here in Central Pennsylvania. I\'m feeling really good, but really poop out at the end of the day. Like somebody has pulled the plug on me. My ribcage is still tender some, especially when I sneeze and my incision is still a bit tender along the top. One day it will itch like crazy and the next it will ache. All part of the healing process, I guess. All in all, I feel wonderful and I\'m doing things I haven\'t been able to do in a very long time. Just so cool!!!! Thank you my dear friends here on HVJ, you guys are a blessing. Your love and support is beyond words and I\'m very fortunate to have found this site. Diana

Went to the coumadin clinic for the last time yesterday. I\'m officially off the coumadin now......WOOOOHOOOO!!! Just feels like old chapter closes and a new one begins. Its so exciting. I was suppose to go to rehab today, but called to cancel. I was working on my deck yesterday, and unfortunately, I was working barefoot and stepped on something. It hurt, but didn\'t think anything of it until later that evening. It started to really pain me. So, I looked at it and saw a small black something in there, so I started to dig to try and get it out. Now I have a small hole in my foot and I don\'t know if I got it out or drove it deeper into my foot. But, it was hurting pretty bad last night. So, I dug some more and then soaked it in Epsom salts water and put antibiotic cream and a bandaid on it. Got up this morning and it felt pretty good until I started putting weight down on it. It feels a little better and it doesn\'t pound, but just felt going on the treadmill wasn\'t a good thing for today. So, I\'ll soak again later on and keep an eye on it. If it doesn\'t feel any better by Monday, guess I\'ll be heading to the doctors. I look and can\'t see anything in there, so not sure if I got it out or not. Time will tell, I\'m sure. Have a great weekend everybody. Diana

Well, I sent my family doctor 2 pages worth of BP readings. I had rec\'d a new script in the mail from him increasing my BP medication. In my email to him, I told him that I was not going to take the increase, at this time, because my BP was not high. Even my nurse at rehab agreed with me that my BP has not been an issue at all. As a matter of fact, it has gotten better over time. I just rec\'d an email from my family doctor saying \"Good job, and that it was fine not to increase at this point\". So, for now, that issue is a done deal as far as I\'m concerned. Doctors..........they certainly can make the BP go up!!!! ;-) Have a wonderful week everybody. Diana

With the cardiologist, not with me. We are still going back and forth with the BP issue. It happened to be elevated when I went in to see him on the 31st. He wanted me to have my family doctor check it the next day, which I did. It was still slightly elevated, but not as much as the day before. The nurse emailed the cardiologist with the readings and she called me later that day. The cardiologist wants to increase my BP medication, which I feel is not necessary. I\'ve been monitoring my BP and its been beautiful, even at rehab its been just perfect. I feel its an isolated incident and they are jumping the gun. I told the nurse that I am not increasing my medication right now. I will continue to monitor it and if it becomes problematic, I will increase it, but as of now, I am not going to do it. They want me to continue to monitor and email them the readings several times a week. OK, I\'ll do that. Last night my BP was beautiful again, 119/63, and that\'s pretty much what its been running. I feel increasing my BP medication will make it too low and I\'ll be so tired to do anything, or I\'ll pass out. So, for now, I monitor.

