There is No Finish Line

Over two weeks have passed since my release from all restrictions by Doctor Ellegala. I played golf New Year's Eve with the senior blitz and shot 100. I was quite surprised to score so well, but of course the blitz rules that you pick up after double boggie. By the end of the game, I was quite fatigued but really enjoyed being out with the guys again.

Following a quiet New Year's Eve dinner at a local restaurant, Marie and I spent the first week of the year in Florida. We drove down on Sunday and stopped on Ormond Beach to break up the drive. Ormond Beach is a beautiful beach, north of Daytona that you can walk for miles on. I helped a little with the driving in order to get used to driving I-95 again. The following day we drove to West Palm Beach and checked into a Marriot time-share resort on Singer Island where we enjoyed beautiful weather for our whole stay. We played golf Tuesday at Abacoa Golf Club where I shot 100 again. On Wednesday, we walked the beach and laid around the pool, then explored Old West Palm Beach on our way to the Okeechobee Steakhouse where we enjoyed a marvelous dinner. On Thursday, we played golf at North West Palm Beach Country Club and got around in 97. I was pleasantly surprised again. Rather than come home all in one day, we made reservations at a new beachfront hotel in Jacksonville Beach right on the water. The weather turned colder there but we walked the beach and sat around the pool on Saturday and returned home Sunday.

Since arriving home, I have been limited to just walking because it is too cold for golf. Even on sunny days, it takes until 3:00 PM for the temperature to get above 50degrees. Every morning this week, I have bundled up and walked between two and three miles on the roads around the front nine of our golf course. I am trying each day to push it a little harder but still seem to be taking the same amount of time each day. The bottom line is that I really am feeling great. I am looking forward to warmer weather and starting to walk the front nine while I golf.

Marie and I have just joined the new YMCA that opened near us. We will be starting our workouts next week. I think Marie is interested in the workout classes, while I want to spend time on the machines to build my strength up to what is was before my hospitalization. There is no finish line when it comes to rehab.

See you on the golf course.

6 week Check up today

It was not without a good deal of trepidation that Marie and I set out this morning for our trip back to MUSC for a CT scan and then a meeting with Dr Ellegala. After completing the CT scan and then reporting to the doctor's office for the usual rundown of medical questions, blood pressure, and temperature by the nurse, the good doctor finally appeared with a huge smile on his face. He reported that everything looked well with the clipped aneurysm and he felt that the second aneurysm was not serious enough to require immediate surgery, but could be dealt with using a less invasive procedure called coiling. Coiling requires only an over-night stay. This was really really good news.

As regards my overall health and fitness, the doctor positively beamed when I told him that I was walking every day and feeling great. He released me from all restrictions on physical activities and sent me home to continue recovering for the next three months. At that time, he will have his associate, Dr Turk, do the coil procedure and hopefully, I will be home the next day.

There is lots of life left to live and lots of golf left to play after the good news today. I will be teeing it up tomorrow for at least nine holes and hopefully playing in the senior blitz Wednesday.

See you on the course!

Christmas on the Pointe

As we wind down to Christmas, it has been a very busy time around the Scott household. Last Friday, we celebrated our progressive dinner on our street. It was really great seeing all of the neighbors together sharing food and drink at different locations on our street. On Saturday night, we all went up to the golf club for the member's Christmas Dinner. As usual, Chef Charlie's team did a great job hosting the party and preparing the food. Sunday found us at Charleston Place downtown for their Christmas Brunch with our neighborhood dining club. I know it sounds as if all I am doing is eating, but in fact, I have been increasing the length of my walks everyday. I am now up to walking the complete circle around the front nine. The photo is from today, December 20, and it is the annual Santa drives around the neighborhood from the local fire department.

Two Weeks at Home

Hey Y'All,

I've been home for a little over two weeks now. I have gotten my blood pressure down to 140 over 80 and my family doctor has reduced the number of blood pressure pills I am taking to two. I am managing to stay up for most of the day and evening, but still require a short nap sometime during the late afternoon. It seems the same to me as before I had the head injury. Now that I am staying awake most of the day, feel free to stop by for a coffee or soda.

I can't believe how boring life is when you can't drive anywhere but I have some wonderful friends that have saved me and drive me anywhere I need to go. I am still trying to walk about a mile each day. I had lunch with Alan Abernethy, John Halley, and the Senior Blitz Guys on separate days this week. It was really nice seeing all my golf buddies on Wednesday.

See y'all soon,

Dave

Happy Thanksgiving! A lot to be thankful for...

