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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: 2Slow on November 14, 2004, 02:01:45 PM

Title: I have been very ill
Post by: 2Slow on November 14, 2004, 02:01:45 PM
Special mention to Denny/Pappy.  After a few weeks of not hearing from me, after I sent a warning message about my condition, Denny looked me up in White Pages, called and spoke to my Wife about my conditon.

On the 7th of Oct at 3am my wife woke up to find me having a seizure.  She called 911 and I was rushed to hospital.  I had bitten the left side of my tongue severly and there was blood in a pool the size of a good flapjack on my pillow.

ER doctor had me CAT scanned and they found a mass on the right side of my brain.  He called in two neurologist and they ran an MRI on me.  The diagnosed the mass as a major anuerism the size of an orange.  I and Shelley were Life Flighted to St. Louis to the Barnes Jewish hospital from Rapid City SD.

On Monday, the 18th I was operated on.  

The surgery was a success.  Going in I was given a 20% chance of
mortality or paralysis.  When they got in to my skull, the mortality rate shot up to 60%.  Upon completion the doctor told my wife I would be paralyzed on my left side for sure.  I was under the knife for 14.5 hours.  Surgery started Monday morning and finished at 2100 hours.  I was not expected to wake up for 48 hours.
 
I woke up after 12 hours in ICU recovery.  No complications except for an extreme head ache.  Morphine fixed it up fine every two hours.

I am fine.  I will be off work for 12 weeks at 100% pay on short term disability.
 
Providence/God was on my side.  I am certain my deceased 3 year old nephew, Aaron, was at my side.  He passed away 8 years ago.  I was visited every day by a Priest from the St. Louis Cathedral.  I felt the presence of the Holy Ghost on one occasion.
 
There are no atheists in fox holes or operating rooms.  I returned home on Nov 2 at 1830 hours.  Just in time to vote.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: NUKE on November 14, 2004, 02:04:47 PM
wow!

Best wishes with your recovery
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Curval on November 14, 2004, 02:05:42 PM
Wow.

Thank goodness you are okay.

WTG doctors!

Scary stuff though...your poor wife must have aged ten years in the last month.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: BUG_EAF322 on November 14, 2004, 02:05:51 PM
I wish u good health
and all the best

Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Furball on November 14, 2004, 02:08:30 PM
wow, great to hear you are ok.

good luck on a speedy recovery.

better start thinking up story's to tell people about your scar :)

my scar on my stomach - i got cut open by an iraqi with a knife (surgeon was an iraqi so part truth) :D
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: 2Slow on November 14, 2004, 02:09:50 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Curval
Wow.

Thank goodness you are okay.

WTG doctors!

Scary stuff though...your poor wife must have aged ten years in the last month.


She had a tough time.  But she still looks HOT to me.

Thank you one and all for the good words.  Thank full that I am here to read them.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: DREDIOCK on November 14, 2004, 02:14:29 PM
Wel ya picked a hell of a way to stay out of all the political debates that were going on around here.

LOL

Good luck
And get well soon
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: hyena426 on November 14, 2004, 02:22:52 PM
2slow you are very lucky it sounds like:) sounds like you better make the best of your second chance good luck on your recovery!!
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: vorticon on November 14, 2004, 02:26:05 PM
grab some lottery tickets now, or never get any again. sounds like you had enough good luck to last a lifetime there.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: lasersailor184 on November 14, 2004, 02:58:10 PM
I'm going to have to second the buying of lottery tickets...
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Dago on November 14, 2004, 04:10:30 PM
Very glad to hear you are doing well and will fully recover.  Good luck on the recovery.

dago
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: mora on November 14, 2004, 04:19:17 PM
That's an amazing story. I'm glad that all is well now.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Airhead on November 14, 2004, 04:29:52 PM
2Slow, you don't know just how lucky you are. I lost my fiencee back in 1977 to a brain anurysm. She was at work, had seizures, was rushed to the hospital...it didn't work out.

I'm glad you fared better.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Rafe35 on November 14, 2004, 04:47:40 PM
2Slow....I'm glad that you're okay now, i mean really seriously and I hope you'll be okay in the future.

