Mens Health, cause without it you can't build the things your passionate about.

Guys & Girls, thought I would put up a personal post. As like most guys I don't tend to advertise if something is a bit amiss health wise and hope this is received a positive way, anyway here goes;
 
I had a major stroke on Nov 10th and fortunately with advances in modern medicine (plus a good wife who diagnosed the symptoms) came out unscathed. Upshot is open heart surgery is required sooner rather than later to fix a valve which has been defective since birth. How you can go 55 years, doing triathlons and other competitive sports and the neurosurgeon says 'I can't believe this wasn't picked up before this'???? I have never been near a hospital besides a knee reconstruction 30 years ago. Oh and visiting other people!
Anyway fellow car enthusiasts worthwhile getting checked out especially if there is a family disposition (none in my family!) for heart related problems.
My wife and I are first aid and advanced resuscitation qualified through our volunteer work which I also reckon is a good idea as knowing what to do is often time critical.
 
Look after yourselves,
Mark

Bicuspid valve?

Im a critical care nurse working in a cardiac intensive care unit. If you have any questions dont hesitate in reaching out. Although done very often they are large surgeries and still very high risk.

Robbie, believe it is the mitral valve. I see the cardiologist on Monday so all will become clearer. Thanks for the offer of a chat.

Personally any surgery is risky, but you have to weigh up the alternatives?

On another note the work you guys do from paramedics to nurses and doctors is superlative. Thank you.

good pickup Mark, I'm glad your timing was good and you remain aboveground.
Thanks for the warning, being blokes I think we often need a kick in the pants or a strong reminder to get checked out for things. My eldest daughter is an optometrist, and I have a much healthier respect for eyes and what can be back consequences if they are not looked after. Next time you're in the shed grinding away without glasses on cause its just for a minute, this thread might be a reminder.
 
And same with Mark, many thanks Robbie for what you do, and the sh*t no doubt you have to put up with at times.
 

Glad to hear you're OK Mark, Mum had a similar operation in her early 60's and she hasn't looked back, keep us posted.
 
I know its been said before but if only us blokes looked after ourselves like we do our cars.
 
I too had a wake up call recently. I operate machinery and had been slowly going numb. It'd been getting worse and I'd be ignoring it until one day I went to get off my tractor for smoko, with my left side totally numb my leg gave way and I fell to the ground from height. Thats when the 'bloke' kicked in, no one saw that I thought, she'll be right. But it wasn't, I spent the next 20 minutes on the floor before I had enough feeling to walk again. I also had 20 minutes to think about it and eventually limped back to the shed to own up.
After a few indignant appointments of being poked and prodded it turns out I have 3 bad discs in my neck which will require fusing. Bummer.
 
Even writing this I'm thinking I should stop sooking about it. Thanks for the post though Mark, it makes me realize I need to give up the blokey mindset.
 
 
 

Geez Mark, your lucky to pull out of that without bad effects, not including the heart valve thing .
My sister who used to hike mountains, parachute, rock climbing etc was told she had a tube in her heart that just does a loop back to the heart, a birth defect she never knew about.. Short story long, they got surgeons in from UK and USA to perform the surgery, it was a 14hr operation and came thru it fine. She recalls when under the anesthetic she " remote viewed ' her best friend on hols on kangaroo Island, she could recall what her friend was wearing and where she was at a given time when they caught up for real... Very Strange .
I've never spent time in hospital except when I broke my nose at age 9. While working at GMH I got a spot weld spark fused into my eye, pain was intense . Had a slipped disk for over 2yrs till it somehow bounced back into place on it's own, that was painful too.

Hope everything goes well Mark, the older we get the more brittle we become !

