You Diabetics

[Tobra]

Please don't smoke.

Just got done talking to the wife of a patient. They got married when she was 17. Her parents were both career Sacto PD. He was a hell raising street racer, and there some good spots back in the day. Her parents knew him professionally prior to young Patrick meeting his bride. When they met, è stato un colpo di fulmine, like when Michael sees Apollonia for the first time, only the bolt of lightning hit them both. I never saw the way they looked at each other change at all in 10 years. They way they looked at each other, if you saw your friend do it when you were in high school, you would tell him to cut it out and punch him in the arm. Being a mechanic and a hot rodder, naturally he smoked cigarettes. He quit a long time before I met him, but I tried to help him through the consequences, CABG, multiple angioplasties in his heart and legs, lower extremity bypass surgeries, amputations, in the end, he had one leg with a black half of a foot at the end, it was horrible the way that man suffered. Holding his bride's hand and talking to her about it was the worst thing I have ever had to do in my life. I would have rather jumped out the window than be there. We were on the 4th floor, but the wrong side of the building, not enough of drop for the fall to kill me. She will be coming in as a patient, that will be difficult. Man I gotta go walk the dogs.

Please, don't smoke.

[sc_rufctr]

That sounds horrible. Take care Tobra.

[Evans, Marv]

That would be a really hard hit for any caring person like you. Not something you get over quickly so hang in there.

[Evans, Marv]

I smoked when young & voluntarily quit in my twenties - close to half a century ago. A few years ago, my PC doc told me I was prediabetic (A1c = 6.6). I cut out almost all sugary, high carb, & processed foods, & last test was 6.2. My grandfather died of diabetes related kidney failure. I'd imagine your friend maybe has a family history also. I hope the best possible for your friend.

[pwd72s]

Tobacco...more addictive than pot. Ask me how I know. During my teen years, the non smokers were the minority...

[Major Dad]

Thanks for that post.

[Bigtoe32067]

What a horrible story.

Mines not different and I’ve never really shared it all as not to sound like I’m looking for anyone’s pity because I’m not. I have a great family and I’ve had a great life in spite of it all. I’m sitting here in this hospital again after more than a week. Shoot I just got out in June after spending a month in.

Let’s go back to the beginning.
Dec 19 1986. I was 19 and in the Navy. It was a dark and rainy morning about 430 am and I worked for the doe at a small nuclear power plant in upstate NY and I was heading to the facility to check out early for Xmas leave. Coming across a bridge already inside the security perimeter I got hit head on by a drunk contractor driving a vw pickup. I was driving a Fiero. I tried to avoid him but he swerved also and hit me head on.
I woke up in the Saratoga Springs hospital a few hours later. Apparently I broke the steering column with my groin and was peeing blood really bad. They did what they could but I continued to pee blood so I was sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital to determine the extent of whatever was going on. I was there for six weeks and the conclusion was that one of my kidneys was gone for good and the other was functioning around half way.
I was given a discharge option because I was a nuke and couldn’t be around ionizing radiation in my condition. I took it and got out. They told me to keep an eye on my renal function and it may be fine forever or may fail tomorrow.
It last until Sept 2010 and it failEd. My sister gave me a kidney and other than some medicine interactions I could live a relatively normal life. During most of this time I owned a very successful automotive repair facility with numerous locations and three partners. I decided a few years before my kidney transplant in 2007 to go out on my own and bought some land and built my ideal shop in The Woodlands Tx. about 3 miles from my new dream house I had built a few years before. I had a great wife and a great son and the world was smiling on me.
Fast forward to 2014. Sisters kidney was doing good but my marriage wasn’t. I went through a very ugly divorce in 2014 and in Sept 2015 I got remarried to my savior. She was and still is amazing. I sold my business and retired. I was 48 years old. Happy, in great shape, didn’t smoke, drink, eat fast food and had been going to the gym daily for years.
Aug 2016 we were getting ready for bed and I felt a little pressure in my chest. Nothing severe and was going to get in bad and go to sleep. My new wife of 10 months freaked out, threw me in the car in my pjs and rushed me to the er.
Apparently I had a massive heart attack that would’ve killed 9 out 10 people according to my cardiologist and had I not been in such great shape it would’ve killed me too.
67 days in the hospital later I had gone through three open heart surgeries, one of which was a triple bypass, another jone of which, the last one, they didn’t think I was going to pull through because I was far too weak but they had to do it because I was bleeding so bad somewhere inside that the hospital was running out of my blood type which is the most common. Now mind you I didn’t find out any of this until later because I had been unconscious for 11 days at this point.
Needless to say I made it through the night and so began my new life. All the medication used to keep my heart alive through it all unfortunately damaged my transplanted kidney I got from my sister so began my life on dialysis every other day.
I wasn’t too worried about it because I had another donor so I just had to go to the process of getting approved for another transplant.
Because of all the damage to my heart I was in congestive heart failure, my ejection fraction was really low at about 25-30% and they were worried my heart wasn’t strong enough for transplant surgery so they wouldn't approve me.
I was to be on blood thinners for the rest of my life along with 37 other medications every day.
The VA came through and rated me 100% disabled for life which helped with disability pay, a waiving of property tax property tax (about $17k/year), social security disability, and, best of all, Medicare eligibility. Because even with Medicare my hospital bills are astronomical.
I had done very well selling my business and the 3.5 acres of Woodlands property it had sat on but I had to give my ex wife half of it but still came out ok.
I used most of this money to buy a small shopping center near where I had just bought a small farm and a small mobile home park about two hours away further away in the country. Both are decent investments. When all this happened in the beginning my new wife slept on a couch in my hospital room for all 67 days. Going home every two days to shower and bring back clean clothes.
She had been a manager for Heb grocery and was up for another promotion and big raise but came into the hospital one day and told me she had quit her job to take care of me.
I didn’t know what to say. God had truly brought me an angel. The mobile home park was bought for her to manage remotely and replace the salary she had given up so she would have her own money.
I spent about $200k to build and stock a 4000 sqft dream shop on our 5 acre farm. It had everything a car guy could ever want. Every tool, paint booth, blast cabinet with a dust collection system that cost more than the cabinet, air plumbed all though the shop fed from a compressor I mounted behind the shop in its own little shed and the air and electric plumbed through the walls to keep the noise down. Shelving everywhere, a long section of pallet shelving for engines and transmissions. Most of which are Porsche parts. I have every type of welder, plasma cutter, parts cleaners, heated one, vibratory one, and ultrasonic. I have several work tables and an engine build table, paint shaker, fiberglass work station, sand paper cabinet, large paint cabinet, and large chemical cabinet, and enough caulk, seam sealer, and construction adhesive, to fill up a whole shelf. I have an old tool cabinet converted into an adhesive cabinet with more types of glue than I ever knew existed.

