Well I'm now a week away from riding across Australia....on my motorbike!!
It's all in a good cause (Princess Margaret Hospital) and I'm getting excited...:-)
The bike has new tyres and has been serviced. I have my bike luggage (panniers, seat bag), a swag and all the necessaries......I hope.
All I need to do is pack and be ready to leave by Saturday 11/09/2010.
Wish me luck.............
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Another life experience.......not good but useful!!
On Tuesday morning we went out to breakfast. At a little cafe in Albany that serves excellent french toast and the like.
We were there about 10 minutes, had ordered our food and just got our coffees (iced for me of course) when I started to feel a bit off colour. I got a strange pain in between my shoulder blades and then started to feel sweaty and clammy. Then I got dizzy....very dizzy.
I told 'eL' that we needed to go as I felt crook and she went to sort out the bill and cancel the food. I went outside for some air and then I started to feel really ill. The pain in my back wasn't very bad but I was now feeling nauseous and in serious danger of passing out. I made it to the car and sat in the passenger side. When 'eL' arrived I was worried and told her to take me to hospital....now!
We got there in about 3 or 4 minutes during which I lay flat on my back with my feet on the dash (naughty I know but at least I didn't pass out). I was able to stand an walk in to ED where the triage nurse took one look at me and said "you'd better come straight through". Good service but that made me very worried!! I lay on a bed in a cubical and had a couple of nurses arrive within seconds......pads stuck all over me and connected to an ECG.....I don't even remember taking my shirt off but there you go! The nurse nearest me asked how I was feeling and I said "not good"....I obviously looked pretty bad too because she the said those scary words "just quietly I think your having a heart attack!".....to which I said "I was afraid of that". She kept asking another nurse where the doctor was.....well that was comforting....NOT! Then a nurse started looking for a vein in my hand or wrist but was told "no, further up, we need a big one". I started to feel cold and told the first nurse who said to another nurse "get the thing" and then had to add "the defib!". Oh bugger.....I don't like this......I'm now progressing nicely from scared to abject terror So the nurse jams this bloody great needle into my arm and the other one starts the ECG. The doctor arrives and introduces himself......then he looks at the ECG and says....."well that's alright, he's not having a heart attack".
Well......that's alright then....hang on.....everyone seemed to think I was....including me! Then I realised he had said I'm not having a heart attack....okay back to just worried now....in fact relieved.....no bloody relieved!!
I said to the doctor and nurses how stupid I now felt.....they all looked at me strangely and a nurse said....."it would have only been stupid if you ignored it and it was a heart attack!" Okay....point well made!
So after all that I spent a couple of hours lying in ED interrupted occasionally by x-rays, blood tests (well they did put that bloody big needle in, might as well use it!), etc.....the final conclusion a vaso-vagal fit or spasm! So nothing really......and we missed breakfast too! Then I got to go home. Thankfully.....
What did I learn.......well firstly trust your instincts....if you feel really bad go to hospital. Secondly....don't be afraid to tell your nearest and dearest when you think something is very wrong....none of the silent brave crap....it can get you killed. Be grateful that your job taught you advanced first aid....signs and symptoms of heart attack!!! (well mine did anyway:-)).
It also made me think about diet, exercise and relaxing........I need to concentrate on all of them more.....no point having a scare and not getting a benefit out of it!
That was my Tuesday................I can laugh about it now......well a little....maybe......
We were there about 10 minutes, had ordered our food and just got our coffees (iced for me of course) when I started to feel a bit off colour. I got a strange pain in between my shoulder blades and then started to feel sweaty and clammy. Then I got dizzy....very dizzy.
I told 'eL' that we needed to go as I felt crook and she went to sort out the bill and cancel the food. I went outside for some air and then I started to feel really ill. The pain in my back wasn't very bad but I was now feeling nauseous and in serious danger of passing out. I made it to the car and sat in the passenger side. When 'eL' arrived I was worried and told her to take me to hospital....now!
We got there in about 3 or 4 minutes during which I lay flat on my back with my feet on the dash (naughty I know but at least I didn't pass out). I was able to stand an walk in to ED where the triage nurse took one look at me and said "you'd better come straight through". Good service but that made me very worried!! I lay on a bed in a cubical and had a couple of nurses arrive within seconds......pads stuck all over me and connected to an ECG.....I don't even remember taking my shirt off but there you go! The nurse nearest me asked how I was feeling and I said "not good"....I obviously looked pretty bad too because she the said those scary words "just quietly I think your having a heart attack!".....to which I said "I was afraid of that". She kept asking another nurse where the doctor was.....well that was comforting....NOT! Then a nurse started looking for a vein in my hand or wrist but was told "no, further up, we need a big one". I started to feel cold and told the first nurse who said to another nurse "get the thing" and then had to add "the defib!". Oh bugger.....I don't like this......I'm now progressing nicely from scared to abject terror So the nurse jams this bloody great needle into my arm and the other one starts the ECG. The doctor arrives and introduces himself......then he looks at the ECG and says....."well that's alright, he's not having a heart attack".
