Just finished my first actual rehab.

EASY-PEASY----------

So far!

First she had me just sit in a chair and do some arm stretching exercises.  Will work up to using light weights.

Only did 15 minutes on the recumbent machine in 5 minute intervals, with a minute or two break in between.

Less of a workout than I do on my own recumbent bike at home.  Here I have the resistance set a little higher.

Anyway, it was nice, and the gals there are so nice.

I am the only woman rehab, along with 3 men--Bob, Jerry and Earl.  They seem to be my age or maybe a little older.  Kinda quiet.  Once I get going more on my own, I'll get them chatting more.  I can't keep my mouth shut for very long----as long as I'm not huffing and puffing!  lol

I have to show this to you.

These gals have a sense of humor.

This is the first page in the notebook I received.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab

We believe that laughter can be the best medicine.  In that spirit, we offer you the following guidelines to make your life easier with the Cardiac/Pulmonary staff.

1.

Never say you can't---because you will.

2.

Never say "it's easy"---because we'll make it hard.

3.

Never say "I want to go home"----because we will just keep you longer.

4.

Never, ever, lose count---because you will start at "one" again.

5.

Never complain---because we never listen

6.

Never argue---because you will never win.

7.

Never whine or look tired---because it only encourages us.

8.

Never look like you are enjoying what you are doing----because we will put a stop to it.

9.

Never hold your breath---because if you pass out and die we have to fill out the paper work.

10.

Never lie about your home program or cheat on your exercise time----because we know the truth and we will see that you live to regret it!!

---------------------------------------

There were a few snowflakes in the air on my way there.  Now it is just cold and windy. 

Oh Spring----Wherefore art thou???

I had my introduction to rehab today. 

It was for 1 1/2 hrs., and was mostly explaining everything to me.  I was given a notebook about everything and a lot of diet information. 

I told J that I know almost everything she told me about cholesterol, triglycerides, diet and such.  It is just the lack of exercise that is doing me in.

They hooked me up to a monitor, and had me do some exercise on a machine similar to a recumbent bike with handles that move, too.  Only for 6 minutes at the lowest resistance.  It was a breeze.  But I guess it gives them an idea of my stamina, and a baseline.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays they must do evaluating, because I was the only one there, and the rehab classes are only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

I start Monday.  I had the option of 8, 9 or 11 a.m..  8 is too early, 11 is too late.  10 would have been perfect for me, but it wasn't available.  J said my 9:00 class is mostly men---hmmmm!!  Should be interesting!!  lol

The classes go for 6 weeks or 18 sessions---whichever comes first.  Like, next Wed., I have a Dr. appt. already set up, so won't be able to do rehab.

I have dusted off my recumbent bike in the basement, and used it yesterday.  Also worked a bit outside yesterday.  It was beautiful out.  But rain has moved in and will be around thru Friday.  We have Church tomorrow and errands to run.

 Saw on the weather that one day next week---cannot remember which---there is the possibility of snow!!!  It is almost May, and they are talking snow!  And the temp will only reach 39 for a high on that day.  ACK!

 

Cardiac Rehab called this morning.  Had a nice talk with the gal that will be working with me.  I think we will get along well. 

Is everybody sitting down?  Don't want you to keel over from the shock------but I am actually looking forward to it.  It took a couple days to come to terms with it, but I know changes have to be made.  This is the best way to know the best things for me to do on my own. 

I go Thursday morning for the initial visit. 

Today proved to me that the stent procedure took more out of me than I thought.

I asked Ken to take a little walk with me---just to the corner and back.  I was huffing and puffing after just that short distance. 

Now, I wasn't in good shape before, but we could go to our Super Wal Mart, park way back from the entrance, walk all over the store, and walk back to the car.  I would be tired---mostly my feet would hurt, but nothing like the huffing and puffing I did today after walking only one block.

I am also spending less time on here.

I am reading you all through my subscription list, but not commenting all the time.  I usually do that in the morning, and it sometimes took me 2 hours or more.

 Morning is when I feel the most ambitious, so will do more computer things at night now, while watching TV.

Don't think I am ignoring you.  I certainly am not.  I just need to get moving more.

Will keep you posted on how my rehab is going-----and, of course, about any other "exciting" news from here. lol

Oh, before I forget, our first daffodil opened up today.  Yippee!!

Of course, in addition to that, the weatherman is talking about the possibility of snow---maybe this weekend.  I doubt we will get it.  Probably will be further north.  We shall see.

I'M HOME

I ended up getting a stent inserted in my heart, and had to stay overnight in the ICU. 

My artery, which was 50% blocked  several years ago, now was 75% blocked.  They put in a stent when the blockage is 70% or more.

