Mended Hearts Open Forum

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if I should be posting this in another thread- please feel free to let me know if I'm in the wrong place.

My name is John Lindsey. I am a professional opera singer with a wonderful wife, sweet doggie-daughter, and a baby due any day now.

I am 32 years old, and was diagnosed with coronary artery disease in July, which was found on CTA after trying to determine the cause of intermittent heart palpitations. I've been placed on a statin as well as aspirin. Earlier in the year, I had early stage melanoma removed, along with several other severely atypical moles. I also recently had partial-fundoplication surgery to try to correct severe acid reflux.

I deal with panic disorder, generalized anxiety, health anxiety, and depression. Coming to terms with the state of my health (CAD in particular, since the calcium they found is in my LAD artery) has been difficult. I tell doctors, friends, and family, and they all just look at me with a kind of sad pity because they don't understand how I could have this issue; I've made mistakes along the way, but have tried to live an active lifestyle and never exhibited signs of this disease.

I'm grateful to have found this community, and hope that I can be a source of support as well as hopefully finding some support for myself as well. Nice to meet you all.




------------------------------
John Lindsey
Singer
Conroe TX
------------------------------

John,

I used to live in Kingwood and am sorry to hear of your issues. We all are fortunate to be alive and living in the U.S. although many of us have to deal with some special issues. Mine was after my heart stopped, I learned I needed a carotid surgery and a quintuple bypass within three days.

I decided to apply my legal and management skills to creating my own rehab program, and shared it in my book
www.OneHeartTwoLivescom,wordpress.com  named after my heart stopping and being restarted to begin my second life in 2007.

Today I am happier than ever.

Brent Zepke

------------------------------
Brent Zepke
Santa Barbara CA
(805) 698-4651
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-22-2018 22:29
From: John Lindsey
Subject: Introducing myself

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if I should be posting this in another thread- please feel free to let me know if I'm in the wrong place.

My name is John Lindsey. I am a professional opera singer with a wonderful wife, sweet doggie-daughter, and a baby due any day now.

I am 32 years old, and was diagnosed with coronary artery disease in July, which was found on CTA after trying to determine the cause of intermittent heart palpitations. I've been placed on a statin as well as aspirin. Earlier in the year, I had early stage melanoma removed, along with several other severely atypical moles. I also recently had partial-fundoplication surgery to try to correct severe acid reflux.

I deal with panic disorder, generalized anxiety, health anxiety, and depression. Coming to terms with the state of my health (CAD in particular, since the calcium they found is in my LAD artery) has been difficult. I tell doctors, friends, and family, and they all just look at me with a kind of sad pity because they don't understand how I could have this issue; I've made mistakes along the way, but have tried to live an active lifestyle and never exhibited signs of this disease.

I'm grateful to have found this community, and hope that I can be a source of support as well as hopefully finding some support for myself as well. Nice to meet you all.




------------------------------
John Lindsey
Singer
Conroe TX
------------------------------

Original Message------

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if I should be posting this in another thread- please feel free to let me know if I'm in the wrong place.

My name is John Lindsey. I am a professional opera singer with a wonderful wife, sweet doggie-daughter, and a baby due any day now.

I am 32 years old, and was diagnosed with coronary artery disease in July, which was found on CTA after trying to determine the cause of intermittent heart palpitations. I've been placed on a statin as well as aspirin. Earlier in the year, I had early stage melanoma removed, along with several other severely atypical moles. I also recently had partial-fundoplication surgery to try to correct severe acid reflux.

I deal with panic disorder, generalized anxiety, health anxiety, and depression. Coming to terms with the state of my health (CAD in particular, since the calcium they found is in my LAD artery) has been difficult. I tell doctors, friends, and family, and they all just look at me with a kind of sad pity because they don't understand how I could have this issue; I've made mistakes along the way, but have tried to live an active lifestyle and never exhibited signs of this disease.

I'm grateful to have found this community, and hope that I can be a source of support as well as hopefully finding some support for myself as well. Nice to meet you all.




------------------------------
John Lindsey
Singer
Conroe TX
------------------------------

Welcome to the group. Hope that it proves helpful to you.

Sent from my iPhone


Original Message------

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if I should be posting this in another thread- please feel free to let me know if I'm in the wrong place.

My name is John Lindsey. I am a professional opera singer with a wonderful wife, sweet doggie-daughter, and a baby due any day now.

