“Is it the scar?” My mind drifted back to my summers during elementary school. Back to the years of wearing a one-piece bathing suit and getting away with it until it was deemed “uncool.” Those one-piece years were then transformed into what I now call my “Napoleon era,” which was sometime around late middle school, early high school. It was then that my normal summer stance, in a bikini anyway, looked much like the French commander’s, one arm staying…
And I ain’t talkin’‘bout the diamonds! cardiac ablation: a procedure used to scar or destroy small areas of the heart by use of heat in sections that are causing incorrect electrical signals resulting in abnormal heart rhythms. My interpretation: a really sharp needle that participates in setting my newly constructed heart on fire… AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Ok, that…
During the weeks at cardiac rehab, the continuing unanswered question of the “heart scarring” still lingered in my mind, continuously haunting me… The plan was to have a local cardiologist who was experienced in reading heart MRI’s to read both the MRI in October that was done pre-surgery, and compare it with the “scarred” MRI done during my second hospital stay, post-surgery. Time had passed, the days turning into weeks, weeks turning into a month. It seemed like eternity while…
The Trainer Rehab Days So yes, I did manage to make it back to the rehab clinic, but thankfully, had a few “breather days” inbetween… The “trainer days” are the two days prior to when the actual cardiac rehab visits start. During this time, you get acquainted with the warm up and cool down exercises, how the machines work, and the whole routine in general. I walked in and the same friendly receptionist directed me down to the waiting area…
Part One Cardiac Rehab The Evaluation For whatever reason, I sat in my car, at my house, in tears before leaving. Not even able to logically grasp these outlandish feelings I was experiencing, I grew increasingly furious with myself. I couldn’t believe this was happening. But it was. Here I sat, terrified to drive. Seriously?? What was wrong with me?! True, it was only day two of driving, that is, if you counted day one as the short drive to…