Help needed for a 02 guy.

[Spirited-6]

Addictive to the "bottle"

Well that is true on two counts. 02 & booze. My Dr put me on oxygen 3 months ago and I`m still fighting it for some unknown reason. I can`t bring myself to carry a 02 tank with me every where I go. I can breath sitting and not moving at a fast walk, other than that, I`m gasping for air. Hell, I get out of breath going to the mail box, 200 Ft.. I do my inhalers, take my meds, and still struggle to stay on the green side. The brown side looks good at sometime and not when I think about the ones that it would impact. It is hard for me, as a lot of others, to not be able to do the things that need to be done and that you love to do, IE, riding my Tourer,which I no longer have, working in my yard, working in our house,in short enjoying life. As of now I do not have these and am trying to understand what I need to do to stay on the green side. I know this is not a "BEAR YOUR SOUL" site, but I know their is a lot of VRCC folks that have the same problems that I have from time to time. What I`m looking for is some words of wisdom that might help me and others to survive "old" age. I guess the bottom line is ; I`m in "deep crap"

Thanks for any help.

BTW; Carpal Tunnel Synodome surgey on 4-4 2012 on right hand.

[Chrisj CMA]

OK Spirited -6 ... I dont know you but I have had a relative and a close friend that had to be on the 02.  Do it!  There are small 02 generators that are way less inconvienant.  

No one gets out of this life alive, we all have to meet our maker some day, but you have no right to deprive your loved ones of being with you because you are too proud to breath 02.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but its how it is, its how I see it, and YOU asked.  

You are too valuable to give up.  We had a dude here that rode his Valk many years on 02, maybe you could even get a new bike if you get that 02 level up.

Peace, I pray you make the decision that is right for you

[salty1]

Spirited I couldn't agree more with what Chris had to say. I recently talked with a chap riding a new Goldwing Trike who needed to have O2 with him. I saw him in Salt Lake and he was headed for the Oregon coast. All I could do was admire his willingness to carry on. God bless and keep up the good fight!

[R J]

I've been on O2 for about 3 or 4 years now.  Had to go on it the last time we were in Frisco, that thin air up there did me in and now I wear it 24/7.


Sure, I have problems going anywhere for an extended stay, like IZ, but I still ride the Chevy Trike every chance I get.   I haven't ridden MGM for almost 2 years now, but my son, daughter and a buddy take care of it's time on the road.

I have a concentrator, that has a unit that goes on top to refill my little 5 hour tanks at 3 liters huff and puff as I call it.   You suck air in and it will give ya a puff of O2.

I have a 40' hose that follows me everywhere when in the house.   I can go to the mailbox or the back garage without my little container in hand.

You'll get used to it.

[The Anvil]

No one gets out of this life alive, we all have to meet or maker some day, but you have no right to deprive your loved ones of being with you because you are too proud to breath 02.

It's true. Studies show that 100% of life ends in death.

I would not be trilled at the prospect of going on O2 either, but the alternative seems worse. And I'll take O2 over a colostomy bag any day. So it could be worse, right?

[old2soon]

I DID NOT lay my smokes down soon enough. C O P D and some other fun stuff that was for the most part self inflicted. So you had to make some adjustments as you got older. B F D. It beats the alternative. At the present i'm still able to ride. The day will come when i can no longer ride. But know this i absolutely positivly refuse to give up. I want to be around to see this last child of mine(she just turned 17)graduate High School and graduate College. I also want to be around long enough to be a royal P I T A for at least one of my two ex wives. I want to be around for the grandkids and greatgrandkids. Look around and ask yerself who is gonna miss me if i'm gone?? The answer just might surprise you a little bit. Quit feeling sorry for yerself get up off yer ASS and start suckin down that O 2. And remeber-YOU ASKED. RIDE SAFE.

[John Schmidt]

Yes, our good friend Tom (a/k/a Sealskinner)  here in Florida used the bottle for some time before finally leaving us about 17 months ago. He had a Voyager setup on his Tourer and rode all over with it, carried a bottle on the Hondaline luggage rack behind the sissy bar. He used a small round piece of luggage and carried it in there, ran the hose forward to his canula. He even traveled to see his daughter (I believe it was) up in the Carolinas. He'd put in a good day the first day out, then arrive the next day at their place. Every year he and his wife would go up into the Smokies and spend a week or so in a cabin, he'd ride all over while there. Don't believe he took his Valk for that, he also had a smaller bike...seems like it was a 750 or similar, easier to load/unload on the trailer. In short, although it was an inconvenience to have the bottle along, it didn't keep him off the bike or off the road.

I know I'm 2-3 yrs. behind you in age(74), so far, so good. But I know there will come a day when the old bod can't handle it. One thing I'm thankful for as I age is the lifestyle I led in my younger years. A person most definitely benefits from it, all the while giving credit for one's genes as well. Good luck as you sorta "feel" your way on this issue, just don't write yourself off. It will impact more folk than you can imagine, including many of us on here.

[T.P.]

HEY DON !  If I remember correctly you just turned 77 in April, Great Job!  You still have lots of spark left (JUST DON'T GET IT TOO CLOSE TO THE 02 BOTTLE) You have been an enormous contributer to the VRCC in the past and I'm sure that you will continue to add many positives here in the long future. If you take some time to think about it, you have made many friends since you have been a Valkyrie rider and there are so many more that would be very greatful to meet you, fellow members from the East Coast to the West Coast, the Gulf Coast to the Arctic Circle (do they have Valkyries in the Arctic Circle?) and lands far away.  NO, this is not the time to be thinking that you have to be slowing down at all, but instead, decide to kick it up!

I think that you and Libby should think about making the adventure to Eureka Springs for Inzane week.

I am proud to call you my friend as it was you who handed me an incredible Jade green and black Tourer. I take great pride that I am able to own two fabulous Valkyries, Horse and Greenie.

True we are getting to be an older group of fellers and we may at times need to ask and give our friends advice on life, remember it is our families and our friends who will get us through it all.

KICK IT UP MY FRIEND AND NEVER GIVE UP !   Regards T.P. VRCC Minnesota State Rep.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Don wish I had some cool words to tell you but I have none     The way this old world is going we may all be breathing through tanks     I wish you the best 

[Phil57]

Well if you ask this group will give it to you. Well said everyone and sure hope it helps to get over the issue. We all depend on something ,be happy there is something as simple as a o2 tank to help you with yours. I know not a fix but a helper.

[Spirited-6]

Many THANKS to all words and advise that did help me over come my "pity party" I had yesterday. I have always been very active in the things that life brings. It seems like someone has thrown a switch in the last few months that has taken the wind out of my sails. I will follow the advise of all you guys and keep moving forward to a better place in the time of growing older. 

Ride On.
Don