The beat goes on... :-)

[jhwalker]

In an attempt to reduce the number of infections I've been dealing with since the strokes occurred 2.5 years ago, I've had some studies performed that revealed a kidney anomaly that has supported the growth of a half-inch kidney stone that never tries to pass (thank God) -- but they say it is 'old' and 'very hard'. Serious deliberations regarding how to deal with it. Its too big for the standard tools, getting over-size tools to it to try to break it down requires an ugly process, they don't like to cut in thru the back. No good answer right now, so I'm twiddling my thumbs while we decide a course of action. Gotta go home and pay staff soon.
The downsides of just saying 'screw it' are 1. the infections it spawns, 2. if DOES try to pass, it absolutely will NOT make it, so we will be forced to react to the emergency. yawn...

[Tetge]

When I had my hip replacement, the smart surgeon told me that they had me now. But, I fooled them by avoiding the preventative tests, pills, and other treatments, that they feast on. Can't nag you about your physical state as demonstrated by their lab work, if you do not get the lab work done. Not that they are useless, since the hip replacement was wonderful, when I finally got it done due to inability to walk, and constant pain. And, they can do great things for known issues. But, the paint all with the same brush, lab test, modern, I see so many patients that I do not even know you, doctors, follow set scripts, and even deliver exactly the same speeches to their patients. In general the statistics of the time support this approach, but humans still vary individually enough that lab work can not treat everything effectively.

Still, having an health issue that is presented as potentially dangerous, and knowing about it, is stressful, and scary, at least for me. Especially if there is debate in the medical community about proper treatment of said condition. I expect that this might drive me to drink even before the loss of my driver's license sends me on a binge.

[jhwalker]

When I had my hip replacement, the smart surgeon told me that they had me now. But, I fooled them by avoiding the preventative tests, pills, and other treatments, that they feast on. Can't nag you about your physical state as demonstrated by their lab work, if you do not get the lab work done. Not that they are useless, since the hip replacement was wonderful, when I finally got it done due to inability to walk, and constant pain. And, they can do great things for known issues. But, the paint all with the same brush, lab test, modern, I see so many patients that I do not even know you, doctors, follow set scripts, and even deliver exactly the same speeches to their patients. In general the statistics of the time support this approach, but humans still vary individually enough that lab work can not treat everything effectively.

Still, having an health issue that is presented as potentially dangerous, and knowing about it, is stressful, and scary, at least for me. Especially if there is debate in the medical community about proper treatment of said condition. I expect that this might drive me to drink even before the loss of my driver's license sends me on a binge.

I would love to avoid the tests, but standing at the toilet shaking in pain as I watch the drops of blood dribble out leads me towards wanting to cure. The dots on the graph don't lead to 'cured'. I was blessed to basically have lived a healthy life until age 70 (excluding my self-inflicted injuries) -- I'd have an 'annual' every 3-4 years, get an
'all clear', and move on. The stroke was BS, but that bell cannot be un-rung. My first 'near-death' experience with my kidneys was at age 15. These episodes happen every 5-10 years. I am relieved to see that they may have found the source (not the stone, but the kidney structural flaws). I see no sinister plot here, just a James problem. This doc is so busy with us old coots that I may have to be scheduled in August. Which means back and forth from home to here. My Mexican doc is a good guy, but gave me about I/4 of the info as I got yesterday. Old age sucks.

[SonicVenum]

Oof, do they have lasers or something they could blast it with? Somebody needs to start working on synthetic bodies you can upload your consciousness into.

[jhwalker]

Oof, do they have lasers or something they could blast it with? Somebody needs to start working on synthetic bodies you can upload your consciousness into.

They have to get the laser in proximity. Thus the 'up the uretha with the tools. Their hardness test says this stone is granite. Terri said, just cut it out. They said 'too much risk, stone too big', blah blah'. It may happen over a 2 week period. We are using medicare since Terri retired. One step up from cash...
Such is life... I'd just like to take a leak without crying.

[xbacksideslider]

How did it get in there?

[jhwalker]

Doc says like little Topsy it just grew and grew. Something to do with the kidney abnormality

[jhwalker]

The schedule is getting clearer. We fly home in a week to 10 days, pay bills, have a visit from my oldest son and his wife for a week, and then pay the staff for a month forward, haul ass back here and start the medical BS. HOPEFULLY the end result will be a James sans 1/2 inch stone, and without the infections.
woo hoo hope springs eternal.

[Tetge]

Man, this is almost scary stuff for those, such as I, who are younger than you are. One hopes that the doctors can fix it, but it is a tad worrisome that they apparently do not know how to do this in Mexico, as there are good doctors and facilities there, and have been for many years. But, I suppose that your English is good enough to get by!

I also decided to merge my astute comments into one post, so I also wish to say that just after my father died, my brother got a line on a couple of special commemorative edition 1987 MotoGuzzi SE's, and we both purchased one. They even ended up with consecutive license plate numbers, and I owned mine for a long time, and had many an historic romp on it. But, when my hip got really bad I became unable to ride the Guzzi, and it sat and sat. That combined with the fact that some of the unique parts on the SE were not available anywhere (I purchased a low mileage crashed SE as for parts, and it came in handy for me and my brother), finally convinced me to part with the bike, history and memories aside. This was a bit emotional, and, now and then, I miss the Guzzi, as it had a great engine and exhaust note, and it was fun to ride, but, overall, it saved a bit of money and made more space as the parts bike also went as part of the deal. My brother also sold his off a bit later, mostly for logistical reasons, and he too misses it now and then. But, when a machine is not readily available or usable, at some point it moves from fun toy to play with status to being part of as collection. Batteries go dead, or fail, even on trickle chargers. Seals harden up and braking systems are prone to gumming up, etc., if the machine is road ready but just sits.

