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Post by coachdoc on Nov 22, 2013 17:56:42 GMT -5
Taking care of weight is always good, new heart, old heart, whatever. And gentle exercise. Us Americans think that if you want to be able to walk a mile briskly, you need to be able to do it next week. This week, 50 yards. next week, 100. Slowly, and gradually increase. Do not push it. But keep at it. And if all you can do is 25 yards, that's better than 10. Not moving is the enemy.
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Post by Don Clark on Nov 22, 2013 21:16:08 GMT -5
Taking care of weight is always good, new heart, old heart, whatever. And gentle exercise. Us Americans think that if you want to be able to walk a mile briskly, you need to be able to do it next week. This week, 50 yards. next week, 100. Slowly, and gradually increase. Do not push it. But keep at it. And if all you can do is 25 yards, that's better than 10. Not moving is the enemy. Absolutely Alan.....Half way through this almost 6 year heart failure thing, I had gradually worked my way up to 2-3 miles of walking a day. Roughly a third of the distance was stretching and warmup, the middle section was more aggressive and determined, and the last was more relax and stretch. I was in the best shape of my adult life. But this last year I let myself get out of routine and lazy. Not moving is absolutely the enemy. When I got back from the eval, I started back in with trips up and down the hall and laps around the kitchen and living room.
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Post by coachdoc on Nov 23, 2013 9:34:41 GMT -5
Excellent. Keep it up.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2013 16:02:36 GMT -5
Now that I have my shop at home I'm not as active as I was at the Podium. I walked up and down the stairs 20 times a day or more there. I walked to lunch or to the corner store to get something. Now I just don't get to be that active.
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Post by RickW on Nov 26, 2013 1:26:58 GMT -5
I get out every day at lunch for a half hour brisk walk. I need to do some strength and stretch - we were doing a lot of yoga for a while, but it was hard on my wife's back, so we stopped. Caused back spasms for myself when I started playing a lot of guitar again, and sitting in a chair, all from just a lack of any tone.
There is a new gym opening up in January that's fairly inexpensive, and we are probably going to join.
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Post by Rob Hanesworth on Nov 26, 2013 10:19:57 GMT -5
Now that I have my shop at home I'm not as active as I was at the Podium. I walked up and down the stairs 20 times a day or more there. I walked to lunch or to the corner store to get something. Now I just don't get to be that active. Put half of your most necessary tools in a box and place them upstairs. But I know what you mean. I now work from home 3 out of 5 days. On the office days I park 3/4 of a mile from my desk, which is 1/2 mile from the coffee shop and 3/4 mile from the cafeteria. (I work in a huge complex of buildings.) On the home days, I stumble out of bed and across the house to the den. It is not far.
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Post by Don Clark on Dec 9, 2013 11:01:40 GMT -5
Doin' OK here still.....making my way through one more week until I go back to see the doctors again, retake the breathing tests, and get some more definitive direction.
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Post by Village Idiot on Dec 9, 2013 22:19:54 GMT -5
Feeling ok, then?
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Post by Hobson on Dec 10, 2013 11:49:52 GMT -5
Waiting is tough. I hope that seeing the doctors again doesn't result in more waiting.
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Post by Don Clark on Dec 11, 2013 15:50:01 GMT -5
Todd.....pardon my tardiness. Basketball tournament and gigs are keeping me running. Yes, feeling pretty good. Been walking more too.....in fact, heading out for another right now so I can get back to take a phone call from Rick Fletcher, one of my Swannanoa buddies, who is hanging out in the Tuscon area for a bit.....exploring retirement possibilities.
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Post by drlj on Dec 11, 2013 19:03:28 GMT -5
I think about you every day. I am glad to hear you feel good and have such a positive attitude.
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Post by Village Idiot on Dec 11, 2013 22:34:00 GMT -5
Don't worry about tardiness, Don. I'm just feeling very good about you because of your attitude.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2013 7:37:49 GMT -5
Don, just checking in and wanted to say that all your friends in New York City are rootin' for ya! Good luck next week with the docs. And have a pleasant weekend.
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Post by Don Clark on Dec 13, 2013 18:02:01 GMT -5
Thanks all.....doing pretty good again today, just a tad worn out from yesterdays nursing home gigs. It can flat poop you out to sit and pick guitars while they sit and sleep. Driving back to KC on Sunday.....hoping to miss whatever frozen precip is on for the weekend. Better check the weather maps.
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Post by dradtke on Dec 15, 2013 19:56:26 GMT -5
Thanks all.....doing pretty good again today, just a tad worn out from yesterdays nursing home gigs. It can flat poop you out to sit and pick guitars while they sit and sleep. Unless one of them leans over a bit too far and sets off the chair alarm. They usually sleep through it but it'll wake you up.
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Post by Don Clark on Dec 18, 2013 14:18:14 GMT -5
Back from the weekend trip to Kansas City where I met again with the pulmonary doctor and retook the spirometry test. Enough improvement was indicated to move me into acceptable range for transplant. I will be going back in early January to review everything and visit again with the transplant cardiologist. The day after this appointment, the transplant team will meet to review my situation and hopefully upgrade my need status to where we can proceed with putting me on "the list" to receive a new heart. Kind of still in a holding pattern, until then I will work on getting myself as ready physically and mentally as I can.
Which of course includes playing as much guitar as possible.
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Post by theevan on Dec 18, 2013 18:15:28 GMT -5
Man, that transplant word gets to me. I'll make you a deal: You keep a-picking and I'll keep a-praying.
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Post by Village Idiot on Dec 18, 2013 22:30:10 GMT -5
It all sounds odd, but it sounds like you're moving up on the scale, Don. You've been doing the right thing, have been continuing to do the right thing, and I believe you'll earn your status. On top of that, what Evan said.
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Post by Don Clark on Dec 19, 2013 9:24:41 GMT -5
New update this morning - and this one is big. I received a call last night that I wasn't expecting, from my transplant coordinator nurse. Much to my surprise ( I wasn't thinking this would happen until later next month), the transplant team met Tuesday and reviewed my evaluation.....and I have been approved for transplant. All that is left now is insurance approval (which is in progress) and a little dental work that needs 10-14 days to heal, and they will be ready to place me officially on the waiting list for the new heart. I'm a little numb yet this morning, and hope I can concentrate enough to play a holiday gig later this morning. Also have a 30 minute solo set Sunday morning, another holiday nursing home gig Monday, and a Christmas Eve candlelight service Tuesday evening. This is all good though.....it's what I'm counting on having lots more time to do.
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Post by Rob Hanesworth on Dec 19, 2013 9:37:31 GMT -5
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