I am 32 years old, and was diagnosed with coronary artery disease in July, which was found on CTA after trying to determine the cause of intermittent heart palpitations. I've been placed on a statin as well as aspirin. Earlier in the year, I had early stage melanoma removed, along with several other severely atypical moles. I also recently had partial-fundoplication surgery to try to correct severe acid reflux.

I deal with panic disorder, generalized anxiety, health anxiety, and depression. Coming to terms with the state of my health (CAD in particular, since the calcium they found is in my LAD artery) has been difficult. I tell doctors, friends, and family, and they all just look at me with a kind of sad pity because they don't understand how I could have this issue; I've made mistakes along the way, but have tried to live an active lifestyle and never exhibited signs of this disease.

I'm grateful to have found this community, and hope that I can be a source of support as well as hopefully finding some support for myself as well. Nice to meet you all.




------------------------------
John Lindsey
Singer
Conroe TX
------------------------------

Original Message------

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if I should be posting this in another thread- please feel free to let me know if I'm in the wrong place.

My name is John Lindsey. I am a professional opera singer with a wonderful wife, sweet doggie-daughter, and a baby due any day now.

I am 32 years old, and was diagnosed with coronary artery disease in July, which was found on CTA after trying to determine the cause of intermittent heart palpitations. I've been placed on a statin as well as aspirin. Earlier in the year, I had early stage melanoma removed, along with several other severely atypical moles. I also recently had partial-fundoplication surgery to try to correct severe acid reflux.

I deal with panic disorder, generalized anxiety, health anxiety, and depression. Coming to terms with the state of my health (CAD in particular, since the calcium they found is in my LAD artery) has been difficult. I tell doctors, friends, and family, and they all just look at me with a kind of sad pity because they don't understand how I could have this issue; I've made mistakes along the way, but have tried to live an active lifestyle and never exhibited signs of this disease.

I'm grateful to have found this community, and hope that I can be a source of support as well as hopefully finding some support for myself as well. Nice to meet you all.




------------------------------
John Lindsey
Singer
Conroe TX
------------------------------

I would like to provide some perspective as a practicing cardiologist. Coronary calcium scores are very helpful to identify patients who are at risk for developing problems in the future. They also tell us who is most likely to benefit from aggressive prevention. It does not mean, however, that any of your symptoms are secondary to your heart and it does not mean that you need to limit your life in any way. Its sort of like getting a colonoscopy when you are 50: they take out the polyps that may lead to cancer 10 years in the future. Be happy that your doctor did this test so that there is plenty of time to benefit from the treatment he prescribed.

John Peterson, MD

________________________________

This message is intended for the sole use of the addressee, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee you are hereby notified that you may not use, copy, disclose, or distribute to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received this message in error, please immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete this message.


Original Message------

Dear John, you may have serious mental health issues, secondary to your cardiac situation. I suggest that you arrange to see a therapist: social  worker, psychologist or psychiatrist. Best wishes from a cardiac patient, former Mended Hearts volunteer, opera lover and retired social worker.

All the best,
 
Walter J. Levy
7831 Park Lane #51
Dallas, TX 75225
214-361-8125

Hi John,
 I joined a month ago.
And its great to read your story.  Congratulations on your Baby!
    What struck me about your story is the issue you bring up are the emotional situations you are dealing with.
     I have had three open heart surgeries, especially when I was younger, all during the seventies. Back then, the chances of surviving were not so great.But the advances made in cardiac surgery and care is beyond amazing. 
    So, yes, these surgeries, as I might suggest your surgeries as well, were life-changing. Our bodies go through trauma. The body can, and usually does heal, and heals well.
     
   After my last surgery in 1976, when I had an prosthetic aortic valve implanted for an aortic stenosis, I spent the next 40 YEARS suffering from PTSD' 
Anxiety attacks, daily, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Why? I doubted my valve, my body, even my life.
     Only recently, just 4 months ago, I had an immense breakdown after suffering from a serious suicide attempt. 
     NOW THIS STORY HAS A POSITIVE ENDING!  I spent three months in a facility that assisted others with traumas PTSD, depression etc.
    
