Near death experience

[syo]

Wow. What a rough few days. (sorry, this might get long)...

Haven't been feeling so great this past week so I went to the GP on Friday. Doc decided to give me a spirometer exam on my lungs. The one where you blow into a machine to check lung capacity. Gave it to me three times he did. He pointed to one of the numbers in the printout and said "warui" (bad).
Then he opened a cute cartoony pamphlet (only in Japan:thwap ) and said,
"maybe you have this". The "this" in the pamphlet was a condition known by the acronym COPD. I had never heard of it, so I asked him if it is something that will get better and he said, "Well no. But perhaps you didn't do the test properly so why don't you come back in a week or so." So I left, not overly concerned.

When I got home, I looked up the condition and found that it is an umbrella term for conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis brought on (usually) by smoking. It is degenerative, debilitating, very nasty and ultimately fatal. Not only that, but the "warui" number he pointed at indicated the most severe stage of the disease which would leave me, on average, about a year or two of increasing suffering before expiring. Well I confess I rather lost it from that point. I certainly wasn't going to wait a "week or so" but I did have to wait until Monday as the hospitals are only opened for emergencies on the weekend.

I spent hours on the internet searching for any shred of hope but found none. I did find quite a few brave and kind people who are dealing with the disease with considerable grace and often humor who support one another and offer survival tips. In contrast, I was already trying to find a lung transplant (bad prognosis there too) or Dutch euthanasia center in case I needed it. You get the picture I'm sure. I exaagerate but only very slightly.

Anxiety, especially about my loved ones, was sky high. I even wondered if maybe BC Don might consider taking my nascent guitar company over for me and giving the wife a piece of what he made of it ;)

Fast forward to today. Took the test again. This time given by a specialist who didn't need to read the instructions first. Just one test this time which revealed a big NEGATIVE for the disease :happy

The happiness was surprisingly short-lived however as I started thinking about the people who are actually suffering with this condition. It has made me look more at myself and how I live and how I can do something positive for others.

Today I got reprieve of sorts. Maybe tomorrow the hammer comes down, we none of us know. But I certainly got a jolt from all of this and hope that I've learned something of some lasting importance.

As a child, I spent my summers in Spud and SVL's beautiful Idaho. We camped as a family of 7. When it was time to take the tent down and move on, my Dad would always have us clear the site of any trash including any left behind by those who came before us. I think that it is past time I applied that principle to my life. Try in some way to leave this world a little better than I found it. At least try to make the effort.

Sorry for the length but it said "Open Mic" so I grabbed it!

[duhvoodooman]

"Maybe you have this"???? Geez, I'd think a doctor would want to be on a bit firmer diagnostic ground before suggesting COPD!! :eek:

Certainly glad to hear that's not what the problem was. But if you're still not feeling up to par, be sure to go to the doctor again. A different one, that is..... :thwap

[deeaa]

Does good to realize being mortal now and then, doesn't it? I've been close to death in one way or another many a time. Starting from being born with a Cesarean and having spent a few months in a hospital when I was five or so with full open-chest surgery etc. I fully realize if I had been born just a few decades earlier I would have died if not during birth, quite soon afterwards anyway. Not to mention those several times I damn nearly killed myself with a car or just plain getting lost drunk somewhere I should not have been.

I guess it makes you appreciate life and also gain a different way of looking at things, if you really realize you might day any die, and that's that, power off and nothing, zippo, cease to exist. And it won't rock the world in much any way, a handful of people will notice or be sad for a fleeing moment, and maybe history will remember you for a brief while in some form. Many a day I find myself thinking - if I died today, would I be missing something bad, or will my kids and wife be OK if it happens? And if I find I feel bad about something, I'll do my best to correct the issue ASAP. Best to live one's life so there's no regrets or such, just enjoy it.

[Eric]

Wow, Syo -- I'm glad to hear that you don't have COPD! I must say, that first doctor is pretty questionable.

[syo]

"Maybe you have this"???? Geez, I'd think a doctor would want to be on a bit firmer diagnostic ground before suggesting COPD!! :eek:

Certainly glad to hear that's not what the problem was. But if you're still not feeling up to par, be sure to go to the doctor again. A different one, that is..... :thwap

DVM, it is a measure of how crazy my mind was going that I actually thought about the pedal you are making for me thinking, "well I guess I won't be using that after all." I was awakened regularly for 3 nights by thoughts both vital and mundane. Your pedal thought definitely fell in the latter category...;)

[Tig]

I've very glad COPD was ruled out for you. That was all too scary, huh?

I've seen too many "it might be this" semi-diagnoses and the resulting fear. I know doctors have to cover all possible sources of a health issue, but sometimes they raise the alarm too early before the hard data is in.

[FrankenFretter]

Syo, I have to admit that I was getting a little stressed out just reading about your scare. I don't think I can even imagine how it must have felt to be in your shoes. I'm very happy to hear that you're not in mortal danger.

My supervisor at work just suffered his second heart attack. He's doing fine now, they put a stint in and he's just resting until he's feeling good enough to come back to work. The thing that makes this most interesting to me, other than my concern for a good guy, is that he's only four years older than me. It makes one think, that's for sure.

Take care of yourself, Syo!

[poodlesrule]

Syo's experience reminded me of my own, which started with that late evening phone call about the biopsy report, seven years ago.

Yet, I, and people supporting me, took charge within days, and went after therapy.

I am aware that at some point, there will be no more magical moments to be had. Like a great sunset through the clouds, or a moon rise over the bay - both experienced recently!