Title: I have been very ill
Post by: TweetyBird on November 14, 2004, 05:25:16 PM
Sounds like its been a very rough month for you and you family. Glad to hear you are recovering.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Bodhi on November 14, 2004, 05:28:28 PM
Glad to hear you are fine... Prayers and thoughts to you and yours.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Otto on November 14, 2004, 06:43:16 PM
That is a scary story....:(    Very glad to hear you're OK.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Habu on November 14, 2004, 07:08:44 PM
Sorry to hear of your situation. Get better soon.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Maverick on November 14, 2004, 09:04:45 PM
Glad to see you are on this side of the rainbow bridge! Best wishes for your continued recovery. on your attitude of the ordeal, bet your wife is greatly relieved now.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: JoOwEn on November 14, 2004, 09:10:28 PM
Sounds serious. Hope you heal up ok.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Saurdaukar on November 14, 2004, 09:31:51 PM
Very glad everything turned out ok.  Get well soon and enjoy your time off!

The shocking realization that life is a fragile thing is a good point to take advantage of the opportunity to make the most of it.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: 2Slow on November 14, 2004, 09:35:30 PM
As a Security Policeman for 12 years in the USAF I became aquainted with the fear of death a few times.  This time around it was much more intense and very personal.  While under arms, I had some input into the outcome.  This time around going to Church and praying with the visiting Priest was my only input.

Gotta get some powerball tickets.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Octavius on November 14, 2004, 09:36:24 PM
Your wife wasn't 2slow on the 911 call :p

Glad you're doing fine and able to make this thread :)  Keep us updated.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: 2Slow on November 14, 2004, 09:54:53 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Airhead
2Slow, you don't know just how lucky you are. I lost my fiencee back in 1977 to a brain anurysm. She was at work, had seizures, was rushed to the hospital...it didn't work out.

I'm glad you fared better.


So sorry to here that about your fiancée.  The loss was more than I can imagine for you.  I do know how lucky I am.  Providence saved me.  

My Doctor told me that if this had happened to me 10 to 30 years in the past, I would have been a dead man.  Back then with X-Rays, when they saw the mass, the would have biopsyed it to see if was cancer.  The biopsy would have burst the aneurism and I would have died.

The doctors think I have had this for 20 to 30 years.  It finally got big enough to give me seizure.  They were suprised that I was still alive when I told them I scuba dived in '77 and in 2002.  '77 dives 30 to 60 feet, 2002 was twice to 50 feet.  Year before last I did the reverse bungy at the county fair.  0 to 70 mph in 1 second.
Grayed out on the way up, got red out at the top.  Doctors think the red out should have killed me.

Now they tell me no SCUBA for 5 years and only after CAT scan and angiogram.  No bungy ever again.  Heck, I am not allowed to fly comercial for the next couple of years.  Never sky dived before, always wanted to.  Sky diving is restricted same as SCUBA.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: 2Slow on November 14, 2004, 09:57:00 PM
"Your wife wasn't 2slow on the 911 call :p "

Har har har.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Dux on November 14, 2004, 11:04:49 PM
I hope by "no complications" you mean that you are not paralyzed on the left side after all? That was a little unclear to me.

I'm glad you made it through, wtg. Same thing happened to a workmate of mine 12 years ago, he's fine. It was rough for a him for about ayear, relearning certain things. Be patient if you have to go through that.

:)
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Tarmac on November 15, 2004, 12:59:29 AM
Glad to hear you came through it all ok.  Keep it up. :)
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Fishu on November 15, 2004, 01:35:31 AM
grats, you're a true grand prize winner :)
Glad to hear you got through it, have good luck in the future
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Steve on November 15, 2004, 01:51:37 AM
Congrats on pulling thru.

Speedy recovery
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Saintaw on November 15, 2004, 03:47:36 AM
Good luck with the recovery :)
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Jackal1 on November 15, 2004, 04:22:27 AM
Sounds like you had quite a journey there. Glad to see everything turned out OK for you and your family.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: CyranoAH on November 15, 2004, 04:51:54 AM
Glad to hear you're ok now!

Just went through something similar with my wife's stepmother: aneurism in her left carotid (sp?) + throat cancer (type 3). She is recovering just fine, and she just lost partial mobility of her left arm.

I gained a lot of respect for surgeons and oncologists from this experience.

Daniel
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: lazs2 on November 15, 2004, 09:46:46 AM
glad to hear it all worked out... whenever they tell me something is gonna kill me I tell em..."you mean it would kill an ordinary man right?"  

so far as the lottery thing goes... I wouldn't care too much about that... you allready got the good luck you really needed.   you could never hit a number or win another bet in your life and still be a lucky man.

lazs
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: slimm50 on November 15, 2004, 09:51:57 AM
2slow, thanks for fillin us in on your condition. Please accept my very best wishes for your very speedy recovery.  May God continue to bless you and your family.

