Cardiac Rehab

This morning was my seventh day of cardiac rehab. A half hour on the treadmill and two five-minute spots on the bicycle. Sometimes I sweat a bit, but I never feel short of breath nor do I experience chest pain. What does ache are my knees, my calves, and my thighs, but I keep plugging away, too proud to call it quits before my alloted time is up.

Today I increased my treadmill pace to 3.8 miles/hour with a 1.5-percent grade. Each day I increase the pace and/or the grade. I'm really pleased with my progress.

I e-mailed my Kaiser cardiologist, who then e-mailed the UCLA cardiologist. All that the latter needs to see is a good echocardiogram. If I can do that, he'll recommend me to the transplant team. The charge nurse at the cardiac rehab unit said that from all indications she would expect me to do very well on an echocardiogram. I sure feel that way too.

I want to give the rehab another few weeks before I take the echo. That way, I should be in top shape.

I'm really enjoying rehab for the social aspect as well. The staff are very friendly, and I enjoy talking to the old guys because it's all old guys at my time slot. Today I spoke with Chuck, an 89-year-old man whose grandfather founded Farmers & Merchants Bank. Chuck smiled when he told me of his wife of 64 years and of his three children. Before he retired, he had been a lawyer in practice with his father. I told him that he really seems to have led a blessed life--a wonderful wife with whom he's still in love, three great kids, a meaningful career, and up until his heart-valve replacement, good health. He heartily agreed.