Melissa's Posts

Today marks 9 weeks and I feel fantastic. Been in cardiac rehab for the past month & it's made a huge difference. I hiked 4 miles on Sunday with no issues, I really have NO issues. Even my fingernails are clear for the first time in a decade, they were always blue/purple. I'm only taking one baby Aspirin & Metoprolol daily. Life is Grand, Open heart surgery is mind blown-amazing, I can't believe I feel this good. I wish this feeling for everyone xoxo.

Today is had my first Echo since surgery 7 weeks ago, my first cardiology follow up and a pacemaker follow up, phew! My echo looks "prefect!", my cardiologist is happy with everything and everyway that I look. And as for the pacemaker nurse, well as she placed that doo-dad in the picture over the site and brought up my heart rhythm, she yelled, because.. drum roll..... I NO LONGER HAVE 3RD DEGREE HEART BLOCK (Complete Heart Block). This is a RARE occurrence. They had me in the hospital post surgery for 7 days hoping my natural heart rhythm would return, when it didn't they surgically implanted the pace maker and I was discharged. now almost 2 months post op, my heart (last Saturday) decided to flip the switch back on and now my pacemaker will be dusting in the left side of my chest. I couldn't be happier, i'm still in an excited shock at today's results. Tomorrow is the end of my 3rd week of cardiac rehab & I plan on going at it strong.

Saw my surgeon for my first follow up yesterday. He's very happy with how the incision looks & gave me a tough love speech to start doing everything I normally would on my own. He also wants me to ignore the discharge instructions about sternal precautions - 6 weeks was the normal decades ago but not now. So Today, I showered on my own for once (on my shower chair) and I- wait for it.... Shaved my legs & underarms. WOW. it's only been 3 weeks.