Road to Recovery - post heart surgery

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]Good morning.

[00:00:02]Road to recovery.

[00:00:05]Trust me, I'm not trying to make this operation my identity by any means, but I'm stuck here for a while. So, we're going to be doing some hanging out. Um, first part of recovery last night, we had to change the bandages on all the incision sites. Funny enough, we got the wrong bandages.

[00:00:31]So, I had a bunch of little tiny band-aids and we just plastered up with a bunch of band-aids. So, at some point today, we're going to have to get the right band-aids. But, everything's holding tight.

[00:00:52]I've tried a few different pillows trying to figure out what works best with my neck considering I have to lay flat on my back for like a week. Um, dude, none of the pillows are working.

[00:01:07]I'm over it. I'm already over it. But hanging in there. I've been sticking to the diet. I think this is probably the most important time to stick to the diet.

[00:01:20]Um, I really want to go crazy with food just because I'm super bored, but the first night back, Lean Cuisines, protein bars, the usual. Um, I think I can try and stand up today, which will be pretty cool. Um, first thing I have to do is check my weight.

[00:01:53]That way I can make sure my body is not retaining any excess fluid after I check my weight.

[00:02:03]Maybe try and walk a few steps just around the room maybe and then uh straight back to the bed and dive into a protein bar, turn on some YouTube and just do some chilling, letting my body heal.

[00:02:21]Going to be long, slow process, boring process, but got to do what you got to do. But I'm bringing you guys with me to help me from getting bored to death, dude. Also, everything hurts so bad. I'm still so sore in so much pain, but it's worth it, though. It's worth it. Um, but now I need to call my wife in here and help me stand up and then we can get moving and grooving. Okay, this is going to be my first time standing up. uh by myself.

[00:03:05]I'm gonna >> attempted >> attempted. Yeah. If I need help, I'll >> ask for help.

[00:03:16]The hard part is sitting up because you have to use your lower abdominal muscles to sit up. Uh and it puts pressure on your arteries and my arteries were cut into.

[00:03:36]But oh man. All right.

[00:03:44]I'm good. I'm good. It's just so far so good.

[00:04:02]been on my back so long I'm uh little dizzy with a little head rush.

[00:04:09]Um feels crazy to be sitting up right now.

[00:04:18]Okay, next step is standing up.

[00:04:24]Up until this point, every time I've had to stand up, which I only I really think it was two or three times up until this point, um my wife helped me with everything. So, this is literally my first time. Um let's let's do it.

[00:04:49]Things are sticking and Well, we're up. We're up. Um, and then uh >> yeah, next thing we have to check our weight. So, let's uh take some baby steps and check that.

[00:05:16]Yesterday, I went to sleep at 184.

[00:05:21]So, we just don't want it to be higher than that.

[00:05:29]>> 181.8.

[00:05:33]That is great. That's exactly where we want to be. Um, we just don't want it to be super high because that would mean I am retaining fluid um around my heart or down in my ankles.

[00:05:47]But everything looks good right now. So that's fantastic. Great news. Great news.

[00:05:56]Baby steps to the bathroom.

[00:06:01]Okay, I just went to the bathroom.

[00:06:04]Everything's all good now. Mosy on over back to the bed, crawl back in bed, and lay flat for longer. Um, and then I can eat my protein bar. I was saying earlier that it's really important to stick to the script as far as the diet right now because I literally can't do anything. I can't go for walks yet. I can't lift anything more than five pounds for a week. So, we worked so hard to get to this point.

[00:06:42]Um, and there's no sense in losing it all right now. So, sitting down is just as hard as standing up, uh, with how sore everything is. Um, also super random, crazy enough, leading up to the operation.

[00:07:05]Um, I was worried I was going to have a lot of uh nightmares about the operation leading up to it or even after it. Crazy enough, I have not had a a single >> I have not had a single nightmare about the operation at all. Crazy. That's a a random random little fun fact.

[00:07:32]Still have my usual nightmares.

[00:07:34]Just nothing nothing related to the operation. Um laying in bed is super hard. Like getting here is hard. So that was the first time I did that by myself, too.

[00:07:52]See? Easy enough. getting back to our normal self.

[00:07:58]Nice.

[00:08:00]Seriously, just the act of standing up, walking to the bathroom, walking back, and laying back down. I feel like I got beat up.

[00:08:15]So sore, in so much pain down in the groin is so bad.

[00:08:22]Um, might have to uh dive into this Tylenol here soon.

[00:08:32]Luckily, it's been gloomy the past few days, so we're not missing out on too much out there. That's a a positive.

