• Have you hit a recovery plateau after heart surgery, open-heart surgery, aneurysm repair, or a cardiac event—and started wondering if something is wrong?You’re not alone.In this episode, we’re talking about one of the most frustrating parts of healing: when progress slows down, stalls out, or feels invisible. We’ll break down what a recovery plateau really is, why it happens, what signs are normal, and what steps you can take to support your body and mind through the “stuck” phase—without pushing too hard or losing hope.Plus, we’ll include a Weekly Food Focus on avocado, and I’ll give you a reflection question you can use this week to stay encouraged and motivated.

Prescribing Joy after Heart Surgery, Aneurysm Repair, and Cardiac Events.

Welcome back to From Recovery to Wellness! In today’s episode, we’re talking about something that may sound surprising—but is deeply real for people recovering after heart surgery, open-heart surgery, aortic aneurysm repair, or a major cardiac event:

Joy is part of healing.

After a life-changing medical event, many people focus only on physical recovery—walking, medication, follow-up appointments, and cardiac rehab. But emotional recovery matters too. Anxiety, fear, sadness, and emotional numbness are common after surgery, especially in the weeks and months that follow.

In this episode, we explore how small, intentional moments of joy can support your nervous system, reduce stress, and help you rebuild trust in your body again—without pressure, guilt, or pretending everything is “fine.”

This podcast is a supportive space for encouragement and education — not medical advice.

Topics Covered (Listener-Friendly):

• Why emotional recovery is part of cardiac healing
• The “survival mode” phase after heart surgery and aneurysm repair
• How stress affects the heart, blood pressure, and recovery
• What “prescribing joy” really means (and what it does NOT mean)
• Simple joy practices that are gentle, realistic, and recovery-friendly
• Hard days: comfort...calm...relief; they all count
• Our weekly food focus
• Did you know?
• Reflection question

Recovery after heart surgery or aortic aneurysm repair isn’t always linear — and that’s exactly why tracking your progress matters.

In this episode of From Recovery to Wellness, we explore gentle, non-medical ways to track physical, emotional, and daily recovery milestones after open-heart surgery, aneurysm repair, or major cardiac events. You’ll learn what actually matters to track, what doesn’t, and how simple awareness can reduce anxiety, increase confidence, and help you recognize real progress — even on hard days.

This episode is supportive, realistic, and designed to help you feel grounded in your recovery journey — not overwhelmed.

If having something structured helps you feel calmer, I occasionally mention recovery journals and wellness trackers that I've created and personally use. They're always optional, and you can explore them at this link... no pressure, only support.