Despite all the things that COULD happen, it was an easy procedure for me.  Except for keeping my right leg still afterwards where they went into the artery in my groin.  While they were putting the stent in they flush the IV in order to get the dye out of the body quicker.

Well, with my weak bladder, you know what happened.  During the 4 hrs I had to be still, I had to use the bed pan 3 or 4 times----very carefully.  I know, TMI (too much information).  lol

The doctors all know my aversion to exercise.  This morning the cardiac therapist came in and walked me around the hallway.  She said there is also out-patient rehab which I could take advantage of, which is voluntary.  I didn't say anything.

When I was OK'd to leave, the ICU nurse came in with my orders.  Prescriptions, a follow-up appointment with the cardiologist, AND the orders for rehab.  They will contact me this coming week to set it up.  Three times a week for  several weeks.  Between 24 and 30 sessions.  So, I will be exercising whether I want to or not.  She said this will also show them how well my heart is functioning now, because I will be hooked up to machines while exercising.  Maybe this will give me the incentive to exercise more once this is done.  There will also be educational classes regarding diet.  I pretty much know all there is to know about that part of it, but will maybe learn something new. 

At least the rehab is here in town, so I I don't have to drive up to Green Bay 3 times a week!

Oh, and they also found 3 more minor blockages--30% each, which they will keep a watch on.

I am also on Plavix and aspirin to prevent clotting for a year.  This can be a complication with stents.  They now use drug eluting stents, which are an improvement over the regular steel stents----which often caused scarring. 

So, I am home, feeling fine.  Glad this is over for now.  The whole procedure is simple for the patient and painless.  But one always worries about the complications. 

I know all your prayers helped.  Thank you all so much. 

BIG HUGS TO YOU ALL!!

 

I always thought that if so much time went by that I had to call the Dr's office to find out the results of a test, that everything is OK.  The "No news is good news" mentality.  I usually wait 2 weeks before calling.

Well, my cardiologist's office called here today, (had the stress test Thursday) and as soon as I heard who it was, I thought "uh-oh---this is too quick after my stress test." 

I was right. Now I have to go up to Green Bay on Friday for a heart catherization.  Arrrgggh!!

I have had one before, so I know what it is.  No big deal----just something else to worry about!  It has been 6 yrs. since my last one.

FIRE!!!!!

Now that I have your attention----- lol

 

Our son in town, Greg, is superintendent of a local golf course. 

There is an old house and garage that has been near the entrance since the course was built.  The club rented the house out.

Guess it had deteriorated so badly, that it wasn't worth fixing up anymore.  So the club contacted the rural fire department there and asked them if they would like to use it for a training burn.

Greg can correct this if I get anything wrong.

I think he said it ended up with 7 different fire departments and the technical college being involved. 

Last fall already, Greg and his crew had taken down several trees close to the house.  Since the house had aluminum siding on it, that was removed, and the rural fire department turned it in for recycling.

Early Saturday morning they all converged on the country club.  We had sleety snow all day long, and some pretty good winds.  This picture had to be made smaller, but the trucks go way down the hill in the distance.  The pump trucks got water from the river right by the course. 

Most of the morning was spent in training.  Greg said they set about 4 small fires in the house, and various groups went in and put them out. 

They set the garage on fire first.  Greg said the wood was so old that it only took about 15 minutes for it to burn down.

This picture must be of one of the small training burns in the main house.  The garage on the left is not on fire yet.

Here, both buildings are going.

Fire shooting out both ends of the attic of the house.

The house fully engulfed.

House collapsed, and fire almost out.  You can see that the only thing that held together was the metal roof.

Tomorrow, a bulldozer will come in and remove the debris, fill in the basement and level off the ground.

Daughter-in-law, Lori, took the 3 younger kids out there to watch the burn.  The head fire chief came over and picked 5 yr-old Linden up and took him right over to the house just after they started the fire, so Linden could see the fire burning inside the house.  He was so excited!!   Three guesses what he has now decided to be when he grows up.

The local paper covered the burn, too.  If any of you are interested, there are a LOT (72) more pictures of the whole process---along with group pictures of all the firemen involved.  It also has a good picture of all the trucks with their hoses all over the road, either loading up with water from the river, or when they were using the hoses on the smaller fires.  Just click on "House Burn" below.

HOUSE BURN

 

 

I'm home-----I survived

I now have a total of 9 extra holes in my arms from the last three days!

