just beat it.

Yea -- a little tribute to michael jackson. But relevant for me too. I've been experiencing a uneven heart rate recently. I'll be at rest, and I can feel my heart missing beats (evidently, this isn't anything to worry about though). I've talked to a couple of doctors, and no one seems to be concerned. I'm concerned though. Missing heart beats can't be good for you.

And my insurance is denying my claims. So, at this point, I'm in about 170K of debt. Supposedly they're doing "research" to be sure that I didn't have a pre-existing that I didn't tell them about. And since I didn't go see a doctor for five years prior to February 2009, I'm hoping that I'm ok. But, still, when you see a bill for $170,000 with your name on it, it's a little stressful. And since insurance companies suck, and will do anything to get out of paying what they're supposed to, there is no way of knowing what the outcome will be. Either way though...I'm not paying it. Unless someone out there has an extra 170K that I can have.

Let me know.

c

Someday, they'll find a cure for pain

So it's been over a month now since I've had the surgery (I think that this past Tuesday marked the one month anniversary).

When people ask me how I'm feeling, I'm not quite sure what to say. I'm not sure how I should be feeling. At this point, I'm supposed to have worked up to a mile walk, but I'm already riding my road bike and hiking. Albeit, slowly, and not for very long distances. My heart rate is still averaging around 100 bpm, and I'm not too happy with that, but none of the doctors that I've spoken with seem to be overly concerned (or really concerned at all.) In fact, they don't really want to see me. I think it's because everything went well, and there isn't anything else to do now but heal.

When I met with Dr. Guber, I was informed that I was anemic (lack of iron) from my hospital stay, and that this may have something to do with me feeling dizzy when I stand up (as well as the rapid heart rate). So, I guess that information would've been nice to have, say...oh, about a month ago.

In addition to liprinosil (for high blood pressure) and Bayer aspirin, I'm now taking an iron supplement. I'm trying to be off the vicodin, which I haven't had for a few days now. I definitely feel it too, but I think that it's good to feel the pain, instead of masking it. This way, I know when I do something that I shouldn't.

And, I'm not sleeping! So that's pretty great. I don't know why. I'm exhausted at the end of the day, but I just can't sleep. So it's back to Ambien for me! Hopefully I won't walk into anymore walls or fall down the steps. And I'm about 12 lbs down in the weitht department. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I'm not riding my bike, and I feel that I've lost a ton of muscle mass. Well, that, and not having any appetite at all. It's hard to eat if you're not hungry. (I know...I know...bla bla bla...You have to eat! Your body needs to rebuild itself...yadda yadda... Trust me, I know. And I've heard it all, from everyone.) However, not hungry = no eating.

ride

So I rode yesterday -- just 16 miles, but not too bad given that I had heart surgery less than four weeks ago.

It was hard, and windy. But, at least I got a ride in.

c

Ridin' and Drivin'

I had my first appointment with Dr. Guber today at 9:45am. They took my blood pressure, blood oxygen level and heart rate, looked at the scar, and listened to my heart. All in all, about 10 minutes of quality Dr./Patient time. (Or about 1/12th of the time that it took to get to the appointment).

Basically, I'm doing great. I can drive, and he told me that I could probably ride my road bike. I wasn't given any restrictions as to how hard I could go...just to be sure that I'm comfortable, and feel good.

So, all good news. Now if the weather would just co-operate!

Since I couldn't drive, I came down with Lisa (who's in class today). So I'm now waiting for her to be done with school. I've been sitting at Einstein's Bagels for the past two hours, and look forward to getting the hell out of here.

c

Gimme a V! Gimme an I! Gimme a C!

Well, I'm trying to kick the Vicodin. I was taking two, every four hours. And now I'm trying to take just 1.5 in the morning, and then supplement it with some Advil throughout the day. Today, I took 1.5 at 9am, and didn't take another 1.5 until just now (around 6pm).

I see my surgeon on Thursday, and I'm hoping that if I'm down to just a few per day, they'll tell me I can drive again. Not that I haven't been driving mind you. I've taken the 'roo out a handful of times in the past few days, but nothing more than a few blocks. In general though, I feel that it's not good to drive on narcotics. The problem is that your world slows down a bit...and even though you think that everyone you come in contact with is also experiencing this "slow down", they're not. I would guess that while dosed up on two vicodin every four hours, I'm running about 10% - 15% slower than the general population.

Not much, but enough to get me a DWI or worse.

Phil, Jenni and Austin were here this afternoon, so it was good to see them. Next time you see Phil, ask him what it's like to try to smuggle pepper spray through Logan Airport Security. Good stuff.

c

Teva Mountain Games - Vail

That's where I was today. It was, by far, the biggest field trip I've been on since surgery. I got to see dogs jumping into a pool for distance...some of the fly fishing competition and a "trials/duo track mountain bike race. Lots of walking. Lots of sitting. And it was a beautiful day.

chris

another day older, and deeper in debt...

Just got an invoice from the anesthesiologist -- $6500! Yikes! Luckily, they're in network, and they were just giving me a "heads-up" that they were billing my insurance. Of course, they made it clear that I may be responsible for some or all of the bill...so I've got that going for me. Which is nice.

When I think back on the past couple of weeks (months), I find it impossible to comprehend everything that I've been through. But I'm hoping that with time, when I'm a couple of months beyond where I am now, that I'll be able to look back with good perspective, and hopefully learn from this experience. Right now, it's hard to conceive of that -- but I'm hopeful.

Anyway -- it's a beautiful day in Frisco...the rain finally went away for a day! Yea!

Recovery is boring

Sorry that I've been a little remiss in posting lately. I can't imagine that anyone is still reading this blog, as there just isn't much going on right now. Just trying to wean myself off the Vicodin, and get back to some semblance of normal.

The weather has been rainy and snowy. So at least I'm not missing much.

I guess I'll walk down to the bagel shop and get some breakfast. Woo hoo!

chris