The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

General Category => Totally Off-Topic Discussions, Rants, Tire & Oil Threads, Etc. => Topic started by: Bob_Roller on August 13, 2019, 06:39:06 PM

Title: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Bob_Roller on August 13, 2019, 06:39:06 PM
I'll try to make this as sort as possible, no guarantee !!
I got up Saturday morning feeling lousy, felt like a cross between the flu and a hangover, didn't have any alcohol in days .
Got to work and started my work chores, started sweating profusely sitting at my work station .
At about 9 AM started experiencing  minor chest pain, been to the ER numerous times over the last 40 years for chest pain, nothing ever came of it .
It felt like all the other episodes, so I wasn't overly concerned .
About 1230 PM I started getting a dull ache/pain in my upper arms, OK this isn't the usual that I have experienced .
Left work on my silver '82 LS, got home took a shower and went to the local hospital .
Within 45 minutes after arriving there, and having blood drawn and analyzed, I was informed that I would be a guest there for a few days,  had coronary artery blockage, a heart attack .
Not overly surprised by this, my risk factors for this were high for over 3 decades .
I had three stents installed in the affected arteries .
Got home about 2 hours ago and other than the plug that was installed in the right femoral artery, no pain or discomfort, a few doses of over the counter pain medication, solved that .
So it looks like I'm off of work for about 6 weeks or so .
Big negative of this, is taking a blood thinning medication, Brilinta, which can cause excessive bleeding to a wound .
I was told if I get a serious injury at work with major bleeding, I need to be rushed to an ER, no exceptions .
Also riding a motorcycle is considered an extreme risk for internal bleeding if involved in an incident .
I turn 63 next Thursday, welcome to old age baby boomers !! ;D
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Justin B. on August 13, 2019, 10:07:33 PM
Dang, Bob!  I'm glad you were able to nip this in the bud quickly.  How long will you have to take the Brilinta?
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Bob_Roller on August 13, 2019, 10:15:20 PM

At this point in time, 1 year .
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Tony Smith on August 14, 2019, 12:51:01 AM
Bob

Yep us baby boomers routinely live through things that would have (or indeed did( kill our parents, we are the recipients of incredible medical advances.

Wish you all the very best for a full recovery.

Continuing to ride or not is of course your decision  -  but remember that the only motorcycles parked in a psychiatrist's parking lot usually belong to the shrink him/her self.

Me - I'd continue to ride.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !! - metoo!
Post by: Tony Smith on August 14, 2019, 12:58:00 AM
It's been a week of "discovery" for me too. A batery of medical imaging and multiple biopsies im the course of investigating soem long time minor health irritations  has resulted in a diagnosis of lymphoma.

Second time round for me with the "Spanish fan dancer," last time (1983) it was melanoma and I lucked out with that in spite of a gloomy prognosis at the time.

At present all i have is a bare diagnosis on the basis of lymph node biopsy, so my first appointment at the haematology clinic for this latest round of fun is in two days time for further tests to type and stage me.

The good news is that Dr Google suggests I have a better than 65% chance of being completely cured and a better than 80% chance of still being around in 5 years time. Which, when you are already 62, is a comforting thing.

To continue my earlier post - even a decade ago my lymphoma would have escaped detection at this time and I would not have been diagnosed until something far more nasty happened and at that point both my treatment options and my prognosis would be far worse than they are now.

It's good to be a baby-boomer.

Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: ged in oz on August 14, 2019, 04:36:27 AM
Oh wow you guys... I haven’t even known either of you for very long, but I’m really saddened by both of those posts. That sux.

I guess as you say Tony, medical technology and the health system (here in Australia anyway) has never been better so at least you’ve got that on your side. Best of luck to the both of you.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: tiggum on August 14, 2019, 07:35:59 AM
For now, Guys, FOLLOW THE RULES!  Let your Doc make the call on when and how much you can slack off.  We want you better so you can continue to add so much to this forum.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: jp9094 on August 14, 2019, 12:41:39 PM
Tony,
Sorry to hear your news. Have some experience with this (from the other side). Half the battle is keeping a positive outlook. Will be pulling for you.

All the best!
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: wilcom on August 14, 2019, 01:58:24 PM
Best wishes and concern for both of you. Steady on the course of treatment and recovery.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: skippyc on August 14, 2019, 09:53:34 PM
Best wishes to both of you and this forum wouldn't be what it is without your knowledge. We have never met but I feel like we are good friends.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Tony Smith on August 16, 2019, 05:19:40 PM
Quote
Have some experience with this (from the other side). Half the battle is keeping a positive outlook.

I'll leave Bob's thread alone after this. going through the fun of being typed and staged at present.

I have Mantle Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Given my circumstances the staging is pretty much irrelevant, I will be Type IV (and I understand most Mantle Cell diagnosis is). The next few days is taken up with CT and PET scans and the fun of bone marrow extraction. Yesterday I had an echocardiogram which indicated that my heart is in pretty good condition.

