Yesterday HURT, but in a very good way. I'm so excited about getting back into race shape!!! After having my follow-up appointment with my EP a week after surgery, I was cleared to start exercising slowly. I was having quite a bit of pain right after the surgery and at the follow up it was determined that I had pretty decent sized (golf ball) hematoma in my right hip area. Which made standing, sitting, moving, coughing, laughing, sneezing, Tater jumping on me, and laying on my side hurt. I was pretty pathetic. But with lots of support from my family/friends and amazing boyfriend, Bo, I was able to get around just fine. It took about 2 weeks after the surgery for the hematoma to go away to the point I could exercise.
My first run was about 20-25 mins long on the beach in Chincoteague, VA. I LOVE running on the beach. It was actually Bo's idea. If I hadn't been so uncomfortable (in my hip), I could have run forever. I was genuinely happy and feeling like God gave me a new start. And in a way He did. Since that first run, I have worked with weights, calisthenics, and running. I was able to run with my little sister Casey over the New Years weekend. Yesterday, I accomplished my first 2-workout day of the new year and post surgery. It was tough but I couldn't help thinking each step/stroke (I ran and swam), how blessed I was to even be in the water and pounding the pavement on the Mt Vernon Trail. I was able to swim a mile (1600m) and I felt like a I was fighting the water the entire way until the last 300m. It was frustrating but I enjoyed being in the pool again. Tater (my bully basset), a friend, and I went running on the Mt Vernon trail yesterday afternoon. It was COLD!!!! We all did 25min and Tater and I did an extra 10 to get home. It felt great!
It's going to take more effort than I thought to get my heart back in shape. I mean, for the last 29+ years it has been working at a dysfunctional 'normal'. And now it is starting from a new 'normal' rhythm. While working out, I'll go from a heart rate of 80bpm to 200bpm in just a min or two. It's used to compensating for the AVNRT that it's trying to figure out what to do now. If there is anyone out there that has suggestions on what to do please let me know!
I have a final follow up next Monday. I'm still leaving for a deployment this spring and I'll be leaving for training in a couple months. Thanks for keeping up with me and I hope everyone had a Happy New Year!
