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Close call and it ain’t over .......

Big Dog

Large Member
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
I just came off a ventilator from pneumonia. Tested neg twice for COVID-19. I was incubated and unconscious for 11 days, admitted on 12/11/20, before coming off the vent. Believe me, do what you have to do from going on a vent, they are a nightmare, especially when being weaned off. I worsened the scenario by being stubborn and not wanting to urinate and defecate on myself and first opportunity tried to get out of bed and I didn’t realize how much strength....... yep, you guessed it, did a face plant. Blood flew, nurses screamed, doctors scolded, I was the talk of the hospital for a week. Broke my nose and lost some hearing, it will lengthen my rehab which I’m in now.

The only thing good in this situation is I’m down #150 in 11 months. I missed all the holidays.
 

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Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
I noticed you vanish from FB but had no clue why until you posted earlier today. Glad to have you back. Even if you are 150# less of a Big Dog ?
 

XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq

Master of Distraction
Staff member
SUPER Site Supporter
I'm glad you made it through Dawg! Keep working on the weight and diet - it's the only thing we have control over that can make a significant difference over our longevity and quality of life. It's a battle I fight every day.

A small alive dawg is better than the alternative.
 

m1west

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
Like everyone, I wondered where you went, one day I'm reading about your new 4-post lift then crickets. Glad your OK.
 

Big Dog

Large Member
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
Update ...... they finally told me I fought off meningitis at the same time I had the pneumonia and the antibiotics they used for that took some of my hearing, actually lost it in my right ear and left is at 50%. Doctors said I’m a very lucky guy to be alive.
I came home 1/11 from a week in rehab at my local hospital. Hearing caused equilibrium and strength issues and that did walking in, I have to use a walker but currently making the migration to a cane. Going to a neurologist, ordered a MRI .... whaa la discovered in the last 2 weeks in the hospital I had a few mini strokes, that ain’t helped the walking either. Now we doing heart monitoring. Found out in the first round of testing (fancy EKG, carotid ultra sound, and 2 weeks of wearing a heart monitor) and they couldn’t find a heart reason for the strokes. Going to do long term monitoring now. also had a audiologist appt, he referred me to the neurologist.

Everyone around me knows my goal and that’s to ride again. I’m going to do it, looking for a bike to build right now to put a bobber together. Good news today was the doctor said my prognosis for riding and driving was very good. I could have cried when he said that! I’m working a bit, know what’s funny, I haven’t been presented with this much back log since I started the business, have a couple great subs and looking for more.

Frustration is my enemy right now, happy with my mobility progress, my head not so much, it gets foggy and hurts at times. Lost my temper a few times because I couldn’t hear, finally got a hand me down hearing aide from my FIL that’s been a Godsend. I do have a bit of a numb spot in the left eyebrow area. It’s where I hit my head. That’s about it for now, I know I forgot something, I now have short term memory loss. BTW, I can now return to the audiologist to deal with the hearing.
I know this rant is all over the place but I’ll get it together, soon hopefully!
 
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EastTexFrank

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
Well at least there is some good news in there. Stick with it buddy. It sounds as if it is going to be a long, slow crawl back to health but please stick with it. We need you man.
 

Doc

Bottoms Up
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
Damn Dawg. A rough road for sure. Hang in there buddy and it will get better. Good thoughts and prayers for you. Please stay in tough as you can and if you there is anything I can do to help you just say the word.
 

Big Dog

Large Member
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
Setback! Just when I was feeling good and thought I was a month or so away from driving and riding, BOOM, I had a seizure last Friday morning. 2 days in the hospital for observation, new anti-seizure drug and a required 6 month suspension of my license. WTF did I do to deserve this .......?
 

m1west

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
Setback! Just when I was feeling good and thought I was a month or so away from driving and riding, BOOM, I had a seizure last Friday morning. 2 days in the hospital for observation, new anti-seizure drug and a required 6 month suspension of my license. WTF did I do to deserve this .......?
Not exactly the update we were looking for. But if it was to happen your lucky you were not doing 65 on a country road. Thats a little setback but maybe a blessing, now the can find the right meds so that don't happen again.
 

Big Dog

Large Member
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
I’m back to where I was before the seizure. On a good note, after getting paperwork from PADot to turn in my drivers license along with a questionnaire from my neurologist, I submitted my DL. Of course I looked at the questionnaire before sending it with DL and a couple answers the doctor gave appeared to be in my favor. 2 weeks later I get 2 notices from PADot each one addressing those mentioned questions. Both stated my DL were going to be reinstated. I got them back the next day in the mail.

What I thought was a mandatory 6 month suspension and no driving until late September, turned into a 3 week bump. Doc did me good. I’m gonna start practicing! Even I know I’m not ready to go out on the road with other drivers but I am getting better. Now if I could regain some hearing, still 50% in one ear!
 

Big Dog

Large Member
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
Well here is the latest …… my eye site was affected and I went for new glasses. I didn’t do good on field of vision (peripheral vision) test in individual eye testing so my optometrist suggest a neurological optometrist, all my other doctors say do it. 3 months to get in, 7 hours of testing. Meet with the doc and he says I have to do field of vision testing again with both eyes open. The individual eye testing failed to meet PA’s field of vision criteria.

Now I’m pissed, I’m thinking my doctors used this to clear liability. I’ve been driving, neurologist was the only one that encouraged me, gotta admit it’s work but to be honest I’m a safer driver. I don’t want to hurt anyone. He sets up the test and while he’s out I tell my wife, if I lose my license, I’m tearing this office apart.

I take the test, while taking the test, my wife tells the Doctor be ready for uproar if I hear bad things. I go back to the exam room and the first thing out of his mouth is “I sense tension”, I don’t remember what I said after that but there was definitely tension when I was done and then sat with my wife and him waiting on the technician with results. He couldn’t get it out fast enough, I passed and went into a schedule for follow up to monitor ……. He’ll never see me again, I’ll know when I don’t need to be driving.

Went into a funk, boarder line depression, what appeared no progress. Joined a support group for meningiti, it helps a little, mainly preparing for progress milestones, it’s never the same for those that been dealt the card, some quick, some longer. Right now I do anything to keep my mind busy. I will say, my mobility is improving, haven’t used a cane in 4 months but I’m wobbly at times. My hearing in the hood ear has improved but the right is still dead. I’m more positive about my goal of riding again, ain’t giving into a trike just yet Doc 😉.

Work is good, thank God for good subs. We’re into 2 large projects and cleanup from Covid. All I do is spend money. I’ve adapted a prepper mentality with the shit going on. I over saw 50 yds of cement pour around the house and garage this Summer. I’ve built over 10 AR’s and splurged on a Polaris RZR. I use to take my plow off the Mule to do trail runs for gas charts and that’s a bit more of a chore now so I used that excuse to buy the RZR 😋, boy it’s fun, takes care of the adrenaline throttle rush.

I’m looking forward to better weather. I’ve put on most the weight I lost before meningitis but hey, I’m alive. I’ll work on that when I can get out and be more active. I’ll be around a little more often, I’m glad to have the attitude to mingle again! See you aroun!
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