I am still here.

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Mike D.
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I am still here.

Post by Mike D. »

It's been some weeks since I have checked it on Leverguns, so it's time to update everyone on my current situation. A few weeks ago we went on our annual group campout down to the ranch and as the days moved from Friday to Sunday I found myself growing progressively weaker. By Sun AM I was toast and not only unable to eat but completely shot to the point where all I could do was lay on the
levee and let the gang clean up while I watched. My pulse was racing and breathing was shallow and inadequate. Hell, I couldn't even drive my PU home so a friend's wife drove it. Needless to say we came home and I went straight away to the ER. When the duty nurse saw me she immediately pulled me aside and rushed me into the bowels of Emergency. My pulse was 209, and I was under Supraventricular Tachicardia. The docs gave me a shot to stop my heart and restart it and all went "normal". I was released a few hours later and went home to rest.
Forward to last Saturday. I awakened again with a feeling of inadequate air intake and by later that morning I was back in the Hospital, not to awaken until the next day, after an emergency Tracheotomy was performed to save my life. All reports were that it was close, but the good Docs were able to "reclaim" me from the Grim Reaper. Now, I must deal with this life changing and likely permanent situation. It looks like my bottle digging and deer hunting days are over, because I am now on oxygen and can't be far from the beaten track, but the other "option" was unacceptable. I have my family to thank for the wonderful care I am given as I sit tied to a small compressor that pumps a 2% fraction of oxygen to augment my breathing. That alone keeps my Blood/Ox at 99%. Shoot,I even have to sleep in a hospital bed that Healthcare set up in our living room. Enough for now, I gotta get back to my recliner. Maybe I'll check in mañana. Here is a photo taken by my daughter, Kelly. It was her bulldog determination that got the full attention of the home care folks who FINALLY came through with the home care supplies that I was in desperate need of.
Today, I actually spent some time in the garage beginning to work on cutting the lower tang slot on a Miroku 1886 so that it will be fitted to the original parts that were placed on the gun. :)
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"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged"....President Abraham Lincoln
K1500
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Re: I am still here.

Post by K1500 »

Mike, it is good to see you back at home where you are comfortable. My strategy is always to get out of the hospital as fast as I can! It sounds like the Dr's did a good job, and you are surrounded by family, friends, and fine leverguns. Best wishes on a speedy recovery.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by pwl44m »

Well I'm certainly glad to hear that You are still with Us. Those close calls reminds Us that We aren't guarnateed another Day.
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Alan Wood
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Alan Wood »

Mike,
Glad to here you are still alive! Wish you didn't need the oxygen though.
JerryB
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Re: I am still here.

Post by JerryB »

Praise the Lord Mike. God has given you some more time and I know you'll make the best off it.
JerryB II Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

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Malamute
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Malamute »

Wow! Glad you are OK.

Don't they make small portable oxygen bottles for people that dig bottles and deer hunt? Set up in a light day pack type setup should let you be mobile.
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-

Isnt it amazing how many people post without reading the thread?
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Re: I am still here.

Post by homefront »

Aren't daughters wonderful? :wink:

Do whatever it takes to get better, Mike.
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earlmck
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Re: I am still here.

Post by earlmck »

Holy moly there, Mike -- you've been having serious adventures! No wonder you didn't chime in a few times there when I would have expected you. We're glad you are getting the good care you need.

Welcome back!
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is he who heals the most gullies.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by KirkD »

Mike, that sounds like it was a close one! Take care of yourself. I'll be praying for you tonight before I hit the sack.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
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C. Cash
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Re: I am still here.

Post by C. Cash »

Glad you pulled through all that Mike! Keep hanging tough amigo.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Dave B
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Dave B »

Close call Mike. I am so glad that you are still with us.
Please take care of your self.

Dave B
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Re: I am still here.

Post by AJMD429 »

Malamute wrote:Don't they make small portable oxygen bottles for people that dig bottles and deer hunt? Set up in a light day pack type setup should let you be mobile.
Yep, they do.

Get your strength back with good nutrition, prayer, and whatever medications and exercises they recommend, then you can start to 'push the envelope'. Just be sure that you do it strategically; don't fail to have backup for your backup, etc...

