I was having a crap day. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face. Us folks here aren’t done with Dark Horse yet.
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Serious question for the luthiers here ....
- Thread starter Dark Horse
- Start date
Glad you’re doing well. Been a bit of a rough go in the LC in the last few months. I’m happy everyone is recovering.
Great to hear you're on the other side of treatment, DH! Taking it like a champ!!
You seem to have gone through this with a very good positive attitude and you should be applauded.
Nice going! 
I'm doing okay. The recovery is frustratingly slow. I feel okay. I can get up, walk around, take care of myself. Slowly getting the energy and strength back. I can now walk a half mile outdoors at normal speed. I'm getting some light work done in the shop, about an hour at a time. Mostly in the machine shop making parts. That feels good mentally.
Docs say everything is looking good. The recovery is going well, but it's going to be another month or two before I'm really back up to normal speed. Patience and gradual exercise.
Docs say everything is looking good. The recovery is going well, but it's going to be another month or two before I'm really back up to normal speed. Patience and gradual exercise.
I found recovery to be one of the most frustrating parts about the whole process. I originally received my diagnosis in Feb of 2019, and I am totally still recovering now. I still get winded even going grocery shopping, and have taken to doing most of my walking with a cane. I wouldn't say that I absolutely need it, but its nice to have that extra support for when I get tired or short of breath. (also works well as a social distancing tool) I've been playing with my band at practice - we have our first gig at the end of this month - but there's no way I could stand for 4 sets. I've been playing guitar and keyboards, and when I play keys, I sit down. That's about half our songs. Almost all the new songs, I try to play them on keys. I prefer to sit rather than stand.
I'm doing okay. This latest event was rectified with the emergency process, but I still have lots of blockages, and so I'm probably looking at a double bypass in the fall. I have a consult with a cardiac surgeon next week and will learn a little more. I feel pretty good overall, but I'm struggling with the higher doses of meds a bit, as they really knock me back. Still kicking though... 
I know you’ve been recovering for quite a while .... I’m glad it continues to get better, but it sucks that It’s taking so long.
that’s super cool about you getting back to gigging !!! And I won’t lie....Last year when I broke my ankle I had to do bunches of gigs sitting down .... I didn’t hate it !
all the best to you, Mapleglo !!
I'm doing okay. This latest event was rectified with the emergency process, but I still have lots of blockages, and so I'm probably looking at a double bypass in the fall. I have a consult with a cardiac surgeon next week and will learn a little more. I feel pretty good overall, but I'm struggling with the higher doses of meds a bit, as they really knock me back. Still kicking though...
Just take care of yourself my friend... don’t overdo it, ok ?
Yeah, things are a little different this time round compared to my first heart attack. I was telling the cardio about the (mild) biking I've been doing in the last two weeks, and he says "Hmm. Maybe you should take a break from that for a while, and I'll give you a schedule of exercise". And it's like gentle walk daily plus a short ride 2x weekly. I was doing things gently, but this is a claw back, as I was walking daily plus riding daily. One good news piece was he was fully in support of luthiery.
Figured I'd bump this one back up and keep the good thoughts/vibes/prayers/peaceful-easy-feelings headed your way... and that goes for all the LC recoverees: DH, Bruce, Beej, Mapleglo, and anyone else I might have missed.
Y'all hang in there, and we're pullin'/prayin' for you all
John
Y'all hang in there, and we're pullin'/prayin' for you all
John
Well, I'm actually writing from a hospital bed, recovering from surgery yesterday. My heart is fine, pumping away. But I developed an infection in the rib cage joint that prevented the ribs and skin from healing up properly. So, they brought me back down to Cedars-Siani to cut me back open, clean it out, and rework the joint. I had the initial surgery yesterday, and will have the close-up on Friday. Hopefully back home on Wednesday.
A setback, but I've got to get it fixed right.
Technical notes:
They stitched the ribcage back together with fine stainless steel wire. However, this was a problem in me. It appears that the infection caught hold around the stainless wire. So they took most of it out yesterday.
