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Recycle 1943
220 posts
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in almost 2 years
Listen to your body
For about a year or so I was busy taking care of 'things' and that being my wife until she passed here at home. I finally had a few issues that made me call my VA primary care provider and her immediate response was "Mr. Byrd, you should go to the emergency room at the hospital "
Me being the stubborn ass that I am, suggested another option. She said, "I'll call you back in a few minutes"
I answered the phone and she repeated herself - Go to the ER !
I drove myself to the ER because I wasn't bleeding nor light headed nor anything that would put anybody else in jeopardy.
I parked and walked in, registered and was taken inside. It was then that I realized that my Dr. was right. 24 hours later I was peeking out of the covering that was placed over my upper portion of my body and talking to a surgeon. In just over 2 hours I was headed back to my hospital room with a sore chest and a Pacemaker neatly resting inside the skin covering my left chest.
In 3 days I lost 6 pounds, had a few crappy meals and had to ask for a ride home because one of the kids had taken my truck home already.
So I've been home for a week tomorrow and people keep asking me if I feel better. The honest answer is, I don't know because I'm too dumb to realize I was not feeling bad to begin with.
The point is - Pay attention to what your body is telling you, even if you're hard of hearing and stupid
Me being the stubborn ass that I am, suggested another option. She said, "I'll call you back in a few minutes"
I answered the phone and she repeated herself - Go to the ER !
I drove myself to the ER because I wasn't bleeding nor light headed nor anything that would put anybody else in jeopardy.
I parked and walked in, registered and was taken inside. It was then that I realized that my Dr. was right. 24 hours later I was peeking out of the covering that was placed over my upper portion of my body and talking to a surgeon. In just over 2 hours I was headed back to my hospital room with a sore chest and a Pacemaker neatly resting inside the skin covering my left chest.
In 3 days I lost 6 pounds, had a few crappy meals and had to ask for a ride home because one of the kids had taken my truck home already.
So I've been home for a week tomorrow and people keep asking me if I feel better. The honest answer is, I don't know because I'm too dumb to realize I was not feeling bad to begin with.
The point is - Pay attention to what your body is telling you, even if you're hard of hearing and stupid
11 Replies
Good Advice ! Hope you are doing better!!!
im glad they found your problem i hope all is better now sucks getting older
*TONY ** Reinholds* ALWAYS REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN
Wow Dick, could have gone so many different ways. Glad to hear you have found your way through!
First, very sorry about you wife passing, my condolences.
Regarding listening to my body, it keeps nagging me every day. Aches and pains have become normal. And, as my wife says, I'm too dumb to listen. Ah well, if it gets bad enough for me to recognize it, I'll go see the Dr.
Hope you're doing better, take care.
Regarding listening to my body, it keeps nagging me every day. Aches and pains have become normal. And, as my wife says, I'm too dumb to listen. Ah well, if it gets bad enough for me to recognize it, I'll go see the Dr.
Hope you're doing better, take care.
Excellent advice. I will only add (for the benefit of others), next time just call 911 or at least call a friend or family member for a ride to the emergency room instead of driving yourself.
I had a situation last year , fortunately non-emergency, and I will add it here in case others experience similar symptoms. It started with what I would call a muscle spasm in my left leg that lasted about a minute, followed by persistent numbness in the left foot. This happened right after doing some major re-landscaping that probably strained my back a little so I assumed it was related. I mentioned it to my doctor at my next visit a few week later and his initial thought was a pinched nerve caused by over-doing it. I continued to have spasms about once a month and when I told the doctor at my annual physical, he referred me to a neurologist to figure out what was going on. Long story short, they did not find any nerve related issues so next step was a brain MRI which revealed a benign brain tumor (meningioma) . The tumor was pressing on the part of the brain responsible for right side motor function but had not invaded into it. Come to find out that the spasms were actually small seizures. Anyway, the tumor was removed 2 weeks ago without any complications and I am now released to resume or at least ramp up to normal activity and driving (I guess I should give up MMA ;-).
The moral of my story is: do not wait 6 months to check out what seems like a minor inconvenience. In my case it was a benign tumor that is unlikely to reoccur but it could have been something more serious and instead I could be going through something where waiting could have cause it to be much worse to deal with, both for me and my family. Even if you are as stubborn as I am, don't put your family through that.
I had a situation last year , fortunately non-emergency, and I will add it here in case others experience similar symptoms. It started with what I would call a muscle spasm in my left leg that lasted about a minute, followed by persistent numbness in the left foot. This happened right after doing some major re-landscaping that probably strained my back a little so I assumed it was related. I mentioned it to my doctor at my next visit a few week later and his initial thought was a pinched nerve caused by over-doing it. I continued to have spasms about once a month and when I told the doctor at my annual physical, he referred me to a neurologist to figure out what was going on. Long story short, they did not find any nerve related issues so next step was a brain MRI which revealed a benign brain tumor (meningioma) . The tumor was pressing on the part of the brain responsible for right side motor function but had not invaded into it. Come to find out that the spasms were actually small seizures. Anyway, the tumor was removed 2 weeks ago without any complications and I am now released to resume or at least ramp up to normal activity and driving (I guess I should give up MMA ;-).
