Thanks for all your good wishes. Stress echo went fine; doc says no surgery for now.

Actually, while I was on the treadmill, I glanced over my shoulder and he and the technician were looking at each other, surprised. When I asked how I was doing, the doctor say, "Quite well, considering you're 70 years old and the last time you came in you could barely make it to the first level."

They must be used to frail and weak elderly people, because they kept trying to hold on to me so I wouldn't fall. Kept asking me if I was dizzy or light-headed. (I refrained from making any blonde jokes.)

I said, "Thanks but I can get off the table myself. I can stand on the treadmill alone. I'm feeling fine, just out of breath and thirsty."

As I said, they were (pleasantly) surprised and I was very pleased with myself.

I'm really motivated, now. Time to kick the exercise up another notch. The steep incline was too much for me, and I had to stop. Next time....