[00:08:43]All right, let's get into this uh protein bar. My wife just told me that one of the first things I said when I woke up after the operation was that it feels like a lady is standing on me with pointy high heels.

[00:09:02]And it's crazy that I said that because that is exactly what it feels like.

[00:09:09]Like a big lady. Like a big lady digging them in. It hurts real bad.

[00:09:16]>> It's so silly. You were very So, I'm surprised you don't remember anything.

[00:09:20]>> I don't remember any of that. Um, >> given us all your cardio toys.

[00:09:27]>> I I I don't remember any of that. Um, I think I started to come too whenever the nurse had to take out my arterial line.

[00:09:44]I I came too to her putting immense pressure on that spot. So, um but yeah, I don't remember talking about that's a perfect example of what this feels like. Big old lady with some high heels digging them in.

[00:10:05]Now, now it's protein bar time. This is the protein bar of choice. Metrics Big 100.

[00:10:15]It's essentially a meal replacement bar.

[00:10:17]It's perfect for a time like this. Get it in.

[00:10:21]Feel nice and full for a while. Um my diet is pretty much consisting of protein bars and lean cuisines. At the moment, it's really easy to cook, really easy to eat, feel nice and full for a good amount of time, but I'm going to smack into this, watch some YouTube, and do some chilling. I'm going to be here for hours and hours and hours and hours. At some point, I might try and walk a little bit further, but for now, we're chilling.

[00:11:00]protein bar. Looks like a candy bar.

[00:11:05]Tastes like a candy bar.

[00:11:17]>> Really good.

[00:11:19]I'm not even joking or exaggerating when I say this, but I think I have eaten more of those protein bars than any other single human in the entire world.

[00:11:31]They're really good straight out of the box, but I throw them in the fridge, let them harden up a little bit. They're pretty good that way. Um, well, my wife just left to go run some errands.

[00:11:46]Now I'm here solo watching some YouTube.

[00:11:50]Not a bad moment to remind you that tomorrow is our giveaway.

[00:11:55]We cut all the names up, put them in a hat. They're just sitting right over there. And tomorrow we're going to announce the winner of the Beretta 9 millimeter tactical, the stop box, the turtle box. It's going to be a really fun day. I'm really excited about it. Even more excited now because I thought I was still going to be in a hospital bed for the giveaway, but we're at home in our own bed, so that's even better. Way more excited about it.

[00:12:24]Um, but that'll be tomorrow. We'll keep it chill. We'll keep it casual.

[00:12:29]But seriously, I'm so fired up about it.

[00:12:31]A lot goes down when you are fully asleep on the operating table.

[00:12:36]oftentimes they wait until you're fully under to establish certain lines in your arteries. They don't want to put you through any unnecessary pain or trauma, so they just wait until you're fully asleep. I was under the impression that I had five pretty decent incisions in my groin, one on top of my right hand and one in my right wrist. But I guess I was just too focused on this side of my body. I never even looked at the other side. So, I was doing some hanging out just now, getting comfy. Put my hand behind my head and I was like, "Whoa, that feels weird. That hurts a little bit." Dude, had no idea.

[00:13:20]I got beat up pretty good on this side as well. I don't know what happened there. I don't know if they couldn't find a line. I have no idea. But if I keep my hand still, it doesn't really hurt. But if I go to spin my hand, it gets really numb. Almost like a nerve damage type of feeling. Super weird. But I swear to you, I didn't even know that was there. I didn't even know that was there, dude.

[00:13:51]Just the weirdest numb pain tingly feeling when I put my hand behind my head and I looked and to my surprise had a couple holes in my wrist. So there you go. Um, weird feeling. But yeah, if you didn't know, I went in with just a IV in my left, you know, kind of arm crevice. Just one line started. Um, but when I came out, I had artery lines. I had veins in my hands, IVs. I had them all over the place. Um, so they do a lot behind the scenes whenever you are fully asleep and I appreciate them for that because how bad it hurt when they were taking them out. I'm good on uh the pain with them putting them in. So there I'm good with that. Okay, it's been a few hours and we're running into our first issue.

[00:14:55]My wife is still out and about a little longer than we expected and it's time for me to eat.

[00:15:05]So, I have to try and get up solo, walk into the kitchen, and grab another protein bar. We'll save the eggs for a little while later. Um, it's crazy the things that you take for granted. Like just getting up, walking to the kitchen used to be a pretty easy task. Now I have been trying to motivate myself, convince myself to get up and just go grab a protein bar and come back as fast as possible. Um, ain't nothing to it but to do it.

[00:15:53]All right, let's see what we can do.

