Well It Wasn't Much

But it's a start. This morning, I started the at home part of my physical therapy, which was designed by the Moss PT and concurred too by my outpatient PT.

I started off with 15 minutes on the bike, which actually turned out to be a better ride than I thought it would. Cranked out, 4.81 miles, in 15.12. Came in at a respectable average speed of 19.00 MPH.

I had to get my monthly Solu-Medrol IV, just after I finished, so that interrupted the PT portion on my planned morning.

Once the IV ran through (takes about an hour), I went downstairs, grabbed my weight gloves and started my PT routine.

Earlier this week, I purchased a 65cm exercise ball which I used inpatient, and they recommended that I purchase one to use at home.

I did my routines, (all with dumbbells) whilst sitting on the ball; bicep curls, tricep curls, lateral raises. The routine called for 2 sets of 10-20 per exercise. The weight was about 15 pounds per dumbbell. I breezed through the bicep curls, at 20 each. The tricep exercise were a little tougher and I only managed 15 per. The lateral raises were the toughest exercise of them all, I only managed 10 per, and the last couple were a struggle. The idea of doing these exercise while sitting on the ball was to help with my balance. I only had one minor slip, nothing major, I am doing the exercises in a corner in my living so I can catch myself if I lose my balance.

After the exercises on the ball, I went to the floor and started doing bridges with the weights. By this point my arms were fried and I only managed about five reps on each arm x2.

The last exercise was to squats with the ball in the corner. Did two sets of 15 with no problems.

Probably over did it a little bit today, will try it again tomorrow, but may space it a little so I don't get as tired.

The best part of the day, was hoping back on the bike, my old friend was just as good as when I last rode it, and I think it was happy to be ridden again.

I am tired now, but I know what I need to do, and have a good plan, and most of guidance to help me along

--gfo

Well After Two Weeks

I am finally home...actually came home yesterday. After five days at Jefferson Hospital, and nine days at Moss Rehab, I was cleared to come home. The surgery itself went well, and the time in the hospital was a little on the rough side, most pain and discomfort.

On Monday the 4^th, I was transferred up to Moss Rehab via ambulance, and the actual rehab process began the next day.

I must say that the time spent at Moss was very productive and in just the short amount of time I was there, I made remarkable progress,

I will begin outpatient rehab next week, just to continue and reinforce what I have learned and to continue to relearn some of the things that I have lost since I have been diagnosed with MS.

More to come later, just wanted to post a quick update to let everyone know how I am doing.

Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers.

--gfo

Upcoming Surgery

Related to my blog post from 15 May 2008, I finally got to meet with the neurosurgeon a few weeks and I am scheduled for the Baclofen Pump, surgery on 31 July 2008. This will take will place at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital here in Philadelphia. After a few days in the hospital, I will be transferred to MossRehab hospital for a few weeks to get some physical therapy which came as a bit of surprise, but once it was explained to me the reason why, it made a lot of sense.

I will be out of work for about 6-8 weeks. Not sure how long I will be in rehab for and my subsequent time at home, so my actual time off could be more or less...hopefully the latter. I have the ability to work from home, so, if necessary I maybe able to split time between home and the office or work out some sort of other compromise, or just transition back slowly.

I have mixed feeling about going under the knife for this procedure, but one thing I can say with great certainty, is that something needs to be done. I have been having more issues with falls and general weakness overall in the last couple of weeks, so the implantation will certainly help.

Overall, I have not really given myself much of a chance to think about the mental aspect and preparation that I think I need. I am scheduled for some readmission's testing this coming Monday, so maybe things will then start to get the brain spinning.

So my summer will be cut short, but hopefully my fall will be better and there will be less of them, pun intended.

--gfo

Thoughts On Forty

Well yesterday, I officially turned 40 years old. Where most people who turn 40 react in differently, I am taking a different approach, for me. As many of my readers already know, I have had a plethora of medical problems in the middle and late part of my 30's, so turning 40 was in mind a perhaps a chance to start anew. We'll see how things play out this. I know I am facing two surgeries, one to replace to defibrillator and the other to a baclofen pump in to help me with my muscle spasticity.

I have a few other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in the coming months, mostly related to my cognitive impairments that I have been facing. I have been putting off (read, stalling) on calling the doctors to find out how I go about addressing some of issues that came up during my neuropsych testing in January. I need to address these but I want to get the pump surgery done first before I subject myself to more pain and suffering.

I am mostly trying to keep a positive outlook, at least on the outside, I still have my moments where I feel lousy, tired, and have general fatigue, but I persevere and plod through.

As for the fortieth festivities. Tuesday, my twin brother and I, along with our wives went to the Phillies/Reds game. We had great seats, and were surprised (well I sort of expected it), that the wives had arranged for us to have happy birthday sung to us, and our names were posted on the scoreboard. We also got a couple of nice hat's, but most of all saw a great baseball game, the Phillies won 3-2.

The picture shown above, was what my office looked like when I walked in yesterday, compliments of my co-workers. I even had a set of beads that I had to wear all day that accentuated the fact that I did turn 40. We had a cake, and I got some funny cards, which are on display on my top shelf.

When I got home, I played some PlayStation with the boy until the Mrs got home, and I then proceeded to open my presents (two swimsuits, and four Phillies tickets), and birthday cards, then we had a nice simple dinner of hamburgers and hot dogs. Then the big treat, Carvel ice cream cake.

After that spent a nice relaxing evening at home, although I went to bed early as I was up late the night before...or I am getting old.

So far being 40 isn't too bad, let's see how the next ten years goes.

