Saturday, August 8, 2009

Six weeks post op

I've been feeling lazy lately. It's been a few weeks since my last post. I don't really know what to write about. Physically, things are going well. I'm sleeping on my side without pain, I can pick up and hold my daughter, I am starting to exercise. Except for the itchy, long red scar on my chest, I feel pretty much like my old self.

Last week, I started cardiac rehab. I'm really motivated about it. Basically, I get to work out while hooked up to a heart monitor. It's the best way to ease back into that part of my old life. We're taking it slow, but I feel almost ready to resume normal workout activities. The doc and the rehab techs think I'll need 12 sessions before I can start going to the gym on my own. I'm working out three times a week for one hour. Last week, I worked out on the treadmill and then did some really easy weight lifting. Really easy!! I wear four sticky heart monitors connected to a box. The box goes into a purple fanny pack that I wear while I work out. My blood pressure is checked a few times and I'm asked frequently to rate my level of exertion. On my first day, I met a woman who was about my age. She was starting rehab that day as well. I didn't get a chance to get her story, yet, but I will. But mostly the people in rehab are much older. I have made friends with an elderly lady named Joan. She recently had quadruple bypass and had the same surgeon as I, Dr. Guber.

I met with Dr. Guber last week for a check-up. Normally, I would have only met with him that one time, about 3 weeks after surgery. But since I was readmitted to the hospital a few weeks ago, he wanted to see me again. My time with him lasted about two minutes! He asked how I was feeling, listened to my heart and then looked at my incision. I asked about the bump next to my incision, about one inch from the bottom. I was told by the nurse practitioner that it was the twisted wire that holds my breastbone together. She said that the wire would need to be cut out in an out-patient procedure. I was relieved when Dr. Guber said that it was actually a plastic-type stitch that will eventually dissolve in three or four months. But it's really stretching and pushing on the skin, causing the skin/bump to look white. Dr. Guber said that if it pokes through the skin, to come in and he will remove it. Really? I hope it doesn't poke through the skin!! It looks like it could, though. The skin is sensitive around the bump and I really only have one comfortable bra that doesn't irritate it.

I'm going to Vegas in about a week and a half with my two sisters. This trip was planned well before I knew of any heart issues. We planned to go to Vegas to relax by the pool, have many cocktails, gamble a bit and just check out the scene. The trip is in honor of Kate's upcoming wedding. Sort of a bachelorette party, but with just the three of us and probably no strippers! Soooo, I'm really rethinking the idea of wearing a bathing suit and lounging by the pool. First, my incision is pretty dark red right now and makeup does not do anything to cover it....and then I have the bump. And below my incision is the chest tube incision. That's an ugly one. Half moon shaped, deep, dark red. I also have an old appendectomy scar on my belly from way back in 9th grade. That's an ugly one, too. I tried on my bikini and I really look carved and beaten up. I'm not feeling very confident. On a few occasions recently when I have worn v-necks and the scar is visible, I have noticed a few curious stares and glances. Maybe I will go buy a new one-piece swimsuit. I know the redness of the scar will go away eventually. (Hopefully before Kate's wedding in October!!)

I know I'll get some grief for saying this, but I'm really ready for summer to be over. It's been kind of a bust this year. Well, more than "kind of." I'm just ready for a change. Call me crazy, but I'm sick of the heat and sunscreen and shorts and tank tops and flip flops and trying to keep my feet nice looking. I want to cover up under a big comfy sweater with a pair of well-worn jeans.