On high alert!

It’s a funny thing, knowledge. In this sorta situation it can be frustrating, infuriating and well, just plain sucks. James is put on life restrictions. No lifting over 10lbs, no straining, no riding horses (mostly no falling off or bouncing with them) no, no,no!!! James life has reverted back to childhood and for a strong man that prides himself in manual labor, always going a million miles an hour…this is a huge kick in his pride and manhood, to say the least.

Even though James blood pressure and other vitals and labs are all within the normal range, I decided to begin lowering his sodium content and adding even more heart healthy recipes into our daily life. As much as it’s going to hurt me after his surgery, I decided not to take his once in a while chicken fried steak breakfast away just yet! While his activity level as been greatly slowed down, we still try to incorporate some light cardio into our days also.

I can’t say that the knowledge our medical training has given us isn’t a good thing. We know the signs and symptoms of many issues and are trained to recognize emergencies early. This poses an issue for me these days at home. Every cough, every sigh, even just a scratch of an itch in his chest area sends my mind into work mode. “Are you ok?” We are a month into this diagnosis and I’m sure as much as he knows I do it because I love him so much, my “what’s wrong” “are you ok” “what is it” “you good, babe” and any other concern backed questions on his every move is becoming annoying to him. I have to keep reminding myself this is temporary. I remind James every day. I see the frustration in his face when he can’t do something or I stop him and carry an item for him, it’s only temporary. “This problem is fixable James and this side of a year you will be right as rain, babe” until then I will remain on high alert, ready to rush him in at the first sign of trouble… because I love him and this is our forever now.