The radiology tech (different from the ones yesterday) was prepared for me this morning.  She knew what happened yesterday.  She had towels soaking in warm water, which she wrapped around both arms.  She still had a problem deciding on where to try to insert the IV.  The first time didn't work, but thankfully, the second site did.  Drinking lots of fluids yesterday helped.  Of course, I had to run to the potty between the different stages of the test!!  I know---TMI!!!

The treadmill went quickly.  I had been off my heart med since Monday, and I was having quite a few irregular heartbeats, and my blood pressure and pulse were high already.  It only took three minutes to get my heart rate even higher than it should have been.  They had me take my heart med immediately after the treadmill.

Then had cookies and juice and watched The Waltons on tv for 40 minutes.  The scan then went perfectly---didn't have to redo it like on Tuesday.

More medical news---not about me, but about Ken.  He had an appointment with the urologist.  A semi-annual checkup for his prostate. 

He will be going in for surgery on May 6 for a "reaming out" of his urethra, and removing prostate tissue that is pressing against the urethra. (Called TURP procedure). His bladder is retaining more urine than it should.  He will also have his hydrocele drained.  He will be in the hospital overnight.  He will be one sore puppy for a few days!   Poor baby.

Well, that is enough medical news for a while.

Talked to the travelers over the weekend, and things are pretty much the same with them.  They are still in Corpus Christi, TX, and will be there until either May 2nd or 4th.  Jeff is loving the job there.  He has a couple guys underneath him.  I guess the former guy was not very nice----yelling at the others a lot.  Jeff says that now, even the big boss comes upstairs to spend time up them all, because it is a fun place to be.  They have gotten caught up on a lot of the sign work that needed to be done, and now Jeff is reorganizing and straightening up his department.  He says the main boss still insists that Jeff will be staying.  It sounds as though if Jeff does decide to settle in Corpus Christi in the future, he would be able to get a job there again.

The plans are all set now for his traveling signman job.  He will be going to Des Moines definitely from Corpus Christi.  It sounds like the job will be for 3 weeks, starting about May 14.  If the PGA Champions Tour is on TV, you will be able to see some of his signage work then.  It will be from the Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines.  It will be interesting to hear how it all turns out.  Then they will come up to Wisconsin for a while----to LaCrosse where they used to live, and where 3 of their kids still are.

They like the Corpus Christi area, too.  Jeff likes being near the Gulf.  Even though their bedding feels damp in the morning when they get up.  I told him to just wait until summer----if they would decide to spend more time there.  Judy was also complaining a little bit about the amount of bugs there.  I said that if there is heat and humidity, there will be bugs-------and hurricanes!!!  OH MY!!

I HATE HOSPITALS!!!!!

Every two years I have to go in for a 2-day cardiac stress test.  They have always gone like clockwork with no problems.   Not  this time!

This time it is stretching to 3 days.

I went in yesterday morning for my resting scan.  They injected me with the radioactive "stuff", (found a vein on the first try) and then I had to wait 45 minutes.  The gal came in and took all my information down, and then I just wandered around, trying to keep walking.  They did the scan, which takes about 15 minutes of lying absolutely still-----seems like twice that long.  It was done, and the tech said it didn't work.  The "stuff" had not circulated like it should have and was just a bright ball sitting above my bowel below my heart.  I had to wait another 30 minutes, and they suggested I eat something---might help get the "stuff" circulating. 

I had the second scan.  The tech said that the "stuff" hadn't completely circulated, but enough had so that they got a decent scan.

Today was supposed to be the treadmill test, with another scan afterwards.

By the time I left there (early) I had a rescheduled test for tomorrow, and two nurses were swearing at me----well, not quite at me, but at my horrible veins!  And, I have six punctures on my arms and hands.

The Dr. waited over 1/2 hour past my treadmill time, and he finally said he had to leave, and it would have to be rescheduled.  The first gal stuck me three times, and then called up someone from Emergency who was good at finding veins.  She couldn't find them either.  They both would think they had one, and then it would stop almost immediately.  They were so frustrated.  I was feeling sorry for them, and they were feeling sorry for me.  The guy who found a good vein on the first try yesterday wasn't working today.

The one nurse told me to drink lots of liquids today, that I was probably dehydrated, which makes it harder to find decent veins.  I hadn't been drinking much the last couple days because I get a nervous bladder when I have to do any testing.  But, don't want to go through this again tomorrow.  It wasn't so bad---I just hated having all these people waiting for me---especially the Dr.

So I go back early tomorrow morning to try again.  Wish me luck!

 

When one has "nuthin" to talk about, one resorts to pictures!

I had some more fun using my Paint Shop Pro program to make kaleidoscopes from photos.

First will be the original photo, and then the kaleidoscope picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do I write about when there is nuthin' to write about???

 

NUTHIN!!!!!