Probably won't make the Wing engine swap for a while longer.

[John Schmidt]

Reason; left hip has come back to bite me and it's affecting my mobility...big time. I was offered replacement last September but even though the xrays showed it was needed, I declined. Probably a mistake. I have another appt. on 4/23 and if he'll do the anterior approach, I'm in. Hopefully I'll be as mobile as when the right side was done, walked into my two week follow-up barehanded, back on the bike in a month. If that happens this time, I'll be riding by IZ time but probably not riding to it.

If all goes well, I'll be able to make the motor switch later this summer. There's nothing wrong with the current engine...just doesn't have reverse which would be handy for my trike. Nothing like making life easier as time goes by. 

[Jess from VA]

Sorry to hear it John.

At 71 the periodic sore ankle, knee, hip (but not back) stuff is getting pretty irritating.  I walk 2.5 miles daily, and some days are slower than others, but I almost never miss a day. 

I wouldn't let the urologist put the TV camera up my willy, so the prostate isn't getting fixed either.

[da prez]

  SONS OF ARTHERITIS. Welcome all new members!

                                                 da prez

[Pluggy]

I wouldn't let the urologist put the TV camera up my willy, so the prostate isn't getting fixed either.

You should do it. Takes two minutes. A similar examination found aggressive cancer in a 57 year-old me.   If I had said "No, thanks" to the procedure, It would have been my self-imposed death penalty.

[DDT (12)]

John,

You're a rather impressive specimen, ya know...? You've certainly faced many of life's toughest challenges and weathered the 'storms' in good order. This is but another speed bump to negotiate, and I'm sure you'll make the right call and get through this fine... After all, you are a shining example of what could be for the rest of us, and we're counting on you to continue the streak! I'm looking forward to seeing you again... and again...

DDT (12)

[John Schmidt]

John,

You're a rather impressive specimen, ya know...? You've certainly faced many of life's toughest challenges and weathered the 'storms' in good order. This is but another speed bump to negotiate, and I'm sure you'll make the right call and get through this fine... After all, you are a shining example of what could be for the rest of us, and we're counting on you to continue the streak! I'm looking forward to seeing you again... and again...

DDT (12)

Bruce old friend, you never cease to make a person feel good about themselves. Impressive? Not sure that's the correct adjective but I do feel blessed in many ways. After nursing Nancy for two weeks following her knee replacement in '22, she says she owes me one. When asked just what she meant, all she would do is smile! I'll know more after my appt. on the 23rd, until then I'll just keep ahead of the discomfort. If warm enough I might even take Nanners(nickname) for a ride to our favorite little hidden cafe on the river. 

[TJ]

Old ages is great ... ,Right   

[Jess from VA]

I wouldn't let the urologist put the TV camera up my willy, so the prostate isn't getting fixed either.

You should do it. Takes two minutes. A similar examination found aggressive cancer in a 57 year-old me.   If I had said "No, thanks" to the procedure, It would have been my self-imposed death penalty.

Pluggy, I thank you very much for the good advice sir.  

A complete physical examination with blood and urine did raise a suspicion of prostate cancer within the last year.  They gave me a CT or MRI for it (I actually got both), and prostate cancer was not found to several doctor's satisfaction.  (and my great relief, as this killed my father after a 30 year fight some years ago)

After cancer was ruled out, my urologist wanted to use the camera to decide which of several (I think 6) procedures would be best to remedy or reduce my BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy) (swollen prostate) which affects so many aging men with (far too) frequent urges to urinate, and then very little urine produced.  Mine is irritating, but not that bad once I began to limit my fluid intake before walking, shopping, driving/riding, and especially several hours before bedtime.  I was one of those guys who drank 6-8 bottles of good pure water daily for many years.  I no longer do that, but I still get enough water, milk and pure juice (no sugar) for good health.

And no alcohol for several years, though I never had any problem with it, I just lost my taste for it or a desire for any alcohol inebriation.  I have not sworn off, and have some very good scotch and whiskey (and a few others) in the house.  But I just haven't felt like having any for some time.  Go figure.  

