Monday, January 24, 2011

There's a Book Report Coming

You may just have to wait for it for a few days. I had told a few readers and friends that I hadn't been feeling very well for the past couple of months. I was pretty sure the problem was related to a drug I was taking to help me quit smoking. Chantix is a ridiculous creation of the drug companies, with all sorts of weird side effects, and only one benefit. It sometimes can help people quit the nicotine habit. I emphasize "sometimes" because I'm not convinced that the manufacturer knows exactly how it works. I'm just here to say that it makes you feel kind of shitty, and not even want to smoke. The good news is that the last cigarette I had was 2 days before Thanksgiving, and the last time I took the Chantix was about a week and a half ago. The bad news is that my symptoms of not feeling well were sort of masked by the effects of Chantix. There was another, more serious, set of symptoms involved that I mistook for the effects of the drug. I had a heart attack last Friday morning. I was incredibly lucky. The paramedics and ambulance arrived quickly. I got to ride "Hot" with sirens blaring in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. The people in the ER were waiting for me. The OR was ready. The cardiologist was "in the building". In a very short period of time, they had done a catherization and placed a stent in an artery supplying blood to me heart. A lot of very competent people saved my life. I was doing so well afterward that they released me on Sunday afternoon and I am back at home. No, I don't feel 100%, yet, but considering the circumstances, I can't do much better. I am taking a few days off of work, then gradually ease back into it a bit. With the time off I plan to finish up a book I have been reading on my Nook that will be the subject of a book report for the blog. I don't want to say what the book is yet, but I am enjoying the heck out of it and just need some to finish it up. I am doing fine and will try and finish the book this week. I do have a little extra time, now. There are even some possibly interesting parallels between the book and my own life that may get explored a bit. So, just hang tight and I'll be back soon with a book report.

8 comments:

  1. Get well now. (Not "soon", now.)

    Just in time for tax season, huh?

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  2. I echo Stacy: Get well, now!!

    Glad it turned out as it did and, good on you, for quitting smoking.

    Look forward to hearing from you soon.
    ~Keith

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  3. Jim:

    I hope you get better soon. I thought the scooter was supposed to relieve stress and good for you for quitting smoking. Perhaps it was a side effect of the drugs.

    I'm glad you're with us. now it's time to smell the roses, work a bit less and enjoy some of the benefits of working hard.

    bob
    bobskoot: wet coast scootin

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  4. Dear Jimbo:

    I am always surprised when a thin guy in relatively good shape has a heart attack. I am delighted that you have walked away from this one, and will get another chance. I didn't realized you smoked. I know almost nobody who does anymore. And when I see someone I know, even remotely, with a cigarette, I am almost mortified. (I smoke cigars but never inhale.)

    I deeply regret that you went through the pain and the horror of having to look death in the eye, though I suspect you had no difficulty spitting in it. If I was betting man, my money would have been on you. The only downside to this is that those great pork fests you used to write about so vividly are probably over...

    I sincerely hope your recovery is faster than you think, and that you get to enjoy your personal time like never before. Read several books. Do you like history? I will send you one. If you care to zap me your address I will send you one of the best books ever written about the American Revolution. I guarantee you will love it, where you might even want to discuss it on the phone. (It is that good.)

    Should you find cause to come out this way, we'll find you a scooter (I know a singing nun with one.)and we can ride over to "Valley Forge," the second worst winter in Washington's life.

    Jack Riepe
    Publisher of Twisted Roads
    jack.riepe@gmail.com

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  5. Jim,
    The HOT ambulance ride sounds exciting, unfortunately the circumstances don't. I'm glad to hear you are already on the road to recovery. Looking forward to the book report.

    GAW

    P.S. Do you best to avoid those cigarettes...

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  6. Man sorry to hear about the heart attack. Take care and feel better so we can go scooter riding with the club. :)Bryan Edwards

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  7. Well fuck, that sucks. I suppose I should add a bromide of my own but you know how I am. Kick ass and take no prisoners is the best I can wish you. I hope the insurance company doesn't dick you around.Oh and call 9-1-1 and tell the dispatchers thank you. That will shock them.

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  8. Okay, so I settle down to read a posts from my favorite bloggers and I see Jimbo has posted something about a book report coming. I open with interest and read not about a book report, but Jimbo almost casually mentions that he has had a heart attack, before going on to talk about the book.

    Shit, if that had happened to me, I think the title of my blog post might not have been about a book review!!

    Jimbo, I am sorry to hear about your news and I am sure you are not as casual about it as I have implied. I hope you a) get better soon, b) finally listen to all those voices in your head that tell you smoking is a dumb thing to do and never ever smoke again, c) don’t have any on-going problems with this, d) keep us informed about how it is going. I stopped smoking about 5 years ago and I was on about 30 a day, so I know it isn’t easy, but you have just had a big wake up call.

    Take care Buddy!

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