Older Folks and Vaping Back Porch - Part Seven

[WhiteHighlights]

Ahem... excuse me... <cuff cough, cuff cough...>

(ouch, it hurts to laugh)

Well, it's a matter of me tolerating the pain (someone on the TN site described it as kissing a taser) versus him being unable to work due to dizziness. I've had to drive him home or follow him just in case several times, that's not good.

For me, if it gets too bad, I will call the doc. If I'm lucky, the flare will subside when the storms pass (changes in barometric pressure can aggravate it, it's an even better weather predictor than my knee). I'd rather avoid the trials and tribulations of trying new drugs for a while longer. A benefit to him -- when it acts up the most, I stop talking - no more nagging! I've been known to send him texts when he's sitting across the room from me LOL.

 

[2legsshrt]

They found that the vessel known as 'the widow maker' was 100% blocked. Fortunately, another blood vessel decided to take a road trip and connect below the blockage and it's enough that they don't recommend a bypass.

That in itself is amazing. Sometimes they put a stint in the one that is blocked but the aortic aneurism is something else which requires a new aortic root. When the doc got into mine he said the heart structure was so calcified that he had problems sewing the new aortic valve in place which is why I have a moderate leak around the sewing ring. He said he thought of putting a new root in but that would have left him with no mitral valve. Guess they don't have them on hand I don't know. He was also concerned with the amount of time on the bypass machine so he just did his best with what he had. It's been in there for 5 years which isn't bad they are expected to last 7-10 cause it is a pig valve but it also has stenosis now and he isn't sure when it really need to be re replaced how they will go about it. Might have to go the the U of W. Wish I could afford to go to the Cleveland clinic they have some amazing surgeons there. I imagine they have him on BP meds to keep the pressure down on the aneurysm. same with me to keep the pressure down on the top number to keep the pressure down on the valve. My BP runs about 120/40 because of the leak. I know all about checking your BP a lot drove my wife crazy. I don't do it so much anymore because it is pretty stable only if I feel weird. I'll tell you heart problems are a scary thing. With my problem it gets scarier every year that goes by. I have a pig valve because I didn't want to be on blood thinners I wished the calcification had showed up on the catheter. So tell him I know how he feels. It sucks. As if we didn't have enough to worry about that worry is constant. He must be pretty young if hes still working I was 62 when I had mine done. That anneurysm would scare me too. I know it has to be of a certain size before they will operate seems like something. Tell him there is a great group on FB Heart Valve Surgery Support Group. I don't know if he does FB but if he wants to go there and talk to people many of whom have a variety of heart issues I could give him an invitation. Some of the old timers there can really help. I don't go there as much as I used to because I start getting depressed but before and right after surgery I went there a lot an they helped me alot. Some of the same people are still there that helped me a lot and I could give him an introduction. Some have been through 3 or 4 open heart surgeries. Just let me know.

 

[MikeE3]

How about a set of these Pat?

This is what I used to use. Never worried about getting stuck in the snow or not having traction on icy or packed snow roadways.

 

[2legsshrt]

@WhiteHighlights sorry I didn't mean to write a book but I do know just how he feels and someone without these kind of heart problems don't understand as well. I know Ginny tries and she doesn't know how she would handle it but when it is you it is different. My BP machine is almost worn out.

 

[2legsshrt]

How about a set of these Pat?

This is what I used to use. Never worried about getting stuck in the snow or not having traction on icy or packed snow roadways.

Now thats just right. Bet the state would love that.

 

[Nermal]

Wouldn't give you a plugged nickel for his voice.

 

[Iffy]

Ten years ago in this hour, my Patty was being wheeled in the OR for her hemorrhaging brain tumor emergency surgery...

Good night, and hug your loved ones!

 

[2legsshrt]

When I had my Toyota T100 4 wheel drive I special ordered a set at Les Schwab no studs but super deep tread without being too noisy and I got them in 10ply, at the time I used to do a lot of 4 wheelin on the Forest Serice roads and there would be big branches and limbs and I didn't want a flat 10 or 15 miles from civilization.

 

[2legsshrt]

Ten years ago in this hour, my Patty was being wheeled in the OR for her hemorrhaging brain tumor emergency surgery...

Good night, and hug your loved ones!

Now that would be scary really scary.

 

[clnire]

How about a set of these Pat?

