Most of you may have heard that I went in for a stress test at the Minneapolis Heart Clinic Dec. 10. I had been getting warning signs during the campaign that I needed to check things out. Some shortness of breath and what I kept telling myself was heartburn. I didn’t want to take the time during my campaign so I waited until after the election and the waited ‘til after I brought my lovely bride back from New York City to join me to exchange our wedding vows on Dec. 8th.
I am not sure what I was thinking. A long campaign season is exhausting and throws you off most of your healthy routines. So I couldn’t put off the stress test any longer and it put in motion a series of events that lead to the obvious conclusion that I needed open-heart by-pass surgery.
From the technicians at the clinic to the ambulance techs to the nurses and staff at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis I received excellent care. There are too many to name they 
were all kind caring and assertive about making sure I was comfortable and my care was complete. My Cardiologist Dr. Hauser and his staff were excellent and thorough answering all my questions. Dr. Eales, my surgeon was excellent stopped to talk with me before surgery and in recovery.
At home now a couple of weeks, I feel stronger every day but I know it will take a while for my sternum to heal and it is no small matter to have your chest opened up.
I have been struggling with this condition of cholesterol and high blood pressure for a number of years and it is probably in my genetic make up. I have tried to improve my diet, reduce stress and increase my exercise. I did well changing my life style for a while but a combination of new stressors and the stress of a campaign and interruption to my routines as the campaign intensified caused me to feel increased difficulties. When I talked with my physician he prescribed the stress test, which put all this in motion.
I hope and pray that those of you out there who struggle with similar problems visit your doctor and listen to your treatment plan. I will be going through a recovery plan, including a regimented exercise program, which will help me regain my strength and keep the plaque from settling in again. I will also be following a strict diet low in fat, cholesterol, carbs and sugar (I had started this before but did not stick to the strict diet I needed). I can have all the vegetables and water I want but have to watch bread, fruit and almost any other food out there. But after my experience, vegetables taste pretty darn good.
I am looking forward to being sworn in on January 8th, and with the help of my lovely new wife, Dominique and son, Gareth and daughter, Julia (in addition to a few friends) I should be ready. I will begin this week my cardiac recovery program and will continue for a number of weeks. I will do my best to carry out my duties in St. Paul and as soon as I know I have a legislative assistant it should be possible to get a hold of me. The legislature has excellent partisan and non-partisan staff and I know how to get them involved in what ever issues may concern you so don’t hesitate to contact my me once we take office.
I have a lot of plans and ideas I will be working on but those will have to take a back seat to my recovery for a few weeks. I will keep you informed about what is happening in the session and hope you will feel free to let me know your thoughts about what is happening. We may not always agree but I have always believed in a free exchange of ideas.
Thanks for checking in and thanks to all of you who have sent cards and flowers to help keep my spirits up and improve my process of recovery. I hope to get to my thank you cards soon.
Here is the link to my legislative web page, you will find my e-mail and office phone number there.
Keep in touch,
Rep. – elect David Bly
559 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-296-0171