    It was here that I learned that, yep, all these traumas with my surgeries, especially emotionally, were valid: 
I learned that children and adults who have heart surgeries, without getting ANY kind of therapy, psychiatric or otherwise.
Our minds just can't comprehend what has happened to our bodies.
I have since radically accepted that I am what I am, I can't change the past, but I can change my future, being more active, loving, and forgiving, To me!
Hope to hear back from you my friend.
Ken Levine
527 Buttolph Drive
Middlebury, Vt.05753

------------------------------
ken levine
volunteer, retired
802-236-8186
kenpaullevine@gmail.com
Middlebury, Vermont
05753
United States of America
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-22-2018 22:29
From: John Lindsey
Subject: Introducing myself

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if I should be posting this in another thread- please feel free to let me know if I'm in the wrong place.

My name is John Lindsey. I am a professional opera singer with a wonderful wife, sweet doggie-daughter, and a baby due any day now.

I am 32 years old, and was diagnosed with coronary artery disease in July, which was found on CTA after trying to determine the cause of intermittent heart palpitations. I've been placed on a statin as well as aspirin. Earlier in the year, I had early stage melanoma removed, along with several other severely atypical moles. I also recently had partial-fundoplication surgery to try to correct severe acid reflux.

I deal with panic disorder, generalized anxiety, health anxiety, and depression. Coming to terms with the state of my health (CAD in particular, since the calcium they found is in my LAD artery) has been difficult. I tell doctors, friends, and family, and they all just look at me with a kind of sad pity because they don't understand how I could have this issue; I've made mistakes along the way, but have tried to live an active lifestyle and never exhibited signs of this disease.

I'm grateful to have found this community, and hope that I can be a source of support as well as hopefully finding some support for myself as well. Nice to meet you all.




------------------------------
John Lindsey
Singer
Conroe TX
------------------------------

Dear Ken,
I read with great interest your assertion of PTSD. I was born with a congenital defect, so since day one I've had a host of what I perceived to be, nasty and painful procedures. Always being told to stay still, get it done, it's going to help you, I couldn't figure out why they were always hurting me and suppressed my feelings.
It was only until my daughter was in the very same hospital and I got off on the wrong floor, did I realize how deep those feelings ran. I came across the very room that I was in post op after my first surgery at age four. I totally freaked. I just ran, leaving my husband and daughter standing there not knowing what was going on. I ended up in a construction site on that floor being yelled at by the workers. That's what snapped me out of the sheer panic.
For a long time, I thought those feelings of fear need to be addressed for the patient whether adult or child.
Thanks for bringing it to the forefront.
I wish you good health.

Sent from my iPhone


Original Message------

Hi John,
 I joined a month ago.
And its great to read your story.  Congratulations on your Baby!
    What struck me about your story is the issue you bring up are the emotional situations you are dealing with.
     I have had three open heart surgeries, especially when I was younger, all during the seventies. Back then, the chances of surviving were not so great.But the advances made in cardiac surgery and care is beyond amazing. 
    So, yes, these surgeries, as I might suggest your surgeries as well, were life-changing. Our bodies go through trauma. The body can, and usually does heal, and heals well.
     
   After my last surgery in 1976, when I had an prosthetic aortic valve implanted for an aortic stenosis, I spent the next 40 YEARS suffering from PTSD' 
Anxiety attacks, daily, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Why? I doubted my valve, my body, even my life.
     Only recently, just 4 months ago, I had an immense breakdown after suffering from a serious suicide attempt. 
     NOW THIS STORY HAS A POSITIVE ENDING!  I spent three months in a facility that assisted others with traumas PTSD, depression etc.
    
    It was here that I learned that, yep, all these traumas with my surgeries, especially emotionally, were valid: 
I learned that children and adults who have heart surgeries, without getting ANY kind of therapy, psychiatric or otherwise.
Our minds just can't comprehend what has happened to our bodies.
I have since radically accepted that I am what I am, I can't change the past, but I can change my future, being more active, loving, and forgiving, To me!
Hope to hear back from you my friend.
Ken Levine
527 Buttolph Drive
Middlebury, Vt.05753

------------------------------
ken levine
volunteer, retired
802-236-8186
kenpaullevine@gmail.com
Middlebury, Vermont
05753
United States of America
------------------------------

I am a 67 year old man living in the western Suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. In 2005, I had a quadruple bypass CABG at Cleveland clinic. Since then, I have had an ICD (pacemaker-defibrillator) implanted 7 years ago, diagnosed as type 2 diabetic 3 years ago, then last year had 2 stents put in. I am suffering from shortness of breath when doing mild exertion, like walking up steps, carrying groceries, etc. Had several cardiac tests done, pulmonary function tests and left and right heart caths as well. Now the doctors believe that they found my problem - my pacemaker needs adjusting. 
Hopefully that resolves my issues and I can live an active life in retirement. 

