Car Buddy Down for the Count

A bit more on this aging thing - car buds down for the count

Got a call yesterday - really good close buddy had an early morning stroke and then heart attack. Blood clot to the brain and in lungs, they had a tough time keeping him up and going. Lost his left side but after they were sure he wasn't going to bleed to death by stabilizing his heart, they then gave him the wonder drug that helps with strokes and he got most of the left side functionality back.

Once stable he was transferred from the local hospital to a major one with the sole focus of dealing with strokes and heart attacks. One of the significant advantages to living on the outskirts of a major center with a world class health care facility for almost any illness that can befall someone.

But he's in tough shape. Not that old, mid 50's, he and I have been working on cars together for 36 years or so, he is basically a chosen brother versus a "born" one, he is just a great guy, jovial, always willing to pitch in and help.

When this started he did the usual thing - he told his wife that she was not going to call an ambulance. He was emphatic that it was just the flu or a cold. This is typical male practice, avoid the issue and it will go away, sort of like first hearing a knock in the engine or feeling the tranny slip just a bit when towing something up a hill. Fortunately she had the presence of mind to ignore him and called. By the time they got there he'd gone down hill big time and was at that point close to being lost. Had she waited, or already headed out to work which is the usual thing, we'd of lost him. Stubborn as heck as it seems most all of the car people I've met are.

Warning signs: flu like symptoms, very noticeable lack of energy and ability to get enough air intake, felt like he was drowning almost. Hot and cold sweats, light headed, and don't know what else.

With the help of the doctors, his wife, his religious beliefs, and time he will heal. Unsure if he will get back to a point where he can play with his hotrod and vintage trailer (a current project), or any of the other things he has so enjoyed. This was such a major "hit" that there is no assurances that he'll get enough back to be able to drive or do many other things, but we are praying and hoping.

Some times life throws a brick at you and you don't get a chance to duck. So look around at your buddies and make sure you let them know just how much you appreciate having them in your life. We are so happy that we will at least get the chance to share more time with our friend, no matter how this has impacted him. And with the way the medical community has come in the past while who knows, he may be back to normal in the future.

 

Saf, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's health problems, but I'm sure glad he survived and is on the mend. He was down for the count, but got back up before he was out. My best wishes to him for a speedy recovery! :2_thumbs_up_-_anima

David

 

Scary stuff! Stroke and a heart attack at the same time! mg: I pray that recovery will be swift and easy. Pretty soon he will be up and again like nothing ever happened.

 

Sorry about your friend Saf, wishing him all the best for a speedy recovery

 

Hoping for a speedy recovery for your friend Saf.

Tedy, just wondering, does your dog know he's supposed to pull over for emergency vehicles? :confused:

 

Thoughts and prayers for your friend Safari57.

 

Prayers sent for your buddy's full recovery....

 

Thanks folks. Boy, this is tough. He is still at high risk - clots in the lungs and one in the brain that they have not yet been able to blast, others they have but these are tough ones.

Weight and lack of exercise are part of the problem. He's big, had trouble getting enough exercise because of it, and although not the overall primary reason for the problem it is making keeping him alive and getting him through this unscathed where the weight becomes the issue.

I really do appreciate the thoughts and prayers. He needs them.

As for me, I need to start joining my wife for her daily walks. Lesson learned!

 

Hoping for good things for your good friend Safari.

 

Your buddy is in my thoughts and prayers, Saf. I know what it's like. I did the ignoring number myself on the first stroke and, of course, then I had the second one. I hope he is back with you and his family again to enjoy many more years. Daily walks are a really good thing.

 

Saf: Prayers are on their way up! Walking is always important, of course, as is weight control. What Ma was told was to get a pedometer, and aim for 10,000 steps a day. She averages about 9,000 which is pretty good for being 83. Seems that just having a pedometer, and being aware of how much you walk, makes you want to walk more without conscious effort. People with a pedometer average about 2,000 more steps a day, without thinking about it. The human brain is really something! I did better than a pedometer, though. I got beagles. I have to walk the little buggers, no matter what!

 

Hubby has started walking with me, just around the block, since we got Skipper. It is so good for your body to keep active and you don't have to join a gym.

How scarey for you and your friend. Glad his wife doesn't listen to her husband. Her quick action probably saved his life. He may not have the same quality of life as before but hopefully he'll come out of this and be able to enjoy his life a bit longer. He sounds life a great friend.

 

His wife is such a motivated person that no matter what he will come out of this. That's our story and we are hoping it works. But truly, she is very motivated and he won't be allowed to take the easy road once she gets his doctors approval. He is still having a very difficult time - still generating clots which is scary, but with all the prayers going his way we are hopeful.

Yep, he is one lucky dog that she did not listen and got the ambulance. He may have survived but it is not likely that they'd of been able to stabilize him early enough for the drug they administer to have the full potency and thus positive results for return of his left side.

I know many people who have had near misses and then whammo, and like you Fannie, I include myself. My outcome was pretty good overall, but I did bugger myself up but so be it. I get stuff done - eventually but hey, it does get done, and my wife makes sure I'm doing most of the right things. Boy was she upset when she learned that I'd have incidents before and "forgot" to tell her or my doctor. Oops - silly me for mentioning it after the fact but oh well. Life is good when we get a second chance to grab ahold and do things differently.

 

You know Fox that this is a common male gender issue more than females. Or so my wife tells me so how accurate that is I don't know, but I know most of my buddies that I've spoken to have admitted to being guilty of at least one. Some more than that.

We are really hopeful for him, and while he is in the hospital hopefully they can get him started on a program that his wife will keep him focused on. Some of his immediate family came in today, a long drive for them, but I think with things trending the way they are they were coached to get in and give him more reasons to fight. 55 years old - he has a lot of years left to enjoy with us, we just need him to get through this.

One brighter spot, a cousin who has been in real tough shape and going downhill fast - after weeks of testing and nothing working the doctors finally were able to isolate the actual root cause of his ongoing infections which started after having a tumor removed. They went back in and dealt with that and we were able to visit him today. He recognized us, talked about his '63 ChevyII SS he is restoring and his plans to complete it, and just remembering where he is at with it, what he has to do, and actually talking and being able to hold a thought and not lose it a moment later, are all huge improvements over just a week ago. So with all the ups and downs there are still miracles out there to be had for the asking.

 

We as guys are the best/worst for ignoring what our body is telling us and I'm just as guilty. I'm still paying for things but in much appreciated fairness a long time back I let some thing slip in a PM and if it was not for the wise old Fox threatening to email my honey if I didn't go to hospital..... well I'm still paying and I'm younger than many but thanks to Fox I'm still on this side off the grass


We all, all GUYS need to forget the stubborn, it will go away, I'll be fine attitude if not for your self, but for your family


Sucking it up can be the hardest thing to do!