Had a good visit with my cardiologist. Have to stay on the Coumadin until my original date of Sept. 9th. YUCK!!!! I\'m retaining some fluid in my legs and ankles, so told me its OK to take a water pill, but not to over do with it. I don\'t have to go back and see him until June of 2011. I have to have an Echo done in December. I told him about the incision discomfort and getting tired easily and he said that its not unusual, that could take a year to recover from open heart surgery. What I\'m experiencing is completely normal. He is concerned about my BP, which was elevated when I saw him. I told him that my BP has not been an issue even at rehab, its been perfect. I told him I thought the reason my BP was elevated was because I was stuck in traffic on the way to the hospital due to construction and thought that I was going to be late for my appointment, so I was a bit un-nerved about that and rushing to get there. Plus I had a big cup of coffee on the way to the hospital. He wants me to go to my family doctor tomorrow morning and have them check my BP. I explained that I\'ve been monitoring my BP regularly and have not had any problems, as a matter of fact, the other night was very low at 99/49. But, he still wants me to go to my family doctor and have them check it out tomorrow. I even gave him a report from cardiac rehab and it had my BP in it, my resting BP, working out BP and then cool down BP, and its been absolutely perfect. Still said he wanted it checked tomorrow morning. Pain in the butt!!!!!! So, I\'ll play his games. Make him happy!!! So, all in all, a good visit and everything is going according to schedule. I just have to learn to be a little more patient. Oh, and he reminded me no pushing or pulling with the arms. That, that will make my incision sore, too, as well as my chest. Now I\'m going to relax some. Have been on the go since 7:30 this morning, and I\'m tired. Enjoy your week everyone. Diana

Hi Everybody, Its been a while since I posted and thought I better. All is going well. Doing good in rehab and still enjoying it. They have me going at a good rate on the treadmill, I really work up a good sweat by the time I\'m finished my routine. I have a lot of fun there. I go see my cardiologist tomorrow. I\'m really hoping that he will take me off the coumadin. That stuff is a real pain, I have black and blue marks all over the place. My incision is still quite tender. I had my nurse in rehab take a look at it. She said that it looks good, that its going to take time. Guess I\'m just impatient. I\'ll be 13 weeks post op on Wednesday. My girlfriend and her son came up to visit for 2 weeks. We had a good time together. I have to admit, I still tire easily, so sleeping wasn\'t a problem. All in all I\'m doing really well. Its so amazing, still blows me away how they can fix the heart and your good to go, in most cases. Everybody have a wonderful week, and I will report how my visit went with the cardiologist. Diana

I am so sad to hear of Lori\'s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with her family as they deal with the loss of a wife, mother, sister, daughter and a dear friend of HVJ family. Love, Diana

This past weekend I worked in my gardens, pruning and preening and giving them the attention they so desperately needed. I did a lot of bending over, which I couldn\'t do before because I would almost pass out, worked non-stop for a while, making sure I stayed hydrated. The gardens look beautiful and I did it without any of the problems I had before surgery. Other than being pooped at the end of the day, and a bit sore in my muscles the next day. But, a good feeling knowing I\'M BACK!!!!!! I honestly can say I never thought I would see that ever happening again before surgery. Today, my girlfriend, Jill and her son, Jimmy, is coming for a visit from Levittown, PA for 2 weeks, and I\'m looking forward to that. She is very much like a daughter to me and Jimmy is my Godson. It will be a busy 2 weeks, but I\'m ready for it. Have rehab this afternoon. I\'m enjoying that very much and I can feel myself get stronger and stronger with each session. Go to the coumadin clinic on Thursday to see what my INR is at. I\'m expecting it to be still low. I\'m slated to come off of it around September 8th, so not concerned at all if it is. Its going to be hot again this week. Bring it on, I can deal with it now, with my new and improved heart. Everybody have a great week. Diana

I\'m feeling stronger each day. Rehab is going well. Work me good, doing a mile on the treadmill, and going 13 minutes on the elliptical recumbent stair stepper and 10 minutes on the, what I call, the bike for your arms...:) Really work up a good sweat by the time I\'m done. Worked out in my gardens over the weekend. Felt it that night and next day, but back to feeling pretty darn good again today. I would say that I\'m back about 75% what I was before this journey started. I have a habit of pushing myself, and I know that I shouldn\'t, but that\'s just me. Still some discomfort at the top of my incision, but I\'m off all pain medication now. Have been for a few days now. I find that most of my discomfort at the incision comes towards the end of the day and evening, when I find myself very tired. During the day, not so bad. Its not a painful thing, just reminds me its there type of thing. Every now and again I get an itchy sensation, but I know that if I rub it or scratch it, it will hurt, so I go lightly over it and that helps. Started using Mederma yesterday to help fade the scar some. I think that also helps the incision, too. Has aloe in it so it certainly won\'t hurt, that\'s for sure. Wow, it will be 9 weeks on Wednesday since surgery. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would feel this wonderful in such a short amount of time. Over the weekend, we celebrated Dwight\'s birthday. I took him out to dinner on Saturday and then yesterday took him to Brunch at a place called Mt. Nittany Inn. It was such a beautiful place, set on top of Centre Hall mountain in PA overlooking the valley. The food was excellent and we look forward to going there again. Every body enjoy your week. Diana

