Gone as far as I can

[SammieQ]

Gawd John...I've just come back to reading unread posts after a sabatical and reading about the second part of your journey has twisted me up inside something chronic!

See, your serendipitous discovery is well-nigh exactly what happened to LOML 15 months ago. If it hadn't been for a vigilant ex-pupil of mine, turned doctor, who called in a VERY talented surgeon, she wouldn't be here.

I second your "don't ignore those growing old pains" call; make a song-and-dance about something that is increasingly hard to bear. We all thought the Missus's symptoms were two long-standing (but relatively minor) conditions just becoming more prominent with age....Her G.P. diagnosed what turned out to be a 10x12cm cancerous mass as 'a hernia'...'waiting time 80 weeks'.

Hang in there for with the recovery. Live every day to its fullest - and keep posting!!

Sam

 

[Blogwitch]

Thanks Sam.

When in the hospital, I had tubes going into all sorts of places and they explained it was the morphine they were using to keep the pain at bay.

Now, two weeks after the op and being by myself at home the pain is getting much worse, and all my own meds and the ones they gave me at discharge are now not working very well.
So I consulted the specialist at the hospital who told me what I needed to get from my own doctor.
She stopped all my own meds and put me on a 12 hour long lasting morphine pill, and it is doing a great job.

I asked at the hospital why my pain was getting worse, not better.
I was told that they had removed a large portion of my lung, which left an empty space in my chest cavity. Now that I am more mobile, with most of the internal healing done, as soon as I say get up or move about, the bits that were left inside are trying to move into the vacant space, so putting pressure on the newly healed internal wounds. It is when I get no more pains like that, that will be the signal I can go back in my shop and start to become alive again, as a guesstimate 1 to 2 months, then another 6 months before I can lift heavy things. That is when my very good friends come into help, which is what they did when I lost most of the use of my right arm.

That is when you learn how good your friends are.

John

 

[Mechanicboy]

Pray for your health.

 

[SammieQ]

Yup. I recognise the syndrome John; organs shifting into unexpected places, yup. Gave a trainee doctor (beginning to read scans) a right moment of panic I can tell you! Silly perisher should have given more attention to 'the history'...

Also, good on your consultant rectifying pain meds; if you don't ask, you don't get, unfortunately.

If I say "take care sneezing", I hope you wll read it as a mixture of experience and surgical ward humour?

Sam

 

[Blogwitch]

Sam,

I have been given a spirometer by the specialists, I have to suck into it 5 times every 30 minutes then straight afterwards I have to cough.
Now that is painful with a half a lung full of air then trying to get rid of it straight away through a sharp cough, but they tell me it should be doing me good.

John

 

[Sshire]

John
I can’t tell you how badly I feel. Lousy news.
I often think of all the help and encouragement you gave me when I was just starting with engine building. Your hand-done drawing that you sent for an oiler is on the shop wall and is a daily reminder of all you’ve given to us.
God bless you. You are one of the good people and we are all better because of you.
Stan

 

[Blogwitch]

Hi Stan,

It is such a long time since we spoke. I think on Skype, and that was many moons ago. It os so easy to lose contact with people, I have lost hundreds over the last few years.

I am far from being defunked, as soon as I can get over what I am going through now, my partner has told me I have got to get back in my shop as it is the only thing that gives me a spark in my life

John

 

[marvin1956]

Hey sorry to hear about you. I never post and am trying this out, Hope things go as well as possible. I like to do some machining and working on a couple small projects between
a bit of farming, time is limiting and I am not too fast. I am 60 years now and still no time to relax much but I guess that is a good thing keeping busy.
All the best and love reading from all you machinists, learning lots. Take care dude.

 

[mcostello]

Making chips in the shop cures a lot of ills.

 

[2002hummer]

Sorry to hear about your plight. I hope you can beat it and get back into the shop. I have a feeling that once you do your recovery will speed up. Just recently tired I now have time to get into my shop. I am going to check out all your posts to see what I can learn (alot).

 

[Engineeringtech]

So sorry for you. I'm saying a prayer for you right now, that if it is God's will, he heal you, or if not, that you don't suffer needlessly. I'm certain that if heaven is the wonderful place we're told, people are not just praying and singing every day. They have hobbies, and can enjoy them.

 

[dalem9]

Hi, John Sorry to hear about your trails. Some advice for you. As I have been in constant pain since 1984. I learned to take my pain meds regularly even when I thought I didn't need them because if you think you are OK and don't need them when the pain does hit again it is hard to get under control again. I wish you all the Luck and GOD be with you. Dale

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Well, it might be that I can torment you a little longer.

They put me through the mincer last Wednesday and took the lower lobe off my left lung, two lobes of the left, three on the right, you learn something new here on HMEM every day.

