Eleanor's Posts

Twelve weeks after surgery, what a difference time makes. Twelve weeks finds me in the second week of cardiac rehab, going for 60 to 75 minutes three times a week. So far I am assigned just to walking laps around the gym, walking on the treadmill to warm up for 5 minutes, then a somewhat faster pace for another 15. Seems slow to me, but they are keeping an eye on our heart rates, which they don’t want going too high at the beginning. Then another 13 minutes on a recumbent bike, at level 1 then 2. Pretty easy stuff actually. Cool down is 5 laps walked slowly, then stretching, and blood pressure and heart rate checkout. I am frequently told to go sit down, to get my numbers lower before they allow me to leave. Fine with me, by then I am ready to sit down anywhere! Oddly enough I am the only valve person in the gym, most are males with heart attacks and/or bypass operations. I am supposed to be walking for 30 minute stretches every other day, but I usually don’t have time, or don’t make time, as I get busy with life and forget about it. I do walk, doing laundry upstairs, taking the dog out downstairs, going grocery shopping then putting groceries away, and cleaning house. I am so glad to be able to do all of this, with no aches and pains, no being out of breath or having to rest. I do try to remember to sit down a couple of times a day, and think about putting my feet up. Hardly ever happens for I stay really busy. This week I started back with volunteer work, but have stayed out of the commute to DC. Last year I helped a first grade teacher as a volunteer one full day a week, but DC traffic is a bear, and the rush hour is actually several hours, from around 6am to 9am, then 4 to 7pm. The DC elementary school was beautiful, dating from the early 1900s, but the parking lot was accordingly tiny, and to get parking I had to be there at 7,30 then couldn’t get out until 3,30. I loved the school, the kids and the young teacher, but I hated commuting. As a retiree I had gotten spoiled, so I decided that this year I would do the same in a local school, just 5 mins. from my house, very spread out with a nice parking lot. I help a first grade teacher with newly arrived kids who do not speak English. In DC, that group of kids was a mix of Asian and Latino kiddies, but in my area they are all from Spanish speaking countries. Poor little things, in the spirit of “immersion” they are dropped straight into whatever grade corresponds to their age. There is where my bilingualism comes in handy. Today, for example, the teacher asked me to sit on the floor with six of those who know almost zero English and help them learn the concept of counting by fives. Fortunately, I was able to sit on the floor! Several weeks ago I could not have done that. Getting up what not too awkward either so I am progressing, even with wonky knees. The joy today was explaining the concept of counting by fives, and watching one little boy’s face light up. He knew this in Spanish, but had been lost in English. He was so excited he just wanted to sit in my lap and count up to 100 by fives in Spanish. The teacher has said she wishes I could be there every day and not just two days a week, but I am hoping that the kids will need me less and less as they progress. Meantime, I feel that I am exercising my mind, and my soul, those days when I am not in cardiac rehab. Sure makes for a full week! Now that I can drive anywhere I want, I pretty much reclaimed my life, all I am really missing is swimming, but I know to leave that alone for another couple of months, just thinking about it makes me nervous. When I finish the 36 sessions of rehab (7 down so far), then maybe I will be able to swim. I hope all of you who are post surgery are recovering well, too and those of you who are in the “waiting room” I sympathize with your impatience to get the show on the road. Honestly the anxiety of waiting was probably the hardest part for me. I hope your surgery day comes soon, and that it is smooth and successful, with a speedy recovery. Best wishes to all, Eleanor.