Had my second rehab on Friday and going again today. It feels so good and I\'m starting to get a little stronger after each visit. Everything is on the upswing now, and it feels terrific. I\'m able to do things I wasn\'t able to do for a long time. I\'m getting my old self back again!!!! I realize now just how sick I was getting before surgery and how bad I felt. Scary when I look back on it now. But, its all good now and getting better each and every day. For those of you waiting to have surgery, don\'t be scared, what your going through now is a lot worse then how you will feel after surgery. On Wednesday I will be 8 weeks post-op and I am amazed at the progress I have made in just 2 short months. My life is getting back to a normal routine. I just can\'t believe how good I feel. I still get tired quickly and I have to be careful I don\'t overdo. And my incision along the top is still tender, but even that is slowly going away. I\'m only taking pain meds at night to take the edge off and I take one before rehab. That really helps a lot. Other than that, I take no pain meds during the day. After rehab, I\'ll head to the mountain for a few days to check on my Dad. Load him up with food and get him out some. Then its back to State College Thursday for blood work and then rehab on Friday. Diana

Yesterday I had my first cardiac rehab session. It went really well and I felt so good. Worked up a good sweat. Everybody there is really great. I\'m the youngest there, but it doesn\'t matter, we are all there for the same purpose. We shared stories and I was even able to talk to a woman who\'s either nephew or son-in-law, can\'t remember right now, is going to have valve replacement very soon. She asked a lot of questions and I tried to reassure her that it really wasn\'t all that bad an experience, for me anyway. When I go back on Friday, I\'m going to suggest they get Adam\'s book. I feel like I\'ve reached a point in my recovery where all the bad stuff I experienced before surgery and even a little after surgery, is nothing but a memory now. I\'ve hit a pivotal point in my recovery, which is very exciting. Nothing but good stuff from this point on. Still experiencing a good amount of discomfort from my incision, but that is to be expected. Otherwise, I\'m feeling really wonderful. Can\'t believe that 7 weeks tomorrow I had surgery. Diana

Had my meeting with the cardiac rehab people yesterday, and I begin on Monday. Everybody seems to be really nice and upbeat. I\'m very excited to begin my next step in heart wellness. I think the worst is over for me, because I\'m feeling a little better each day. Still have some discomfort, which I found out may be around for a while, but my doctor has renewed my pain meds and will take them a while longer. The people at the rehab also suggested that I take a pain pill about 1 hour before I go to help take the edge off in the beginning. So, I\'ll do that. I\'ll be going to rehab on Mondays and Fridays for now. And the homecare nurses released me yesterday, too, so now I have to go to the doctors office once a week to get my coumadin levels checked. Still running low at 1.8, so they have increased the coumadin for this coming week. So we\'ll see where that goes from there. I take my Dad back to the mountain tomorrow, he\'s real excited about getting back home. Next week I\'ll be here with Dwight, then I will go back and forth on our regular schedule the following week so that I can make meals and get Dad out some. Things are beginning to get back to a normal schedule. A lot quicker than I had thought it would be. I will let you know how rehab went on Monday. I have a 1 pm appointment. Diana

