Post 2493
- 9 years and 245 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
Just over three weeks after my quintuple bypass surgery, today was the day of my long-awaited cardiology appointment.
My cardiologist is the lovely, Prague-born Dr. Hana Hoyt Smith.
She was the cardiologist who saw me first when I came into the ER. She prescribed the catheterization that revealed the extent of the damage, and that I required bypass surgery.
Here's a weird thing: She visited me in the ICU, post-op. At that time, I hallucinated that she was pregnant. Until today, I wondered how I missed that in our first meeting, only to realize that I was simply seeing things in my post-surgical drugged-up state.
I'll cut to the lede: My post-open-heart-surgery progress is "amazing".
That is the verdict from the nurse who examined my wounds, and seconded by Dr. Smith, who told me that she was "shocked" how quickly I progressed, to be able to be discharged after only four days post-surgery.
I am immediately able to take a regular shower (I've been doing sponge baths with special, hospital-supplied soap per instructions since the surgery). I am also now able to practice stairs.
In one week, my lift restriction goes from five pounds to ten, and that restriction will remain for at least two months, although the standard is three. Also, next week, I'm approved for driving.
When can I start taking care of myself? When I think I'm ready, keeping in mind that I'm going to need help with groceries, carrying anything over ten pounds up the two flights of stairs to my apartment until my lift restrictions are removed sometime in December.
I will also be prescribed cardiac rehab as an outpatient. Unfortunately, due to being closed for months due to COVID-19, it will be a few weeks before I can start that.
I couldn't be more grateful to the doctors and friends who are taking care of me while I recover the ability to take care of myself.
Food and Diet
My cardiologist is the lovely, Prague-born Dr. Hana Hoyt Smith.
She was the cardiologist who saw me first when I came into the ER. She prescribed the catheterization that revealed the extent of the damage, and that I required bypass surgery.
Here's a weird thing: She visited me in the ICU, post-op. At that time, I hallucinated that she was pregnant. Until today, I wondered how I missed that in our first meeting, only to realize that I was simply seeing things in my post-surgical drugged-up state.
I'll cut to the lede: My post-open-heart-surgery progress is "amazing".
That is the verdict from the nurse who examined my wounds, and seconded by Dr. Smith, who told me that she was "shocked" how quickly I progressed, to be able to be discharged after only four days post-surgery.
I am immediately able to take a regular shower (I've been doing sponge baths with special, hospital-supplied soap per instructions since the surgery). I am also now able to practice stairs.
In one week, my lift restriction goes from five pounds to ten, and that restriction will remain for at least two months, although the standard is three. Also, next week, I'm approved for driving.
When can I start taking care of myself? When I think I'm ready, keeping in mind that I'm going to need help with groceries, carrying anything over ten pounds up the two flights of stairs to my apartment until my lift restrictions are removed sometime in December.
I will also be prescribed cardiac rehab as an outpatient. Unfortunately, due to being closed for months due to COVID-19, it will be a few weeks before I can start that.
I couldn't be more grateful to the doctors and friends who are taking care of me while I recover the ability to take care of myself.
Today's Weight: 209.1 lbs.
Previous Weight (8/31/20): 207.0 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain: + 2.1 lbs.
Diet Comment
Food Log
Breakfast
Food log is suspended until I'm back to preparing my own food.
Lunch
Food log is suspended until I'm back to preparing my own food.
Dinner
Food log is suspended until I'm back to preparing my own food.
Liquid Intake
Food log is suspended until I'm back to preparing my own food.
Lunch
Food log is suspended until I'm back to preparing my own food.
Dinner
Food log is suspended until I'm back to preparing my own food.
Liquid Intake
Espressos: 0; Coffee: 16 oz.; Water: 70+ oz.;
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