--gfo

Five Years (and one day) Ago

Hard to believe its been that long since I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy a mitral valve regurgitation, and a week later, they found that I had a condition known as a myocardial bridge.

All three conditions subsequently changed my life then as I knew it. I had to give up a running career that I had so much enjoyed, and my EMS days abruptly ended as well, which was perhaps the most heartbreaking of all (no pun intended)

It took a few years, many hospitalizations, a defibrillator implant, a couple of different doctors, and lot's of different medication combinations, but for the last two years, things have been mostly stable with only two overnight hospitalizations.

I am due for a new defibrillator this year, probably over the summer.

It was very frustrating at first dealing with the symptoms, the unknown answers, and most of all the life changing events that I had to deal with. The toughest challenge of them all was dealing with emotional side of everything. The physical things, I could deal, but being so young and having to accept and go through these events, while still maintaining a career, and tending to a family was the toughest part of the diseases.

It took many years to finally accept and live with the heart conditions, and every since the doctors finally found the right medication combination that has helped stabilize everything and bring life to an even keel. I have for the most part maintained a regular exercise program, as well as do things on a physical that are reasonable

and although I was deal another blow, less than a year ago, with the MS diagnosis, I still try and maintain a positive outlook on life...at least on the outside.

I have many people to thank, a few close friends, but most of all, my loving family and beautiful wife. I would also be remiss, without thanking God for giving me the gift of life, and guiding me through these troubling times.

--gfo

A Milestone

Last night, a little after 2000, I surpassed what to me is milestone. I went over 10,000 miles of cycling miles. My total to date now stands at, 10,009.476. I started cycling in June 2002. Then it was more of a casual thing, just to supplement my running, and at that time, I had it in my mind that I wanted to a triathlon the following year.

Well less than a year later, my fitness goals, and life changed significantly,as my running career came abruptly to an end with the diagnosis of three heart conditions, most notably Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

After a few months of inactivity, and getting the fitness bug back. I approached my cardiologist and asked him what he thought of me riding a bike, albeit at a reduced rate/effort. I wanted to keep moving forward, not only for the physical benefits, but at the time it was a much needed mental boost that I so desperately needed. The cardiologist enthusiastically approved with the stipulation that I take it easy. I should also note that he told me that he wished more of his patients would ask him if they could exercise.

So, on 02 May 2003, I embarked on my first bike ride post heart diagnosis. It was only a 4.76 mile ride, a little over 23 minutes, at 12.2 MPH average pace, and from there I have been pedaling ever since.

Although since I started have the MS issues over a year ago, I have kept myself to riding the bike in the basement on the trainer. More as a safety issue, since I have problems with my balance. I miss riding outside, and perhaps one day I will return to the open roads when my medical team gets things stabilized and under control.

As the late Jim Croce sang so wonderfully, Moving ahead, so life won't pass me by, which has become my battle cry. Every turn of the crank begets another, ergo another tenth of a mile, which appertains into miles, which then means that although I am riding stationary, I am that much ahead of two life altering diseases, that at times does its best to keep me down. As long as I am in the saddle, and pedaling, the diseases are at least for those brief moments, are behind me.

--gfo

Wow What A Week

With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, a busy and hectic work schedule, driving kid's to and from various activities, I haven't had much time to blog this week.

I have gotten a little bit of Christmas shopping done albeit on line. I still have to get the Mrs some things, but I have ideas.

Next week, we have some final preparations for the Cardinal Foley's mass next Saturday at our Parish.

Even though things have been tumultuous around here. I have managed (with some help from my elves) to get the house mostly decorated, and the tree up. I still have one set of lights to put up, which I hope to get done this weekend.

More to come later.

--gfo

Wow Three Days Have Past

Since my last blog entry. It's been a busy and hectic week both at home and the office.

Monday started out with a mid morning visit to neurologist for a regularly scheduled visit, which as expected did not got as well that I would have like. The neurological exam's showed increasing progression of the MS, plus I have been noticing some cognitive changes in the last few months, mostly with reading and speaking. For the latter I am seeing a neurological psychologist in early January for a six hour test.

On Tuesday morning, I got a phone call from my home care that administers my IV on a monthly basis, that the doctor want me to another dose of solu-medrol...which I had just a week and half early. We scheduled it for the next day, Wednesday. He got there around 1530 or so, and started doing his thing, and a couple of hours later it was done.

The whole time the IV was running, I had brought some work from the office that needed to be done by the end of the day. So I logged in to the office and worked diligently despite being connected to an IV. I had to make a phone call to our San Francisco office to iron a few of the last minute details, but in the end, due some things that needed to be reviewed, the invoice had to wait until yesterday, first thing to get done.

Yesterday was just a hectic day here in the office. We are getting to our busy time of year, where everything needs to be done an hour ago, instead of yesterday. Its the norm for this time of year, so its not something that unusual, just a little added flapdoodleness that comes with this time of year.

Not much going on this afternoon after I leave at noon today. Have a couple of small errands to run. Then pick the kids up from the bus, and get the final preparations ready for the girl to go on a camping trip for the entire weekend.

and so it goes

--gfo

All Done

Steroid treatment started around 1300 my time, and finished around 1430ish. Me and the Fluff dosed off on the sofa. Kids walked home from school by themselves.

Now I have to deal with this God awful taste in my mouth for the next twelve hours or so.

--gfo

Steroid Day

Well, its that time of the month again, steroid day, and boy do I need it. My back has been bothering me all week, with the occasional bonus of shooting pain down my right leg. I have actually had to take darvocet in the evening to alleviate the pain, so I could at least get some sleep.

So I am hoping that the steroid treatment helps with the discomfort.

--gfo