Nineteen weeks ago, I woke up in my hospital bed following two days of heart surgery. The running streak was over, and I was trying to sort out the names of people around me. It was beginning of a recovery that has been difficult, frustrating, and tougher than expected. The initial ride home from Tampa was painfully jarring, as was coughing, sneezing, and sometimes even moving. Sleeping was uncomfortable since I couldn’t adjust from being on my side. Everything was fuzzy from the pain medication, so focusing on reading, writing, or watching TV was impossible. Thankfully, times have changed.

I’ve since been through occupational & physical therapy, follow-up visits, medication adjustments, relying on a walker, a trans-Atlantic cruise, cardio rehab, dizziness, nausea, leg cramps, and have finally made it to the gym. Tomorrow, I go in for an ultrasound to find out why I’m having difficulty walking. There seems to be no problem with the stationary bike, rowing machine, swimming, or weightlifting, but the Charlie Horses in my left leg are debilitating after about 10-minutes on a treadmill. Walking was my first course of action, a little further each day, up to 3-miles, but that has become a set-back. Workouts in the pool have helped bolster my endurance. I even returned to chair yoga yesterday and followed up with an hour in the gym.

A simple adjustment of Lisinopril to half-a-tab-twice-a-day seems to have quelled the dizziness and light-headed feelings. My normal routine has returned, but to be able to walk without pain is the final “step” in this healing process. Losing a few more pounds would be helpful, however, my appetite has returned. I’m no longer restricted from lifting heavy options or doing some projects around the house. This is actually the bad news – no more excuses.