 
Maybe for those of us manufactured and who came off the production line in the 1960's and 1970's are starting to show signs of wearing out just like the cars we are trying to preserve, also manufactured around that era.
Routine servicing is becoming increasingly important.
Availability of spare parts are becoming increasingly important.
Recognising potential problems and fixing and replacing broken and worn out parts is becoming increasingly important.
Injuries and accidents from younger years long ago brushed off as a bit of fun and long forgotten are starting to make themselves known again.
Good fortune we are of a time and place where increasing knowledge and awareness and advances in medical technology are helping us enjoy quality life and maintain our life journey as we drive down the road.
I for one have multiple internal injuries, broken parts and am held together with bits of tie wire and tekky screws and staples and super glue after multiple sporting related injuries and enjoy the 'after affects' every day.
But I love life, often revving well past the red line and appear to be a 'bit slow' by refusing to learn from the past.
 
Awareness, education, listening to your body and regular servicing and maintenance is critical for all of us.
 
Thank you for the post and the comments which are appreciated.
We can never be reminded and prompted too often about this important subject.
:)
 

Hi guys. Thanks so much for the kind and insightful words.
Thank goodness we are wired to carry on with life irregardless of the obstacles placed before us.
Worst part is that it will mean time off from working on the toys and I can’t go to Wakefield this coming week and probably into the new year 😢

Wise words all, I have type2 diabetes and have spent more time since I retired to get my health a bit better with diet and exercise. PSA testing pinpointed a very mild case of prostate cancer which is at the "do regular checks and monitor' phase so def important to  have regular health checks for us older guys.

Hi Guys
great subject you've embarked upon Mark...................... 100/100 to you
 
I've hinted similar notes in our Club Newsletter (MPHVC).  All of you who have commented in here deserve a "Thumbs-Up" as this "bloke's BS" needs to be addressed and highlighted.
What have we been paying tax for all our lives, if not to avail ourselves of Medicare of at least a minimal doc health check every 6 months?   
I dont think many Aussies realise how damn lucky we are to have free medical of every description, at our service 365 days per year! (You're left to die in the street in 1st world USA if you have no health insurance!)
Don't we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones, to live a long healthy life ?
We've all heard of that programme "A HUNDRED STUPID WAYS TO DIE" and so many must think; "that'll never happen to me"................  really ? (Cemeteries are full of victims with that attitude)
Well how do you think your friends and family will think of you, if you die too early because you ignored "The Signs" and shrugged it off, dying in your 30's to 70's when you could have enjoyed life even to the 90's ?
If COVID taught us anything, it taught me to get out on the road in one of my many Classics from the 70's with my wife and beautiful Golden Retriever, the second we were allowed !
The Bowl Cancer Bowel Test is a feather in our Gov-leaders cap, as much as I detest them for their excessive stupidity, but I had cause to question the test for reasons I wont torture you, and the doc immediately booked me in for a Colonoscopy.  However  actually getting it done was NINE MONTHS ! A very good reason to BOOK-IN ASAP even if it's just "an inkling" something's amiss. The queue is only gunna get longer. DO IT NOW !
fortunately, my C~ showed all was in order. I put it down to being married to a natural born chef in my gorgeous wife, who cooks healthy food "ad nauseum" if that were possible.  Lots of garlic, Onions, Olive Oil, tons of fresh Vegetables straight from our garden, and tons of Fruit from garden and markets. (Mediterranean Diet)
 
We must remind ourselves DAILY that we're here for a very short time, and dead forever, so why not look after ourselves so we can enjoy our family, friends and cars longer ?
 
Before I sign off, i need to pass on this wonderfully unbelievable drug called PANTOPRAZOLE. Ten years ago, my 30 year stomach pain got so bad 24/7, I was almost suicidal. Countless doctors over 30 years, shoved cameras in every orrifice and drugged me up with the most expensive drugs and did every test known to medicine.............. ZILCH, NADA, NIENTE, RIEN !
Ten years ago I dragged myself into the local chemist on the point of collapse and begged for a different pain killer as the string I had tried were 100% useless.  The young Chemist fresh out of College asked me for the whole story.
He turned around and grabbed a box and said, "these are worth a try, and no prescription is required". The box read "SUVACID: FOR INDIGESTION". I thought he was taking the piss, as I 'd been eating like a sparrow, as EVERYTHING I ATE OR DRANK CAUSED ENDLESS PAIN, and I'd told him this. He saw the DISDAIN in my face and re-assured me !  I took 2 immediately and within 12 hours I felt like a "young dog with 2 dicks" ! ...........   and continued so for the last 10 years living blissfully, and taking only ONE Pantoprazole every 2-3 weeks albeit allowable daily !
 