[00:16:02]Oh, man.

[00:16:07]Oh, dude.

[00:16:16]Um, yikes.

[00:16:22]Take it slow. Take it real slow, dude. It hurts so bad. Um, all right. Slow and steady.

[00:16:42]It's so crazy because I know that in no time we're going to be making videos, doing muscleups again, going on long runs, long days in the shop. So, it's going to be silly to look back at all of this little bit further.

[00:17:04]Refrigerator is uh Oh, hey, how you doing?

[00:17:08]refrigerator.

[00:17:10]Get in there.

[00:17:12]These are those eggs that I've been so excited about.

[00:17:19]Dude, those are some farm fresh eggs.

[00:17:25]I'm excited to rip into those.

[00:17:29]Maybe get my wife to make some type of omelette.

[00:17:35]Dude, we're so close.

[00:17:38]We are so close.

[00:17:42]Bingo.

[00:17:45]Oh, dude. No.

[00:17:49]I think they're on the bottom.

[00:17:57]No, I didn't know they were down there.

[00:18:00]I don't think I'm allowed to bend down and pick it up. Or at least I haven't tried. Um I don't know if I can grab that. Uh interesting. Um dude, let's see what we can do with our Oh, yeah. I can't even try and grab it with my toe. Um, let's see if I can angle myself.

[00:18:42]Grab a water.

[00:18:49]Oh, dude.

[00:18:54]All right, let's go back to bed. Oh, dude.

[00:19:03]Soon enough, I'll be back in here playing with the little one. Can't wait for that.

[00:19:12]Okay, back in bed.

[00:19:15]Protein bar number two for today. That's uh where these things come in handy. I don't have to use a bunch of extra energy to cook something. I can just grab a nice 410 calorie meal replacement bar and I'm good to go. Um, a good update.

[00:19:40]Ever since I've been home, I I had one small barrage of PVC's last night, but other than that, my heart has been chill.

[00:19:55]Although, right now, I feel like I just ran a marathon.

[00:20:00]I actually feel like I just did a bunch of hack squats.

[00:20:06]That's what it feels like. I did a full day in the gym of hack squats only. But all right, uh I'm going to smack into this protein bar, watch some more YouTube, and uh just keep counting the seconds until our first day back being active.

[00:20:30]Already learned a new word, so I guess this surgery is paying off one way or the other. doing as much learning as possible while I have this downtime. Um, you know how you can invest money into something? I know it sounds like a no-brainer. I just have never heard this word before. If you take your money out of something, you are divesting.

[00:20:51]The more you know. Stay tuned. Dude, you're probably so over listening to me yap already. And trust me, I was yapping the whole entire time in the hospital as well. Oh, my poor nurse hurt it all, dude. I felt so bad by the end of it.

[00:21:09]Um, but I need you here, brother. I am so bored. It's crazy.

[00:21:15]One of the things I am very interested in after all of this is going back into something that used to give me a decent level of anxiety. I wonder if it'll still be there. Now, after having faced my biggest fear in life, no comparison at all. Um, I wonder if going into other things is going to feel like nothing.

[00:21:40]That'd be pretty sweet, dude. We kind of possibly developed a a superpower out of this whole situation. So, that'd be pretty sweet. Um, as far as right now, just chilling, waiting on my wife and baby to get home, liven things up around here, and then hopefully we can crack into some eggs. Of all the things I could be doing, I have been laying here for about an hour and a half watching some guy play some type of flight simulator.

[00:22:13]I've been uh I've been pretty locked in.

[00:22:17]Few hours later, my wife just got home, so she's about to make some eggs. Hey, sweetheart.

[00:22:25]>> Yeah.

[00:22:25]>> Before you make the eggs, could you bring me the Beretta and the stopbox and the turtle box?

[00:22:35]This is the part of adjusting to this life that's rough. I definitely couldn't pick up any of this stuff. Turtle box weigh more than 5 lbs. That's for sure.

[00:22:48]I can maybe slide things around. Oh, dude. Oh, dude. Actually, I can't even slide it around. But, um, this is the stuff we're giving away tomorrow. We're going to announce the winner of the giveaway tomorrow live. Beretta 9 mm. I wish I could open it, but my hands are too weak at the moment. Stop box to keep it safe on the nightstand. and the white turtle box just for the vibes. All you had to do to enter this giveaway was pick up a shirt off of skif.co.

