I just thought that I would update anyone who still checks this blog as to my current status.
Good news. A few weeks ago I had my 'annual' check-up with my cardiologist...I'm doing so well that he doesn't want to see me again until November 2014. :-)
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Friday, November 25, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Cardiologist Appointment
Yesterday morning I had an appointment with my cardiologist, Dr Mai, in Greenslopes.
He had a look at the reports from the surgeon, had a listen to my heart and chest through the stethoscope and declared that he was happy to not see me for another year. So early next November I'll have an echocardiogram to check how my heart is going one year on from recovery.
For the past 4 or 5 weeks I've been on 2 x 1/2 tablets / day of the beta-blocker. That is now reduced back to 1/2 tablet / day for the next 4 weeks. So after that I'll just be on the Aspirin for a further 3 weeks.
On a note of interest, Ian mentioned that he has listened to my heart beat by placing his ear to my chest. I said that I'm always then telling him to get his heavy head off my chest. Dr Mai said that that was one of the reasons that led to the invention of the stethoscope - doctors were uncomfortable at having to place their ears against the chests of their female patients, particularly the well-endowed ones as that endowment hindered their ability to hear the heart.
He had a look at the reports from the surgeon, had a listen to my heart and chest through the stethoscope and declared that he was happy to not see me for another year. So early next November I'll have an echocardiogram to check how my heart is going one year on from recovery.
For the past 4 or 5 weeks I've been on 2 x 1/2 tablets / day of the beta-blocker. That is now reduced back to 1/2 tablet / day for the next 4 weeks. So after that I'll just be on the Aspirin for a further 3 weeks.
On a note of interest, Ian mentioned that he has listened to my heart beat by placing his ear to my chest. I said that I'm always then telling him to get his heavy head off my chest. Dr Mai said that that was one of the reasons that led to the invention of the stethoscope - doctors were uncomfortable at having to place their ears against the chests of their female patients, particularly the well-endowed ones as that endowment hindered their ability to hear the heart.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Week 5
Yesterday (Thursday 3 November) was 5 weeks since the operation.
I did an ESL lesson at Taringa Baptist in the morning. To get there, I got up early to get a lift from Ian to the train station. That meant that I didn't really get a lie-down between breakfast and leaving the house.
Now, I've found that my body seems to need a morning lie-down for varying lengths of time; fortunately the lie-down time required seems to be reducing. However, it appears to be linked somehow to the migraine auras - if I don't get a lie-down or don't have time for one of the length I feel I need that morning, I feel I'm more susceptible to the auras. You can guess what's coming, can't you.
Sure enough, after the ESL lesson, while out at lunch with a friend, I got an aura. It made it a little hard to read the 'menu' (we were at Sushi Train) so I was fortunate that I could ask my friend to identify things for me. It was also a really slow moving one (that is, it took quite a while to fully clear) but fortunately wasn't really strong, so my eyes weren't super tired after it.
Now, the aura before this was last Saturday morning and the one before that was last Thursday morning. Maybe things are improving - I can only pray so.
On another note, I have discovered a renewed interest in walking. Since daily walking is part of my rehab routine, I'm interested in finding new routes to keep the interest. During the week I walked to and from the local library and shopping centre on a couple of days. I found a route that is about 1.25 km one-way and it currently takes me about 15 minutes to get there.
Now, since one of my regular routes would be about 2.5 - 3km, I'm looking at other routes of a similar length. One day I might walk to the post office where we have a PO box (2.6 km one way). Of course, then I might have to sit there a while before walking home, or work out a suitable bus to get me closer. :-)
I did an ESL lesson at Taringa Baptist in the morning. To get there, I got up early to get a lift from Ian to the train station. That meant that I didn't really get a lie-down between breakfast and leaving the house.
Now, I've found that my body seems to need a morning lie-down for varying lengths of time; fortunately the lie-down time required seems to be reducing. However, it appears to be linked somehow to the migraine auras - if I don't get a lie-down or don't have time for one of the length I feel I need that morning, I feel I'm more susceptible to the auras. You can guess what's coming, can't you.
Sure enough, after the ESL lesson, while out at lunch with a friend, I got an aura. It made it a little hard to read the 'menu' (we were at Sushi Train) so I was fortunate that I could ask my friend to identify things for me. It was also a really slow moving one (that is, it took quite a while to fully clear) but fortunately wasn't really strong, so my eyes weren't super tired after it.
Now, the aura before this was last Saturday morning and the one before that was last Thursday morning. Maybe things are improving - I can only pray so.
On another note, I have discovered a renewed interest in walking. Since daily walking is part of my rehab routine, I'm interested in finding new routes to keep the interest. During the week I walked to and from the local library and shopping centre on a couple of days. I found a route that is about 1.25 km one-way and it currently takes me about 15 minutes to get there.
Now, since one of my regular routes would be about 2.5 - 3km, I'm looking at other routes of a similar length. One day I might walk to the post office where we have a PO box (2.6 km one way). Of course, then I might have to sit there a while before walking home, or work out a suitable bus to get me closer. :-)
Monday, October 24, 2011
Laetitia's first rehab session
This afternoon Laetitia went to her first rehab exercise session. It was held at the Queensland Health service centre at Browns Plains, and involved a few alternating cardio and weights resistance exercises, supervised by a couple of nurses. There was one other person doing the program during her session.
I took my phone along, and have made a short (2 minute) video about it.
I took my phone along, and have made a short (2 minute) video about it.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
They're baack!
Yep, the auras have returned.
2:30 pm Monday, 9:30 am Tuesday, 9:30 am today. Sigh.
I'll try to be grateful for small mercies - they may suck time out of my day, they may make my eyes more photosensitive and tired, they may make me tired, they may make it harder to concentrate, BUT at least I don't normally get a raging headache or need to lie in a darkened room for a day (I'd never be able to leave if that were the case).
2:30 pm Monday, 9:30 am Tuesday, 9:30 am today. Sigh.
I'll try to be grateful for small mercies - they may suck time out of my day, they may make my eyes more photosensitive and tired, they may make me tired, they may make it harder to concentrate, BUT at least I don't normally get a raging headache or need to lie in a darkened room for a day (I'd never be able to leave if that were the case).
Monday, October 17, 2011
Rehabilitation program
This afternoon Laetitia had an initial appointment for a Queensland Health cardiac rehabilitation program, run at Browns Plains.
This is a positive development, as we were not expecting to start the program until early November.
Today's appointment was mainly administrative. The nurse asked many questions about Laetitia's experience and current state of health (mental and emotional as well as physical), and then got Laetitia to do a six minute walking test, during which her blood oxygen level, heart rate and feeling of exertion were monitored every minute. She found that quite easy.
We'll be going back for an exercise session next Monday.
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