Glad you are still going Further!  You're more metal now than you've ever been!


So like, are metal detectors a problem now? 

Quote from: paulman on January 20, 2021, 04:49:59 AM
So like, are metal detectors a problem now? 

When it was just L3-4 fused, it was no problem; I have yet to try it with hardware from L2 to L5.  Senior Management does have trouble with her prosthetic shoulders, though, so we'll see.

Peter

So, while I was in the hospital getting gimped by a surgeon, they - quite by accident, looking for something else - found a 5mm aneurysm in my brain behind my right eye.  They told me I had other things to worry about right then, but to come get it checked again in 6 months. 

Went in Wednesday; CT scan & consult.  Here's the basics:

On the one hand, I have a certain trepidation in re surgical procedures these days - understandably, I'm thinking - and there is currently a less than 1% chance of it popping.

Opposed to that, there is: 

That <1% increases by 1% every year I'm alive; if it blows, I a 50% chance of checking out; if it lets go & I live, I have a 25% chance of living out my days vegging in a nursing home.

And my friend Rufus Brown - great guy, wonderful father, excellent teacher, and superb pianist, guitarist, and composer - discovered his brain aneurysm by dropping dead at the breakfast table in front of his wife & 2 toddler daughters at age 33.

So, all things considered, Thursday I hie myself back to Lutheran General in Park Ridge, where they will go in through my wrist & put a stent in it to cut the aneurysm off from the artery; in a month or two new arterial wall will grow over the stent and voila, no more aneurysm (assuming I don't hit the 5% chance of rupture, stroke, and/or infection - which I will be past danger of by Friday when I check out.  Of the hospital, that is.  I hope.)


But, while I'm sure I made the right decision based on the facts (don't know that I would have arrived at the same conclusion sans Rufus, but there it is - and there he isn't), that don't by no means mean I ain't scared sh***ess about this whole thing, ya heard? 


And I gots to add; after 45 straight days in the horsepistol (as me old grandaddy called it) last year - about 32 of them at LGH -  another day there fitteh not upon mine bucket list, 10-4?


Peter (who thanks you for letting him blow off some of the pressure at your expense)

Not my field of expertise, but on the face of it, I think you've make the right decision.  Keep us apprised.  Will be sending good vibrations.

Peter,
Cranking up good vibes for ya over here.

Seems like you did the math and chose a path.

You got this!

Paul (who believes the collective mindset here will change the percentages even MORE to your advantage)

Well that just sux, Peter!  At least it sounds like you are making the smart choice, under the circumstances.    Expect lots of good vibes flowing from the West Coast.  And look forward to 2022 when all this will be in the rear view mirror.

Bill, tgo

Quote from: David Houck on May 03, 2021, 09:44:48 AM
Not my field of expertise, but on the face of it, I think you've make the right decision.  Keep us apprised.  Will be sending good vibrations.

Why am I hearing a theramin all of a sudden?

Peter

Man, Peter, my thoughts are with you. I'm sure this will work out!

Thanks, folks; your support means a ton to me.

Peter

Rufus is a great name. Don't hear that one much anymore. We'll talk about Rufus Flinchum sometime.


I'm rooting for you, Coz. My turn at the horsepistol is coming... I ain't much afraid of anything anymore, but that doesn't mean I'm looking forward to it either.

This the right decision to make.  This was not an easy decision to make!


God luck and good speed sir!   We will be here we urging the Benevolent Spirits your way!

Thinking about you Peter. You've definitely made the right decision.  My dad put his op off and ended up in critical intensive care back in 1998. Luckily he pulled through but only just. Celebrated his 92nd birthday last July and looks like reaching 93 in reasonable health.

Graeme

Sorry to hear about your situation. Will be thinking of you and for a good outcome.

While in a more forgiving area I've had a stent placed in one of my heart arteries back when going in through the groin was the only option. The worst part of it for me was when they inject the barium and the feeling of incontinence that brings on. After that it was getting use to the blood thinners they had me on for about 6 months after the procedure. They've come a long way with catheterization and stents which make treating of arterial problems much safer, not to mention successful, than they were even ten years ago. So while it is rational to have some trepidation a successful outcome is still the most likely result.

Hey Peter... so sorry to hear of your latest medical setback. A good friend of mine and the bandleader who gave me what I consider my real first professional gig as a bass player died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in 1999 at age 49. He did not have the luxury of a previous diagnosis. Consider yourself lucky to have gotten the chance to make an informed decision about treatment and the support of family and friends to help you get through... which you will!

Stephen

I'm guessing Peter should be back home resting and recovering by now.  Still sending surf's up good vibrations.