After reading all your stories, I feel blessed that my condition is mostly under control and I am not disabled or have major failures. Good health to everyone and if you need a great cardiologist, Cleveland Clinic Main Campus is the best.

Frank

------------------------------
FRANK CARUSO
AVON OH
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-20-2019 10:04
From: annette smith
Subject: Introducing myself

Dear Ken,
I read with great interest your assertion of PTSD. I was born with a congenital defect, so since day one I've had a host of what I perceived to be, nasty and painful procedures. Always being told to stay still, get it done, it's going to help you, I couldn't figure out why they were always hurting me and suppressed my feelings.
It was only until my daughter was in the very same hospital and I got off on the wrong floor, did I realize how deep those feelings ran. I came across the very room that I was in post op after my first surgery at age four. I totally freaked. I just ran, leaving my husband and daughter standing there not knowing what was going on. I ended up in a construction site on that floor being yelled at by the workers. That's what snapped me out of the sheer panic.
For a long time, I thought those feelings of fear need to be addressed for the patient whether adult or child.
Thanks for bringing it to the forefront.
I wish you good health.

Sent from my iPhone


Original Message------

Hi John,
 I joined a month ago.
And its great to read your story.  Congratulations on your Baby!
    What struck me about your story is the issue you bring up are the emotional situations you are dealing with.
     I have had three open heart surgeries, especially when I was younger, all during the seventies. Back then, the chances of surviving were not so great.But the advances made in cardiac surgery and care is beyond amazing.
    So, yes, these surgeries, as I might suggest your surgeries as well, were life-changing. Our bodies go through trauma. The body can, and usually does heal, and heals well.

   After my last surgery in 1976, when I had an prosthetic aortic valve implanted for an aortic stenosis, I spent the next 40 YEARS suffering from PTSD'
Anxiety attacks, daily, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Why? I doubted my valve, my body, even my life.
     Only recently, just 4 months ago, I had an immense breakdown after suffering from a serious suicide attempt.
     NOW THIS STORY HAS A POSITIVE ENDING!  I spent three months in a facility that assisted others with traumas PTSD, depression etc.

    It was here that I learned that, yep, all these traumas with my surgeries, especially emotionally, were valid:
I learned that children and adults who have heart surgeries, without getting ANY kind of therapy, psychiatric or otherwise.
Our minds just can't comprehend what has happened to our bodies.
I have since radically accepted that I am what I am, I can't change the past, but I can change my future, being more active, loving, and forgiving, To me!
Hope to hear back from you my friend.
Ken Levine
527 Buttolph Drive
Middlebury, Vt.05753

------------------------------
ken levine
volunteer, retired
802-236-8186
kenpaullevine@gmail.com
Middlebury, Vermont
05753
United States of America
------------------------------

Welcome to the group. Thanks for sharing your story.

------------------------------
annette smith
saxonburg PA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-20-2019 11:37
From: FRANK CARUSO
Subject: Introducing myself

I am a 67 year old man living in the western Suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. In 2005, I had a quadruple bypass CABG at Cleveland clinic. Since then, I have had an ICD (pacemaker-defibrillator) implanted 7 years ago, diagnosed as type 2 diabetic 3 years ago, then last year had 2 stents put in. I am suffering from shortness of breath when doing mild exertion, like walking up steps, carrying groceries, etc. Had several cardiac tests done, pulmonary function tests and left and right heart caths as well. Now the doctors believe that they found my problem - my pacemaker needs adjusting.
Hopefully that resolves my issues and I can live an active life in retirement.

After reading all your stories, I feel blessed that my condition is mostly under control and I am not disabled or have major failures. Good health to everyone and if you need a great cardiologist, Cleveland Clinic Main Campus is the best.

Frank

------------------------------
FRANK CARUSO
AVON OH

Original Message:
Sent: 02-20-2019 10:04
From: annette smith
Subject: Introducing myself

Dear Ken,
I read with great interest your assertion of PTSD. I was born with a congenital defect, so since day one I've had a host of what I perceived to be, nasty and painful procedures. Always being told to stay still, get it done, it's going to help you, I couldn't figure out why they were always hurting me and suppressed my feelings.
It was only until my daughter was in the very same hospital and I got off on the wrong floor, did I realize how deep those feelings ran. I came across the very room that I was in post op after my first surgery at age four. I totally freaked. I just ran, leaving my husband and daughter standing there not knowing what was going on. I ended up in a construction site on that floor being yelled at by the workers. That's what snapped me out of the sheer panic.
For a long time, I thought those feelings of fear need to be addressed for the patient whether adult or child.
Thanks for bringing it to the forefront.
I wish you good health.