Remember, doctors only have five treatments to recommend, when you get down to it...
  • Prayer and Meditation
    Surgeries
    Nutrition and Diet
    Medications
    Therapies (mental and physical, including exercise)
Looks like all five have been instrumental in your recovery; hopefully the tracheotomy will be the only surgery you have to deal with...!
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crs
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Re: I am still here.

Post by crs »

Glad you made it Mike,
Does this mean you will have to give up chewing tobacco? :)
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Borregos
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Borregos »

Glad you made it through that Mike.
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olyinaz
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Re: I am still here.

Post by olyinaz »

Mike, some folks would have folded like a taco and skipped along to the light fantastic. Good job hanging in there! I hope all goes well and easy for you and I will pray to that end.

Best,
Oly
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Paladin
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Paladin »

Borregos wrote:Glad you made it through that Mike.
+1
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samb
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Re: I am still here.

Post by samb »

Glad your back! Take care of yourself and heal well. Prayers up for strength and healing. Sounds like it was a rough couple weeks.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Rusty »

Good to see you back Mike. Take care and follow doctor's orders, you'll come back.
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El Chivo
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Re: I am still here.

Post by El Chivo »

Great that you made it, and if things have changed, well, adaptation is what we're good at and there's ways around a lot of things.
"I'll tell you what living is. You get up when you feel like it. You fry yourself some eggs. You see what kind of a day it is."
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Old Savage »

Amazing that you can project the smile like that in this situation. Keep up the good work - you are obviously loved by your important people.
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gamekeeper
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Re: I am still here.

Post by gamekeeper »

Mike,
Glad to hear you made it through what sounds like a very tough time.
Prayers sent from my side of the pond for continuing improvement in your health and well done to your family and the medical staff.
Whatever you do always give 100%........... unless you are donating blood.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by .45colt »

Prayers Up for a complete recovery Mike. God Bless.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by 6pt-sika »

Glad to hear you're doing better !
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Re: I am still here.

Post by RIHMFIRE »

prayer sent!
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Tycer »

When they pull the trach tube out whistle us a tune! Heal well!
Kind regards,
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Marc
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Marc »

Yes it is good to hear you are still here! With A zone ending on Sunday I was expecting the deer report with pictures of the big buck you got. You can write one for us next year. Get the jeep fixed so you don't have to walk and the permit to hunt from the vehicle and you can still hunt.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Mike, so glad the docs got this sorted out! Please keep us up to date.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Pitchy »

Whew, take care Mike and our prayers are with ya.
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Shasta
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Shasta »

Whoa! And I thought you were just away for your hunting trip! You went through some very serious stuff, Mike, and thankfully you whupped 'em again! Don't entirely give up hunting or bottle digging, it's just that you can't do that stuff on your own. Let the other guys do the grunt work and you can supervise the activities. That's what a more experienced guy is supposed to do anyway! :D

Heal quickly and well!

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Modoc ED
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Modoc ED »

Take care of yourself Mike. Prayers are up and hope your health contiues on the up slope. I just gotta say that picture is a sneaky way to flash your legs to the ladies on the forum.
ED
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Re: I am still here.

Post by gak »

Mike, so glad you're sticking around! Speedy recovery and take care of yourself please!
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Re: I am still here.

Post by JohndeFresno »

Thank God for family, good doctors, and His hand over our lives.

Prayers sent your way for improving health.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Ben_Rumson »

Mike, so glad you're sticking around! Speedy recovery and take care of yourself please!

+1
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Re: I am still here.

Post by rjohns94 »

Mike, So very glad to hear you are doing ok. You are in my prayers. Blessings
Mike Johnson,

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TedH
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Re: I am still here.

Post by TedH »

Good to have you back Mike. Heal well.
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Ji in Hawaii
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Ji in Hawaii »

The righteous themselves will possess the earth, And they will reside forever upon it. Psalms 37:29

Mike you're a pretty righteous dude :wink: besides I owe you a beer the next time I visit my sis in San Jose.
Hang tough, and I'll see you sooner than later with an ice cold six-pack and a bag of macadamia nuts.
In the meantime listen to the docs and the family and stay positive like you have always been for others here. :D
Take care and give my aloha to your family especially Kelly, she's an awesome daughter and person.
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E holo nō lākou, ʻaʻole hoʻi e māloʻeloʻe,
E hele mua nō lākou, ʻaʻole hoʻi e maʻule.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Nath »

Blessings Mike friend.