It also has 20 ton press, drill dress, English whell, slip roller, piping notcher, band saw, sheet metal brake, gantry crane with electric hoist, engine hoist, several engine stands, table saw, many types of other saws, a very nice unused rotisserie, several spray paint guns including an air brush with its own little compressor, a welding work station, a powder coating footy inside the very large paint booth, shrinker stretchers, a $5k metric and standard nut and bolt assortment, every other assortments of o rings, roll pins, cotter pins, pipe plugs, e clips, c clips, you name it.

It also has a 2 pot lift and a little relax station with a sectional fake leather sectional and a 60’ tv and wi fi. It has 3 12x14 roll up doors facing forward and another in facing the rear so I can open it and see the rest of my wooded property. It als provides some good cross ventilation. I just put in two 9 ft giant ceiling fans in the front half. The first roll up door is electric with remotes to I can just pull up to it, hit a button, and drive right in.
It has an electrical workstation with about 25 or 30 different wire rolls mounted and some ones not mounted because they too thick. It has regular crispers and hydraulic crimpers tomake lugs on cable or battery cables.
It has 11 electrical extension reels around the shop and another 12 outlets, it lit with extremely bright led lights in the shop and send some serious led flood lights around it for nighttime.
The paint booth was made out of lumber and caulked at every seam to be air proof, I haven't finished the ventilation system that exhausts through a filtration system to a fan in the back wall of the shop with an automatic louver system. The paint booth also has 12 220v heat lamps behind fold away covers that generate quite a bit of heat to bake the paint.
I also have an electric bead roller, bar bender, and welding outlets with extension cords so I can weld at any point in the 100x40 shop.

I built it to have everything thinking this was how I was going to spend my retirement and it was my dream.
I’ve spent less then ten or fifteen days in it in the 3 years since I built it because of my health. My wife even bought me a little sit down scooter lot ride in to get to it and ride around in it but it’s not much help and during these Texas summer months its so hot it saps what little strength I have so my wife suggested air conditioning it because it’s already very insulated from when I built it and then finished the whole inside with 3/4” plywood over the beams and insulation.
I thought about partitioning the front half so I’d have to buy less AC but I think the electricity bill would still be over $700/month for something I barely use.