Sent from my iPhone


Original Message------

Hi John,
 I joined a month ago.
And its great to read your story.  Congratulations on your Baby!
    What struck me about your story is the issue you bring up are the emotional situations you are dealing with.
     I have had three open heart surgeries, especially when I was younger, all during the seventies. Back then, the chances of surviving were not so great.But the advances made in cardiac surgery and care is beyond amazing.
    So, yes, these surgeries, as I might suggest your surgeries as well, were life-changing. Our bodies go through trauma. The body can, and usually does heal, and heals well.

   After my last surgery in 1976, when I had an prosthetic aortic valve implanted for an aortic stenosis, I spent the next 40 YEARS suffering from PTSD'
Anxiety attacks, daily, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Why? I doubted my valve, my body, even my life.
     Only recently, just 4 months ago, I had an immense breakdown after suffering from a serious suicide attempt.
     NOW THIS STORY HAS A POSITIVE ENDING!  I spent three months in a facility that assisted others with traumas PTSD, depression etc.

    It was here that I learned that, yep, all these traumas with my surgeries, especially emotionally, were valid:
I learned that children and adults who have heart surgeries, without getting ANY kind of therapy, psychiatric or otherwise.
Our minds just can't comprehend what has happened to our bodies.
I have since radically accepted that I am what I am, I can't change the past, but I can change my future, being more active, loving, and forgiving, To me!
Hope to hear back from you my friend.
Ken Levine
527 Buttolph Drive
Middlebury, Vt.05753

------------------------------
ken levine
volunteer, retired
802-236-8186
kenpaullevine@gmail.com
Middlebury, Vermont
05753
United States of America
------------------------------

Original Message------

Hi John,
 I joined a month ago.
And its great to read your story.  Congratulations on your Baby!
    What struck me about your story is the issue you bring up are the emotional situations you are dealing with.
     I have had three open heart surgeries, especially when I was younger, all during the seventies. Back then, the chances of surviving were not so great.But the advances made in cardiac surgery and care is beyond amazing. 
    So, yes, these surgeries, as I might suggest your surgeries as well, were life-changing. Our bodies go through trauma. The body can, and usually does heal, and heals well.
     
   After my last surgery in 1976, when I had an prosthetic aortic valve implanted for an aortic stenosis, I spent the next 40 YEARS suffering from PTSD' 
Anxiety attacks, daily, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Why? I doubted my valve, my body, even my life.
     Only recently, just 4 months ago, I had an immense breakdown after suffering from a serious suicide attempt. 
     NOW THIS STORY HAS A POSITIVE ENDING!  I spent three months in a facility that assisted others with traumas PTSD, depression etc.
    
    It was here that I learned that, yep, all these traumas with my surgeries, especially emotionally, were valid: 
I learned that children and adults who have heart surgeries, without getting ANY kind of therapy, psychiatric or otherwise.
Our minds just can't comprehend what has happened to our bodies.
I have since radically accepted that I am what I am, I can't change the past, but I can change my future, being more active, loving, and forgiving, To me!
Hope to hear back from you my friend.
Ken Levine
527 Buttolph Drive
Middlebury, Vt.05753

------------------------------
ken levine
volunteer, retired
802-236-8186
kenpaullevine@gmail.com
Middlebury, Vermont
05753
United States of America
------------------------------

Thank you Richard. Your words help. I will have to see if a local chapter is near me.

------------------------------
annette smith
saxonburg PA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-20-2019 13:22
From: Richard Short
Subject: Introducing myself

Hello John, Annette, Ken and everyone else looking in.

I have read what you all have said and it brings back all the feelings that I went through as well. Only now I am able to share with others and I have begun to enjoy the process of sharing. 

I think I have had an advantage many have not. I was diagnosed with PTSD from my time in the military. Long story short 7 years of therapy and treatment I was sort of prepared when I had my 4X bypass in 2015 and a pacemaker in 2017.

I had already been given the tools to deal with stress. 

I still had issues and I had several weeks of depression, anger and all the rest. As soon as I was recovered enough to begin visiting other patients I became an accredited visitor, joined Mended Hearts, and began to attend our group meetings.

