first checkup

Hi Everyone! I had my one week checkup yesterday and my Dr. said I'm doing good. He took the steri-strips off and my incision looks great. He did a fantastic job of not messing up my tattoo! When it heals completely I don't think it will be very noticeable at all. It is still pretty tender but as donr would say "YOU JUST GOT CUT OPEN" lol so of course it's going to be sore for awhile! He gave me the green light to start showering today and I can drive beginning next Monday and he released me to go back to work on March 5th and he told me I can start slowly working out by riding my exercise bike. I can walk but I live in IA on a gravel road so he doesn't want me to risk falling as the roads are very snow covered and icy. This was all good news. I go back on 3/12 and he will check the PM and adjust the settings down some. Right now it is at 60 BPM and he is going to lower to 50 but wants to wait until he knows the leads are staying in place. I am feeling pretty good. I have had some ups and downs and the mental part has been harder than I thought but I am just taking it one day at a time and am so thankful each day when I wake up and realize that I'm still alive! Take care everyone and enjoy your day!!
~Sheila

10 Comments

right track

by wjs1954 - 2014-02-25 02:02:07

Sounds like you are in the right frame of mind. I am sure you will be out on the roads in no time keep looking ahead. Do remember the rest as well as the exercise is very important to recovery, just as it was prior to this set back.

Mall walkers

by Theknotguy - 2014-02-25 04:02:20

Are you a reasonable distance from a mall? Quite a few of the malls around here have "walkers". That would be a way to get the exercise in and not be in a dangerous area.

Also, some of the exercise spas have cardio programs that give you a limited membership for the time needed. That may be another option.

You sound like you have a good attitude. But if you do have some setbacks please don't get discouraged. My route to recovery hasn't been a straight line but I'm doing well right now. Setbacks are just part of the overall progress.

You've got a lot of living to do. Go out and enjoy it!

Theknotguy

thank you!

by bluebowtye - 2014-02-25 05:02:44

Thanks for your positive words of encouragement wjs1954, sunshinewishes & Theknotguy! This group is the best! I am just a few miles from town and we have a mall but my problem is I am not allowed to drive until next Monday so for the time being I am pretty much stuck at home. I have an exercise bike in my basement but as of yet I really haven't felt like riding it. I'm hoping that will change soon. Right now I'm just trying to take it easy and get as much rest as possible and will ease back into exercising as I continue to recover and heal a little more. Take care all!
~Sheila

Hi iheartemh!

by bluebowtye - 2014-02-25 07:02:04

Thank you for your nice comments. No, there is no school close by as I live out in the country, but it is a great idea once I can drive. As soon as the weather improves I love going to a little county park close by that has lots of trails and hills and steps. It goes along a river and there is a small lake so that is what I am really looking forward to.

As far as my PM settings when I wore the Holter monitor it showed my average heart rate was 63 and my resting was about 55 so my Dr. wants my own heart to do as much of the work as possible and that's why he started at 60. Of course that may need to be adjusted as I get back to my normal routine and start working out again regularly. As far as I know I do not have Bradycardia, I have Second Degree Mobitz Type II AV Block.

Anyway, as I am learning each of us are different and sometimes it takes a few adjustments and some trial and error to get the settings just right. Take care and keep up that walking!!

First checkup

by iheartemh - 2014-02-25 07:02:19

Sounds as you are doing quite well. Is there a school nearby with a gymn? If so, maybe you could go for walks in there when it isn't in use.

I started out with my pm set at 60, but asked them to adjust because I like to go for walk in my small midwest town. The 60 setting made me tire out too soon. Adjusting it to go up to (I think) around 80 has worked for me. So, I'm surprised that they want to set your pm down to 50 as that low a reading was what they want us to get away from due to Bradycardia. Hmmmm.

Good luck with the rest of your recovery.

You go girl!!

by kmom - 2014-02-25 10:02:02

Terrific news!! Do take it easy and listen to your body don't over do but it sounds like you're doing great!!

Great news

by KAG - 2014-02-25 10:02:35

Sounds like you're on the right track.

Keep it up!
Kathy

Forget the ...

by donr - 2014-02-25 10:02:55

...You Just Got Cut Open!!!!!

Now the watchword is "GET OUT & WALK!".

I looked up Nevada, Iowa - driven right past the place when I lived down in Middletown, next door to Burlington.

Where did you go for your PM implant?

I'm curious because from Burlington we would have gone to UI Med School hosp.

Glad all is going well for you - watch those gravel roads - they can be bad even in mid-summer.

Donr

Thanks kmom & Kag!

by bluebowtye - 2014-02-25 12:02:33

Thank you both for the nice comments! I am still adjusting but doing good overall. I know it will get better and better as time goes on! I am trying to get as much rest as possible as I know how important that is! Take care!
~Sheila

lol donr!

by bluebowtye - 2014-02-26 09:02:49

Hi donr! My address is Nevada but I actually live just a few miles outside of Ames, home of Iowa State University. I had my pacemaker surgery at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. UI is in Iowa City which is a good 3 hour drive for me.

As soon as my roads get better I will be out walking every day! Today is the best I have felt since my surgery so I'm hoping to start riding my exercise bike for at least a few minutes . Once I can drive again I will have a lot more options and that will help! You are right, the gravel roads can be bad all year!

My incision looks so good, I am really happy with it and you can hardly tell that I "just got cut open"! lol I think my Dr. did a fantastic job. He said I have 3 layers of stitches.

Take care and have a great day!!

~Sheila

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