Still kicking

[braddryden]

It's been probably 10 years since I was last on here. Seen a few names I remembered surprisingly. I have been gone mostly due to work and family life.

[wtnhunt]

On 8/10/2021 at 8:51 AM, 92xj said:

William, how's everything going?  Feeling good?  How's the mental health?  Having any odd thoughts these days?  I know that's personal, but we're all fake people on the made up internet, so it's ok.  Hope all is going well.  I'm 7 days from my one year anniversary...

Going pretty well Ben, thanks for asking.  Kids are back in school, so changed to 3 days a week cardiac rehab.  My capacity is definitely improving. Have a pretty good outlook, still looking forward to feeling better than I did before the stenosis got bad, not there yet. 

No odd thoughts really, but Vanderbilt's billing people and the insurance have surely been testing my patience.

[elkoholic]

Good to hear your rehab is going well.  Having a little patience in your progress might be difficult but it will pay off in the end.

On 8/11/2021 at 9:37 AM, wtnhunt said:

Vanderbilt's billing people and the insurance have surely been testing my patience.

Patience there is also needed as stressing out over insurance issues isn't really doing your physical or mental health any good.  One thing I learned from my late wife was that most insurance denials were related to improper coding.  As an insurance coder, she was well aware of how to properly bill the insurance companies.  It is quite frustrating when a covered service is denied because the billing department had it coded wrong, especially if it happens multiple times.  The insurance company will often tell you which codes are covered.

Keep getting better and good luck with the insurance hassles.

[hoosierhunter]

Hopefully all is going well.  That stuff with A fib sounds scary to go through. Good luck in your recovery!  

[wtnhunt]

Have about 4 weeks left of cardiac rehab, has been going well.  Push the upper limits they have been giving me with no issues.  Have not been able to get my weight down where I would like to be, and had to adjust blood pressure meds.  Had hoped I would be able to quit taking blood pressure medicines, but looking likely that is never going to happen.

No more incidents of irregular rhythms that I am aware of.

[92xj]

Good work on the rehab. I miss going or having the option to go every day now that it's over and insurance want buy anymore for me.  

I also had and still have trouble losing weight.  I think I am eating and exercising good but the pounds aren't falling off like they would have pre surgery.  After researching, google told me beta blockers would make losing weight difficult; luckily I was able to get off of them after 6 months or so. The only meds for me now are 81mg Bayer and my Warfarin.  I don't believe either of those hinder weight loss, but it is still difficult for me to do, even after a year since surgery.  Thats a bummer about the BP meds.  I am so thankful I don't have to take more meds than I do.  I would think with the right diet and exercise you could eventually get off the meds if your numbers come down?  Keep up the work.  You are still in the honeymoon phase of all this.  Those next four weeks of rehab you should see and feel significant improvements and healing.  Though, don't get your hope up of being 100% anytime soon. I am still not there even after 13 months.  The elk mountains kicked my butt this September.  I will say I was amazed that I was able to pack out 2 elk during the month, but my cardio/innards held me back some.  I thought I would have been able to fly up and down the mountains with all the cardio workout I have done, but that was not the case.  What that did was kept my legs from giving up on me; my legs were great this year, but out of breath and needing to take breaks for the pacemaker to adjust to the activity I was doing sucked.  But, it's good to be alive and I/we will only get better with time.  You got this, it's just a slow process.

[Dawg]

Just got through reading this.  Hate you had to deal with all that but glad you are making mends, William. 

[Gator]

Holy crap! Dang man, glad you are doing ok! The things we miss being away. Glad both of ya'll are doing well.

[wtnhunt]

On 10/7/2021 at 9:53 AM, 92xj said:

Good work on the rehab. I miss going or having the option to go every day now that it's over and insurance want buy anymore for me.  

I also had and still have trouble losing weight.  I think I am eating and exercising good but the pounds aren't falling off like they would have pre surgery.  After researching, google told me beta blockers would make losing weight difficult; luckily I was able to get off of them after 6 months or so. The only meds for me now are 81mg Bayer and my Warfarin.  I don't believe either of those hinder weight loss, but it is still difficult for me to do, even after a year since surgery.  Thats a bummer about the BP meds.  I am so thankful I don't have to take more meds than I do.  I would think with the right diet and exercise you could eventually get off the meds if your numbers come down?  Keep up the work.  You are still in the honeymoon phase of all this.  Those next four weeks of rehab you should see and feel significant improvements and healing.  Though, don't get your hope up of being 100% anytime soon. I am still not there even after 13 months.  The elk mountains kicked my butt this September.  I will say I was amazed that I was able to pack out 2 elk during the month, but my cardio/innards held me back some.  I thought I would have been able to fly up and down the mountains with all the cardio workout I have done, but that was not the case.  What that did was kept my legs from giving up on me; my legs were great this year, but out of breath and needing to take breaks for the pacemaker to adjust to the activity I was doing sucked.  But, it's good to be alive and I/we will only get better with time.  You got this, it's just a slow process.

I finished/graduated cardiac rehab 3 weeks ago.  I had been tracking my workouts there in my watch.  Came up with a similar plan at home, but don't have a treadmill or an upright bike.  I do have a nice elliptical though, and free weights.  My home workouts seem to be tougher but I am sticking with them 3 days a week, and trying to walk at least a mile on days I am not doing workouts.  And also trying to hunt as much as I can.

Walking their treadmill was easy, even with the higher inclines, walking these hills with boots and toting a rifle is a bit tougher.  I will probably get some traps out for beaver and yotes towards January.  Have done more deer hunting than I expected to, and took advantage of an opportunity on a solid 8 point this past Sunday morning.  Felt pretty good under the circumstances, especially with the bang flop.  Never got any shakes after the shot though, last two deer I killed have been that way.  Kind of weird.

Wednesday I was working cows, had the calves I was planning to take to the sale barn in the trailer and was pulling through a gate when a big cow started running towards the gate.  I didn't need her getting in that pasture, have several sections of fence down that I haven't fixed yet.  Anyway, I jumped out of the truck and ran around to the gate.  I tripped over something and fell at wide open catching most of my weight (207lbs) on my hands.  Jumped up, and she was almost to the gate, got it closed just in time.  Then it crossed my mind that was a pretty good test on my sternum.  No pain or any new issues there, but my back has been sore.  I have an appointment with my family doc for sinus crud tomorrow, I will run the fall by him and see if he thinks an x ray out of caution is a good idea.