August 30: general stuff

Just before Labor Day weekend and while I don't have anything in particular scheduled it's great that the weather looks good for those of you who have outdoor activities planned. I'm now at the point that I feel good enough to start doing more, unfortunately that also seems to mean eating more! Running errands, although mostly staying around home. I still prefer to be at home where there is a couch immediately available. I'm really happy being a homebody. Just now starting to feel more social. Also feel like the fog has mostly lifted from the "pump head", which is the effect that you get from having your heart stopped and being on the bypass machine. While everyone says that I seem perfectly normal, I can tell that my mental processes are not up to snuff for more complex thinking and multi-tasking.

I continue to walk at least every other day and am almost double what I was doing. I decided to hold off on the swimming for a couple of reasons. First, I get so tired still when doing anything with my arms. If even washing my hair is tiring, then expecting more than one or two laps in a pool is probably not going to happen. And it seems like quite a production for that small amount of swimming. Second, and really good news, is that where the back muscles were cut open on the right around the shoulder blade from the thoracotomy seems to be closing up. This makes blowing my nose less painful. I assume that it is because I've been doing so little for seven weeks with my arms and torso. So I don't want to risk seperating it again by swimming too soon. So I'll go next week. Maybe!!

Hoping everyone has a happy and safe Labor Day. Thanks for checking in! Laurie