As an aside, the side effects of therapy (which included taking testosterone level to single-digits for 20 months - don't try this at home!) lead to some short-term memory. Oddly, I am also now very uncomfortable watching violence in movies and such. Some mental switch got flipped, somehow. I wished it had turned the "Suck at Guitar" one off too...!

On piece of advice to anybody facing a great medical hurdle: Get educated, don't accept what you are told at face value, ask questions (politely), question the need for this or that test, and what benefits it will bring. Get personable with therapists, don't be "bed number two", but be "Joe who thinks Tina Turner is hot" or something...!

[Katastrophe]

Wow, brother, I'm glad you're okay!

Continued wishes for good health.

[bcdon]

Hey Syo, man, am I glad you are OK! Nothing like being kicked in the a-- by questioning one's own mortality; I'm so very happy things turned out alright. It does give you perspective, however, and I suppose looking at it that way the experience might have been worth it, but damn!

Now that you are doing okay, where is my Hell Guitar!? ;-) :dude

don

P.S. Seriously, glad you and your family are okay. Maybe you should take your wife out for a nice dinner to celebrate life (and tell her to be careful walking in those shoes!!). :dance

[Robert]

I am glad you are okay, Syo. What a terrible experience to have to go through for you. Thanks for sharing with us.

[syo]

P.S. Seriously, glad you and your family are okay. Maybe you should take your wife out for a nice dinner to celebrate life (and tell her to be careful walking in those shoes!!). :dance
Thanks Don. We had a very nice meal this evening at the local French place in fact. Had a long conversation about life and death, interrupted only by the word "oishii!" (delicious!) at the start of each course...:hungry


I am glad you are okay, Syo. What a terrible experience to have to go through for you. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks Robert. Well most of what I went through I did to myself. I Imagine there are members of this forum who are probably dealing with some very serious (and real) issues of their own. My little three day panic is trivial compared to this. Still, now that it's over, I appreciate that I had the chance to see just how far I have to go before I achieve Nirvana. Not too close this lifetime I'm afraid.

Side note: Went back to original GP today for some other tests and told him about going to the hospital for the Spirometer test. He told me that it's possible that I still might have the disease. I think for anyone who has ever smoked very much (I no longer do) this is always a possibility, but it seems I'm safe for now. Numbers were within normal and certainly nowhere near the dreaded stage IV that was mentioned so I'm cool.

I don't believe in preaching to anyone about avoiding any vices that I used to enjoy myself. I think it's annoying, bad form. I'll just say though for myself, I don't miss smoking at all. Especially now.

[sumitomo]

SYO why didn't you ask me?I could of told ya,after all I stayed at a Motel 6.Sumi:D

[Heywood Jablomie]

If that happened to me, the near-death experience would have been that of the "specialist" who misinterpreted the results.

[duhvoodooman]

SYO why didn't you ask me?I could of told ya,after all I stayed at a Motel 6.Sumi
The smart guys are supposed to be the ones who stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, Sumi! I think maybe SYO's doctor really did stay at Motel 6, though. "This is Dr. Tom Bodett, and we'll leave the spirometer on for ya...." :thwap

[kiteman]

Good lord Syo, that's an experience you didn't deserve but that was an eye opener. Thanks god for the second opinion.

When I saw the title I must relate my experience because the title fits.

I was sick in bed with a bad flu, really sick that I was burning up with a fever. My bed was soaking wet and I felt hot, really feeling lousy. I got tired of it and I got up and walked to the living room where my folks were watching a sitcom. I asked what's on and they didn't look at me nor say anything. I asked again and they ignored me. I got mad and just went back to bed.

In the morning I was feeling better and I walked out and asked my mom why y'all didn't say anything to me last night. She said we didn't see you last night, we thought you were still sleeping.

Talk about a weird feeling.

[ZMAN]

I have lived with Asthma and Chronic bronchitis all my life. I had one of those near death experiences in my late 30s. I could hardly walk up a flight of stairs, I had walking pneumonia for over a year and I felt like I was dying. I was sent to a specialist who sent me to a special chest clinic. I was given medication, (mainly steriods)and eventually got better. To some degree! I will always have diminished lung function. But not to worry. The body is an amazing thing. I was told that body building would improve your chest function so I took it up. All of the breathing and chest expansion did help. I still take daily doses of Steriodal meds, and I use an inhaler for sports. I play hockey for two hours twice a week so I have come a long way.
You may take this as a warning that you need more excercise, and it really does work.

[Tig]

I still take daily doses of Steriodal meds, and I use an inhaler for sports.

Be sure to take plenty of supplemental calcium and vitamin D to counter the effects of steroidal med's. This is from a member of the Osteoporosis Way Before My Time Club (me).

[kiteman]

Be sure to take plenty of supplemental calcium and vitamin D to counter the effects of steroidal med's. This is from a member of the Osteoporosis Way Before My Time Club (me).

Me too. :(

I think my body knows it, I have craving for food that's rich in calcium and vitamin D.

[ZMAN]

I have been looking for some Calcium rich Beer, and some Vitamin D enriched Wine, but to no avail. I take calcium supplements and lots of vitamin D.
I use the beer and Wine to wash them down. Works out pretty good.

[poodlesrule]

I read it is best to take calcium supplements with meals, as the then rising stomach acidity helps absorb it.

[Tig]

I have been looking for some Calcium rich Beer, and some Vitamin D enriched Wine, but to no avail. I take calcium supplements and lots of vitamin D.
I use the beer and Wine to wash them down. Works out pretty good.

Ah, a man who really understands! :lecture
:applause

[bcdon]

Ah, a man who really understands! :lecture
:applause
Beat me to it, Tig. My sentiments exactly!