Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Exceeding The Expiration Date Or Now For The Good News

Thanks for suffering thru these posts. I realize they were long and prolly as riveting as a vacuum cleaner operating manual. However, I have been blogging for 2 years now and since most all you guys have opened up personally at one time or the other I thought I would let you know a little something about the guy you are dealing with here.

Now don’t get me wrong. I aint no where near falling over anytime soon. Since those days, thru the miracle of chemistry, my EF has improved to 30-35%. The doc is pleased with my progress and has relaxed my restrictions. Early on was a bit of a struggle finding my boundaries. The wife drives me nuts. You can’t do this, you can’t do that. She aint quite as bad as she was but she still gets on me. But then again I do tend to push it a bit. I’ve always done physical types of work and it’s hard to ask someone to lift something when you look perfectly healthy. I have gotten the “you lazy SOB” look a few times and I don’t like to use it as a crutch.

After the diagnosis the doc asked me if I had been tired a lot. I thought no, not really. He said he has known folks with a 40% EF that couldn’t function at all and I was functioning fine at the 10-15 %. He said my body must have compensated somehow for it. The wife said she had noticed me dragging a bit but I was working 2 jobs at the time. They can’t tell me how I got it. The main known causes at the time were heavy drinking, drug use or viral. I know it definitely wernt the first two. He said it really didn’t matter as the treatment is the same.

I have physical limits that really don’t impair me too much unless it comes to lifting things. My biggest issue tends to be the side effects caused by my meds. Standing quickly after stooping makes me dizzy. I’ve only passed out from it once and that was 2 months after the discovery and I had been crawling around under the house getting it ready to sell. The main thing is that I do not strain.

Working on the road is a big challenge as we tend to do 12-14 hour days. There is a lot of walking and climbing. At the end of the day I am a bit tired but the doc said tired is not a bad thing.

I was looking at my chart a couple years back and found a line on it that says, “Research Patient”. I asked the doc about it and he seemed a bit puzzled. He said he would ask about that but I’ve never gotten an answer. I aint really worried about it as whatever they’ve done seems to work well and I’ve not grown a second head yet.

I was truly blessed by having the accident. God is good. But I must admit, I have never called the girl and thanked her in person.

And thank you all for not saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. I absolutely abhor that phrase cause it didnt. I also don’t care for the song by Tim McGraw, “Live like you were dying”. I live each day like any other day. I don’t let this thing define me. Too much.

That’s all I got to say bout that.

Y’all take care now.

9 comments:

Beatriz said...

Yeah I'm not huge on that whole stronger saying. I like the weak that I obviously am ;)

What is up with that whole Research Patient thing? You should ask again, it might be interesting. They may just be monitoring you as a control who neither received placebo or changed treatment. Sometimes they do that to build a standard for comparison of other treatments. It's a negative control.

Pearl said...

I'm relieved -- and still a bit worried.

I think it's okay to post some personal things. I've not done it much, but my life has just gotten a bit rougher and I could see veering from the light-and-happy posts to maybe one or two of what's really going on.

Thank you for sharing with us, Simply. You have friends out here, you know.

Pearl

Juli said...

I love when you share. You comment all the time, and I love reading your posts about you (and all your crazy people you overhear)

We all get dealt a hand, how we play it is our choice.

Well played my friend. Well played.

joanne said...

wow, I guess there is something to be said about modern medicine eh? I am also a testament to that after having a heart attack a few days after my 50th birthday. It was always the family 'joke' that I would never live to 50, so that was pretty scary. Still hanging in here though and plan to for quite awhile longer. I know what you mean about the meds, the side effects have turned me in to a different person, slow and heavy for one. Anyway, so glad you were hit...a blessing in disguise? I know, I hate all those platitudes too!

Diane said...

Okay, I wouldn't be able to let that "Research Patient" thing go. I would HAVE to know because I tend to get obsessive with things like this and need to know every single detail and morsel of information available about it.

I'm a firm believer in a positive attitude being the saving grace in all things. I've seen it many times so kudos to you for that!

Oh, and call me a dork but I love that Tim McGraw song. Chokes me up every time.

Jolene said...

Around these parts, they say what doesn't kill us makes us who we are.

"Live like you were dying".
Ridiculously absurd, isn't it and irresponsible too :)
There is no way we could do that every day and live "normal" lives.
It's the same for everybody: One day at a time... there is no other way to move forward, right?

P.S. There is definitely no suffering here and truth be told, I have never read a vacuum cleaner manual.

Not So Simply Single said...

My dear friend,

I am so sad that I am just now sitting down to catch up on my reading.

I want you to LIVE, so I am revoking your ticket to anywhere!

My Mom was in an accident about ten years ago. She went in for an MRI and they found a brain tumor that had almost wore through the bone in her head. They told her if she sneezed it could pop through. Needless to say, her accident was a blessing. She had brain surgery, and hasn't stopped talking since.

Prayers to the big guy upstairs for you. You will be alright, I just know it....

Big hugs and lots of love from over here in Maui!

KaLynn ("MiMi") said...

Well I am glad you are still around! I was on pins and needles these last posts! I has been wondering about you lately. Was gonna check on you tonite and i am glad i did.

Prayers in your direction are goin up!

ipenka said...

Thanks for sharing. Its an inspiring story and I'm glad to hear you're doing okay.

Amazing how your body has adapted. Imagine what your batting average would be if at 100%! =P