Jeniffer Krzyczkowski, my home nurse, came by today to check on my progress. I am doing much better than most of her elderly patients, and so is my pulse and blood pressure. Ever since I can remember my blood pressure would fluctuate to the point that my previous GP’s wanted to put me on blood pressure medication. I have always been opposed to drugs — whether recreational or medical — but now because of my newly acquired mechanical valve, the doctors are insistent on Atenolol and I have no choice but to concede.

I am slowly getting used to the sound of my valve. During the first few days, I was acutely aware of the continuous ticking that I could not silence in my head. But as days go by, I hear it less and less, with the only prominent sound emanating at nights when I lay my ear on the pillow. I was told by Jeniffer and others that in time even that will become ‘white noise’, which I am very much looking forward to.

And finally, I have also cut down on the Oxycodone pain medication, making me more alert and less of a vegetable. Despite Oxycodone getting a bad reputation over the years, I really don’t know how people who take it get anything done. Yes, it puts you in this ‘LaLa Land’ state, but I’m looking forward to the day my sternum will be healed enough to stop it completely...