Well, I've somehow survived for seventy-five years now, although I must admit that it was a close call!

For the third time in as many months, I had to be taken to CHI St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs. First it was for a severe viral lung infection. The doctor's diagnosed COPD, but I still believe the cause to have been viral: RSV to be precise. The following month was a repeat of the first stay, but fortunately it only required three days before being discharged.

Last Thursday, I had to get one of my fellow vets to take me there as I had become dizzy, lethargic with very low energy. I honestly thought I was dying. Well, I wasn't entirely wrong as I had developed a very low-grade pain in my mid-abdominal area that went away after eating some food, but then reappeared sometime later on. Also, my stool had suddenly changed from a light cream color to very dark black, with a light tinge of red.

After blood work it was discovered that I had lost three units of blood and was on the verge of complete failure. Yikes! After infusing three units of blood, they rushed me to the operating theater and performed an endoscopy, during which they found and cauterized two bleeding ulcers. I nearly died from hypovolemic shock.

The "Milestone Reached?" Today was my seventy-fifth birthday, which I celebrated alone, back in my little cottage in the forest.

21 minutes ago, n4gix said:

Well, I've somehow survived for seventy-five years now, although I must admit that it was a close call!

For the third time in as many months, I had to be taken to CHI St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs. First it was for a severe viral lung infection. The doctor's diagnosed COPD, but I still believe the cause to have been viral: RSV to be precise. The following month was a repeat of the first stay, but fortunately it only required three days before being discharged.

Last Thursday, I had to get one of my fellow vets to take me there as I had become dizzy, lethargic with very low energy. I honestly thought I was dying. Well, I wasn't entirely wrong as I had developed a very low-grade pain in my mid-abdominal area that went away after eating some food, but then reappeared sometime later on. Also, my stool had suddenly changed from a light cream color to very dark black, with a light tinge of red.

After blood work it was discovered that I had lost three units of blood and was on the verge of complete failure. Yikes! After infusing three units of blood, they rushed me to the operating theater and performed an endoscopy, during which they found and cauterized two bleeding ulcers. I nearly died from hypovolemic shock.

The "Milestone Reached?" Today was my seventy-fifth birthday, which I celebrated alone, back in my little cottage in the forest.

Glad they found the ulcers in time! My wife is an ICU nurse and I've heard the horror stories of GI bleeds. I'm glad your doing better! 

Congratulations on reaching three quarters of a century, Bill. Get well soon 👍

Edited January 22, 20242 yr by Christopher Low

Glad your still with us,

Num 6:24  ‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. 
Num 6:25  May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. 
Num 6:26  May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’ 

I'm 73 my wife is 75, my tips for a long healthy life, Don't smoke (vape if you must, after 10 years of vapping my lungs are clear) cut out gluten and wheat (or eat sour dough bread, delish). Take Lactobacillus Reuteri every day (it re-populates your small intestine and kills off any SIBO), once a month we take 10 drops of methyline Blue in water, every 3 months for 2 weeks Alow vera and black grape juice (contains ORME). Following advice from a proffessor of medicine we listen to our bodies and self medicate with Echinacea, Ivermectin, Vitimin D,C. And last but not least lose the fear of death?! Everyone does it so it can't be that bad!! (I also had an NDE, so I can vouch for the later)

Edited January 22, 20242 yr by SierraHotel

5 hours ago, SierraHotel said:

I'm 73 my wife is 75, my tips for a long healthy life, Don't smoke (vape if you must, after 10 years of vapping my lungs are clear) cut out gluten and wheat (or eat sour dough bread, delish). Take Lactobacillus Reuteri every day (it re-populates your small intestine and kills off any SIBO), once a month we take 10 drops of methyline Blue in water, every 3 months for 2 weeks Alow vera and black grape juice (contains ORME). Following advice from a proffessor of medicine we listen to our bodies and self medicate with Echinacea, Ivermectin, Vitimin D,C. And last but not least lose the fear of death?! Everyone does it so it can't be that bad!! (I also had an NDE, so I can vouch for the later)

Well, I just celebrated my 90th birthday and got here by accident guess.  I never watched my diet and continue to eat what I like.  I got lazy and I exercise by just walking around my apartment and going to the dining room for meals three times a day (except when I don't like what's on the menu and cook a steak or chops or something in my room.)  I think a good attitude toward life helps a lot too.

I do have a balance problem and arthritic feet.  But apart from that I feel OK.

Happy Birthday and good health Fr. Bill.  You've always got a friend in Roswell.

Noel

I believe it's a combination of genes and luck. 

Happy birthday, Bill!  I'm about 3 weeks away from my 3/4 century mark!

Happy Birthday Bill! Today (1/22) is my 87th!. I sympathize, I had a similar bleeding ulcer crash about 10 years ago. Scared the hell out of me but I muddled through and here I am at 87. So you have 12 years to catch up.  🙂 

My motto is "Take it one day at a time" -  somehow they keep adding up.

Glad you are feeling better!

 

Vic

2 hours ago, charliearon said:

Happy birthday, Bill!  I'm about 3 weeks away from my 3/4 century mark!

Thanks! Since I'm here already, allow me to wish you an early birthday and my prayers for another quarter century! 😇

2 hours ago, birdguy said:

Happy Birthday and good health Fr. Bill.  You've always got a friend in Roswell.

Thanks, Noel! This last adventure took place during an unusually heavy snow event here in south central Arkansas, which made the journey to the hospital's emergency room slow and nail-biting! 

I have a scheduled trip to the VA hospital in Little Rock on the 31st for a colonoscopy, so I'll have had both ends of my digestive track thoroughly examined. Oh joy! 😜

5 minutes ago, n4gix said:

I have a scheduled trip to the VA hospital in Little Rock on the 31st for a colonoscopy, so I'll have had both ends of my digestive track thoroughly examined. Oh joy! 😜

You would think with modern technology, they would come up with a pill-sized camera that can be swallowed, take a movie of it's travels through and be captured at the other end!  I'm glad I do the 💩 test once a year!

Happy Birthday Fr. Bill.  How could you possibly be alone... He is always with you. Not to mention that you are in the hearts of a lot of flight simmers who love you.

 Sue

3 hours ago, n4gix said:

for a colonoscopy

Somehow I missed ever getting one of those.

Noel

Happy Birthday Bill, looking forward to many more 

@n4gix, firstly, a happy 75th birthday. Secondly, I’m pleased you’ve been treated successfully. Keep healthy and hopefully many more birthdays can be celebrated. 👍