I found the more I talked to others the quicker my dark feelings went away. I met with folks that were both better off than I as well as worse off. The sharing process is part of the healing process. The more you share with others with similar conditions the quicker you will feel better.

I learned not to compare healing with others as we all heal at different speeds. I accepted that my body will tell me when I have pushed it and that I should rest a little more the next day.

I have decided to treat it like a trip on old Route 66 and stop and all the places I want to instead of heading down the freeway just blowing past everyone and everything. Take your time, enjoy the trip, share with others, and it will get better faster.

The one thing I also learned it to include the family members, especially the primary caregiver. They need support from us the patients as well as the sharing of other caregivers. They have a unique kind of stress that is unlike ours. They are sometimes not provided with information by the medical staff. They are the ones dealing with the rest of the family while still trying to care for us. They are not given rehab or meds yet they are still having to recover from all this as well. Make sure they go to the Mended Hearts meetings with you when they can. It lets them know they have a support system as well.

Thank you all for sharing and I look forward to hearing about your progress.

Richard Short

Chapter 395

Original Message------

Hi John,
 I joined a month ago.
And its great to read your story.  Congratulations on your Baby!
    What struck me about your story is the issue you bring up are the emotional situations you are dealing with.
     I have had three open heart surgeries, especially when I was younger, all during the seventies. Back then, the chances of surviving were not so great.But the advances made in cardiac surgery and care is beyond amazing.
    So, yes, these surgeries, as I might suggest your surgeries as well, were life-changing. Our bodies go through trauma. The body can, and usually does heal, and heals well.

   After my last surgery in 1976, when I had an prosthetic aortic valve implanted for an aortic stenosis, I spent the next 40 YEARS suffering from PTSD'
Anxiety attacks, daily, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Why? I doubted my valve, my body, even my life.
     Only recently, just 4 months ago, I had an immense breakdown after suffering from a serious suicide attempt.
     NOW THIS STORY HAS A POSITIVE ENDING!  I spent three months in a facility that assisted others with traumas PTSD, depression etc.

    It was here that I learned that, yep, all these traumas with my surgeries, especially emotionally, were valid:
I learned that children and adults who have heart surgeries, without getting ANY kind of therapy, psychiatric or otherwise.
Our minds just can't comprehend what has happened to our bodies.
I have since radically accepted that I am what I am, I can't change the past, but I can change my future, being more active, loving, and forgiving, To me!
Hope to hear back from you my friend.
Ken Levine
527 Buttolph Drive
Middlebury, Vt.05753

------------------------------
ken levine
volunteer, retired
802-236-8186
kenpaullevine@gmail.com
Middlebury, Vermont
05753
United States of America
------------------------------

Original Message------

Hello John, Annette, Ken and everyone else looking in.

I have read what you all have said and it brings back all the feelings that I went through as well. Only now I am able to share with others and I have begun to enjoy the process of sharing. 

I think I have had an advantage many have not. I was diagnosed with PTSD from my time in the military. Long story short 7 years of therapy and treatment I was sort of prepared when I had my 4X bypass in 2015 and a pacemaker in 2017.

I had already been given the tools to deal with stress. 

I still had issues and I had several weeks of depression, anger and all the rest. As soon as I was recovered enough to begin visiting other patients I became an accredited visitor, joined Mended Hearts, and began to attend our group meetings.

I found the more I talked to others the quicker my dark feelings went away. I met with folks that were both better off than I as well as worse off. The sharing process is part of the healing process. The more you share with others with similar conditions the quicker you will feel better.

I learned not to compare healing with others as we all heal at different speeds. I accepted that my body will tell me when I have pushed it and that I should rest a little more the next day.

I have decided to treat it like a trip on old Route 66 and stop and all the places I want to instead of heading down the freeway just blowing past everyone and everything. Take your time, enjoy the trip, share with others, and it will get better faster.

The one thing I also learned it to include the family members, especially the primary caregiver. They need support from us the patients as well as the sharing of other caregivers. They have a unique kind of stress that is unlike ours. They are sometimes not provided with information by the medical staff. They are the ones dealing with the rest of the family while still trying to care for us. They are not given rehab or meds yet they are still having to recover from all this as well. Make sure they go to the Mended Hearts meetings with you when they can. It lets them know they have a support system as well.

Thank you all for sharing and I look forward to hearing about your progress.

Richard Short

Chapter 395