Thanks!

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey all
Just wanted to say thanks to all the people who sent me notes with
stories and encouragement. I really appreciate it, and it confirms my
opinion of how many really good people there are here. It's really cool
that people would take the time to drop me a note. It has helped a lot
and I want them to know it.
Thanks
Bill C

Bill,

I've seen some references to you "recovering." I must have missed what it
is you're recovering from. Whatever it is, I hope it's going well. What
happened?

--
Bob C.

"Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts."
T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)

psycholist said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey all
Just wanted to say thanks to all the people who sent me notes with
stories and encouragement. I really appreciate it, and it confirms my
opinion of how many really good people there are here. It's really cool
that people would take the time to drop me a note. It has helped a lot
and I want them to know it.
Thanks
Bill C

Bill,

I've seen some references to you "recovering." I must have missed what it
is you're recovering from. Whatever it is, I hope it's going well. What
happened?

--
Bob C.

The mess started in about '98 when I had a really nasty reaction to
some acid vapor and solvents when I worked at the Harley shop in
Tacoma. I went home sick as [censored], passed out the next morning at home,
ended up with a nasty respiratory infection + allergies and asthma
which I'd never had before out of it. For most of a year just walking
across the house was a huge project because I couldn't breathe. When we
finally got that sorted out, I tore up my knee, but did therapy and
crutches the next year. Recovering from that I flattened a fingertip
between 2 dumbells in the gym, they were able to count 27 seperate
pieces below the last knuckle so they sewed and taped that back into
the shape of a finger more or less. In 2002 I tore the snot out of my
rotater cuff and they found a bunch of arthritis so they ended up doing
a lot more work than they thought they'd have to including cutting the
collarbone back and stuff. In 2003 I finished off the knee by shredding
the cartilage completely so had to have that cleaned up. All this time
I'd been having serious problems with carpal tunnel and real problems
with the right elbow. It finally got bad enough last fall that I
couldn't feel the shifter or throttle on the motorcycle at all after
the first 10 minutes. So I got that fixed, and hit the gym again and
tore up my back. I've always had blood pressure problems too, even when
I was 16 and weighed 150, it runs in the family, but it was causing
brutal headaches this winter and spring but that seems to be
straightening itself out now that I've found a good specialist who is
also willing to work with me on the meds so that they don't limit my
heart rate. I quit taking them before because I just couldn't ride on
them, but he found a way around it.
They're still not sure about the back, they found arthritis and a cyst
along the spinal column, but don't think that's what's causing the pain
now.
None of it is really serious, it's just been one hell of a roller
coaster ride mentally and physically since all this [censored] started. Every
time I start getting back into shape and gaining on it I've screwed
something else up. I'm sticking to doing some core strengthening and
riding now. Everything that's been repaired feels better than it has in
years. I'm going to have to have the other wrist done soon because it's
not good but didn't need to be done immediately and is getting worse.
The great thing is my back wont let me hurt myself in the gym now, and
one of the few positions that don't hurt is riding my bike.
The mental side of it has been a lot tougher than the physical for
sure, but this time I'm really encouraged because my lungs even during
the last few years had been the real limiting factor, but even during
the recent club TT they felt good I just had no leg strength and some
numbness. They can't figured out what is causing them to go weak and
totally numb, right now the betting is on an inflamed sciatic nerve.
The good thing is there's nothing that's calling for back surgery.
Thanks for asking.
Bill C

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

psycholist said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey all
Just wanted to say thanks to all the people who sent me notes with
stories and encouragement. I really appreciate it, and it confirms my
opinion of how many really good people there are here. It's really cool
that people would take the time to drop me a note. It has helped a lot
and I want them to know it.
Thanks
Bill C

Bill,

I've had a couple of major ordeals. I got creamed by a teenage driver
talking on a cell phone about 2 1/2 years ago now. Broke my back, pelvis,
hip and ankle, plus other injuries. Before that, I was in a paceline pileup
and shattered my kneecap. Long rehabs in both instances. So to an extent,
I can feel your pain. However, ...

I've always been thankful that I only broke bones. I never tore up
cartiledge and I never got sick in any major way. I really feel for you and
for others who have chronic stuff to deal with. My stuff healed and it was
over. I'm darned near good as new like it never happened.

I'll remember you in my prayers. It sounds like you have a fierce
determination. Good for you. I hope one day soon you'll be 100% and you'll
have the ride of your life over and over again!

--
Bob C.

"Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts."
T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

psycholist said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey all
Just wanted to say thanks to all the people who sent me notes with
stories and encouragement. I really appreciate it, and it confirms my
opinion of how many really good people there are here. It's really

cool

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that people would take the time to drop me a note. It has helped a lot
and I want them to know it.
Thanks
Bill C

Bill,

I've seen some references to you "recovering." I must have missed what

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is you're recovering from. Whatever it is, I hope it's going well.

What

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

happened?

--
Bob C.

The mess started in about '98 when I had a really nasty reaction to
some acid vapor and solvents when I worked at the Harley shop in
Tacoma. I went home sick as [censored], passed out the next morning at home,
ended up with a nasty respiratory infection + allergies and asthma
which I'd never had before out of it. For most of a year just walking
across the house was a huge project because I couldn't breathe. When we
finally got that sorted out, I tore up my knee, but did therapy and
crutches the next year. Recovering from that I flattened a fingertip
between 2 dumbells in the gym, they were able to count 27 seperate
pieces below the last knuckle so they sewed and taped that back into
the shape of a finger more or less. In 2002 I tore the snot out of my
rotater cuff and they found a bunch of arthritis so they ended up doing
a lot more work than they thought they'd have to including cutting the
collarbone back and stuff. In 2003 I finished off the knee by shredding
the cartilage completely so had to have that cleaned up. All this time
I'd been having serious problems with carpal tunnel and real problems
with the right elbow. It finally got bad enough last fall that I
couldn't feel the shifter or throttle on the motorcycle at all after
the first 10 minutes. So I got that fixed, and hit the gym again and
tore up my back. I've always had blood pressure problems too, even when
I was 16 and weighed 150, it runs in the family, but it was causing
brutal headaches this winter and spring but that seems to be
straightening itself out now that I've found a good specialist who is
also willing to work with me on the meds so that they don't limit my
heart rate. I quit taking them before because I just couldn't ride on
them, but he found a way around it.
They're still not sure about the back, they found arthritis and a cyst
along the spinal column, but don't think that's what's causing the pain
now.
None of it is really serious, it's just been one hell of a roller
coaster ride mentally and physically since all this [censored] started. Every
time I start getting back into shape and gaining on it I've screwed
something else up. I'm sticking to doing some core strengthening and
riding now. Everything that's been repaired feels better than it has in
years. I'm going to have to have the other wrist done soon because it's
not good but didn't need to be done immediately and is getting worse.
The great thing is my back wont let me hurt myself in the gym now, and
one of the few positions that don't hurt is riding my bike.
The mental side of it has been a lot tougher than the physical for
sure, but this time I'm really encouraged because my lungs even during
the last few years had been the real limiting factor, but even during
the recent club TT they felt good I just had no leg strength and some
numbness. They can't figured out what is causing them to go weak and
totally numb, right now the betting is on an inflamed sciatic nerve.
The good thing is there's nothing that's calling for back surgery.
Thanks for asking.
Bill C

Quite the list you've got there. Good luck with the latest problems. I've
found that bones are the easiest to deal with, next comes connective tissue
like cartiledge tendons and ligaments, and systemic problems like
respiratory, or circulatory the worst. Just out of curiiosity, what blood
pressure meds are you on? I've also avoid beta blockers because I couldn't
go full out with them, but other blood pressure meds either don't work well,
or have unwanted side effects.

Ironically, the only med I've ever taken that hasn't had a side effect has
been EPO.

-Tom

trg said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

psycholist said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Hey all
> Just wanted to say thanks to all the people who sent me notes with
> stories and encouragement. I really appreciate it, and it confirms my
> opinion of how many really good people there are here. It's really

cool

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> that people would take the time to drop me a note. It has helped a lot
> and I want them to know it.
> Thanks
> Bill C
>

Bill,

I've seen some references to you "recovering." I must have missed what

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is you're recovering from. Whatever it is, I hope it's going well.

What

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

happened?

--
Bob C.