So, in many ways, it makes sense to sell your replica, although 50% is a large amount to hand over to Terri, considering all the effort and time that you spent on the car. You should negotiate a better deal and then you can get some more appropriate toys, such as a dedicated four wheel, full cage, long travel suspension, type off road capable machine. You can get pretty crazy in one of those, so it could scratch your desire to get crazy in a motoring device, and, in many rural areas people get away with running around in their dirt machines, even on public roadways. Naturally you would miss the replica, but, a bird in hand is still a major incentive, compared to a toy that is basically almost inaccessible.

But, of course, I have to acknowledge that as an older person, you must be wiser that us young folk, and, only you know what value keeping the replica brings. But, there is life after parting with a machine that you are, or were, very fond of. I still miss my '03 Terminator, yet another victim of my failed hip, but, life still goes on with a newer model Mustang that is a couple of seconds slower in the 1/4 and vastly less interesting to drive than than the Terminator. But, one adapts, and, in some ways, it was a good thing as the Terminator has 88000 miles on it, and they were very hard miles indeed, and, again, it was special enough to create parts and service issues.

But, getting old sure sounds scary............

[jhwalker]

Man, this is almost scary stuff for those, such as I, who are younger than you are. One hopes that the doctors can fix it, but it is a tad worrisome that they apparently do not know how to do this in Mexico, as there are good doctors and facilities there, and have been for many years. But, I suppose that your English is good enough to get by!

I also decided to merge my astute comments into one post, so I also wish to say that just after my father died, my brother got a line on a couple of special commemorative edition 1987 MotoGuzzi SE's, and we both purchased one. They even ended up with consecutive license plate numbers, and I owned mine for a long time, and had many an historic romp on it. But, when my hip got really bad I became unable to ride the Guzzi, and it sat and sat. That combined with the fact that some of the unique parts on the SE were not available anywhere (I purchased a low mileage crashed SE as for parts, and it came in handy for me and my brother), finally convinced me to part with the bike, history and memories aside. This was a bit emotional, and, now and then, I miss the Guzzi, as it had a great engine and exhaust note, and it was fun to ride, but, overall, it saved a bit of money and made more space as the parts bike also went as part of the deal. My brother also sold his off a bit later, mostly for logistical reasons, and he too misses it now and then. But, when a machine is not readily available or usable, at some point it moves from fun toy to play with status to being part of as collection. Batteries go dead, or fail, even on trickle chargers. Seals harden up and braking systems are prone to gumming up, etc., if the machine is road ready but just sits.

So, in many ways, it makes sense to sell your replica, although 50% is a large amount to hand over to Terri, considering all the effort and time that you spent on the car. You should negotiate a better deal and then you can get some more appropriate toys, such as a dedicated four wheel, full cage, long travel suspension, type off road capable machine. You can get pretty crazy in one of those, so it could scratch your desire to get crazy in a motoring device, and, in many rural areas people get away with running around in their dirt machines, even on public roadways. Naturally you would miss the replica, but, a bird in hand is still a major incentive, compared to a toy that is basically almost inaccessible.

But, of course, I have to acknowledge that as an older person, you must be wiser that us young folk, and, only you know what value keeping the replica brings. But, there is life after parting with a machine that you are, or were, very fond of. I still miss my '03 Terminator, yet another victim of my failed hip, but, life still goes on with a newer model Mustang that is a couple of seconds slower in the 1/4 and vastly less interesting to drive than than the Terminator. But, one adapts, and, in some ways, it was a good thing as the Terminator has 88000 miles on it, and they were very hard miles indeed, and, again, it was special enough to create parts and service issues.

But, getting old sure sounds scary............

I read your post a couple of times to try to make sense of it, then gave up. It must be the old age.
We have 1 stretch of road between us and town that is 'Federal' where they will stop ATVs (revenue generation) -- but I know off-road alternatives. The Polaris I'm looking at is bigger than the VW Crossfox and costs 2.5 times as much. but it has 32" wheels and 25" of suspension travel.

I've had most medical work perfomed in Mexico -- I like the doctors there, but the work is 'cash' there, and Medicare here. But it really comes down to where I think the work will be done best. And I'm just guessing. The UCLA doc here (an asian chick with big ole man hands) reeks of knowledge and confidence. I think I trust her more. This procedure has the look of a possible train-wreck, and I'd like to just not deal with pain and unexpected consequences for a while.(yawn)


I'm going to have the folks at the Hastings start driving the SPF on the track for 5 -10 gentle laps a month. Just to exercise the car a little. It is too much to fly there for a day or two with as much bs as I have going on. I really want to keep the SPF until I get one more good road trip. It costs little to keep it around, and I'd rather sell it after a good trip. or keep it after a good trip. With the VMP'd 4.6 it is the most satisfying toy I've owned, and I know I will miss it. (if only in my mind...)
I sold the DRZ-S this year for $100 less than I paid in 2009(8)?, but am gonna keep the E, and keep the Ducati. Gives me some things to screw around with and look forward to riding... when I get younger
life goes on