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SteveR
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Re: I am still here.

Post by SteveR »

I will keep you in my prayers and get better soon!!!

Steve
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Re: I am still here.

Post by RustyJr »

Glad to see that you are still with us sir. You will be in my thoughts and prayers tonight.


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J Miller
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Re: I am still here.

Post by J Miller »

Hang in there Mike. Hope this heals all the way in good time.

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Re: I am still here.

Post by 2ndovc »

Ben_Rumson wrote:
Mike, so glad you're sticking around! Speedy recovery and take care of yourself please!

+1
+ BIG TIME!!

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Mike D.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Mike D. »

Small steps first. I have to work on shedding the oxygen dependency before any other things. My last of Oct buck hunt is definitely off, so I will request F&G if it is possible to give my tag to one of my cousins who did not get drawn this year. I still hope to go duck hunting this fall and winter, especially considering the not so small investment in a new club.

I see the Oncologist tomorrow and hope to soon be on a new chemo regimen now that I had a port installed. This means no more arm vein issues and resultant scarring.
"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged"....President Abraham Lincoln
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Re: I am still here.

Post by madman4570 »

Hang tough Mike-----Prayers up!
BenT
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Re: I am still here.

Post by BenT »

Good to hear that your still with us. Get an oximeter for your finger to check your oxygen levels . This will help you with managing it. They can be had for $40 at Walgreens. Also it will verify that your pump is working like it should. My father in laws pump stopped putting oxygen like it was suppose to . It took us a week to figure out that wasn't working like it should, so pay attention to things like that. Other than that you should be back to tinkering on old Winchesters in no time. Good Luck!
1894c

Re: I am still here.

Post by 1894c »

prayers sent... :)
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KirkD
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Re: I am still here.

Post by KirkD »

Mike, at night before I go to sleep I always pray for a few special things .... not a lot of things, just a few that are high priority. You are on that short list. Before I drift off, I'll be praying for you, plus other times during the day when I think of it.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
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Mike D.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Mike D. »

Thank you, everyone. I can use all the prayers that can be sent in my direction. I begin chemo tomorrow at 1000. Each session will take approximately 3 hrs, but the good thing is that I only have it every three weeks. Had blood pulled from my port this morning for tomorrow's treatment. I had my first "solid" lunch today, a half tuna sandwich, chips, some of mom's spicy homemade pickles and fruit for dessert. Yum. :)
"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged"....President Abraham Lincoln
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Re: I am still here.

Post by 20cows »

Mind the doc!
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Ysabel Kid
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Ysabel Kid »

AJMD429 wrote:
Malamute wrote:Don't they make small portable oxygen bottles for people that dig bottles and deer hunt? Set up in a light day pack type setup should let you be mobile.
Yep, they do.

Get your strength back with good nutrition, prayer, and whatever medications and exercises they recommend, then you can start to 'push the envelope'. Just be sure that you do it strategically; don't fail to have backup for your backup, etc...

Remember, doctors only have five treatments to recommend, when you get down to it...
  • Prayer and Meditation
    Surgeries
    Nutrition and Diet
    Medications
    Therapies (mental and physical, including exercise)
Looks like all five have been instrumental in your recovery; hopefully the tracheotomy will be the only surgery you have to deal with...!
+1 on all counts. My Mom uses the small portable bottles when she is not at home. Doesn't slow here down.

Prayers continue Mike!
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Mike D.
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Re: I am still here.

Post by Mike D. »

Chemo this morning only lasted 1 hr 45 mins, not the 3 hrs I was originally told. I came home and went to the garage to remove a little more wood from the Miroku lower tang groove.

Staying off ox for a while. My meter says still 97% after 4 hrs no supplemental air. I can do this quite fast, I believe. Now, a little computer time. :)
"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged"....President Abraham Lincoln
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