Most of the equipment in it is still brand new and never been used. I don’t know anything about metal working but was going to teach myself. I can arc and mig weld barely and was going teach myself tig. Never used an English wheel but was going to learn. Haven’t ever turned on the electric bead roller. Thought about buying a small lathe and bridgeport mill but know I’d never even turn them on.

Before you think this whole long thread jack is bragging it isn’t I promise.
It’s a story about not waiting to do the things in life you plan to do later in life because you may not be able to.
I still have hopes that I’ll recover enough to be able to do the things I’ve always dreamed of doing when I had the time to do them.
I have the time now but my body has broken down to the point where I may not be able. I haven’t given up yet but it’s seems like it two steps forward and three steps back

**Story continued**

[Bigtoe32067]

**Last part of story**

I’m in the hospital now because I keep getting blood infections and this time it’s manifested itself in my left knee and the infection was so bad they’ve drain over 300ccs of fluid off my knee so the could finally cut it open to try and clean out enough of the infection and they’ve packed it antibiotic beads and closed it back up. Their going back in tomorrow to open it back up, remove the beads, continue cleaning out the infection and then closing it back up. The incision to access all of this goes from the front of my calf to the top of my thigh to give them enough space to do whatever they needed to do.

Since 2016 and as a result of my heart attack I’ve been in the hospital 23 times, I’ve had three open heart surgeries, a triple bypass, two stents, three angioplasties, five heart catheterizations, I’m Plavix resistant which means I clot like crazy regardless of blood thinners which is why all the stents, angioplasties, and heart caths.
I’ve also had three bouts of pneumonia, four cases of blood infections, four replacement dialysis catheter from the blood infections.
I had skin cancer last year and had some spots removed. Two years ago during some other testing they found a cancerous tumor in one of my non working native kidneys so it had to come out. Luckily they think they got it all.
I’ve lost 50 lbs from my normal 200 pound body. I look like a concentration camp survivor covered from head to in scars.

If my story is meant to do anything it’s to remind people that you NEVER have the time you think you have and you need to take care of yourself and live every day like it’s your last.
Luckily for me I had a great life before all this happened.
And even more lucky for me I feel like going through this all has given me an appreciation for things I never noticed before.
I can spend an hour watching the hummingbirds, sit outside and just listen to the birds singing in the morning. Appreciate the taste of eggs in the morning that came from my chickens, who by they, all have names and come when you call them.
My life before all this was completely different but after it all I don’t know if I would call it better.
There’s a lot of things I can’t do now that I could before but there’s a lot of things I couldn’t do or didn’t notice before that I can do better.
I now know what “Stop and smell the roses” means and I do it everyday and am thankful for it.

I hope I didn’t bore too many people or make people uncomfortable by revealing to much of myself but honestly most of my old friends are gone Not dead, just too busy living their lives. Shoot I still have kids in school. Three in college and two in high school.
Sometime I still feel like the luckiest man in the world for having what I do and try not to dwell on the things I don’t have anymore.
I hope some of you guys get some positivity out of all this crap I wrote and go out and live your lives now while you still can. I’m 53 years young and thought I’d have at least another 20 years but I’ve been dealing with this for four years so if your in your late 40’s get checkups and do the things you’ve been putting off.
It’s not always about making the most money you could because then you could be like me and not be able to spend it and not be able to enjoy it after spending it.
If your ever anywhere around Montgomery Tx after 3pm which is when I get back from dialysis then stop by and say hi. I’d love the company and if you’re ever driving by and you see the doors open and lights on in the shop then you’ll know it’s a good day.
If you live around the Houston area and need a place to work on your car Or want a place to restore your old Porsche then send me a message so I know your coming. I could use the company. Don’t bring any tools because I’m certain I have whatever you’d need from regular tools, specialty tools, or Porsche engine tools. I haven’t finished the paint booth ventilation system or door but I’m sure we can figure something out of paint and body is what your after. I may not be much help in that skill because that was one of the things I was going to teach myself but we could learn together.
Take care and thanks for giving me a place where I feel like I have like minded friends that are awake when I am which may be 4am when I can’t sleep or 2pm when everyone else is at work.

Tony Moore

[Bigtoe32067]

Tobra I really hope you don’t think I was hijacking. I really was trying to add to the theme of treat your body right because it’s the only one you have and it isn’t indestructible.
Tony

[gsxrken]

Tony, I used to travel to Houston 10x a year on business before Covid hit and I expect I will eventually get back there. When I do I’ll come and visit.
We’re the same age; I hope I would have your perspective if I dealt the same hand. Respect.