The moral of my story is: do not wait 6 months to check out what seems like a minor inconvenience. In my case it was a benign tumor that is unlikely to reoccur but it could have been something more serious and instead I could be going through something where waiting could have cause it to be much worse to deal with, both for me and my family. Even if you are as stubborn as I am, don't put your family through that.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
as men i think we all wanna believe whatever it is is nothing and will just go away. sometimes we can be wrong ?
glad it turned out well for you my friend, just dont be stubborn again !
glad it turned out well for you my friend, just dont be stubborn again !
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Yep - listen to your body and on days that end in a Y listen to your wife, she just might have something important to say
After practicing emergency field medicine for over 20 years, let me say this: Air goes in and out, blood goes round and round. That’s how we get oxygen and sugar into the muscles and brain, and CO2 and metabolic byproducts out. Anything that stops those processes will kill you in minutes. Anything that impedes those processes will still kill you…maybe just a little bit slower.
Dizziness, significant weakness, weakness to one side of your body, a massive sudden headache, blurred vision or slurred speech, shortness of breath without major exertion, and chest pain/heaviness/tightness are all signs that these processes are being impeded and should be addressed by an actual medical professional. Now.
If it’s nothing, great! They will (most likely) refer you to a specialist just to be sure, because even ER docs can’t rule everything out….but you won’t be dead.
Unless you’ve got a degree and are in practice, YOU are not a medical professional…neither is the internet or your neighbor, friend, whatever.
Screwing this up is a bad thing to do. In the best (better) case, you just die. In the worst case, you’re majorly effected for the rest of your life…which will be grossly shorter as a result.
I’ve had the unfortunate experience of watching hundreds of people in our age group mess this up…and often end up seeing them again and again as their mistakes ruin what’s left of their not-long lives.
If you’re going to be stubborn about this stuff, do yourself a favor and make sure your affairs are in order so at least your family doesn’t have to worry about that.
If you think I’m being dramatic, ask your doctor if I’m wrong.
Dizziness, significant weakness, weakness to one side of your body, a massive sudden headache, blurred vision or slurred speech, shortness of breath without major exertion, and chest pain/heaviness/tightness are all signs that these processes are being impeded and should be addressed by an actual medical professional. Now.
If it’s nothing, great! They will (most likely) refer you to a specialist just to be sure, because even ER docs can’t rule everything out….but you won’t be dead.
Unless you’ve got a degree and are in practice, YOU are not a medical professional…neither is the internet or your neighbor, friend, whatever.
Screwing this up is a bad thing to do. In the best (better) case, you just die. In the worst case, you’re majorly effected for the rest of your life…which will be grossly shorter as a result.
I’ve had the unfortunate experience of watching hundreds of people in our age group mess this up…and often end up seeing them again and again as their mistakes ruin what’s left of their not-long lives.
If you’re going to be stubborn about this stuff, do yourself a favor and make sure your affairs are in order so at least your family doesn’t have to worry about that.
If you think I’m being dramatic, ask your doctor if I’m wrong.
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
Ryan - great insights. Dramatic is good. Thank you for the view from the "other side."
For sure, if something "isn't right" get checked. My example - I had broken my foot, and my calf started to really REALLY hurt. First tried to tell myself my leg was sore from the walking boot. But knew the pain was more than just muscle soreness so I had it checked...blood work first, then ultrasound...and had multiple clots (DVTs, deep vein thrombosis). Very scary time but was able to connect with an awesome doctor who worked with me to develop treatment plan.
For sure, if something "isn't right" get checked. My example - I had broken my foot, and my calf started to really REALLY hurt. First tried to tell myself my leg was sore from the walking boot. But knew the pain was more than just muscle soreness so I had it checked...blood work first, then ultrasound...and had multiple clots (DVTs, deep vein thrombosis). Very scary time but was able to connect with an awesome doctor who worked with me to develop treatment plan.
I think the problem with most people, is their brain is what they are listening to, and meanwhile their body, or at least the parts that aren't 100% are screaming their heads off. It's like the brain isn't attached, but I know from experience it's usually just mule headedness saying shaddup, you're fine. :-)
Glad you called your Doc, and hoping you heal quickly Dick.
Ryan said
" Unless you’ve got a degree and are in practice, YOU are not a medical professional…neither is the internet or your neighbor, friend, whatever."
None of the "smart" Docs I know will treat themselves, mostly because of that brain/body disconnect I mentioned above.
Glad you called your Doc, and hoping you heal quickly Dick.
Ryan said
" Unless you’ve got a degree and are in practice, YOU are not a medical professional…neither is the internet or your neighbor, friend, whatever."
None of the "smart" Docs I know will treat themselves, mostly because of that brain/body disconnect I mentioned above.
Last year I wanted to go to the VA hospital. I started driving,knew I wouldn't make it, and stopped at the local fire department. Then it got weird, I spent a week in the hospital. Got a new hobby, visiting medical facilities.
I guess i was listening.
I guess i was listening.
I want to do right, but not right now. Gillian Welch