The mess started in about '98 when I had a really nasty reaction to
some acid vapor and solvents when I worked at the Harley shop in
Tacoma. I went home sick as [censored], passed out the next morning at home,
ended up with a nasty respiratory infection + allergies and asthma
which I'd never had before out of it. For most of a year just walking
across the house was a huge project because I couldn't breathe. When we
finally got that sorted out, I tore up my knee, but did therapy and
crutches the next year. Recovering from that I flattened a fingertip
between 2 dumbells in the gym, they were able to count 27 seperate
pieces below the last knuckle so they sewed and taped that back into
the shape of a finger more or less. In 2002 I tore the snot out of my
rotater cuff and they found a bunch of arthritis so they ended up doing
a lot more work than they thought they'd have to including cutting the
collarbone back and stuff. In 2003 I finished off the knee by shredding
the cartilage completely so had to have that cleaned up. All this time
I'd been having serious problems with carpal tunnel and real problems
with the right elbow. It finally got bad enough last fall that I
couldn't feel the shifter or throttle on the motorcycle at all after
the first 10 minutes. So I got that fixed, and hit the gym again and
tore up my back. I've always had blood pressure problems too, even when
I was 16 and weighed 150, it runs in the family, but it was causing
brutal headaches this winter and spring but that seems to be
straightening itself out now that I've found a good specialist who is
also willing to work with me on the meds so that they don't limit my
heart rate. I quit taking them before because I just couldn't ride on
them, but he found a way around it.
They're still not sure about the back, they found arthritis and a cyst
along the spinal column, but don't think that's what's causing the pain
now.
None of it is really serious, it's just been one hell of a roller
coaster ride mentally and physically since all this [censored] started. Every
time I start getting back into shape and gaining on it I've screwed
something else up. I'm sticking to doing some core strengthening and
riding now. Everything that's been repaired feels better than it has in
years. I'm going to have to have the other wrist done soon because it's
not good but didn't need to be done immediately and is getting worse.
The great thing is my back wont let me hurt myself in the gym now, and
one of the few positions that don't hurt is riding my bike.
The mental side of it has been a lot tougher than the physical for
sure, but this time I'm really encouraged because my lungs even during
the last few years had been the real limiting factor, but even during
the recent club TT they felt good I just had no leg strength and some
numbness. They can't figured out what is causing them to go weak and
totally numb, right now the betting is on an inflamed sciatic nerve.
The good thing is there's nothing that's calling for back surgery.
Thanks for asking.
Bill C

Quite the list you've got there. Good luck with the latest problems. I've
found that bones are the easiest to deal with, next comes connective tissue
like cartiledge tendons and ligaments, and systemic problems like
respiratory, or circulatory the worst. Just out of curiiosity, what blood
pressure meds are you on? I've also avoid beta blockers because I couldn't
go full out with them, but other blood pressure meds either don't work well,
or have unwanted side effects.

Ironically, the only med I've ever taken that hasn't had a side effect has
been EPO.

-Tom

Hey Tom
Thanks.
They just changed them around a bit but I'm taking Norvasc, and a
combination Lysinopril/hydrochlorathiaziade, with the latter twice a
day. This is the first time I've seen my BP under 135/95 since I was a
teenager. Normally even on meds it's 165/110 it's been as high as
205/160 they kept me and did an ECG on that one. Right now my legs
won't let me push my lungs and heart, but I'm really optimistic. These
seem to be working for me right now and I can't remember what the one
was that just killed me. I couldn't get my heart rate above 160 to save
my life and was just miserable.
I found a really great young motivated doctor who's on top of her
game, and really works at it to switch to as my PC physician and it's
made a huge difference. I can't say enough good things about her.
Hope you can find something that works for you.
The respiratory stuff was by far the worst. My Grandfather had Black
Lung Disease from working in the mines that eventually killed him but
for a while he was a lot more functional than I was. That sucked.
I"ve been really lucky as far as I'm concerned. I pushed the envelope
physically for most of my life and have been way over the edge
occasionally. I've been hit a couple of times on a bicycle, but not
hurt other than bruises. The worst that's happened on the motorcycle
was some serious roadrash when I did a superman over the bars when I
washed the front tire out, but I slid into the median pretty quickly so
it could've been a lot worse. Got lucky as hell when I made my pickup
flat from the tailgate to hood ornament by falling asleep on the way to
an Air Force recall one morning at about 3:30. The truck launched off
the guardrail hit the trees about 15' in the air upside down, then
landed on the roof. When I woke up looking at the grass to what was
left of the windshield gap all I had was a dislocated shoulder and
collar bone which I immediately made worse by unhooking the seatbelt
and dropping myself on my head.
I really would have a hard time handling what Bob has been through. I
was always lucky enough to still be able to find ways to be active. It
was only 15 minute rides for a while, but every week was a little bit
more and a little better. I eventually was competitive in the military
duathlons before I screwed up the knee. I got to ride with my kids, got
to know some of the Telekom guys, try to ride Passo Pordoi, and still
love the gym despite all the injuries I've caused myself trying to
compete with steroid freaks.
I can't [censored], it's been a hell of a ride and it's not over yet.
Bill C