Janice's Journal

I started cardiac rehab last week. Today was my 5th day and I am 7 weeks post op. I am trying hard to get better. To not get back to where I was, but better. Does anyone else ever feel like others are getting in your way of getting better? At home people are doing things for me that I can do for myself, which is nice, but I don’t need to be treated with kid gloves anymore. I went from being a very independent and adventure loving person to a dependent scared and cautious person and I don’t like the new me. I was excited to start cardiac rehab because I knew being monitored would take the fear away and I would be able to figure out what I could do on my own outside of rehab. Today was so frustrating at rehab as have been the other days because I feel like they won’t let me work to my potential. Today I started with the same speed and incline (a whopping 1%) on the treadmill as I did on Monday. Within 5 minutes they told me to take the incline to 0 and a few minutes later told me to slow the speed down. After 20 minutes I moved on to the bike and the same thing. They said they didn’t want my heart rate over 150 and it had gone to 156. I was working hard but not excessively. I could have carried on a conversation while I was going which is how I judge how hard something is. Isn’t my heart supposed to be better than it has been in a while? Isn’t it actually healed now? I had OHS AVR with a tissue valve. I have no idea how hard or easy to walk at home and feel like I can’t progress if I keep being told to slow down. I love the people at rehab and the program, too. I’m just frustrated. Anyone else have a similar situation?

See that smile in the last picture? That’s the smile of someone who saw her cardiologist and surgeon this week and got wonderful news. Everything is healing well, sounding perfect and lungs are clear. They sent me home from the hospital with a boatload of prescriptions and between the two doctors they took me off all medications except one. I’m 3 weeks post op and each day just gets better. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!

2 days until surgery and I’m actually looking forward to it! This group is fantastic! Thanks for all of the encouragement, support, advice and all around helpfulness!