WOW, already 6 weeks post-op. Amazing!!! Had my checkup with the surgeon yesterday and he has released me from his care now. My incision is beautiful, very fine line and he is very pleased with his work. Told him about the discomfort I\'m still experiencing at the top of the incision and across the top of my breasts, and he told me that would take a while to heal and go away. I also got the ok to start driving again. Having an issue with my blood pressure being elevated a bit, so my family doctor is increasing my lisinopril from 5 mg to 20 mg, and go from there. Otherwise, I\'m feeling really good. Still tire quite easily. I have my appointment tomorrow to start cardiac rehab. I\'m excited about that. My phlebitis is still there in my arm, but is slowly easing. I was told it could take quite a while for it to go completely away. We are in the process of having a deck built onto the house, and I\'ve been walking to the backyard to check on things periodically. From the front yard there is an incline to get to the back yard, and I\'m able to go up and down that without getting horribly short of breath, or chest pain. I do get winded some, but that\'s all part of the healing process, nothing like I experienced before surgery. Truly amazing! I get so excited when I do something and I don\'t get any of the symptoms I did before. I\'m having a little more discomfort at the incision site today, and I\'m wondering if it has something to do with the dampness. It rained during the night and its grey out there today. I remember when I had my hysterectomy years ago, that I knew when it was going to rain, because my incision would get very sore for about 6 months after surgery. So, I\'m wondering if that will follow in the same way. All in all, I feel like a new person. A new lease on life. Very cool!!!!!! Each day gets a little better than the day before. I think I\'ve reached a part in my recovery where there will be no downhills anymore, all uphill from here. Hope so anyway. Diana

Wow, where did the time go? Things are going pretty good. I had mentioned that I came off the pain meds, well, unfortunately, had to go back on them again. I had taken a trip to check on our houses on the top of the mountain, and I think the bumpy road, (its a logging road) was a little too much, and really made me hurt, big time. I was in so much pain 2 days ago and made me really sick, I couldn\'t move. Was down the whole day with pain. So, I\'m back on the pain meds again, and won\'t be so quick to come off of them again. I\'m taking 2 a day, one in the morning and then again at bedtime. I still feel like I have a band along the top of my breasts, almost like a tight sensation. I\'m doing my walking, mostly in the grocery store and Walmart. Too hot to walk outside, right now. I was bushed when we got home. All in all, not too bad. I understand the good days and not so good days, that\'s for sure. What a roller coaster ride. My TN seems to be calming down, so that\'s a blessing. My phlebitis also, seems to be going away. The streak is fading and is only a little ropey in some areas. I have no pain with it. Still having trouble getting regulated on the coumadin. By the time I\'m regulated on it, it will be time to come off of it. Diana

Hi all, Just wanted to post a few lines to let you all know how things are going. I continue to heal, I am off the pain meds now. Still have some discomfort, but is managed with Extra Strength Tylenol when I need it. I feel like I have a band around the top part of my chest and still tender, but tolerable. Last night, Dwight and I took the dogs for a walk around the block. It was a beautiful night, nice and cool, and perfect for getting out and walking. I didn\'t have any problems, even going up inclines, I got slightly winded, but no where near like I was before surgery. I was a little apprehensive, I didn\'t know how I would do going up hill. Before surgery I couldn\'t go up an incline without stopping every few feet to catch my breath. How wonderful it is to be able to walk without all that. I have my followup appointment with the surgeon July 13th and I\'m hoping that he will OK my driving then. It will be about 6 weeks then. I\'m very anxious to get going on the cardiac rehab, but haven\'t heard anything about that yet. I\'m sleeping a lot better since I\'m able to take Tylenol PM\'s, and I\'m able to sleep on my side without much discomfort. Sleeping on my belly is still a problem, a little too sore for that yet. Every day is a little better. I still worry about my symptoms returning, I guess that will stay with me for a little while, since I had so much trouble before surgery. It was a very scary time. Other than being sore yet, I feel pretty darn good. How cool is that? Diana