Got my fingers crossed that I have good response to chemo and that there is not too much involvement beyond my lymphatic system and that I therefore get a lengthy period of remission. As you will be aware current medical science is that Mantles is incurable.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Bob_Roller on August 18, 2019, 12:58:52 PM
Tony, sorry to hear about your condition . :(
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Bob_Roller on August 18, 2019, 01:06:53 PM
I had a setback on Thursday, went to my primary care doctor .
I was feeling a bit light headed, they took my blood pressure and it was 90/50, way too low .
The  physician assistant that was seeing me that day, left the room for about 5 minutes to get paperwork .
When she came back, I was about to pass out, took my blood pressure again, it was 50/25 .
Got an ambulance ride back to the hospital I was  treated at a few days earlier .
Diagnosis, my heart is working much better now and I do not need any blood pressure medication .
Spent the night there and was released Friday morning .
Blood pressure was back in the normal range, 125/65 .
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: wilcom on August 18, 2019, 01:22:18 PM
Quote
it was 50/25

Bob you had me right on the edge of my seat reading those numbers...… good the outcome was too much medicine rather than another issue. Keep up the good work!
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Bob_Roller on September 14, 2019, 05:59:24 PM
Recieved the total bill for my stay at the ' resort and spa' !!
My part is just under $5000US .
Without insurance, $245,000US .
How do people survie without decent health insurance ?? :-?
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: wilcom on September 14, 2019, 06:23:14 PM
Quote
How do people survie without decent health insurance ?? :-?

I think the question should be what did they do that waranted a price of $245K. The cost of a home.  Everybody is hand ringing about the cost of insurance when they should be investigating the $10 aspirin.

I'm glad that you are covered Bob, and they were there when needed, but at what price
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Frank I on September 14, 2019, 09:48:03 PM
A friend of mine just got his bill for his partial knee replacement, which included one night in the 'resort & spa:' $145,000.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Bob_Roller on October 05, 2019, 09:23:03 PM
Finished my first week of work after  having a heart attack .
No issues, like I never left ! ;D
First day back on a motorcyle after 8 weeks on Tuesday, a little bit unsettled at first, but all back to" normal " now . :D
Three years and 3 months to retirement !! ::)
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: wilcom on October 05, 2019, 11:17:37 PM
Quote
No issues, like I never left ! ;D

That's great to hear Bob.... keep'm
 fly'n
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Justin B. on October 06, 2019, 10:46:23 AM
Don't rush things, Bob, milk that LTD for all you can get!  [smiley=wink.gif]
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Bob_Roller on October 06, 2019, 12:17:53 PM
I used sick time for this, I had accrued the maximum amount of time allowable 250 days used 35 days with this event .
I need to get sick alot before I retire !! ::)
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Justin B. on October 08, 2019, 11:03:31 PM
I reckon!  Can you sell it when you retire?
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Bob_Roller on October 12, 2019, 05:29:28 PM
No, if you have sick time when you retire, you lose it !! >:(

There was a policy that you could convert 1 sick day for one month of health insurance, with all the baby boomer employees, they realized that it would be too costly so it was cancelled about 10 years ago .
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Justin B. on October 27, 2019, 10:58:50 PM
Bummer...  I'd be tempted to start being sick!
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: wilcom on October 28, 2019, 10:40:09 AM
Quote
Bummer...  I'd be tempted to start being sick!

Me too, but it makes me feel good that someone like Bob is on the job. I'm not afraid to fly but could be considered a "concerned flyer." Folks like Bob turning the wrenches make me breath easier when I have to be airborne.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: suecanada on October 30, 2019, 03:39:03 PM
Boy just catching up here as I was having a bit of a time getting onto the forum. So while I am here now I want to take this opportunity to wish both Bob and Tony the very best. I am concerned. Great Bob is doing well. Want Tony to know I am cheering for him!! [smiley=clap.gif]
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Tony Smith on October 31, 2019, 04:47:37 AM
Quote
So while I am here now I want to take this opportunity to wish both Bob and Tony the very best. I am concerned. Great Bob is doing well. Want Tony to know I am cheering for him!! [smiley=clap.gif]

Thank you Sue.

The good news is that at the midpoint of my chemotherapy the CT and PET scans were redone and that there was no sign of Cancer. I was assigned the Deauville Number of "2" which essentially means "cancer free".

You could not have wiped the grin off my face with a bat the day I got that news. From stage 4 to remission  in 2.5 months.

However, I still have one more round of chemo and then a trip to a larger city to the South for stem Cell therapy. The idea being to push that remission out as long as possible.

But I am feeling positve and reckon I have a few more years of motorcycling left in me after all.