Well......that's alright then....hang on.....everyone seemed to think I was....including me! Then I realised he had said I'm not having a heart attack....okay back to just worried now....in fact relieved.....no bloody relieved!!
I said to the doctor and nurses how stupid I now felt.....they all looked at me strangely and a nurse said....."it would have only been stupid if you ignored it and it was a heart attack!" Okay....point well made!
So after all that I spent a couple of hours lying in ED interrupted occasionally by x-rays, blood tests (well they did put that bloody big needle in, might as well use it!), etc.....the final conclusion a vaso-vagal fit or spasm! So nothing really......and we missed breakfast too! Then I got to go home. Thankfully.....
What did I learn.......well firstly trust your instincts....if you feel really bad go to hospital. Secondly....don't be afraid to tell your nearest and dearest when you think something is very wrong....none of the silent brave crap....it can get you killed. Be grateful that your job taught you advanced first aid....signs and symptoms of heart attack!!! (well mine did anyway:-)).
It also made me think about diet, exercise and relaxing........I need to concentrate on all of them more.....no point having a scare and not getting a benefit out of it!
That was my Tuesday................I can laugh about it now......well a little....maybe......
Friday, April 23, 2010
Long time since my last...........
Well it's been a bloody long time between drinks as they say!
I realised a while back that I had taken to venting (whinging!) in most of my posts......BOOOORRIIIIINNGG!!!! So I thought it was time to point out the good stuff....the things I am grateful for....:-)
First and most important.....my wonderful wife! She makes me smile and keeps me sane.....plus she puts up with my mood swings and general negativity on occasions. She is the best!!!
Secondly my health.....which is pretty good despite the way I eat and my lack of exercise....:-)
Thirdly my siblings....you know who you are!! My brother with his cool wife and three wacky (in a good way) kids, my sister (who's just survived her first birth) with her health crazy husband and her sweet new son Nicholas (what lungs man!!) and the youngest, most recently married brother with his wonderful wife. You guys are a cool bunch and we seemed to have turned out all right.....well mostly...:-)
Then there's the day to day stuff.....I have a well paid job (some may not necessarily agreed) which allows me to see some of the most hilarious, bizarre and unexpected stuff everyday....who else can say that? The place we live is comfortable and very, very picturesque......in fact a place I think I could stay at if things worked out the right way....who knows. The house we have is large and very comfortable. We have two completely mad rescue dogs that we love dearly and who amuse us infinitely.....:-) The weather here for the most part is also pretty good......not to hot or cold.....and enough rain to keep it green.
Lastly I have my bike....my cool retro Triumph Bonneville T100.....which I just love riding.......freedom, speed and the open air....plus a bit of adrenalin...:-)
So there you have it......plenty of good stuff.....no more venting....maybe...:-)
I realised a while back that I had taken to venting (whinging!) in most of my posts......BOOOORRIIIIINNGG!!!! So I thought it was time to point out the good stuff....the things I am grateful for....:-)
First and most important.....my wonderful wife! She makes me smile and keeps me sane.....plus she puts up with my mood swings and general negativity on occasions. She is the best!!!
Secondly my health.....which is pretty good despite the way I eat and my lack of exercise....:-)
Thirdly my siblings....you know who you are!! My brother with his cool wife and three wacky (in a good way) kids, my sister (who's just survived her first birth) with her health crazy husband and her sweet new son Nicholas (what lungs man!!) and the youngest, most recently married brother with his wonderful wife. You guys are a cool bunch and we seemed to have turned out all right.....well mostly...:-)
Then there's the day to day stuff.....I have a well paid job (some may not necessarily agreed) which allows me to see some of the most hilarious, bizarre and unexpected stuff everyday....who else can say that? The place we live is comfortable and very, very picturesque......in fact a place I think I could stay at if things worked out the right way....who knows. The house we have is large and very comfortable. We have two completely mad rescue dogs that we love dearly and who amuse us infinitely.....:-) The weather here for the most part is also pretty good......not to hot or cold.....and enough rain to keep it green.
Lastly I have my bike....my cool retro Triumph Bonneville T100.....which I just love riding.......freedom, speed and the open air....plus a bit of adrenalin...:-)
So there you have it......plenty of good stuff.....no more venting....maybe...:-)
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