Maintenance of old bikes and old men!

[Bigwolf]

Surgery went well!  The main valve has been replaced!  But now it appears that a good bit more mantinence is going to be required.  My Valkyrie is running fine, but the operator is needing major overhaul and repair.  I go home tomorrow and Then 2 weeks later we will be tracking down the next major repair.  This getting old is getting old!

On the upside, I have been told that I just might be able to take my Valkyrie for a romp in about 6 months!  I certainly hope so!!!  My PMS is horribly strong!


Bigwolf

[carolinarider09]

I see it as good news Sir!

There is a road ahead that leads to success.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Dang ! I didn’t realize this was going on. I hope you heal well. 

[Jess from VA]

Sorry for your troubles Jerry.  Glad you made it through the sawbones still kicking.

Keep a good and positive attitude. 

They stuck a heart valve up my mom's leg a couple years ago; complete success.

A mechanic buddy said that was like doing a tune up through the exhaust.   

[Valkorado]

Jerry my prayers are out for your quick recovery, followed by a long celebratory 'womple!

[DDT (12)]

Jerry,

The price for 'hanging around' is an upward spiral, and that's just the inescapable cost for longevity. I'm truly sorry for your woes, but I'm delighted to keep reading reports from you... and the associated confirmation that you're hanging in there and even have a hopeful prognosis!

I'll keep my fingers crossed, and I'll continue to patiently wait for you to return to the 'field of play'... You and I are overdue to address that PMS hardship you've been laboring under for some time now!!! We miss you, my friend... get well soon...

DDT (12)

[Oss]

any heart operation where you get told you can ride again, in my book that is pretty good

Best wishes for a complete healing

See ya down the road

[Farside]

  Ok Jerry, we got the hands together as I've added you to a prayer list I keep. It is adding up but not just old folks either.  I'm going to try and meet up with Bruce while he is in Montgomery in August if you get a wild hair and want to drive down see you at Jan's. Speedy recovery and get you back out. 

[Rams]

Lots of nice comments from friends who do give a damn.   All I can say is, if you need something, give us a shout, we’ll try to make it happen.  Adventurers like yourself are what drives this community.  Get well soon Jerry.

Rams

[bill-jr]

Good to see you posting hope you can feel better soon and find some wind therapy . . .
Trish says hello and to tell C.B. The same . .  .

[Bigwolf]

Thank you to all who have commented on this post!  I have enjoyed reading them!

Pulling a Paul Harvey here,…”Now for the rest of the story”.
As part of the preparation for the heart valve replacement, the cardiac surgeons did an arteriograhm with special interest in my cardiac bypasses from 1999.  They found 1 of those 3 bypasses had degraded and they corrected that with 2 new stents.  Then stated me on some new/more meds.  About a week after that, my rib cage and shoulders became inflamed.  I thought that I was having a bad reaction to the added meds and began the tedious job of discussing with doctors my options and making changes.

I found very little and only temporary relief before the pain was back.  The pain got so bad that I went to urgent care who sent me to the ER.  The ER focused on my heart because “chest pain”, and refused to look at anything else.  After keeping me overnight for observation, the hospital sent me home with no diagnosis, no relief from the muscle spasms, and no help for the now severe pain.

Within days of my heart valve replacement, I realized that the rib inflammation and heavy pain must be something other than the heart drugs.  So I got an appointment with my primary care doctor on the day prior to the valve replacement.  He believed it to be gallbladder!  I immediately changed my diet to compensate and headed on to my aortic valve replacement.

The valve job went very well and the diet changes began to give me the first signs of relief from the severe pain that I had for the last 3 weeks.

So now in about 2 weeks, my primary care doc will be will be looking at a scan of my gallbladder and making some decisions on what to do about that.

After that, I am going to be talking to a gastroenterologist that replaces the stomach valve at the esophagus.  I already have Barrett’s so this is important to avoid cancer!

When all that maintenance gets done, I believe that this old biological machine just might be ready to pilot my Valkyrie for several more miles.  I’m looking forward to it!

See ya’all somewhere down the road!


Bigwolf

[Jersey mike]

Man this sucks, hope you get stuff squared away quickly.

Going through something similar right now with my wife Barbara. She’s been experiencing some lightheadedness and dizziness and some issues with something stuck in her chest for awhile.

Father’s Day we were in Boston visiting our daughter. We walked toured the area she lives in and went to Fenway Park for Red Sox/Yankees game. As we got into Fenway, Barbara had to stop, she was pale, clammy and was having trouble breathing, almost called for EMS but she didn’t want it. After resting about 30 minutes we went up to oir seats, she had to stop several times as we climbed the steps to rest.

2 weekends ago she came home from food shopping and was in the same condition so we went to the hospital. Spent several hours in ER. EKG and bloodwork showed no sign of heart attack. Sent her up to observation and they did cat scan and echo. Cat scan revealed a hiatal hernia and echo showed some calcification on one valve and regurgitation on another.

Went to cardiologist for follow up and he’s having her do a stress test next week as well as wear a monitor for a couple days. The 2 valves he dismissed as not the main concern but will keep an eye on. He seems more concerned about a blockage.

Gastro appointment is for this week to see how we proceed with hiatal hernia.