Thanks to everyone for their kind thoughts
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: tiggum on October 31, 2019, 10:36:02 AM
Thank you for the update, Tony.  That is fine news and we all are hoping for continuing good news on your condition.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: wilcom on October 31, 2019, 12:44:50 PM
Quote
Thank you for the update, Tony.  That is fine news and we all are hoping for continuing good news on your condition.

+1   :)
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Justin B. on October 31, 2019, 02:40:56 PM
Fantastic, Tony!  I do not want to loose any more inmates, that is an order!

Bob, I think you should develop a 96 hour bug every Friday until you retire.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: mrclubike on October 31, 2019, 08:02:38 PM
Quote
Thank you for the update, Tony.  That is fine news and we all are hoping for continuing good news on your condition.


AMEN TO THAT  :)
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: BPT on November 01, 2019, 09:52:48 AM
Wow Tony, that's great to hear.  Good on ya and let's hope the good stuff continues for you.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Bob_Roller on September 20, 2021, 10:45:18 PM
Headed back to  the hospital on Sept 21 .
More heart issues, failed the stress test two weeks ago .
Erratic heartbeat, fibrillation low/erratic blood pressure .
Going for an angiogram tomorrow and most likely a few more stents .
Outside possibility of bypass surgery in the not too distant future, depends on what is found on the test .
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: dogshome on September 21, 2021, 07:26:32 AM
Get well soon Bob.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Justin B. on September 21, 2021, 10:47:55 AM
Good luck, Bob, we will be praying for you...
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Tony Smith on September 21, 2021, 11:51:27 PM
Bob I hope all goes well for you. Please keep us updated.

In regards to my own health, my remission is holding and I hope it continues to do so.

Unfortunately my health has caused me problems in other areas.

I sought the regulatory authority's view on me renewing my pilot's licence. Specifically I enquired regarding a private VFR ticket as I already knew my medical position and age meant it unlikely I would be granted a commercial IFR ticket.

After reviewing my medical  reports the decision is that I will not be issued with any licence due to blood pressure and tachycardia. Both are due to the unusually high doses of chemo back in 2019 and neither is likely to resolve to their satisfacton. Bugger!

The second problem is temporary but very vexing. A couple of weeks after we returned from our Cape York trip I set out to ride to Brisbane. At the time I had a painful spot in the middle of my back - but there was nothing to see.

Two days later I awoke to a large painful rash with hundreds of little blisters. I didn't know what it was but I knew it wasn't good, so I turned for home, arriving late on a Friday.

I tried to see a Doctor over the weekend. It that proved impossible and I didn't really think my problems warranted a visit to the local ED. So, on Monday I saw my normal Dr who confirmed Dr Google's diagnosis of shingles. He also mentioned that had I got to see him 3 or 4 days earlier they could have stopped it in its tracks but that time had passed and it would have to run its course.

14 days of narcotic pain killers later the rash, which covered 75 percent of the RHS of my back and curled round under my arm to my chest started to heal and the blisters began to dry up. Then the itching started.

My point in all of this is that there is a vaccine for shingles (Shingrix). As many of us here are of an age where we likely had chickenpox in childhood - go get the vaccine. If you were immunised with a non live virus derivitave you are probably OK.

Shingles is caused by a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, it is not nice and believe me, you don't want it.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Bob_Roller on September 22, 2021, 02:32:41 PM
Had the angiogram, no issues found, the three stents that were implanted two years ago, are in good shape no deposits on them and no blockages were found in any other of the arteries of the heart  .
At this time this is being considered an electrical problem with the heart, medication therapy will continue for the foreseeable future .
Possible pace maker if medication does not correct the fibrillation, erratic heart beat .
So now I have a week off of work !!! :beerchug:
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Burt on September 26, 2021, 09:29:13 PM
That is good news. 
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Justin B. on September 28, 2021, 09:19:26 PM
Well, Bob, that's a relief!  Kind of a drastic way to get a week off, though!  :beatnik:
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: dogshome on September 29, 2021, 02:08:55 PM
Hi Tony, my sis recently got shingles on her hip. She sent me a photo (yuk!) and asked me what I thought? One side of the body? YES Very itchy? YES. Shingles. A day later doc says shingles  ::)

Dad had it and was bed-ridden and delirious for a few days. I didn't understand at the time why my mum had to help him back upstairs to bed and calm him (I was school-age). Luckily my little sis just had an itchy/scratchy bit for a week or so. Dad had it round his belly and was not good. A guy at work got it round his eye and was lucky it didn't go in.

Given the choice of what you guys here have gone through though (big C, bypass and ticker issues etc), I think a week of shingles sounds the easier option to me!
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Tony Smith on September 29, 2021, 06:23:56 PM
The really good thing about the human brain is that you remember being in pain, but not THE pain.

Shingles is very unpleasant, but fortunately tends to be short lived.

Be smarter then me and get the vaccine.
Title: Re: Significant Life Event !!
Post by: Justin B. on October 03, 2021, 10:03:16 PM
I'll probably get one this year when I go in for my flu shot.