Post 2543
- 9 years and 317 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
I am bringing back the beard.
Today, in cardio rehab, I showed everybody two similar selfies I took. One pic was taken right before I shaved off my beard (about two weeks before my surgery), the other a week later (one week before my surgery). So one with beard, one without.
I asked six people - four therapists and two patients - who had not known me when I was bearded (which was for more than six years. Every other friend I have knows me with a beard) whether they preferred the pic with or without a beard.
Today, in cardio rehab, I showed everybody two similar selfies I took. One pic was taken right before I shaved off my beard (about two weeks before my surgery), the other a week later (one week before my surgery). So one with beard, one without.
I asked six people - four therapists and two patients - who had not known me when I was bearded (which was for more than six years. Every other friend I have knows me with a beard) whether they preferred the pic with or without a beard.
They unanimously favored the beard.
Also at rehab, we watched a film about the psychological effects of heart disease.
It did not seem relevant to me. It mentioned many things that did not correspond with my experience (like feelings of fear, depression, anxiety, anger, helplessness). My experience did not even include having a 'heart attack'. I mean it did, but I never felt it.
With three days between finding out my heart was bad and I needed a quintuple bypass and the open-heart surgery, I never felt any physical discomfort or pain, and was never afraid.
Also at rehab, we watched a film about the psychological effects of heart disease.
It did not seem relevant to me. It mentioned many things that did not correspond with my experience (like feelings of fear, depression, anxiety, anger, helplessness). My experience did not even include having a 'heart attack'. I mean it did, but I never felt it.
With three days between finding out my heart was bad and I needed a quintuple bypass and the open-heart surgery, I never felt any physical discomfort or pain, and was never afraid.
After the surgery, I was never depressed or angry. I exceeded all post-surgery recovery benchmarks, and was out of the hospital four days after major surgery. I had friends step up to take care of my every need, many times without being asked.
I credit my philosophy, my good physical and emotional health leading up to this incident, my amazing support network, and my positive attitude for my excellent recovery, and my good mental health.
I credit my fabulous network of friends and my family.
I credit the pandemic for giving me much less a sense of loss - I have no gigs and exactly have been to only three open mics in Syracuse this year, and that has nothing to do with my medical condition. Weirdly, there's been no better time in my life for this to have happened.
I think it doesn't hurt that I have assumed a heart attack was coming my way for the last twenty years, given my family history. I wasn't shocked or surprised.
I'm nothing but grateful for the peace of mind I sometimes (dare I say, typically?) enjoy.
Food and Diet 
Today's Weight: 203.2 lbs.
I'm nothing but grateful for the peace of mind I sometimes (dare I say, typically?) enjoy.
Previous Weight (11/11/20): 205.0 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain: - 1.8 lbs.
Diet Comment
Food Log
Breakfast
10:15am: Oatmeal with blueberries, Ezekiel 4:9 Flax toast with peanut butter.
Lunch
4:45pm: A Quest bar. Almonds and grapes.
Dinner
7:20pm: Salmon salad (fresh-caught salmon, arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, walnuts. And a Quest bar.
Snack
11:20pm: Manchego cheese and kimchee.
Liquid Intake
10:15am: Oatmeal with blueberries, Ezekiel 4:9 Flax toast with peanut butter.
Lunch
4:45pm: A Quest bar. Almonds and grapes.
Dinner
7:20pm: Salmon salad (fresh-caught salmon, arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, walnuts. And a Quest bar.
Snack
11:20pm: Manchego cheese and kimchee.
Liquid Intake
Espressos: 2; Coffee: 0 oz.; Water: 84+ oz.;
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