4 weeks

4 Weeks
Well I can easily say the worst is behind me and I am well on my way to a full recovery.  I was able to get a full night's sleep last night and looking forward to a day without having to take a nap.  My energy level is almost back to normal and I have settled in on a weight a few pounds shy of where I started but what seems optimal for me right now.
My INR number is hovering around 2.1 which is a bit below the desired 2.5 to 3.5 range but I might be one of those that requires the max dosage of Coumadin each day.  Another check on Monday along with the required Echocardiogram to see if my Ejection Fraction is back up to the recommended 55-60%.  If so then I should get clearance to start back running.  I must admit that on Sunday as a birthday gift to myself, while I was out for a 4 mile fast pace walk, I did jog on and off.   It felt great but I could tell that the current medications I am taking had some negative effects on my performance.
I am currently taking Beta Blockers and Ace Inhibitors to lower my blood pressure and slow my heart rate to enhance the healing effects for my heart but the down side is when you ask for more output from the heart it is if the heart has a governor and no matter what it will not go above 90 beats a minute.  So you have to be real careful or you can get dizzy or even pass out if you over do it.  I meet with my Cardiologist next Friday and hope that my Echo looks good and he can start to cut me back on the Meds and let me return to my normal exercise routine.
As I pilot I love numbers and here are some for reference.
28 days since my AVR surgery
190 days that I have completed 30 minutes of exercise each day.  That would include 3, 10 minute walks in the halls the day after my surgery and including a 5K race I walked on the 4th of July in 45 minutes.
79 days until the Berlin Marathon which I am on track to complete.  I might need the entire 6 hour and 15 minute time limit to complete but I have yet to DNF, did not finish, a race I started.
Last but not least, because of this new valve, which by now I can hardly ever hear click closed,
360 days until my 60th birthday.  
Thanks to all of you that have followed me along the journey.  I have decided to update less frequently unless there is a grand milestone along the way.  I appreciate everyones' support and well wishes but it is getting real close to getting back to the work a day world and all the fun stuff that goes along with it.  If all goes as planned I will be returning to work in two weeks.  I hope I adjust well to getting back into the routine but if not I guess others will have to adjust to me.
I realize that this is an over used phrase but after having 8 different holes in me at once not including the Mini Zipper and the whole heart stop and restarted reality.
LIFE IS TOO SHORT
Tony