They join the skin back together mostly with glue, plus some little dissolving clips. I was going to suggest carbon fiber TOW and West Systems epoxy, but I didn't. They seem to know what they are doing.
Rôckhewer
Commercial User
- Feb 28, 2015
- 2,922
- 9,028
- Disclosures
- Owner/Builder- RockHewer Custom Guitars LLC
I have kinda avoided this thread because I don't cope well with friends and family facing health issues.
And I love all of you like extended family.
Cancer plus heart disease took my Dad when I was 26... and they scares the poopie out of me.
What I went through last year, and why I took a break.... pales in comparison to what you guys are dealing with.
Much love, respect and prayers.
In 2019 ... I finally kicked an 18 year long, high dose opiate dependency. (Dr. prescribed for back issues when I was a stone mason... but I was basically a functioning junkie all this time).
All clean now. And that feels great.
But, after the dope wasn't on board any more, it became evident I suffered from moderate to severe peripheral neuropathy.
(Nerve damage... pins & needles pain in the feet that doesn't let you sleep.)
Plus I had a massive abdominal hernia that was inoperable until I lost 130 lbs.
After "Fusión"... I started "Katana" but had to stop.
I could not work....so bummed.
I filed for disability insurance.... and was awarded.
Luckily, because the neuropathy treatment alone was over $5K
That's much better now.
...If any of you suffer from Neuropathy?... hit me up.
There is no ultimate cure, but there IS relief available without stupid medications that only mask symptoms.
And I started eating correctly.
It's amazing how much processed garbage and poison is sold in the name of "food" in this country. But I digress.
I lost the weight and got the hernia surgery finally in Nov.
I felt great... finally!
I took a trip to NY to celebrate & see my pal Bobby D. In December.
On the flight back... I caught the Covid.
.... I swear...
It was before "testing"... but all symptoms match.
Gave it to my wife.... she got pneumonia and super low O² stats. That virus lasted a month. Yeah it's no joke.
We are both fine now.
I'm only suffering from boredom frustration and muscle atrophy at this point.
Trying to get back at it.
But damn.... I feel like I had an easy year... compared to dealing with chemo....etc...
Again... much love and prayers.
And I love all of you like extended family.
Cancer plus heart disease took my Dad when I was 26... and they scares the poopie out of me.
What I went through last year, and why I took a break.... pales in comparison to what you guys are dealing with.
Much love, respect and prayers.
In 2019 ... I finally kicked an 18 year long, high dose opiate dependency. (Dr. prescribed for back issues when I was a stone mason... but I was basically a functioning junkie all this time).
All clean now. And that feels great.
But, after the dope wasn't on board any more, it became evident I suffered from moderate to severe peripheral neuropathy.
(Nerve damage... pins & needles pain in the feet that doesn't let you sleep.)
Plus I had a massive abdominal hernia that was inoperable until I lost 130 lbs.
After "Fusión"... I started "Katana" but had to stop.
I could not work....so bummed.
I filed for disability insurance.... and was awarded.
Luckily, because the neuropathy treatment alone was over $5K
That's much better now.
...If any of you suffer from Neuropathy?... hit me up.
There is no ultimate cure, but there IS relief available without stupid medications that only mask symptoms.
And I started eating correctly.
It's amazing how much processed garbage and poison is sold in the name of "food" in this country. But I digress.
I lost the weight and got the hernia surgery finally in Nov.
I felt great... finally!
I took a trip to NY to celebrate & see my pal Bobby D. In December.
On the flight back... I caught the Covid.
.... I swear...
It was before "testing"... but all symptoms match.
Gave it to my wife.... she got pneumonia and super low O² stats. That virus lasted a month. Yeah it's no joke.
We are both fine now.
I'm only suffering from boredom frustration and muscle atrophy at this point.
Trying to get back at it.
But damn.... I feel like I had an easy year... compared to dealing with chemo....etc...
Again... much love and prayers.
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Andy, just now seeing this thread for the first time. Prayers for you and all others on here dealing with this. We're going to have that beer one day...just need y'all to get back on the road as a full band again.
