8 hours sleep:

To openly claim 8 hours sleep is already quite a statement for this soul to make. Today I woke to the lull of Lake Superior's waves massaging the ancient basalt after a deeply refreshing sleep. I am convalescing at my sister Jeanne's latest and best lodging. She's now situated 20 miles north of Grand Marais in a surprisingly private area inside the Grand Portage band of the Chippewa nation. It reminds me of the north shore of my childhood...Private, wild, powerful and majestic. 

Deeply satisfying sleep has been an ongoing  desire for years. The recuperation process after open heart surgery requires it, while our culture's busyness rarely allow true rest. The beauty of nature, the continual sway and music of the waves combined with clean air have all insisted I listen to nature's calling and ignore society for while. I may never return...Fully that is.

Yet life beacons me to return to the working world, and I will heed...eventually but I am going to listen to my body this time. After my earlier heart attack at age 46, I believed I couldn't stop so I was back at work after 2 weeks. I know now this was unwise, however at that time I believed there were no options as I was the primary support fiscally for my family. Today thankfully I have the choice to heed mother nature as my adult children are taking care of their own needs quite well. 

Healing: 

If a bit squeamish, you may choose to jump to the next paragraph.     Open heart surgery is just that. You open up the chest cavity by cutting open the sternum which allow the ribs to be expanded mechanically so the surgeon can operate. In my case the heart and lungs were stopped so the grafting of the new arteries and veins was easier to perform and artificially keep the blood and oxygen pumping during the operation. See https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/03/19/healing-sternum-heart-fused-recovery-heal/

This is a very invasive process that takes time to heal. On average it takes 3 months for most people to heal from open heart surgery. It takes an additional 3 months for the sternum to fully heal. Each person is unique, and I seem to be on the slightly faster track so far. 

Pain management:

As I earlier said, this is painful. OMG kind of painful.  Taking drugs I initially thought I could resist I've learned are required for proper healing.  It's so painful, you cannot breathe. Your chest cavity's nerve endings have been torn from each other so the simple act of breathing is painful. A cough or sneeze is the most pain filled thing I do these days still. 

In the hospital I was given administered an opioid (Oxycodone), a muscle relaxant(Robixin), a local anesthetic and a lot of Tylenol. Today I'm taking the Robixin and Tylenol on lower dosages. I've been fortunate to be able to ween myself quickly, but I would still use ALL of the above if I had to. It really did make the difference of breathing or not.  In this I've learned a whole new level of compassion for anyone with respiratory issues. 

A slightly restricted lifestyle: 

For the next couple weeks, I'm limited to lifting no more than 10 pounds after which I'll be limited to 20 pounds for the next month.  This is to protect my sternum's healing itself back together. So while my body CRAVES movement and heavier exercise,  I have to resist. So, yep even no  disc golf for another 8 weeks 😓.  There are several other restrictions, but let's not dwell there. 

So I'm forced into convalescing here on the north shore for a bit longer. Suffer, suffer, suffer as my father gently, but sarcastically loved to say when his sense desires were being honored.  We'd hear him say these 3 words most often at the dinner table while his children doted him with his favorite culinary delights. 

Love to you all and thank you so many for your kind support.

Stevie New Pipes