Anyway, I am now sitting here at home in excruciating pain that I have been told will last a couple of months, no complaints though, it is better than the alternative, then my real recovery will begin, so it is to how well my previous body can now cope with a fairly big bit missing, at least I should have lost a couple of pounds to go towards my collective diet weight

Hope to be about a little more in the future.

John.

I am glad to hear that you're on the mend. I have enjoyed your work and posts over the years and look forward to having you around a might longer. As a person who lives with pain daily I hope your suffering may soon be eased as you heal.

 

[oldchadders]

Despite all my efforts to keep going with multiple disabilities, it looks like I have been dealt my final hand.

After numerous scans and cameras down my throat taking biopsies, I was told that I have fairly advanced bronchial cancer.

I am not after sympathy, as I have had as good a life as I could have had with things holding me back for the last 40+ years, with no regrets, but it looks like my machining days are well and truly over, but I will still try to help people out if I can with the posts on here (boo, hiss) as long as my faculties remain.
A shame really as over the last few years I have bought many thousands of pounds worth of new machinery and tooling, just hoping to get my shop up and running again. It now looks like it will all have to go.

Time maybe to get another good holiday under my belt before things get too restricting.


John

Hi John,
I believe there are many of us in similar situations, nevertheless I extend to you my best wishes for a smooth passage through the rest of your time. In 2002 at the age of 55 I suffered a stroke, after which I was told I would never walk again. The irony is that some 20 years previous, my dad was diagnosed with spinal cancer and was told the same thing - he passed away in hospital. His last words to me were "how am I going to live in a wheelchair?" My thoughts about my situation were "I shall have to learn how to live in a wheelchair". I am a reitred electronics engineer with a lifetime interest in restoring old cars. I realised that was now totally impractical and discovered the world of model steam engines to be more my scale. Now I "live in" my powered wheelchair for much of the time, but I am able to walk short distances with the aid of a walking stick. We moved to a bungalow to help me with accessibility and I have a shed which has been fitted out for me to ride straight in to - thanks to a helpful family, and I have two lovely grandsons, aged 7 and 10, who regularly come and spend time with me, helping with whatever I am doing - and hopefully learning at the same time. At the moment I have 3 or 4 steam engine restorations on the go, together with restoring an old accordion (a nice indoor project to stay in the warmth). I think as every day being a holiday and adventure.
My best wishes, my friend.


Peter

 

[Blogwitch]

I have been supporting this site almost from the beginning and except for a couple of bad arguments early on I have enjoyed every minute, especially when I shared my ramblings with everyone. It is such a shame it was all spoiled when Photobucket became very greedy and all pictures disappeared, spoiling all my older posts.

BTW, I still have ALL the pictures I put into my posts, so if you do need to resurrect one of my earlier posts, I am still able to send you the pictures you require to see what was happening, but this won't be available for much longer, either send me a PM or email at

[email protected]

I also had to find a new forever home for my little dog Gunner, it was heart breaking but had to be done and the people I chose have been brilliant and he has settled down very well.


My workshop has now gone, and it was a wonderful experience, meeting lots of new model engineering friends when they came to visit to buy, I think everyone enjoyed themselves and all went away with a smile as I threw in lots of freebies for them to take away.

I get married in three weeks time and I will be moving in with my new wife straight away so that she can look after me for the time I have left, which at this time can't be laid down in stone. I will be trying to get away on honeymoon in early May to Cyprus for a couple of weeks, I am hoping the rest will do me a little good.

Anyway, the time to say goodbye has arrived. I will still log on when I can and read what people are now up to, but I won't be trying to help, I am still losing my grip on memories and just can't recall very much now.

So goodbye my friends, both old and new, I will try to remember you while I am still able to.


John

Please don't forget my signature line, it applies to everyone

If you don't try it, you will never know if you can do it!!

 

[Cogsy]

I wish you well John. Thank you for all your assistance to the community over the years. You will certainly not be forgotten.

 

[ShopShoe]

Thank You John!

I am, and have been, guided by your signature line most of the time. It's amazing what one can do if they try something, rather than let others do it.

Try It, whatever the new "it" is and good luck.

--ShopShoe

 

[MrMetric]

Having finally moved to a point in my life where my kids are (slightly) less work, I've resurrected my (always) strong interest in engines. That means going over this site with lots and lots of interest. Your posts, John, are plentiful and interesting. I didn't have the pleasure of reading them "real time," but I am sure I'll continue to benefit from your generosity of sharing even though you are concentrating on other things. You can count on me as being a "one of the new friends" in that regard. So, thank you. I wish you the best of luck with your new bride and how you choose to spend your time. Two Thumb Up!

And, I agree on your tag line. Life is about learning, and failure is part of success.

Cheers!

 

[deeferdog]

Thank you.

 

[oldboy]

Thank you for all your help and advice. Congratulations on your pending wedding and all the best for the future.

Barry
Australia.