[00:23:27]We had a small limited number of TE's for sale to keep everybody's chances as high as possible. And tomorrow we are going to old school pull a name out of a hat. Just like the old days, keeping it as super simple as possible. And if we keep it that simple, we can do more. We can do something like this every month probably if it uh keeps going well. So, I'm really excited for the giveaway tomorrow. But I'm also really excited about these eggs because never in my life have I had farm fresh eggs. He said that these chickens made these eggs just the other day. So, I think this might bring us to good health sooner than I thought.

[00:24:15]>> We've never had farm fresh eggs before.

[00:24:19]They're right here in this container.

[00:24:21]Got six of them in the zuki marine cup because I do not have any clean bowls at the moment. Got some butter in the pan.

[00:24:31]We're about to see how they cook up. Pop a little salt and pepper in there.

[00:24:44]Okay, get that again. Mix.

[00:24:49]I will do a better mix once I get the camera off.

[00:24:58]They look the same um as someone who eats eggs every morning, but they're just there's a lot more like yellowess, if that makes sense. I mean, again, like I said, I have to run the dishwasher, so he gets a spoon.

[00:25:23]Oh.

[00:25:25]It's the little things.

[00:25:27]>> Yeah, I guess you can put it right.

[00:25:28]>> Okay.

[00:25:32]>> I almost just ruined your day.

[00:25:35]>> Those look so good.

[00:25:38]>> These look so good. They look different than normal eggs. They look like how you would want eggs to look. Um, if you have been keeping up, I have only eaten about 820 calories today and it is closing in on 530ish right now. Um, but everything is high protein because during this long time of not doing much, I want to keep as much muscle mass as we possibly can. But I don't want to overdo it because like I said, we are not doing anything.

[00:26:15]Um, so I don't want to overeat during this time. So I'm trying to be as conscious as possible to not make any mistakes. Um, and I noticed while uh my wife was whipping up the eggs that these spots on my wrist, I think they tried to get in there one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine different times maybe. So, I'm so glad I was asleep for that, but I'm noticing more as the day goes on. Um just not much movement in my my left wrist. Uh it's for sure the same on my right. That one was to the artery.

[00:27:01]This one um it just feels like a lot of nerve stuff going on. But I will try to use it to try these eggs for the first time ever. Farm fresh eggs straight from the farm.

[00:27:20]Those are good. Those are great.

[00:27:25]>> Is it the eggs or is that how I made them?

[00:27:30]>> These are great. I >> Is there any difference?

[00:27:41]>> They just taste so vibrant, fresh.

[00:27:49]Well, the girls were probably eating good then.

[00:27:53]>> These are amazing. Thank you.

[00:27:57]>> Oh yeah.

[00:27:59]But how they look? They look fantastic.

[00:28:03]Come on, son.

[00:28:05]Come on, son.

[00:28:08]Oh, dude. That actually that actually hurt pretty good, dude. These farm fresh eggs though. How you doing?

[00:28:18]The last thing that I'm going to try to accomplish today is brushing my teeth.

[00:28:25]Oh, pain has gotten worse throughout the day.

[00:28:33]Yeah, man.

[00:28:52]Okay. Okay.

[00:28:55]Everything just feels so weird. It feels like I haven't walked in weeks.

[00:29:21]She's making fun of me.

[00:29:32]>> I still haven't felt any arrhythmias really, which is great, but I feel super winded right now just from standing up. I think that's normal. I'm just going to try to do a light brush and then I need to get back in bed because I feel super weak.

[00:30:01]The the shaking that it's making my body do hurts so bad.

[00:30:26]Teeth are brushed.

[00:30:28]Time to get back in bed.

[00:30:40]Little by little, I think that was enough for today. Um, I appreciate you guys for hanging out.

[00:30:50]Although I probably looked pretty lively most of the video. I actually am in a a ton of pain. So, I'm probably going to try and go back to sleep.

[00:31:05]Love you guys and I appreciate every single one of you guys. I will see you in the next one. Peace.

[00:31:20]One of the hardest things to wrap my head around, especially as a husband, a father, the protector of the family, is being absolutely weak and incapable at the moment. It's not something that I'm used to.

[00:31:39]Um, so hate that. Hate that.

[00:31:45]Um hopefully the strength starts coming back here soon.

[00:31:50]Although if uh if things went sideways, I think we could still muster up the energy to save the day. Maybe.

[00:32:02]Um what's on the dinner menu for tonight? I forgot to talk about it. Is that what you said? Um that's going to be a Lean Cuisine pepperoni pizza.

[00:32:15]just like every other day.

[00:32:18]Dude, we're we're still doing good, man.

[00:32:20]We're down like what? 40 pounds.

[00:32:26]After all this is over, though, we're going to have to treat ourselves. But let's just get through this. Let's get through it all.