ON EDIT: Tobra I meant to convey my condolences to you and lost my train of thought. Have several physician family members and friends... one good friend is a radiation oncologist and is just about a complete wreck as he gets emotionally engaged and can’t save everyone. God bless you and all the physicians out there trying their best.

[Reg]

Tony! I thank you for posting. A long read but glad I read it. If I were closer I’d pop by. Glad I got off the cigs years ago.

[wdfifteen]

You obviously care deeply about your patients. It takes a lot of something I don't have in order to deal with situations like this day after day and not take that leap. God bless you.

[Bigtoe32067]

Thanks Tobra. Not sure what you do but if your in the medical feel you have my utmost gratitude and respect.
Tony

[Evans, Marv]

Tony. Thanks for the post, & it was a great illustration & great advice about enjoyiing life as you live it. I also have to congratulate you on your unflagginig spirit. It takes someone special to address life's situations and be flexible enough to be at peace with not being able to live the old life but embrace the other things in life you can look forward to and appreciate. You have a spirit of a very strong person. I think many of us here wish we were that strong.

[Tobra]

Not at all Tony, your tale dovetails perfectly with this. Marv, I hope you never find out if you are that strong, you won't know until you don't have any other choice. I don't want to find out even a little bit. I don't know about having much Patrick, took all I had not to cry like a kid who saw his dog get hit by a car in front of them.

I could not understand how he had not died sooner, he was in the hospital about 3 weeks, looking like he was going to pass any moment for most of that time. The hospital has not been allowing visitors since like March, so she had not seen him for 4 months. She took Uber to the hospital Saturday morning, wheeled her chair up to the checkpoint where they take the staff's temp and ask them if they have had any symptoms prior to giving them whatever color sticker they have to put on the ID badge that day. She was going in to see him or going to jail. She went in and they spent his last day together, holding hands and talking to each other like love struck teenagers, and they were teenagers before unleaded gas was a thing. Frankly, I was pretty surprised to see her. There are these Lipton tea things that you get in a little plastic bottle, she likes the sugar free ones and I had one in the break room fridge that has been sitting there about a month, waiting for the next time I saw her, so I went and got it. He was sort of out of it. Normally, when nobody could get him to do something that needed done, she turns on the Mom Voice and he does it. When I came in, he is trying to rub his eyes and not hearing either one of us telling him to stop. I got right in front of him, so he could see me, he snaps out of it and says, "There's my buddy," smiles and relaxes. I stayed as long as I could. She eventually had to go home and rest, he passed soon after she left.

I was talking to my wife about it. She is a nurse, spent plenty of years in the ICU, CCU and ER and has far more experience with this sort of thing than I hope to ever have. Like I said, that guy was tough as nails to survive as long as he did. My wife said he held on until he saw his wife again, then waited until she left, so she would not have to watch it happen. She acted sort of surprised that this never occurred to me.

Tell your family you love them every time you talk to them, just in case.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Thanks for the stories and for your compassion for your patients. I was diagnosed with LADA 3 1/2 years back. I get the no smoking thing and everyone should take that advice. It sounds like your patient maybe didn't control his BG very well for at least some portion of his life? I'm under good control now but wonder how much damage was done before I got sick and was diagnosed. About a year between normal BG readings at a physical and A1c of 11.3 at diagnosis.

[Cajundaddy]

Sorry Tobra, I understand how difficult it is watching someone slip away and the grief that follows. We lost a friend recently to pancreatic cancer, a horrible disease and that caused similar feelings in me.

Growing up both of my parents and most of my relatives smoked, in the house, all the time. When I was in high school I watched my parents struggle with trying to quit and I saw the incredible grip that tobacco had on these otherwise strong individuals. I wanted no part of it.

[Tobra]

Apparently, it is harder to quit tobacco than heroin.

[Reg]

For those out there struggling to kick it I suggest rewarding yourself for goals achieved. You deserve it as it is like Tobra says difficult to quit. You ( or at least I) cannot cheat or you are back to drawing board. Good luck!

[T77911S]

I have let my blood sugar get out of control
I also have menieries disease which gives me vertigo.
to make it worse diabetic medicine causes me to get dizzy so out of frustration I stopped taking it.
long story short I started getting double vision when I would wake up, only for a few seconds but I have been "off balance" for a month now. don't know if my BS has caused this but back on medication. my vision is better but still "foggy" or off balance feeling. (I have 3 track days coming up next month).
yes been to doctors. I am not convinced my miniseries doc diagnosed this month long episode correctly.