8-28-09 update (evening)

BP 116/79 Pulse 78
Weight 215.2 lbs

Chest still itches from time to time but the overall soreness is less noticeable. Maybe I am so used to it that I don't notice it unless it gets past a certain threshold. Anyway, I haven't noticed much discomfort during the day. I have continued to experience muscle stiffness in the mornings but that, too, appears to be improving.

Been really busy at work this week. Lots of walking. Lots of stairs. I have been feeling pretty good the whole time. No shortness of breath. No difficulty on stairs. Next week should be a similar workload.

8-25-09 update

BP 116/80 Pulse 88
Weight 214.4 lbs

The itching under my incision is still around. More of an annoyance than a real problem.

Yesterday was the D-Day. I spent the most of the day at Anderson. I was on my feet for at least five straight hours. I felt fine during and afterward. My chest was sore last night but it was the pectoral muscles rather than the actual incision area that was sore.

Everyone who sees me says, "Your color looks good." What the heck were they expecting? I was going to be white as a sheet? It's not like I my had blood drained out. I had my heart fixed. I think I'll start telling them, "Yeah, I asked for vermillion but this color was all they had."

8-20-09 update

BP 119/80 Pulse 84
Weight 212.0 lbs

I have been back to work since Monday (8-17). Other than being really tired at the end of the day and having sore feet and ankles, things have gone well. I am still required to avoid heavy lifting but I can still be productive. I walked quite a bit yesterday at work and it felt good. Stairs no longer give me the feeling of impending doom. They are not a problem.

I am able to sleep, at least for spans, on my side which helps. I don't like sleeping on my back. I get sore on my side but it is not a hard pain. It is more like a stiffness in my chest muscles. My sleep is better than before the surgery but not very sound. If I get awakened at night, I have a difficult time getting back to sleep.

8-15-09 update

BP 134/82 Pulse 72 (BP seems high today. Ate too much Indian food last night. Salt, maybe?)
Weight 214.9 lbs

Today was a pretty good day. My breastbone under the incision still itches and probably will for a while. I was able to lay on my side this early this morning without any discomfort. I actually fell asleep for a while like that. I even started dreaming. When I woke, I had only been out 20-30 minutes. For me to go to deep sleep that fast is remarkable.

Walked a short while outside at around 10 am. It was already getting hot so I came in after only 30 minutes. I walked 30 minutes in the evening on our old raggedy treadmill. At some point we should get a new one but since money doesn't fall from the sky on my lawn, I'll have to plan for that purchase. :-)

8-13-09 update

BP 130/89 Pulse 92
Weight 213.8 lbs

My incision, I guess I'll have to call it a scar now, is looking pretty good. It is almost fully healed on the surface. Underneath, there is still soreness and itching but it seems to be improving.

I got out and walked yesterday. I felt pretty good afterwards. I got really tired around 6 pm but, after dinner, I was much better. I had to troubleshoot a networking issue in the house last night. Turns out it was a dying router. Luckily, I had another around to swap out. It was a different brand so it required a different setup. I know, I'm a geek.

Slept well last night. I feel pretty good this morning. The tightness in my breastbone this morning is not as bad as it has been before. Perhaps, I'm making progress on that front.

8-11-09 update

BP 128/85 Pulse 84
Weight 214.5 lbs

My chest is still sore inside. Coughing and sneezing still hurt but not like I'm going to burst open. The itching under my incision has gotten a bit worse but not too bad. Rubbing helps a little. Scratching does no good.

Attempting to go into work last week was a mistake. What I though was going well at work came around to bite me this weekend. I felt the worst I have in weeks. Back pain, chest soreness -- the works. I probably should have waited for the all clear from my cardiologist. I am seeing Dr. Mingea today. Five weeks may have been a little ambitious of a return to work in the office. I continue to do conference calls and emails from home.

Since Friday, I haven't been out for a walk. I need to get out. The combination of not feeling well and the extreme heat have discouraged me. I will try to get out at night but I find I am getting tired early again. The lack of exercise is probably adding to my lack of energy. I will force myself out tonight. Maybe I'll go some place air conditioned to walk. That's what the other "old people" do. :P

I'm trying not to get discouraged but I am really ready for this to all be behind me.

8-5-09 update

BP 110/86 Pulse 95
Weight 213.0 lbs

My chest is still sore inside. Coughing, sneezing and laughing all hurt but not as badly as before. The incision is healed with the exception of that same area at the bottom. It is healing but is not complete yet. The area around and, maybe, under the incision itch from time to time but nothing too bothersome.

I started back into work this week. For the most part it has worked out. I do get very tired and sore by the end of the day. It may be a little soon to try to come back full time. I see Dr. Mingea Monday. I will see what he has to say. Working from home over the last few weeks allowed me to rest when I needed it. Being in the office doesn't offer that flexibility. The demands stay fairly constant. It should get easier. I just do not want to set back my recovery by over-doing it.

I am only taking pain meds for breakthrough pain now. I may take only 1 or 2 Norcos a day. For the most part, the pain is dull and, maybe, rates a 1-3. In the evening, it does seem to spike a bit. More of an annoyance than a real problem.

The great sleep I was getting before appears to have been a result of the medications. I am still sleeping better than before the surgery but not straight through. It may also be that there is more on my mind with the return to work. Oh well, it was fantastic while it lasted.

8-2-09 update

BP 123/78 Pulse 90
Weight 216.5 lbs

I went for about a 45 minute walk today. I didn't walk the last few days because the heat was nuts, even late into the evening. One glance at my weight and you can tell I haven't been exercising! I'm going to have to get up early to walk, I guess.

I am only occassionally taking pain meds now. Usually over 7 hours between. I don't know if the pain is subsiding much or I am more tolerant of it but I have been able to reduce the amount I take.

I need to get work time in because I will run out of sick days if I need them later. Work is mostly desk-based this time of year do I should be good. I'm going to start easing in next week.