Excellent, Ardiril. Are you on the NuStep? You could have paid out of pocket but I think it's around 92 dollars per session, which is crazy pricey for 36 sessions. I'm glad you're finally doing this, it's a very good thing. You're going to feel so much better. Good luck.

Yay!!! I'm so happy that you've got some rehab goin' on. My best to you, dear Ardiril.

This is good. Slow and steady. I bet you'll feel better quickly. I did during mine. Just picture a row of bunnies in bleachers cheering you on.

That's it, LoriFLA. Being my first day, though, they let me go at my own pace and without resistance. I am sure that will change. My out-of-pocket cost will be paying off my Medicare deductible for the year, and they won't bill me for that until after I go through the entire program.

Twelve weeks stuck in western South Carolina though, ugh, but once I get through this, I will be free to move virtually anywhere in the world. I should be out of this state and its humidity a few weeks before July, possibly as early as the end of May.

OTOH, tomorrow I start keeping a food journal for real, so today I am getting my last licks in.

Yippee! Beating hearts are a good thing. Good luck!!

What is the end result of this rehab going to be for you? Will you be able to work again, or climb mountains, or live another 50 years, or what?

Will I ever work again? No. The usual source of my angina is stress. I probably would not survive the hunt for a job, and I would not be effective at any job that requires decision-making, confrontation or even social interaction with strangers. I have to get to know a person really well before I can get over the stress of even giving a simple spontaneous hug. This makes finding a mate very difficult for me, as she would have to be someone who is somewhat withdrawn from society and who would want to keep most of her time for herself even when she is in a relationship. A woman who reads a lot would be a perfect example. Simultaneously, she cannot play coy and she cannot wait to be chased. I don't have that kind of energy. For me, my perfect mate is by definition virtually impossible to meet in the real world.

Climb mountains and plumb valleys? If I keep the pace slow and easy, I can lick anything.

Live another 50 years? To 100? As likely as anyone else, but I am shooting for 80. Any time after that is gravy. My greatest risk is sudden cardiac arrest, not a heart attack, and that is the reason I have an implanted defibrillator. Let's put it this way: a great many men my age are walking around clueless that they will die from cardiac disease within the next month. I can say with great certainty that I will outlive them.

My goal, and I made this quite clear to the rehab staff, is to get my weight down to 200 because my ankles and a knee cannot take the extra poundage (pun intended). They said that is an achievable goal within their rehab program, and right now I have extra incentive. At 200, I can walk a fairly brisk pace without any pain from my legs and fast enough to burn off those hardest last 30 pounds.

Here's a thought experiment: imagine 36 pounds of butter stacked 6 x 6. That is how much bulk I intend to lose by June. You won't recognize me.

Wow, this is very good news! Big steps can be little steps along the way.
Our health system is something I also find deplorable - especially if you fall outside the norm. At least you now have a fighting chance of getting the care you need. And, that's a wonderful thing, indeed.
Best of luck in sticking to your food diary. Doesn't sound like fun, but I bet it will be an eye opener.

Ardiril, I didn't know about all this stuff. I'm glad to know about your cardio-rehab session. And you know what--you will find a girl, no matter what--she's out there.

Before, when I was pre-accident, I only used to think about those girls who were medically suitable for me. But now, all that has changed, even the work they do is not so important, as it used to be before. I'm not bothered if they have a high flying job and all, and are masters of the universe.

You know, I just realized a couple of days ago that I have a crush on this girl who works at the local Dominos here. She has to wait on other people, but I don't mind, ever since I was able to communicate with her, and let her know that I have trouble in my leg.

And you know, she didn't mind at all. Actually she made it a point to see that I have the stuff that I wanted, and I sort of liked her for that. Now, all I have to do is give my job recruitment test, and see if she'll be friends at least... which I'm sort of hoping she will be.