This is what I used to use. Never worried about getting stuck in the snow or not having traction on icy or packed snow roadways.

Heck, I could use those on our dirt roads! County maintains them, but they do a lousey job. With no rain, it's washboard bumpy or sand pits. Rain helps settle things between maintenance, unless the ATV crowd goes crazy

Ten years ago in this hour, my Patty was being wheeled in the OR for her hemorrhaging brain tumor emergency surgery...

Good night, and hug your loved ones!

She's still here. Blessings {{{hugs}}}

 

[Diver9543]

I'm sitting here watching Castaway. I remember seeing it when it came out but for the life of me, I really don't remember very much of it at all. Maybe having a bout of CRS, it seems to happen more often now that I'm more mature.

 

[WhiteHighlights]

Thanks Legs. He's 66 and close to retiring. I am sympathetic to his fears. His sister died of an aortic aneurysm when she was 44 so that scares the crap out of him. Plus, he was the healthy one in his family, playing tennis 1-2 hrs/day several times a week, not taking any meds etc., before it all came to an abrupt halt. It's a difficult adjustment for him. But even the nurse at the drs office gently teased him - you don't need to take your BP each time you pee (ok, that's my exaggeration, but you get the idea!) Our BP monitor loads to his iPhone and he brings a printout with him to the appointment so they can see the trend and how many times a day he checks it. Plus when he takes his BP at the club using the machine we have there, he takes a picture of it His BP is good, usually right in the zone his doc wants which is why I think the problem is the side effects of the drugs.

He really doesn't do FB but I may go looking for support groups so I can help him or be prepared. The TN one makes me feel like I'm lucky. The stories and pain are so much worse than my mine and I get good info too.

Iffy, hugs to you & yours. You've had quite the journey too.

 

[2legsshrt]

(ouch, it hurts to laugh)

Well, it's a matter of me tolerating the pain (someone on the TN site described it as kissing a taser) versus him being unable to work due to dizziness. I've had to drive him home or follow him just in case several times, that's not good.

For me, if it gets too bad, I will call the doc. If I'm lucky, the flare will subside when the storms pass (changes in barometric pressure can aggravate it, it's an even better weather predictor than my knee). I'd rather avoid the trials and tribulations of trying new drugs for a while longer. A benefit to him -- when it acts up the most, I stop talking - no more nagging! I've been known to send him texts when he's sitting across the room from me LOL.

Wow I'm sorry I had to look that up. That must be miserable.
That dizziness is what my cardiologist told me when they prescribe amounts of Lisinopril they increase it till it starts to make you dizzy then back you off enough so it doesn't. I'm a lightweight in that dept he tried me on 20mg and too much for me I am on only 10 now and seems to work.
Is there nothing they can do for that TN it really sounds miserable.

 

[WhiteHighlights]

Does this apply to anyone else here? LOL
I need to learn how to resize photos. They're either too big or too small.

 

[WhiteHighlights]

Wow I'm sorry I had to look that up. That must be miserable.
That dizziness is what my cardiologist told me when they prescribe amounts of Lisinopril they increase it till it starts to make you dizzy then back you off enough so it doesn't. I'm a lightweight in that dept he tried me on 20mg and too much for me I am on only 10 now and seems to work.
Is there nothing they can do for that TN it really sounds miserable.

Legs, yup, TN is the pits and there is no cure. Most of the time, the meds keep it in check and I cope with the side effects. When the meds don't work, it's painful. There are some surgical options but there are many reasons to delay going that route - high failure rates and the need to repeat it over time with each surgery being more complicated. The worst outcome is horrific - unending excruciating pain that no drugs can touch.

Yup, he's on Lisinopril. I'll bet that's the culprit, IIRC he was upped to 20mg at the last appointment too. Thanks, I'll pass that on to him.

 

[bigbells]

 

[bigbells]

Does this apply to anyone else here? LOL
I need to learn how to resize photos. They're either too big or too small.
View attachment 645629

Do you use a Windows computer? If so, open the photo in Paint, an accessory included with every Windows machine. One way to open the photo in Paint is by right-clicking on it, then in the drop-down menu you see "open with" and select "Paint". Look for "resize", then select a percentage of the original size, and save. You can embiggen the photo by selecting a percentage over 100.

 

[garyoa1]

 

[bigbells]

View attachment 645637

Yeah, if the Internet connection is decent.

 

[garyoa1]