@Bruce Johnson - man, sorry to hear about the infection, but I’m glad they caught it... and I hope you’re home recovering nicely !
@Rôckhewer - That’s a lot to have gone through. I applaud you on the life changes you’ve made. Getting control of things you previously “depended on” is certainly empowering. Congratulations ! And on the food thing.... absolutely true. Dietary change can affect so many things in our lives, not just weight. Cutting out sugars made a HUGE difference in my life and how I feel. I also now know that cancer cells “feed” on sugars, so I’m guessing that had I not cut sugars two years ago, my cancer would’ve spread far quicker and possibly been non-treatable by the time it was discovered. As it is, I’m stage 4 tongue/lymph.... so add sugar/fuel to that and I might not be here at all.
—————————————————
And as for me.... obviously I’ve finished my 6 rounds of chemo and 35 rounds of radiation. It was hell. Don’t underestimate how damaging radiation is. My throat was raw, inside and out. 3rd degree burns on my neck. Taste buds were gone... food tasted like dirt and poo and mucus mixed.... not that I could barely swallow anyway. Thank God for my feeding tube. I lost over 35 lbs even with the tube. It was all I could do to ride to my appointments, get treated, and come home and lay down all day.
Skip to the present: I am now nearly two weeks out of my final radiation treatment. My neck burns have healed up pretty well (thanks Silvadene), and my throat isn’t nearly as sore as it was. It’s not near perfect, but it’s MUCH better. I’m able to eat things like eggs and other soft foods, though most foods still taste horrible. Eggs and almond milk are ok though. And my taste buds are starting to come back slowly. Good Lord I miss tacos !!! As for my energy levels, they’ve improved greatly. I’m not upright for long periods of time, but I can be up and around for a bit. Definitely not ready to be back in the shop, but I’m getting there. Got up too quickly yesterday to close a door though, blacked out and hit my head on the floor hard. I don’t feel concussed though, so that’s good ... just a goose egg.... it was just a reminder not to do things too fast ! Let’s see, what else..... way less pain, able to eat small amounts with my mouth, able to stand and move about for a bit..... yeah, that’s about it. I think recovery is going well. I’m going to keep working more and more food into my diet so I can get rid of this feeding tube.... I hate it. I know it’s a necessity, but knowing it’s there and seeing it stick out of my stomach makes me feel”sick” mentally. So I want it gone ASAP.
Oh... and I get scans in 5-6 weeks to see if the treatments worked.... I pray I’m cancer free, but you just never know. I won’t take it for granted. I had a new catscan Done about a month ago due to my weight loss.... doc said the tumor in my tongue had shrunken so that it was almost indiscernible at that time, and I still had two more weeks of radiation left at that time, so I hope it’s gone. And I can no longer feel the giant, swollen lymph nodes that were in my neck. So I’m “hopefully cautious” about the success of the treatment. I honestly don’t know if I could do it again.
Obviously I couldn’t finish my build-off project(s).... that sucks. Someday when I can get back in the shop and reliably control power tools I’ll get back to work on them. First will be my brothers guitar though.
*Whew* That’s a lot !!!
Onward and upward.
@Rôckhewer - That’s a lot to have gone through. I applaud you on the life changes you’ve made. Getting control of things you previously “depended on” is certainly empowering. Congratulations ! And on the food thing.... absolutely true. Dietary change can affect so many things in our lives, not just weight. Cutting out sugars made a HUGE difference in my life and how I feel. I also now know that cancer cells “feed” on sugars, so I’m guessing that had I not cut sugars two years ago, my cancer would’ve spread far quicker and possibly been non-treatable by the time it was discovered. As it is, I’m stage 4 tongue/lymph.... so add sugar/fuel to that and I might not be here at all.
—————————————————
And as for me.... obviously I’ve finished my 6 rounds of chemo and 35 rounds of radiation. It was hell. Don’t underestimate how damaging radiation is. My throat was raw, inside and out. 3rd degree burns on my neck. Taste buds were gone... food tasted like dirt and poo and mucus mixed.... not that I could barely swallow anyway. Thank God for my feeding tube. I lost over 35 lbs even with the tube. It was all I could do to ride to my appointments, get treated, and come home and lay down all day.