My last "pearls of wisdom" is always get 2 or 3 opinions if your prognosis is serious ......... Always ask a Chemist .........
Not ALL doctors are dealing with a "full deck", which I would elaborate if requested !
 
Merry Christmas to one and all
Bernie
 

I'm so glad we live in Australia, with decent, readily available healthcare available to most of the nation.
And one more story to discourage the 'she'll be right'' :
How sore do you have to be before you turn to the better half and say youve got a saw kiwi, and am going off to see the doctors? Well, I'd been sore enough to be putting deep heat where you normally would not wish it, hurt to stand, sleep, and on pain meds. Thinking of course it would be god knows what, plus googling as you do, it was  maybe a hernia at best. So off for tests, urine and ultrasound which I hadnt come near since you saw alienesque  images of the kids 20 years ago. Sufficient pressure on the probe thing had me levitating off the bed, yep a hernia, look here (another jump).
A trip to the surgeon, and a few more coughs and squeezes, nup, no hernia, nothing for me to operate on. Youve just badly strained your groin', go and see a sports physio. Did that, happy days, unbelievable difference what  just a few stretches each day can do.

escfalcap
Hi guys. Thanks so much for the kind and insightful words.
Thank goodness we are wired to carry on with life irregardless of the obstacles placed before us.
Worst part is that it will mean time off from working on the toys and I can’t go to Wakefield this coming week and probably into the new year 😢

Hows things working out with this? have you spoke to your surgeon?

Hi Robbie,
Thanks for asking mate. It certainly has been a bit of a whirlwind with tests etc. and a few more in the new year
 
I saw the surgeon a few weeks back and a lot of the tests are related to doing anything else that is required while my chest is open (yuk). All the artery tests (so far) have been perfect so fingers crossed.
 
It is the Mitral valve which is being repaired and unfortunately you just can't go down to your local Supercheap (at least I hope he doesn't) and get one. The stroke was apparently related to blood clotting in an appendage attached to the heart so it will be disconnected/removed apparently (the appendage not the heart).
 
Surgery is Feb 1 and recovery time is 3 months so you poor people may be sick of me by then!
Of course I have to stay covid free and the way NSW is going that may be a task in itself.
 
Oh and by the way the ABC 7.30 Report crew came out last week and spent a day with us, as their doing a show early next year based around the expansion of the tele-stroke service to rural hospitals in NSW. The stroke team at Prince of Wales hospital and UNSW thought I would be a good ambassador (move over Hugh Jackman). If I can weasel a date out of them I'll let you know.
 
Anyway a merry christmas and happy New Year to all you guys. Hope we all find some toy tinkering time, I'm told it does your digestion wonders 
Maybe in a covid free world (or a world free of covid restrictions) we could organise a get together. We are a scattered bunch though. Anyway just putting it out there?
 
Mark

Best wishes Mark.
Hope you recover 100%. Merry Xmas and HMY for a safe 2022.
Bernie

Not sure if I'd trust a Supercheap one much Mark anyway, Repco maybe and  debatable about Autobarn either.
Good to hear that you're booked in, and that so far tests are positive.
Yes, in the meantime no hanging out with loose women or cuddling up to random strangers on the bus, at least without a mask.
 
Definitely tell us when you make the screen debut, bonus points if you can get a few shots in the garage as well.
 