Return to the virtual skies soon.:)
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Rude on November 15, 2004, 09:55:24 AM
Praise God!!!

I'm glad to hear you're good to go and hope you have God's peace and a life to match....enjoy:)
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: 2Slow on November 15, 2004, 11:27:35 AM
“I hope by "no complications" you mean that you are not paralyzed on the left side after all? That was a little unclear to me.”

No complications, not paralyzed.

Mine was on the right side of the brain and fed off the carotid artery.  They took my artery out of my left arm from elbow to wrist.  The one that you check for the pulse on.  They replaced my carotid artery from my adams apple to my brain with it and used two pieces of it to bypass the aneurism.

Prognosis is good.  I feel like I am 100%.

I am blessed and I know it.  I intend to do something with this second chance.  In addition to family, friends, and work.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Furball on November 15, 2004, 12:21:58 PM
Quote
Originally posted by 2Slow

I am blessed and I know it.  I intend to do something with this second chance.  


Like buy all those that wished you well on an internet BBS alcoholic beverages and strippers in cakes?
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: 2Slow on November 15, 2004, 12:25:26 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Furball
Like buy all those that wished you well on an internet BBS alcoholic beverages and strippers in cakes?


Why waste money on the cake?  I soon as my Doctors clear me for a drunk I will be hitting a stripper bar.  It will be multiple party city.  Strip joint, VFW, Legion, and a few local bars.  Not in this order, but it will be done.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Fishu on November 15, 2004, 12:42:34 PM
Quote
Originally posted by 2Slow
They took my artery out of my left arm from elbow to wrist.  The one that you check for the pulse on.  They replaced my carotid artery from my adams apple to my brain with it and used two pieces of it to bypass the aneurism.


Amazing what can be done nowadays
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: mars01 on November 15, 2004, 12:51:55 PM
Thank God a congrats on getting out of hell ok! and prayers.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Charon on November 15, 2004, 01:07:41 PM
Man. WTG on dodging that bullet.

Charon
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Dowding on November 15, 2004, 01:36:27 PM
I know what it is like to have a seizure. I hope it does not affect your lifestyle at all and you make a full and swift recovery. Sounds like you were very lucky.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: 2Slow on November 15, 2004, 02:13:24 PM
Very lucky indeed!  I think Providence played a greater role than any of us will know until the day of the sure and certain Resurrection.

Bought 10 Powerball quick picks today for the next drawing.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Hawklore on November 15, 2004, 03:38:29 PM
WOW!

Glad to hear your ok...

Hope you recover at the speed you wish.. :)
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: 2Slow on November 20, 2004, 05:34:48 PM
Quote
Originally posted by 2Slow
Very lucky indeed!  I think Providence played a greater role than any of us will know until the day of the sure and certain Resurrection.

Bought 10 Powerball quick picks today for the next drawing.


Had 30 Powerball quick picks.  Two of them hit for $7 each.  Reinvested the $14 into 14 more tickets for next drawing.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Nash on November 20, 2004, 06:18:48 PM
I did the math... (yeah, stand back).

Now, if those 14 tickets earn ya 7 bucks a pop, and again you re-invest them in more tickets, you only need to repeat this a mere 5 more times to have $1,647,086.00 and be living large.

Glad ya made it through this thing okay, 2Slow. Yikes....
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Eagler on November 20, 2004, 06:53:18 PM
and WTG

very happy for you and your family

gives next Thursday a brand new meaning doesn't it?

take care & best of luck sir
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: eskimo2 on November 20, 2004, 06:55:33 PM
Its things like this that make those higher insurance premiums that we all pay now seem so worth it.  Modern medicine is wonderful despite what lawyers and HMOs have done to it.  Heck, there is a very realistic possibility that my wife and kids would have died in childbirth if it were not for cesarean sections.

I’m very glad to hear that things have worked out so incredibly well for you.  Stay healthy.

eskimo
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Joc on November 20, 2004, 08:06:12 PM
All the best for a quick recovery 2slow,someone was sure watching over you!
Title: Final update.
Post by: 2Slow on December 18, 2004, 05:28:11 PM
Had a checkup in St. Louis.  Doctor says I am 100% ok.  Brain upgrade to version 2.0 from 1.0 is a total success.  

Thank you all for the kind words.  I will feel bad about bombing your countries and shooting you down.  Ok, I won't.  I will be darn happy that I am there to do it.  Beats the hell out of the alternative.
Title: I have been very ill
Post by: Nash on December 18, 2004, 07:03:18 PM
Unreal.

Virtual ghey high-five from Canuckland.

Wtg!