The Final Day

Today is the last day for two things: wearing my anti-embolism stockings and my strict sodium diet (I have only been able to have 2,000 mg/day).

My anti-embolism stockings are supposed to prevent blood clots. They are bright white knee highs, and have a little hole on the bottom of each sock, right at the ball of my feet. I'm not quite sure what that hole is for. Aeration? To drive me crazy? I don't know. These hated stockings are called TEDs. I did an Internet search to see what T.E.D. stood for, but couldn't find anything. I think it means Torturously Evil Deathgrippers. These things are TIGHT. Think of the most restricting support hose and multiply that by a thousand. These babies are so "supportive" that I couldn't put them on by myself for two weeks after my surgery. It hurt my chest too much to exert that much pulling pressure.

I've been home from the hospital for 3 weeks already. And they said I had to wear my TEDs for three weeks on the day I left. So I get to take them off tomorrow! Know what that means? I can wear my flip-flops again! Woo-hoo! I'm going to paint my toenails tomorrow and have RobbieMax and Will take me out to dinner so I can wear shorts and flip-flops and celebrate the end of my diet!

So this low sodium diet was to prevent fluid retention. The more sodium you consume the more fluid you retain and the more stress is put on your heart. This goes for everyone. But we heart patients (it's still so difficult to think of myself in that category) have to be extra careful, especially after surgery. I'll still have to watch my sodium intake, but won't have to be quite as vigilant. So I want to go out for pizza tomorrow night to celebrate the end of these two hated things.

And tonight, I'm going to have a glass of red wine for the first time since before my surgery, as a pre-celebration. I figure I deserve it.

Only 6 days until I start cardiac rehab...