Tom's Posts

So okay I'm coming up on my 2 year anniversary October 4th...and now I'm sitting on our new boat getting prepared for a one year sabbatical sailing journey. M y heart feels fine and I've been working hard in the Florida sun...the new porcine aortic valve ticking along. I can say I'm truly blessed not to have had any complications and post surgery concerns. My surgery was a bit difficult as at the end the doc was not too pleased that my heart would not stop 'bleeding' which added 90 minutes to the procedure which when on for nearly 8 hours. Go figure after all of that a very good recovery and back to normal and even maybe beyond normal. This year I turn 60 and feel fine. You can follow our adventures on the Facebook page sailing Caribbean style.

27 weeks (190 days) So I'm back to work now about a couple of weeks. Its not that I could have not been working but I had to secure a position :-) The surgery was a resounding success and I've made steady recovery ever since. I went to rehab for a few weeks but then ran into some insurance issues. All that is resolved now and I okay. Still taking about for medications that will fall off in about a year. I think there was one point about 20 weeks that I really felt I could do anything, to be honest I've not been pushing it too much. The LOML Beth has been a total angel supporting my recovery and being there for me. I also lost a bit of weight due to the fact that I stopped eating wheat. While I was in the hospital Beth checked out a book called Wheat Belly, we've been wheat free ever since and have not missed it one bit. I lost 44 lbs so far...and its easy! In any case this is my update and I hope things continue to go well for me.

Its been 11 weeks and I feel fine. I'm walking each day and feeling great. I tried the cardio-rehab for a couple of weeks and was encouraged with the heart monitoring, blood pressure etc. Mr surgeon Dr Kevin Miller advised me that by the end of the year i should be doing about anything I want to. I feel as if my strength is improving each day. I see now the biggest set back has been my overall physical conditioning, my muscles are weaker without my near daily workouts which I'm starting up soon. While I was in the hospital I was able to read a book Beth checked out of the hospital library. Tho book I called Wheat Belly...its written as a discussion of the lack of benefits of eating wheat. Beth and I decided to try this idea...no more wheat. I've been amazed the first five weeks or so I dropped 25 lbs, feel great and despite not eating wheat I'm never hungry, and don't have any cravings for what uses to be all my favorites. I eat more veggies and fruit and have a more steady feeling during the day. My exercise is easier than ever, no pain, shortness of breath or any symptoms at all. My chest muscles get tight once in a while, but every aspect if my health is good. My 8 and a quarter inch long scar is fading fast my drain tube wounds are nearly invisible now. I must say all the apprehension and worry about this surgery now seems all for not. Merry Christmas to all.