Skip to the present: I am now nearly two weeks out of my final radiation treatment. My neck burns have healed up pretty well (thanks Silvadene), and my throat isn’t nearly as sore as it was. It’s not near perfect, but it’s MUCH better. I’m able to eat things like eggs and other soft foods, though most foods still taste horrible. Eggs and almond milk are ok though. And my taste buds are starting to come back slowly. Good Lord I miss tacos !!! As for my energy levels, they’ve improved greatly. I’m not upright for long periods of time, but I can be up and around for a bit. Definitely not ready to be back in the shop, but I’m getting there. Got up too quickly yesterday to close a door though, blacked out and hit my head on the floor hard. I don’t feel concussed though, so that’s good ... just a goose egg.... it was just a reminder not to do things too fast ! Let’s see, what else..... way less pain, able to eat small amounts with my mouth, able to stand and move about for a bit..... yeah, that’s about it. I think recovery is going well. I’m going to keep working more and more food into my diet so I can get rid of this feeding tube.... I hate it. I know it’s a necessity, but knowing it’s there and seeing it stick out of my stomach makes me feel”sick” mentally. So I want it gone ASAP.
Oh... and I get scans in 5-6 weeks to see if the treatments worked.... I pray I’m cancer free, but you just never know. I won’t take it for granted. I had a new catscan Done about a month ago due to my weight loss.... doc said the tumor in my tongue had shrunken so that it was almost indiscernible at that time, and I still had two more weeks of radiation left at that time, so I hope it’s gone. And I can no longer feel the giant, swollen lymph nodes that were in my neck. So I’m “hopefully cautious” about the success of the treatment. I honestly don’t know if I could do it again.
Obviously I couldn’t finish my build-off project(s).... that sucks. Someday when I can get back in the shop and reliably control power tools I’ll get back to work on them. First will be my brothers guitar though.
*Whew* That’s a lot !!!
Onward and upward.
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I’m really glad to hear your treatment is over! I agree - radiation is hell. At some point in the future people will look back and be horrified at the barbaric treatments that were used in these early days.
Recovery for me was a long and slow process, so be patient with it. I found that spending time just sitting outside was therapeutic, as was walking as I improved. I spent a year or so post-treatment battling depression, which I was told is not uncommon.
Taste came back eventually, but for me it came back different than it had been before - I developed a sweet tooth, which I had never had before, and even now, ten years later, still don’t care for the level of spicy heat I used to love. And my swallowing functions are not what they were pre-treatment either, but work well enough to get by.
One day at a time, and be good to yourself through the process!
Recovery for me was a long and slow process, so be patient with it. I found that spending time just sitting outside was therapeutic, as was walking as I improved. I spent a year or so post-treatment battling depression, which I was told is not uncommon.
Taste came back eventually, but for me it came back different than it had been before - I developed a sweet tooth, which I had never had before, and even now, ten years later, still don’t care for the level of spicy heat I used to love. And my swallowing functions are not what they were pre-treatment either, but work well enough to get by.
One day at a time, and be good to yourself through the process!
Keep up your fantastic attitude towards life and keep sharing your thoughts and feelings, I think that helps.
I think you are lucky (or smart) to have your mind right about a lot of things, to have your lifestyle in order.
You were already strong for a fight like this.
I look forward to when you feel good enough to enjoy yourself again doing the things you really like to do.
I think you are lucky (or smart) to have your mind right about a lot of things, to have your lifestyle in order.
You were already strong for a fight like this.
I look forward to when you feel good enough to enjoy yourself again doing the things you really like to do.
That’s a super encouraging update, Andy.
Praying for you, my friend.
Take it easy and get lots of rest... you’ll be back in the shop before you know it.
Praying for you, my friend.
Take it easy and get lots of rest... you’ll be back in the shop before you know it.
