Etc

Hope all of you had a good Thanksgiving with those you love.  I did.  My mother teared up and told me after all that's gone on this year, we could have had a bad holiday and that we have so much to be thankful for.  So true!  My brother and I both gave her a scare with our hearts.  He had more stents after having a heart attack.  He's doing fine now. 

I've been so caught up in my health issues that I haven't been in touch.  I miss y'all and will try to read your blogs regularly again and write on mine.  We managed to forge a bond that keeps you in my thoughts and holds you close.  Thank goodness for that!  I see some of you on Facebook and am in touch other ways, too.  Thanks for hanging in there!  Hugs!

On a lighter note, Tug asked why when I said this lingering cough (going on now for a month) made me concerned about my sternum.  Seriously?  I explained that it takes quite a while for that to heal and knit back together.  It's held with twist ties, which will remain there, of course, but is healing.  He said he just thought if they had me running on the treadmill at cardiac rehab, I was fine.  I explained how long it's been since I ran at all anywhere and that even if I could run, they wouldn't want me to risk it.  Duh!!  He said well they fixed your heart.  I said yes but not the rest of me and did he think I'd become instantly physically fit and younger?  What I do at cardiac rehab is WALK slowly on the treadmill with no incline (2.2 mph right now from slower and will increase speed) for 20 minutes, pedal the stationary bike for 20 minutes with no resistance, do the NuStep (sort of like a sitting elliptical) for 20 minutes, and pedal an arm thing for 20 minutes.  They increase our time periodically based on our heart monitors and blood pressure readings before during and after rehab each time.  I go three times a week.  It's helping. 

This was a rough surgery and takes about a year to fully recover from, I hear.  Hope I never have it again but glad it fixed my problem.  There is still pain on the right side of my chest where it feels as if a rib is loose and not back in place.  Our ribs aren't meant to pull apart in that direction.  I have an appointment with my cardiologist in a couple of weeks and will ask him about it.  It hurts and also has a burning sensation all across that rib and under my arm.  Someone said that might be a nerve.  Whatever, it's still uncomfortable, and I want it fixed.  Not with surgery though!! 

Well, OK.  Let's carry on!