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