When in doubt go see a doctor

[LouEvo XL]

Hey guys, Bone heads post hit a soft spot for me. Last year I developed an infection of my lungs called Pleuricy, at the same time i also had on set of endocarditis an infection of the heart valves and or the hearts inner lining. the infection was caused by one of the bacteria normally found in the mouth.
I had felt bad for a couple weeks before a ride weekend, but i was stubborn and did not seek medical treatment. I did not tell anyone that i was feeling bad, one of the folks i was riding with works in the medical community and would have dragged me to get help. after the week end i ended up in the ER because i was having the symptoms of a heart attack and had a short stay in the hospital, while i was there the docs said i should have come in before i went on the ride, they said i was lucky i did seek treatment when i did if i had had waited any longer i could have had serious complications that would have caused serious problems like holes in my heart valves resulting in surgery that would have ended my riding days for a long time to come. Had i let it go just a few more days i could have ended my life all together. I am still a young man, and about as tough as they come, but this really threw me for a loop. I never thought for a moment that such a decision to be hard headed could cost me the ultimate price. the treatment that i got was top notch, the main thing was to get treated with some very strong antibiotics, codine based pain killers, ibuprofen to relieve swelling & inflammation, and mucinex to break up and get rid of the mucus that was clogging me up. it took weeks of treatment and follow up appointments to get back to normal. All of this was brought on for me because i had not been taking care of myself, and the high degree of stress in my life at the time had lowered my immune systems ability to fight off normal infections.

So please take care of your selves, eat a good diet and exercise on a regular basis, and most of all go see your primary care physician on a regular schedule, I can say that now my life is much better in more ways than i can count, and i have been a good guy and do my best to follow my docs orders because i want to ride to my very last day.

H

[kgdb]

Wow. I am real glad things worked out for you. The golden rule is take care of yourself as no one else will. Hope your feeling better.

[Big D]

Gettin' rep for that you ol' seadog...

[jerseymutt]

"Bacteria from the mouth gets to your heart" - a buddy had a heart attack caused by the same thing (while doing coke and making love to a pretty young thing). They said the bacteria in the plaque around his teeth works into the blood stream and attacks the heart. You can bet he takes better care of his teeth now (and has given up the coke and the girl).

Glad your troubles hasn't left any long lasting problems.

Mutt

[LouEvo XL]

Thanks guys, it was a life lesson for me that is for sure, i was brushing my teeth, just not 2 times a day like i do now. in reality you know when ya don't feel good and when ya don't don't be stubborn or hard headed.

[Bonehead9]

I use to be that way, no way I would go see a doctor unless I broke something or thought I was gonna die. Always a last resort thing. My wonderful wife convinced me that I needed to be proactive, not reactive. After having my 1st colonoscopy and finding a polyp, which my wife very "sternly" convinced me I needed to do, I pretty much decided that maybe it's not a bad thing to see a doc when problems start. Definitely go see a doc on a regular basis, or at least see him when things START, not as a last resort.

[jerseymutt]

I used to hate to see a doctor but now that I'm approaching middle age (don't laugh, I'm planning on living a long time) I see so many doctors I have to have a calender to keep it all straight. I have a doctor for almost every part of me - and I'm not proud of that. It's pay back for the excessive life style of my youth I'm sure.

Mutt