Today I saw Dr. Vicki Bernstein, the cardiologist who discharged me from VGH after the operation. She checked my blood pressure, pulse, and EKG via a portable machine, before we moved on to medications. Six weeks had passed since my surgery, and I no longer needed the anti-acid and water pills. My last week’s cholesterol levels were within range, so the Simvastatin was also discontinued. What I was left with were five pills: anti-platelet, blood thinner, heart, and two pain killers (Oxycodone and Tylenol). The pain pills I would use up until depleted, but the anti-platelet, blood thinner, and possibly heart pill, I would continue for the rest of my life.

Dr. Bernstein’s practice also provided INR follow-ups. After every LifeLabs INR blood test, they would call me next day to adjust my Warfarin and schedule my next blood test. If it was too high or too low, I would go in a week, otherwise it would be next month. Being an Aerospace Engineer by schooling who is now in software development, I am like an obnoxious accountant with my organizational tracking. Since my operation, I have been logging my daily Warfarin intake into a Microsoft Spreadsheet, along with my INR readings, just to stay on top of the numbers. But every bit helps, so I very much appreciated Dr. Bernstein’s extra failsafe approach.

Wrapping up, the subject of my current extracurricular activities came up. I was eager to get back to the gym to start more vigorous exercises like weight-lifting, but for that I would have to wait until I met with Min van Velzen, the Cardio Rehab specialist who would give me the green light...