And I have heard that small amounts of alcohol can be beneficial for old people.  And remember that when my dad's mom (born 1889) was VERY old her doctors told her she needed to drink a small glass or two of wine daily.  She was a very Christian woman who had never drank any alcohol her entire life, and wouldn't think of going into a store and buying any, so my dad bought her a case and snuck it in her back door.  And she followed the doctor's advice.    (I love that story)

While I'm telling stories about her, I will tell my favorite.  During the great depression many jobless and homeless men were starving, and she would invite one or two into her house and feed them from time to time at her kitchen table.  So one day, one of those guys just opened her back door and came into her kitchen to get something to eat.  It scared her, and she pulled grandad's horse pistol out and chased him out of the house and then down the street a little ways, and called him a son of a bitch.  A couple of her children saw this and remarked they had never heard her swear before.  She replied "I didn't swear, I just called him a son of a bitch."  When I was a little boy, she was the oldest person I ever knew, and 40 years later, she was still the oldest person I ever knew.  She went to 98 before passing.

[old2soon]

     Well John my 88 G/W trike arrived with a Fully Functional reverse gear!  And Ross helped out with the proper procedure as did a You Tube video!  Yuppers I'll Still be Very AWARE of parking lot angles slopes etc when pulling into an unfamiliar place!  Ross put the weight of the G/W right at a 1/2 ton and this is Before I put my required "stuff" aboard!  RIDE SAFE.

[Pluggy]

I wouldn't let the urologist put the TV camera up my willy, so the prostate isn't getting fixed either.

You should do it. Takes two minutes. A similar examination found aggressive cancer in a 57 year-old me.   If I had said "No, thanks" to the procedure, It would have been my self-imposed death penalty.

Pluggy, I thank you very much for the good advice sir.  

A complete physical examination with blood and urine did raise a suspicion of prostate cancer within the last year.  They gave me a CT or MRI for it (I actually got both), and prostate cancer was not found to several doctor's satisfaction.  (and my great relief, as this killed my father after a 30 year fight some years ago)

After cancer was ruled out, my urologist wanted to use the camera to decide which of several (I think 6) procedures would be best to remedy or reduce my BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy) (swollen prostate) which affects so many aging men with (far too) frequent urges to urinate, and then very little urine produced.  Mine is irritating, but not that bad once I began to limit my fluid intake before walking, shopping, driving/riding, and especially several hours before bedtime.  I was one of those guys who drank 6-8 bottles of good pure water daily for many years.  I no longer do that, but I still get enough water, milk and pure juice (no sugar) for good health.

And no alcohol for several years, though I never had any problem with it, I just lost my taste for it or a desire for any alcohol inebriation.  I have not sworn off, and have some very good scotch and whiskey (and a few others) in the house.  But I just haven't felt like having any for some time.  Go figure.  

And I have heard that small amounts of alcohol can be beneficial for old people.  And remember that when my dad's mom (born 1889) was VERY old her doctors told her she needed to drink a small glass or two of wine daily.  She was a very Christian woman who had never drank any alcohol her entire life, and wouldn't think of going into a store and buying any, so my dad bought her a case and snuck it in her back door.  And she followed the doctor's advice.    (I love that story)

While I'm telling stories about her, I will tell my favorite.  During the great depression many jobless and homeless men were starving, and she would invite one or two into her house and feed them from time to time at her kitchen table.  So one day, one of those guys just opened her back door and came into her kitchen to get something to eat.  It scared her, and she pulled grandad's horse pistol out and chased him out of the house and then down the street a little ways, and called him a son of a bitch.  A couple of her children saw this and remarked they had never heard her swear before.  She replied "I didn't swear, I just called him a son of a bitch."  When I was a little boy, she was the oldest person I ever knew, and 40 years later, she was still the oldest person I ever knew.  She went to 98 before passing.

Jess, it seems objectionable but there is nothing to it.  Now a lot of guys don't want another man touching that thang, but so what.  My second time with that camera was also useful.  I was expecting to receive the worst news and found out I had a small kidney stone.

[Jess from VA]

Jess, it seems objectionable but there is nothing to it.  Now a lot of guys don't want another man touching that thang, but so what.  My second time with that camera was also useful.  I was expecting to receive the worst news and found out I had a small kidney stone.


He told me it was uncomfortable, but not painful.  He also told me that about half refuse.

I wouldn't mind a male doctor doing it.  If I've learned anything about doctors, I've found it best to pick the most experienced (skilled through repetition) person available when it comes to "procedures" on my person (that isn't senile, and I had one of those once) regardless of gender.

It's really the procedures I'm not sure I want or need. 1 or 2 of the 6 that are the least invasive might be acceptable, but if the scope tells him the best choice isn't one of those 2, I'm  not sure I'd get one of the others anyway.  Also, the required warnings (informed consent) on these procedures do reveal some nasty side effects possible.

However, now that you mention it, if they have a competent hot blonde on staff, I might change my mind.  But how do you ask for her?