Jim's Posts

Call me a sentimental old fool. I saved every text message that my wife sent to me while I was in the hospital for 2 weeks in Cleveland. Many of those were while she was gone back to Cincinnati to care for our girls. The memories came flooding back. Memories not of the pain, loneliness, fear, and uncertainty; but more memories of the deep love that we shared during that period and continue to share. Reading those messages brought a tear to my eye even today. I don't think that I will ever be able to delete those messages. I don't know how I would have made it without her. I'm glad I didn't have to figure that out. I am one lucky man, on so many levels. Four months out tomorrow. I would say that I feel about 95% back to my old self now. God Bless each and every one you as you continue on your journey. Jim

First some good news...I went to the ophthalmologist and got a totally clean ocular bill of health. My eyes are totally normal. However, he diagnosed with amaurosis fugax. That is transient monocular blindness. A TIA by any other name would not smell as sweet. My vision always completely returns to normal. So what seems to be happening is a small plug of aggregated platelets that embolize from my graft or valve and travel into the small arterioles in my eye. I go blind in that eye for 5-10 seconds and then my vision clears. He suggested that I add 81 mg aspirin to my regimen of meds. Since adding the baby aspirin, I have had no further problems. Hopefully as my after market cardiac parts endothelialize, this problem will go away. Otherwise, I feel great. I can cough and sneeze at will now. I am running and playing tennis again and will soon begin training for my first marathon in 3 years. Life is very good. Things do get better. For all of those out there who wonder about the "ticking" noise, now it is almost comforting. It is a normal noise that I have come to understand and welcome. It doesn't bother me or my wife at all. Thanks Adam, I will "keep on tickin' " Jim D