He's Baaaccck! (Although It May Be Temporarily)
Well, I have to say that my hospital visit went rather less well than I hoped. The doctor told me that my lungs are pretty much shot- so I told him I wanted a second opinion! He said my heart is fucked up too. I just got out after a day and a half of tests and it isn't good... they basically want me to give up everything.
In 2004 or 05 I got really sick with a temp of 104. We got it down to 102 so I figured I was on the mend. After staying there for 3-4 days my wife called my doctor who said to take me to the hospital. They put me right in ICU and put my wife out. The first thing the doctor asks is if I have a living will... so I'm thinking, "this can't be good." I had pneumonia and they said if I waited one more day I wouldn't have made it. They also said my lungs were scarred up pretty bad and I had to quit smoking. Well, this time they told me my lungs are pretty well used up... and I have to quit smoking. I also have to go back for breathing treatments and some lady is coming to set me up with oxygen today or tomorrow. Now I'm going to be one of those old fucks with an oxygen tank trailing behind. And naturally big pharma had to get in on it so they gave me a bunch of prescriptions.
That was the good news! While I was home Sunday, they were checking the tests (scans) they did on my heart and I have blockages and they want to operate and stick tubes in my chest so the blood can move better. This really fucking blows!!! I'm not happy at all with the quality of service I got... for that amount of money, the least they could do is tell me I'm fine! I had to sit for almost an hour before I left with a nutritionist who basically told me, "if it tastes good, you can't have any!"
Well, nobody lives forever and this isn't the first time THEY were wrong! In 2009, I was diagnosed with a glioblastoma and I'm still here. But, the time has come to make some choices. While I was laying in that bed I did some soul-searching (no I didn't, but it sounded good didn't it???). I did weigh my options. I thought about cashing in all of my cryptos and buying Viagra... but then there's the other half of the equation- I'd have to come up with somebody that would actually want to have sex with me. So I guess that's out.
I have decided to quit smoking... tomorrow. I've always said that if it came down to giving up the things I like to eat, I'd rather be dead- I'm rethinking that. I'm willing to meet them halfway- I won't give up everything, remember, Plant Lives Matter! This whole surgery thing I'm not really keen on... who would take care of Bruno and The Turnip? Well, whatever's going to happen is going to happen, I'm not going to worry about it! I'm back and I thank all of my friends here for their concern and good wishes. I'm not dead yet and I've got things to do yet... like get busy on tomorrow's post! Thanks again and God Bless.
So happy you're back 😍
No matter how much I'd like to agree, I'd much rather see you alive, so take care, my dear friend!
You are in my prayers my dear friend. May you trust in God and have a daily personal walk with Him as he is your refuge and hope. Blessings @richq11
Thank you my Brother... everything is in God's hands and if He isn't done with me here, He won't take me. Everything happens in His time, so I never worry.
So sorry, dear friend :( I'm a positive person, as you know, and so I want to send you my good vibes thinking everything will be better soon. All my prayers and my hugs to you, dear Rich!
Prayed Rich!
It is well!
Love
globo
nothing like going out with a bang!
they'll have to kick you kicking and screaming across the finish line, Rich.
I've got plenty of lead in my pencil- it's just that nobody wants me to write to them!
just send out some spam mail LOL
Be very careful Rich, if you do end up having
a moment of weakness, the very last thing on
earth that you want to do is light up a cigarette
near an oxygen tank. That could really fucking blow!
I see people doing that all the time- smoking with oxygen on... they must be insane! I'm doing the patch to help quit, now all I have to remember is turn off the O2 when I light up a blunt!
LOL, that would bring a whole new meaning to getting blazed.
I watched my dad go through this same scenario. He's still kicking at 77. I'm glad you're on a temporary mend. At least you can keep writing!
I don't do a lot on Steemit anymore. My videos and podcast feed over here from DTube and DSound, but I do stop by to see how you are and throw you a few upvotes a few times a week.
Hang in there. You are doing amazing work here. By the way, what's the status on self-publishing your books? That's pretty much what I do for a living, and I'd be willing to donate some time to getting that done for you.
This is a recent client of mine. You should grab his book while it's free. It's a fun read - https://amzn.to/2wszJnv It's free through Saturday the 12th.
I'm about 3/4 of the way through the second book in the Night Gods series but my editor quit on me. He did the publishing and that end of things... so I'm stuck.
I'll be Ok... not planning on dying- it's just the lifestyle changes suck!
Well, I would love to be a part of getting your stories published if you're interested. No strings attached. No pay expected. You give what you want or don't want. I publish to YOUR own Kindle Direct Publishing and CreateSpace accounts (can create for you if need be). You get all your royalties, etc.
If you don't want to do it though, that's fine as well. You're the boss! :-) I can get you on iBooks, Barnes & Noble, and a few others as well. It just depends on how far you want to take it.
Ugh, I hear you on the lifestyle changes. I quit smoking in Jan. of 2015...picked it back up a few months last summer, and now that the warm weather is back around in my neck of the woods, I'm craving like crazy. I should have long since been over stupid cigarettes, but I just enjoy them so much. It's the break, it's the buzz, it's the throat hit.....I miss it!
Even so, I don't want to be where you are in 20 years with the oxygen and the doctors, and the crappy prognosis. It's a catch 22.
I published the Night Gods on Lulu.com. I wonder if we could re-publish it on the others. I own the rights not them so...
Also I thought about turning the Lottery Council into a short book and maybe even doing The Kid That Became a Guy... My life story. I've got plenty of material, all I need is a little art for the covers (marty is out) and an editor and publisher... If you're interested it's a 50/50 deal.
If you use my username here @protonmail.com we can talk more about this
Sorry for the delay in my reply, Rich. Yes, we can re-publish as a second edition. Well, I'm a proponent of self-publishing, so I say publish everything. haha
I can get you squared away. I will shoot you an email later.
That is a shit diagnosis man... Good move on quitting the smokes - sorry to say it can only help at this point... But the food... That sucks the big turd. Be well, as well as you can be... my thoughts are with you on your recovery and you're right, your not dead... Plug on.
Thats pretty rubbish,I'm sorry to hear all of that. 😔
I had to pack up smoking last year due to the dreaded reflux making me feel sick, 12 months on and I really dont miss it. I hope you conquer it and I hope you feel better soon.
That's rough, have you considered switching to cannabis from tobacco?