Yes for a catchup, a post op drinks, might be 'Teams' hookup, put a face to the name and see the projects live?
Merry Christmas to all you Fordies.
 

Thanks for the wishes guys, And yes Deano there is a car shot or two. The guys nearly shot their loads when they saw the cars. It was quite funny. So they got some footage of me under the bonnet with a spanner doing F*&^ knows what. I know I'll laugh when I see it.
Mark

BEE VEE
 
Before I sign off, i need to pass on this wonderfully unbelievable drug called PANTOPRAZOLE. Ten years ago, my 30 year stomach pain got so bad 24/7, 

The same drug changed my life.
 
Damn this getting older business.
 
Shaun

Hi All,
Been following the forum on and off over the past couple of months. Good to see the banter continuing.
 
Slowly working on the track car, doing only light tasks so the cardio rehab nurse doesn't wet herself.
Recovery has been slow but positive. Occasional bouts of double vision (would be cool if I was smoking something) and short of breath but apparently common with heart valve surgery.
 
For your info ABC 7:30 show aired the interview on Thursday 7th April. You can catch it on ABC iview.
The RS makes an appearance. Though don't ask me what I was doing under the bonnet!
Unfortunately we are on toward the end of the show (had to make way for Palmer, the sanctimonious turd)
 
On another note the RS was in with my auto electrician whilst I was laid up. The wiring (partly mine) was a bit of a mess and I figured, give it to him to finally finish the thing. Well when I drove it home wasn't I pleasantly surprised. Once warmed up I gave it a boot-full, and holly crap it went an' just kept on 'wenting'.
Before this, it kind of revved out when coming onto boost and forward propulsion ceased though revs didn't. I had always figured it was an actuator issue or the like? Phil Armour who is the Motec guru did the dyno tune and never noticed this?????
Anyway, my elec reckons it was probably a voltage drop somewhere, as some of the sensors run on fairly low voltage and there must have been a loss somewhere. Don't really care at the end of the day I'm just plain
 
The AP gear and the 5 stud alloy hubs that were long awaited finally arrived. Yet to fit up as the whole package is still 'heavy'.
Been working on the fuel system, and fabricating small ancillary bits. And yes Marty that bead roller is a gem!
 
Will look at posting a pic or two soon.
Mark

Glad to hear your recovering well!

Photos of the APs!

Well progress has been slow as I keep getting sidetracked. We made a planned trip to Echuca for the Southern 80. Been on my bucket list since my skiing days on the Hawkesbury river. Given my recent health hiccup I am not putting anything off.

Long story short I am restoring (yes another project) a previous race winner (1976) and seeing what the scene is like since I gave it away many moons ago. These turbo and blown big blocks (many Mercruisers) are absolutely phenomenal. No more V drives, they all run sterndrive legs.
My boat (last pic, as it was before resto) is a long lost Flightcraft Concorde SS. A pure race blueprinted hull, and again another Australian made boat which is no longer. Sound familiar?

I know this is a ford forum so I won’t persist in this vein
I will start a new thread on the track escort build once I get back (promise)
Mark

absolutely Mark.
Sterndrive vs vdrive, would be like XR5 vs Anglia?
A friend I met from Bendigo does the Southern 80. He was telling me of an accident one of his boys had, came up and was bleeding from the ears/eyes etc which would have been tough as a parent.
They dusted him off and he was back up again. Definitely need big Kahunas for that race.
Would you be doing the driving or the hanging on part?
 
You will have collectors chasing the Flightcraft

Hi Deano.
Well back in NSW and I've got to say I reckon Vic is a more progressive state. Just putting it out there
Your analogy is on the money, however Harada is definitely staying V drive!
Yep the unlimited guys doing around 180km/h is pretty wild to see. Especially as we used to ski or barefoot at less than half of that.
As for the skiing, a knee reconstruction many moons ago did not affect my skiing 1st time up but that was it for the rest of the day on the water, so I'm afraid that aside from a social ski I'll be pushin' the metal.
Mark