Recovery

Whoever decided to call this part of surgery recovery didn't know what they were talking about. To me recovery means laying around and getting better. Well after heart surgery just lying around is a small part of the deal. Really if you ask the nurses lying around isn't even a part of the equation.

I used to joke with people and tell them I had the easy job, while I was laying there the surgeon would do all the work. Well what a big fat lie that was. The past few days have been full of pills, 7 min walks that feel like a mile, and a breathing device to help reinflate my lungs that feels like it's sucking my will to live. Recovery is a lot of work.

My big accomplishment for the day was my walk to the end of the street. I made it all the way there and back in 6 min. Just for reference the end of my street is two houses away. Tomorrow I'll work on getting up the driveway and stairs without taking a break to catch my breath. After my first of three walks I got my new pill box. It allows me to split each day into four different times so I take my pills when I'm supposed to. Came home from the hospital with seven scrip bottles and one multi-vitamin that have to get divided up. After that I used my breathing device. It's a small tube that you inhale through and move a valve up to measure the volume of air that your taking in. I got it up to about 1375 ML today, the average person will top it out at 2500 and hold it there easily. I was proud of myself but there is still some work to be done.

That's pretty much my day. Pills three to four times a day not counting my pain pills, three walks that make me feel like I'm training for a marathon, and "breathing" every hour. In case anyone was wondering this is no vacation.

Every day is getting better though. I can walk a little farther and breathe a little easier. Putting work in gets results out. It's nice to feel a kittle more alive. I just need my bones to heal (only five weeks left) and I'll be doing great.


- Posted from my interpersonal communication device