Life is a winding road we experience without a roadmap.
It’s been a year since my open heart surgery in Cleveland and my heart is performing much more efficiently.
While my heart has improved greatly my back and hip are unfortunately a different story with my limp going from noticeable to extreme and walking very difficult.
After scads of scans, my hip specialist told me two tendons in my left hip were so threadbare they are not repairable because the muscles had turned to fat.
“So, what does that mean for me?” I asked.
The surgeon told me “it means you’ll likely be in a wheelchair soon,”
You know, that’s another curve we weren’t expecting.
To stay on my feet my core needs to be stronger, but they told me to be careful because too much exercise could be counterproductive.
Aqua Therapy was suggested, but since that isn’t available in Emporia we’ve been driving to Topeka several times a week. It really helps and I’m thankful for Bobbi and the friends who take me.
Using my trusty walker nearly 100% of the time creates less strain and also diminishes the chance of falling which now is public enemy number one for me.
Here is some related information that could be helpful for others. There are two types of Sleep Apnea: Obstructive and Central. Obstructive is self-explanatory but Central is more complicated. It involves a brain that simply forgets to tell the body to breathe.
Several sleep tests determined my sleep apnea is mostly Central and not being addressed with the masks I’ve been wearing for the last 15 years!
Enter the remede System, a device implanted in my chest that when activated will stimulate my body to breathe.
Me not breathing 30 times an hour with some of the stops lasting over a minute is code for a stroke!
I’ve already had one stroke! That’s why I’m blind in my left eye.
My remede System was implanted on July 29th and will be activated soon. These systems are over 90% effective, creating better sleep and decreasing brain fog. Holy Smoke – improved memory? Let’s go!
That’s enough for now. While the road map for my health has proven to be useless I feel very fortunate for my doctors, nurses, friends, family, and especially Bobbi who are helping me cope.
If my Xanax doesn’t run out I’m going to be okay.
I’m Steve Sauder
