Sickness after Surgery

I have been sick for about a full week. I feel fine now, but a few days ago I just felt rotten. Most people don't realize this, but a normal run of the mill sickness can drive a bypass survivor crazy. After surgery you already feel like you have narrowly escaped death so anything even a little out of the ordinary can really mess with your head.  "Does this have anything to do with my heart?" is usually the first thought to pop into your mind. In time you realize that you can get sick like everyone else and that a cold doesn't mean your imminent demise. There are a lot of hurdles to get over to get back to your normal, but you can get there. I promise.

Complacency

I knew it was coming, and I deserved just what I got. Over the last few months I have put on a few pounds, and yesterday was the day for my annual blood work and check-up with my cardiologist, Dr. Stacy Smith. As I approached the scales I was thinking of what I could take off and still be decent. Wallet, belt, cell phone, keys, they all weigh something and as I stepped on the scales I knew I needed all the help I could get. Those scales don't lie and they were telling me that I had slacked off, that I had become complacent. Then the nurse drew the blood and in a few minutes the numbers were there in black and white. Most were still fine, but my triglycerides were awful. Then Dr. Smith, the coolest cardiologist in the world, started talking. She would tell you that she was real nice, but in the process she let me have it. I have to go back to see her in three months and she expects me to come back lighter, as in 10 pounds lighter. She proceeded to tell me where I was heading and I heard her use the word diabetes. To say that she got my attention is a gross understatement, but to tell the truth I pretty much knew what I had done before I got the word from her. Over the last few months as I began to feel more and more like my old self I started to eat more and more like my old self. I think that one of the biggest struggles bypass survivors have is to make really lasting lifestyle changes. I remember right after my surgery I was ready to eat tuna everyday for the rest of my life. Time passes and it becomes so easy to become lax. I need to remember that I am in the middle of a never ending war with CAD, and the price of letting up could be a lost battle at the least, or worse, I could loose the war. On June 3, I will have to face Dr. Smith again. I will let you know how it turns out.

A Reason For Joy

I was thinking to myself the other day that I am no longer depressed. My life is again filled with joy. If any of you are reading this who are just beginning your journey after bypass don't forget that recovery takes time, and sometimes a lot of time. I have found that when I got back to the point when I became less focused on myself and what might happen in the future, and more focused on the present the better I got. On February 17th my daughter delivered a beautiful little girl named Savannah. She is my new joy. Today is good, and I will choose to claim all that I can from this one day I have, and if blessed with a tomorrow I will do the same with that day.