Prayers for SATTVA

[cooran]

May Sattva be free of physical and mental pain.

mahametta
Chris

[Tex]

Sattva, in case you see this, I'm so sorry for what you're going through. May you find physical health and mental peace. Much metta to you. Hang in there.

[Ñāṇa]

May you be well Sattva.

Tadyathā oṃ bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye mahābhaiṣajya samudgate svāhā.

Best wishes,

Geoff

[sattva]

I just got out of the hospital today (Sunday here). Thanks for all the kind thoughts and wishes.

I wish i could say i am more optimisitc, but this didn't end on a positive note. I am tired and depressed and on a diet that is so restrictive and counterintuitive to everything we ever learned, i just shake my head.

[octathlon]

Hi Sattva,

I hope this doesn't sound presumptuous, but I think the best a person can do during times of illness is take each day one at a time and deal with whatever happens as it happens, resting and allowing the body and mind to be still, not trying to be optimistic or pessimistic, hoping nor worrying, but just be. Best wishes to you,

[sattva]

Hi Sattva,

I hope this doesn't sound presumptuous, but I think the best a person can do during times of illness is take each day one at a time and deal with whatever happens as it happens, resting and allowing the body and mind to be still, not trying to be optimistic or pessimistic, hoping nor worrying, but just be. Best wishes to you,

i like your reply octathlon. Thanks

[Aloka]

Hi Sattva, its good to hear that you're out of hospital. I think Octathlon has offered some good suggestions.

Gently, gently, one day at a time....

with metta,

Aloka

[David N. Snyder]

and on a diet that is so restrictive and counterintuitive to everything we ever learned, i just shake my head.

Glad you are well and back home!

Out of curiosity what is the diet they put you on?

[Justsit]

Hi Sattva,
Glad you are home safely!

It is perfectly normal to be tired and depressed after what you have been through. Your doctors may not have mentioned that,
or even been aware of it, but most patients who have had cardiac surgery develop depression. And my experience as a cardiac and home health nurse shows it often takes up to 6 months to start to feel "normal" again. I only mention this so you know what you might expect, and not feel concerned or uneasy. If your depression symptoms become overwhelming, ask your doctor for an antidepressant - not to avoid the feelings, but to give your body a chance to heal normally, as depression can cause lethargy (you won't do your exercises) and decreased appetite (you won't eat properly). Using antidepressants for a short time as directed is absolutely indicated if your condition warrants.

So, now, lots of rest, relaxation, positive thinking and visualization, see yourself healing....and let others wait on you!

May you be happy, peaceful, and free from suffering.

[cooran]

All the best Sattva - and I second Justsit's advice - as members of my extended family have had multiple occasions of cardiac surgery, and felt fairly much as you describe. Holding you in our hearts.

with mahametta
Chris

[Ben]

Hi Sattva

Welcome back home!
No matter how difficult and dark it may seem, let the Dhamma be your anchora salutis. Make full use of Dhamma Wheel by communing with your far-flung Dhamma friends who are here not just for their own benefit but for your support and inspiration.
With lots of metta,

Ben

[sattva]

Hi all,
I think some of you may have missed why I was in the hospital. It wasn't for the heart sugery. They won't do the heart surgery until i get over the pneumonia that i have had now for over 3 weeks. After 2 rounds of antibiotics and no improvement, they decided to put me in the hospital and give me IV antibiotics. I also got breathing treatments and they ultimately drained fluid from the area between my right lung and the chest cavity. They drained about 1600 ml of fluid, but the x-ray i had the next day still showed some fluid and pneumonia. I came home with another prescription for antibiotics and with at least, ---less fluid in my chest.

I believe it was David who asked what diet i am on, besides my normal vegetarian diet and limiting food allergens, I now am on a renal diet. This means eating REFINED grains instead of whole, cutting down or out foods high in sodium, potassium, phosphorus and protein.

I have been wondering if i am going to get well enough for the quadruple bypass surgery and how long my kidneys are going to hold out. My kidney functioning is now in the 20's, not good, not good at all. I am falling apart it seems.

[David N. Snyder]

Hi Sattva,

Hang in there!

It sounds like the medical professionals are preparing you for the surgery. May you be well for the surgery!

[sattva]

Today's Update:

The good news:
My kidney functioning (GFR) has improved by about 15 pts. It is still low and i still have Chronic Kidney Disease, but it was good news to have an improvement instead of a decline!!!

The not so good news:
An x-ray confirmed that fluid is building back up in the right pleural cavity and that i still have pneumonia.

The bypass surgery is still on hold and i am to see the pulmonary specialist on Tuesday. He is the one who gave the order to have my right side drained last weekend. I am hoping he can figure out a way to get this gone so i can get the surgery i need.

[manas]

You know, sattva, although my only knowledge of you is via this virtual world and this site, as Buddhists we are all brothers and sisters spiritually speaking, and you are in my thoughts in daily life.

Glad to hear there is some good news, as for the bad, darn it this body of four elements is unreliable and gives us trouble! I pray that yours, with much love and care, finds healing and further increase in health.

[cooran]

Good to hear Sattva! Getting there - slowly but surely.

Much metta
Chris

[Jampabutterfly]

Prayers headed your way!

[sattva]

First of all, i want to thank manasikara and Chris for their recent posts and say an especially warm hello to an old friend Jampabutterfly. It was good to see you after so long. I wish that we still lived close enough to say hello in person.

Upfront i am going to say that i am down. I went to the pulmonary specialist today and he has ordered more tests to be taken on August 4th and i won't see him again until August 31st. My sister is angry. I am just deflated as i see myself becoming weaker and the heart surgery gets postponed indefinitely. You might remember that the cardiologist wanted the bypass surgery done in 2 weeks and that was on June 7th. Because i will have to be cleared by this lung specialist and i don't see him again until Aug 31st, i can see this dragging on for 3 months or more from the date the cardiologist wanted.

Today, when they took my oxygen level it was 86. I would qualify for oxygen by my insurance company. One of the tests he wants performed has to do with checking oxygen and gases in my blood. He also wants a respiratory test, and more chest x-rays in different positions (i am going to glow in the dark when this is all though). I guess he is trying to figure out the best way to treat me.

Right now, i am suppose to use an inhaler more often while i wait to take the tests. Anyway, i am thinking of pulling the plug on these updates and only writing if i actually have a date for the surgery. This is starting to feel like a never-ending saga or a long whine....

love to you all

[Ben]

Hang in there Louise, we're all gunning for you.
Its not a never ending whine and it is natural to feel down as a result of what you are going through.
Continue with your practice, may it be your anchora salutis (anchor of salvation).
Wishing you a speedy and full recovery.
with Metta

Ben

[sattva]

Thanks Ben

Since that post, i have been listening to a talk, Compass of the Heart by Tara Brach, that i downloadedaded (the 53:42 minute one). Somehow it feels like just what i needed right now.

http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/175/talk/13416/