Well, here we are. I have been out of the hospital for a little over a week and am slowly getting better. I was prescribed with 16 salt pills a day, lots of blood pressure medicine and other stuff. There was only one problem. My blood pressure went up to 200+ over 100+. With the help of my family physician, we did blood scans and then cut the salt pills to 4 a day. Last Wednesday, he did more blood work and cut the salt pills completely. This morning, my BP was 151 over 89. That's the best BP yet. Last Wednesday they did another CT Scan as well - to make sure there was no water on the brain - it was clear! In case you ever wondered what a CT scan cost - it's about $1200.

In addition to working on my BP, Marie and I have been walking every day we can. It started out the second day I was home when we walked about 350 yards. It was pretty exhausting. Yesterday was the best walking day. Marie and I walked up the the clubhouse, had breakfast, then returned home. Easily, it is over a mile round trip, our best walk so far.

I am a little behind with thank you's, but here we go with some more. John Fender came over this week and cut my lawn and all the leaves that were sitting on top. Thanks John. My neighbors Michelle, Carl, and Jake brought snicker doodle cookies over a few days ago, and a great dinner. Marie and I enjoyed pork roast, Jake's famous cheesy potatoes and baked beans that were out of this world. Pat Arnold came over with terrific cherry cobbler and Darby Abernethy made me some of her world's famous brownies to help bring down my blood pressure (they worked). My friend Bob Beggs drove me to the barber and the library when Marie was busy with work. To top it all off, Marie and I celebrated a very special Southern Thanksgiving with our neighbors the Chitty's. Dinner included all of the Southern favorites like mac and cheese, collard greens, sweet potato casserole, cream corn, brown rice, stuffing and (of course) southern fried turkey. Again, we can't thank our neighbors enough for their generosity, best wishes, checking in on me, and for everyone's thoughts and prayers.

A Thank You Note from Dave

Hey Y'all,

I have finally gotten involved in the Blog that Marie started weeks ago. After being home for three days and feeling a little better each day, I feel that it is time for me to thank a number of people that made it possible for me to even be here.

First and foremost, I must thank my good friend Maryann Crowe. We originally met in 1984 when she was instructing rookies joining the Canadian Ski Patrol. A few months later, I learned that I would be working with her and her husband on my rookie year at Osler Bluff Ski Resort. When I passed out November 4th, it was Maryann who kept me alive by alternatively kicking my back to keep me breathing and ready to do CPR if I stopped. I am firmly convinced that she got me to the hospital alive.

Although the incident happened in Myrtle Beach, it didn't take too long to get back to MUSC in Charleston where I was under the care of Dr Ellegala, a renowned brain surgeon who specializes in difficult brain aneurysms. He and his team both operated on me and cared for me the last two weeks. I thank these guys for getting me home again.

I have been thrilled by the visits from both my brother Alex, my sister Bette, Marie's sister Lin, and my best friend from public school through my whole life, Larry. It was a real treat to see them all.

With special thanks to Cindy, Terry, Janette (and Tony) and John I would like to thank all of the neighbors (and ex-neighbors like Suzanne) who helped Marie. From driving to the hospital to meals and snacks dropped off at our house, the emotional support (and education) has been just huge. I would like to thank Marie's Oracle family who have allowed her to be by my side and to care for me. You have all been just great.

Last but not least, I would like to thank all of you who have taken the trouble to send cards and blog comments. Your thoughts and prayers were appreciated.

Dave

Dave update since he's been home!

Early Wednesday morning sister Lin left to go back to the snow in Rochester. Later that afternoon they let us bust out of the hospital - Dave was taken off the Nimitop (aka Namitodine) and his blood pressure was allowed to settle down from the highs they had been keeping it at for the brain perfusion. (BTW - Instead of taking up Spanish I have decided to take up Neuroscience Nursing.) Dave's BP was 145/70 and the walking papers were signed (OK - wheelchair papers - they never let you walk out of a hospital).

Thursday was a sluggish day - brother Al left in the morning and Dave was tired and listless all day. After dropping Al off at the massive Charleston International Airport, we stopped in to see Rick the Barber to see if he could give Dave the rest of the Mohawk haircut - we'll see what he can do next Tuesday. Friday was even more sluggish. Dave would get up at 5 AM and not be able to finish his first coffee or the newspaper until hours later.

We continue the massive salt therapy - 16 tablets a day, along with Fludrocortisone. Yesterday we decided to test Dave's BP, un-packed the blood pressure cuff, and Dave blew by the numbers at 201/98. Me - a calm, normal 126/75. (Yeah right!) Today - Dave's BP was 192/104 and we called the doctors. Both MUSC and Dave's family doctor were consulted. Salt therapy was suggested to be cut in half, and we started blood pressure medicine to get the numbers down.

Hopefully we'll see an improvement after the BP pills have had a chance to work, and after the salt has been cut back. Hopefully - we'll both be able to have a good night's sleep one of these nights soon!