LIVING WITH MCL

And the fact I'm not quite in the same physical condition I was in prior to my surgery, I might consider myself normal. Even my blood counts were back to the [abnormal] levels they were prior to my bypass surgery. Saw my cardiologist yesterday, and my primary care physician today. Both gave me the thumbs up to start increasing the intensity of my exercise (as tolerated), with of course the caveat of not overdoing it. The cardiologist even said I could ride my bike, but I wasn't buying that. I'm gonna still hold off for at least a little while longer. I was also told I would be on the statin drug, the blood pressure drug and the baby aspirin the rest of my life. I was resigned to taking the baby aspirin and statin the rest of my life, but I was hoping to someday get off the blood pressure medication. BUMMER! The most interesting thing I learned yesterday was the cardiologist telling me I was done with Cardiology. Since my recovery was so far advanced, they didn't need to...

To borrow a little something from Ronald Reagan, Social Media isn't the solution to our problems, Social Media is the problem! I know this may sound eerily similar to my previous post , but because of some well deserved criticism, I feel compelled to issue a clarification of my position. It isn't the internet or technology that I am against. There is no doubt the Internet has played an important role in society, even beyond its original intent of ensuring uninterrupted lines of communications for the military. It's the Social Media applications that have spawned from the internet that I am against. it's the principle reason I dropped my Facebook account awhile back, and more recently my smartphone.  I believe [next to religion] Social Media is the biggest cause of the problems we are currently facing in this country today. Because of Social Media, we spend less time interacting personally with each other, preferring such faceless applications as Facebook, Twitter and ev...

To borrow a little something from Ronald Reagan, the Internet isn't the solution to our problems, the Internet is the problem! I've believed this for quite awhile, and it is the principle reason I dropped my Facebook account awhile back, and more recently my smartphone. It's not that I'm [completely] against technology, but I do think [next to religion] it's the biggest cause of the problems we are experiencing in the country today, i.e. divisiveness, intolerance, mistrust etc. Because of the Internet, we no longer interact personally with each other, preferring such faceless applications as Facebook, Twitter and even blogs to express our thoughts. Even talking on the phone has declined as we switch more to texting and email. Because of the Internet, we have become detached from our fellow human beings, no longer interacting with people in the ways that brought us closer together in the past. Instead we're driven apart by the increased use of email and caller I...

No matter how much I may want it, I can't will the pain in my chest away. But the thought of the pain continuing on, regardless of the length of time, and the continuing need to take Oxycodon has been weighing on me ever since I left the hospital, so I keep trying. I keep trying to extend the time between doses of Oxycodon. If I don't, how will I know if I'm making progress? The other day, I managed to go 13 hours between doses. I even thought I was making progress. After each passing hour, from the previous dose, I kept telling myself the discomfort [pain] wasn't that bad, but I was only fooling myself. It wasn't until after the 13th hour, when I finally relented, and took an Oxycodon, that I realized just how much pain I was truly in. The relief the Oxycodon provided was unmistakeable. It was like the weight of the world was lifted from my chest. Why did it take me so long to realize that? Ever since my diagnosis, I have been resistant to the taking of medications...

I know it's only been just over 3 weeks since my surgery, and by some accounts, I might even be considered to be recovering faster than most. I also know my surgery was a little more problematic than most, having had a collapsed lung, and requiring 4 [drainage] tubes in me after surgery (most only have 2). Still I can't help but think, 3 weeks is a long time. Plus I'm still in need of my pain meds, and there does not appear to be any light at the end of this long, arduous tunnel. Everyone keeps telling me it will pass, and I will get better. Maybe that's true. After all the doctor did say my pain would likely persist for 4 to 6 weeks, but the longer it does persist, the more I begin to wonder  if all this has been worth it? One of the drawbacks of being laid up for so long is having way too much time on my hands to read. Too much time to read about the successes [and failures] of bypass surgery. Something, I've learned isn't all sunshine and roses, which only s...

I must be getting better, because I'm ahead of my scheduled physical therapy. I'm able to walk for 12 minutes at a time, 3 times a day, covering more than a half mile each time. My schedule has me at only 10 minutes, 3 times a day. More importantly, I know I can do more. I'm just hesitant to progress too fast for fear of over doing it. The pain in my chest is also dissipating, albeit not as fast as I would like, and it isn't so much the pain anymore that is so bothersome, but rather the heaviness in my chest that is persisting. I've cut my Oxycodon down to once every 4 hours from every 3 hours, and was even able to go to the bathroom today without taking a stool softener (I still had to take a laxative), which I am attributing to skipping my midnight Oxycodon. But most notably, I know I must be getting better, as my appetite has returned. I actually went back for seconds last night, something I haven't done since I got home from the hospital. I haven't gaine...

Had a good visit with my cardiac surgeon and his assistant yesterday. They both thought I was doing good, and gave me an upbeat prognosis. All my stitches were removed, and I was told it was OK to stop taking the Furosemide , Tamsulosin , and even the vitamin C, which the surgeon is very big on. The bad news was the physician assistant told me my pain would likely last another 4 to 6 weeks. Something I didn't anticipate hearing, but at least she refilled my prescription of Oxycodon for another 23 days (based on my current intake of 1 pill every 3 hours). Hopefully that won't be an issue, and I can extend the time as I attempt to wean myself off it. I was also told I could walk upstairs, and not worry about exceeding my current heart rate by 20 bpm. In fact, he couldn't understand why I was told that. So this morning I went for a 10 minute walk, and my heart rate never exceeded 80 bpm. I guess I'm going to have to lift the intensity just a little, that is as I feel comfo...

If you read my last comment to my previous post, you already know I've gone back on the pain meds. I didn't think I really had any choice. Yeah, I could tolerate the pain (with some effort), but my heart rate was from 5 to 10 beats higher, than it had been, and it was more difficult breathing. Two things I thought not wise to continue. I have, however, changed my dosing to one 5 mg Oxycodon every three hours, instead of every 4 hours plus one 325 mg Tylenol. And yes, I know that is an increase over my previous regimen, and considering my previous post, something I have no logical explanation for, except that it serves to point out just how trying and screwed up this whole ordeal has been for me. It's just a good thing I have an appointment with the Cardiologist this afternoon to discuss my progress, and my meds which I am quickly running out of.