Back to Work!

I decided to stop the whiny posts and wait until I came back to work to tell you how it all turned out. I am so glad to be back! I'm still weak but getting stronger every day. The Doc didn't want me to come back yet, but I convinced him that I had people that would lift stuff for me and that I promised that I would be a good boy.

I wish I knew a way to put this cool little DVD up so you could see it. The surgeon was a really great guy and he made me this 2 minute DVD of my surgery. It's a little creepy to see the inside of your own chest and know that you are looking at your heart not beating. It's kind of surreal, but very interesting. It put the whole thing in perspective and I understand a lot more about what was done. I'm pretty visual so it helped to see it.

The stitches are mostly healed, I still don't have any feeling in the area around the incision, but he tells me it will come back in time. They are a little concerned that the heart rate is still around 120 beats a minute at rest, but that is supposed to go back to normal at some point too. I'm not gonna post for a while so that I can give an accurate report on how I'm doing once everything goes back to normal....Later.

Fuzzy Logic

After the visit to the Doc yesterday we stopped by my work since it's right up the road from his office. It was great to see everyone again, it seems like I have been gone for a long time. After having thought about it this morning I realize that I was pretty fuzzy while I was there and probably looked like crap. I'm kind of a living version of a zombie I think, pale and weak looking. I guess I should wait a while before I go back to see them again. I'm pretty tired today after my outing so I think I'll just rest today. The cough medicine sure helps with that process..

Surviving the Weekend..
Don't ask me how, but somehow I survived the weekend. This was one of the worst experiences that I can remember. Having a cold under normal circumstances is a drag, but
this was far from normal. I'm going to my regular Dr today, at least I know if I see him I will get something to help ease this misery.

Later...Well, it appears that the cold didn't do any damage other than making me feel like shit. He gave me some heavy duty antibiotics that should kill just about any funk in my system. And, some kick ass cough medicine that will knock me out. Finally, some real relief..

Sneeze, Cough, OUCH, DAMN!

When I talked to the Dr's office yesterday I told them I felt like I was catching cold and asked what I could take. The advice was, "If you still have a cold on Monday call us back". Well, that was helpful.. Now I have a headcold and I can't lay down, and I can't sit in my reclining chair either because I can't get any air. This sucks.

When Joe found out what kind of shape I'm in he decided that he was coming over to hang with me. I can't tell you how much that means to me. Laurie has to get up early and go to work so she needs her rest. So, here we are...Me sitting in a hard backed chair trying to sleep, and Joe, sleeping on the couch right by me in case I need something. If you don't have a Joe of your own, I highly recommend that you get one. On second thought, mine is one of a kind...You can't have him.

Cough,Cough, OUCH! Cough, OUCH!

Every time I cough it REALLY hurts! It's a dry, hacky cough. My friend Don said he had the same cough when he had his heart problem and it was one of the drugs he was taking that caused it. Something called "Vasotec". Hmmm...I'm taking that! Hit the web, bring up my trusty webmd, and sure enough, "Side effect may include dry cough". What the hell!
Why would you give somebody a drug after ripping their chest open that may cause them to cough! I'm pissed off..

After a call to the Cardio guys they say, "Oh yeah, that can happen"..Grrrr!!
OK, "Fix it"! They change to something called "Diovan" that should work just as well, without the cough.

I have come to the conclusion that it's pretty much a guessing game with these folks. "Let's try this, and if it doesn't work we'll try something else". I know, I'm whining again, but really..I can't sleep because of the cough so I'm a bit cranky.

Company Day!

I survived yesterday's experience and today I am feeling much better now. The great news today is that (A) Laurie has the day off, and (B) Shannon and Kelly are coming for lunch!
I am going to be really glad to see them, they always bring the sunshine.

We had a really nice time! Subs for lunch and just a great chance to catch up on all the gossip from work. I find I'm pretty tired this afternoon. Mostly because of that pain from yesterday, it really wore me out. I also seem to have developed an annoying cough. I need to see what that is all about...

Big Mistake
I woke up today with the most incredible pain in the left side of my chest and up into my neck. It feels like a muscle that has been really pulled, and I can't even lift my head or open my eyes. I guess the activity yesterday was too much. I'm going to call the surgeon's office because I must admit I'm a little frightened by it.
Tylenol? That's the best they can do? Don't they know I'm dying here?

Laurie called, she is worried but I told her there was no need for her to come home. There isn't anything she can do for me, I'm just going to try to get comfortable and sleep.

"Hello?"..Laurie called her friend Laura because she was so concerned, so she came right over and she is just hanging out with me. That's really nice of her, I'm sure she had better things to do than babysit me. I am trying to be social, but it's a struggle. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for the company, especially since I don't really understand what's happening. The Dr's office says it's because of the trauma on the other side of my chest. The muscles on the left side have been carrying the load since my surgery and now they are unhappy and complaining. Let me tell you, they bitch really loud!