Take care of your health, fellas!

[Scott T-Bird]

I just went thru an experience that demonstrates how fleeting it can be. Over a week ago on Wednesday, I came home from a day visiting job sites in seemingly perfect health. I had dinner and was looking forward to taking a few days off and a long weekend for home improvement projects. We're placing our house on the market and it has been stressful getting everything just right, but we're close.
By the time I went to bed, I had a sore throat and the next day I was almost crippled from an infection. I struggled to accomplish a few tasks during the next few days and then spent the weekend completely incapacitated. A trip to the doctor on Monday for antibiotics was fruitless. Later in the week I was literally gasping for air and took an ambulance to the hospital. So the toll was pneumonia and what must have been a viral infection as antibiotics seemed to do no good. By Sunday, after 10 long days, I was finally on my feet again. Back at work now, feeling only about 50% strength. Damn, it would help a little if winter hadn't finally arrived in April. It's hard to get rid of a chill.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Wow. Glad to hear you are better. As we all get older we do have to pay more attention to accidents and infections and learn to recognize where the dangers exist. I'm looking at 3-4 inches of snow outside right now and with a deeper chill coming I'm not sure when the ground will be bare again. Time to stoke up the wood stove.

 

[Roland5048]

Glad you're feeling better. Winter better take it's leave real soon. Going to Boston next week for eight days. I don't do cold very well.

 

[Johnb]

Please don't answer if you don't want to but have you had the pneumonia vaccine?

 

[weinie]

On a positive note, at least you didn't miss any sailing days!!!
Hope you're 100% soon!

 

[shemandr]

I'm glad to hear you're on the mend. There's a nasty strain of something going around the NE. You've given us a good heads up on what can happen and happen so quickly. Take out lesson is if you're having trouble breathing - get yourself in for treatment.
As my junior high school biology teacher used to say about infections: Your immune system wins most the battles. You lose once.

 

[agprice22]

Glad to hear you are mending! It is amazing how quickly our systems can become compromised.

 

[Ken Cross]

I hear you. Quite a few years ago, Okay 30 years ago working on a bathroom wall I got sick. Within hours I could hardly move. They called it a mirroplasm pneumonia (I most likely spelled it wrong) but from first exposure till I could hardly move was only a few hours.
Ken

 

[Bob J.]

My Mom used to say if you have your health you have everything.
Mom was right!

 

[NotCook]

Only just saw this - glad to hear of your recovery. We tend to take our health for granted, until it's threatened.

Different topic, but o now set 50# as my limit for lifting things. The back is just to important to damage by lifting heavy weights. That's what levers and hoists are for.

"Hey - Be careful out there!"

 

[David in Sandusky]

Pneumonia is not age dependent. I had a terrible case at the age of 20!

The vaccine shot is highly recommended! This disease can be deadly at any age.

 

[Richard Bryer]

It's a precarious existence we live. In Sept of 2013 my wife was racing in the last race of the season on the 26th ( doing foredeck). Beautiful evening, stayed for dinner afterwards and a drink, drove home, was tired so went to bed. That night at 1.30 she got up to go to the BR , came back and collapsed on the bed beside me. Ambulance to the hospital, ventricular arrhythmia. They could not get it under control, she was sedated for 3 weeks. Transferred to the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, got it under control, out of hospital with an ICD implanted Nov 20. Back in hospital April 8, more arrhythmia, biopsy- Giant cell myocarditis- Surgery and on a BIVAD, waited 6 weeks for a heart transplant, transplant June 26, out of hospital and rehab Aug 6. Back to sailing last year, hopes to compete in the transplant games this year here in Toronto. Prior to all that she had never had any indications of heart problems, always had low cholesterol, good EKG results, very active, never over weight.
Who would have known

 

[Bad Obsession]

I had my first heart attack at 28. My second one was six years later.

The crazy part is that there is not much I can do to help this. I talked to the Cardiologist and he pretty much said he doesn't know if I will have another one or not. He then said that they wouldn't kill me! What!?!?!?! Yep, he said that it wouldn't kill me because it was minor and I haven't damaged my heart or anything.

Still, it taught me a lot about life.

Be safe, stay healthy, and be careful out there.

 

[BigEasy]

Had viral pneumonia when I was 20 ; didn't know I had it until it was incidentally found on a chest X Ray. Would have have probably got me at some point. This is a wake up call for me; definitely need to get the vaccine. Take it easy Scott it's going to take awhile for you to get over this.

 

[thinwater]

Pneumonia is not age dependent. I had a terrible case at the age of 20!

The vaccine shot is highly recommended! This disease can be deadly at any age.

Yeah, hit me hard at 26, never anything serious since. Stress and lack of sleep, no doubt (was getting married).

 

[Phil Herring]

Scott! And everybody else... glad you're all doing okay.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

At 75, and in very good health, I take zero meds. I really appreciate the genes I inherited. BUT I still realize that the hammer could fall at any time. Live life like today was your last day

 

[Daveinet]

Ginger Peppermint tea. You may have to had an extra bag of ginger to get it strong enough, but about 4 cups throughout the day will cure just about anything. Adding a little honey helps, as the honey is acidic enough that most bacteria can not live in it. Ginger, Peppermint and Garlic are natures antibiotics. When you start sensing you are coming down with something, hit it hard and quick.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Thanks all for well wishes! I'd not thought about a vaccine. In the past, I've avoided colds & flu pretty well without vaccines. It is a shame that so many people spreads germs at the office rather than taking a sick day or two to keep the rest of the office safe. I had interaction with a few people who where sick but at the office regardless. Getting back to good health feels like a blessing.
Weinie, you're right. At least right now, I have no enthusiasm for being outdoors, and with the cold weather, I don't feel like I've missed anything yet!

 

[kloudie1]

Wow.. good to hear that ya get to remain vertical ! .. Take care, Scott !