Two weeks ago today my exercise regime was varied, energetic, social, brisk and very, very active. I even tricked my sister, Trudy into coming to my gym with me – ironically the day before my surgery – we sweated at a professional and entirely unladylike rate. It was hilarious, exhausting and wonderful.
Today my ‘exercise’ is walking up and down our hallway because:
- Doing anything else quickly exhausts me (At this stage of my recovery having a shower is something that I need to nap after)
- It is too cold to actually go outside (extreme cold air is harsh on the lungs and heart and is best avoided. Canada is all about extreme cold air this week)
It is bitter-sweet to have been in a position to have an essentially ‘elective’ surgery as a fit, mostly asymptomatic person. My heart needed fixing for the bigger long-term picture of my health, but being tipped off a surgical table and going from 101% to feeling like I am hovering above zero is hard to handle for a get up and get moving personality like mine.
I am unendingly grateful that I have a brand new functioning valve that will serve me for many, many years, and I do have to remind myself that walking up and down our hallway will improve everyday and soon I will be back on track. I must have patience with my healing parts and kind tolerance with my speedy thoughts.
For the time being I will just have to find the humour in running into neighbours looking like a crazy person stalking the hallway in bathrobe and PJ’s.
6 Comments
You have the crazy stalker look down perfectly! And yes, keep reminding yourself that you will be back stronger and better soon. Long road but worth it. All this is easy for me to say but you know it’s true. Hang in there. Sending loads of patience your way. And you better appreciate it… Not like I have bucket loads of patience to spare. There’s a 16 year old boy and two kids under 5 in this house!!! Xox Tash
Thank you Tash!
I am putting it all in perspective by comparing what parents have to go through with uncertainty and excessive bouts of poor sleep. But at least the patience I require is much more short term and my new valve doesn’t need diaper changes. Haha 🙂
️Xoxolmnop
nice to see you up and about! but there is something to say about trudys face! she is very, very pretty!
and… you look so much alike! LOL
keep you good work up! 🙂
That Trudy! What a disas-ister haha 🙂
I can’t imagine what it must be like for you to cut down so much on your exercise, but healing takes time. Continue being patient, kind and compassionate with yourself. You will be back to normal before you know it 🙂
Alex!! I love you. Slow and steady wins the race 🙂
️Xoxolmnop