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To my COG friends

Steve in sunny Fla

Iron Butt
Industry Vendor
I have thought quite abit about even posting this, but I have learned that folks do better with information than being kept in the dark. I have some information to share.

In late 2015, I developed a sudden onset of high blood pressure. Nothing my Dr did could effectively lower it. He continued trying all kinds of meds and combinations thereof, but nothing worked. By mid 2018, the high BP damaged my heart, I developed AFIB and I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. A cardioversion got me out of AFIB, but the high pressure remained, and nothing helped. In mid 2019, I went back into AFIB, and it has been permanent for over 2 years, despite 2 ablations, several attempts at using some very dangerous drugs, and 7 more attempts at cardioversions. During this time my heart was getting worse and worse, to the point that my DR sent me to the University of Florida for a new (still experimental) open heart surgery. During the workup for the surgery, CT imaging was done, and the results were that I has tumors in my lungs, liver, kidney and adrenal gland. I was very sick at that point - oct 2020 - and figured "this is it". Ultimately more testing was done, and the list was trimmed down to "only" my kidney and adrenal gland having tumors. WHEW! The cardiologist wanted to proceed with the heart surgery, but I had misgivings... I felt that my heart was not the culprit, but instead the symptom. Meanwhile surgery was sceduled for early march 2021 to remove my kidney and adrenal gland, as they are considered cancerous.
As time for the surgery closed, testing on my heart was done to be sure I could tolerate the surgery. My ejection fraction was a solid 15%. If you know about hearts, you know what that means. The surgeon cancelled the surgery as he said he didn't think I would survive it. Well, I've been studying and studying about my situation, and come to find out the cardiologists were being blinded by their specialty, and failed to consider the effects of hormones (adrenal gland) on the heart. I was a PITA to my heart failure DR and told him to stop treating me like his other patients, as I am his only patient with a known adrenal tumor. I found a you tube video by a Harvard endocrinolgy research DR that completely explains my situation, and what I have living through with my heart. I got my DR to put me on a drug the Harvard DR said would resolve the issue - Eplerenone. It blocks aldosterone, which causes the kidneys to retain salt and water, and drives the BP crazy, while wearing out the heart. The medicine has helped so much I've been in cardiac rehab for the last 2.5 months, and have brought my EF up to 20-25%. Not good, but not as bad.
Meanwhile, surgery has been rescheduled, and I go in 3 days from now, Sept 8. My kidney and adrenal gland are going to be removed. There is a team of DR's, as they consider this "high risk" and "complex". They probably hit the lotto with me as a patient in a teaching hospital... my situation is so rare no DR even though to consider it, and it was by luck the tumors were found. The medical people have a word for that - "incidentaloma".
I honestly don't know how this is going to turn out. My heart is the wild card. Nobody knows if I can tolerate 4.5 hours of surgery and anesthesia. There is a special anesthesiologist for that. My surgeon (Dr Su) literally wrote the book on robotic urological surgery. The endocrinologist has made arrangements for specialized drugs to be administered if the adrenal tumor turns out to be a pheochromocytoma and it drops a load of adrenalin on me. The result from that could be stroke / heart attack / death. I'm going to try to avoid that.
Anyways, the bottom line here is what this means to you, my customers. I'm not going to be flashing for ??? I can't give a date. Like I said, I don't know how this is going to turn out. For carburetor customers, I have trained the perfect mechanic to do your carbs, using all my equipment and methods. His name is Kevin, and he does a great job. Don't hold out on carb work waiting for me to come back, just reach out to Kevin, he knows what to do. If you email me, I'll auto response with Kevin's contact information.
For my COG friends... it's been a mostly great and always entertaining ride. I have met some of the best people I know through COG, folks that are and will be lifelong friends. I'm humbled and thankful for that. Hopefully my ride here isn't done, but you never know how a ride is going to end up... that's not a reason to ride a couch. Life is better when you are reminded you're alive... like making that curve by the skin of your teeth. That's what I'm doing now... diving into that curve, and feeling very alive.

Steve
 
I have a lump in the throat Steve and while I do not truly know you, I am none the less quite concerned for my friend. I wish you all the best and pray for a full and fast recovery.

Now when it comes to the "experts" and their medical opinions. Dr Joel Wallach that has been at war with the medical profession over their insistence on symptom treatment in humans, while the veterinarian science in animals focuses primarily on CURES. He makes a great deal of sense, and the medical establishment has tried and tried to discredit him, yet he has prevailed in the David and Goliath confrontations time and time again. The guy is very brave and speaks the truth to power and is willing to stand up to them! I mention this because he did a speech decades ago that has been distributed all over the world called "Dead Doctors Don't Lie" that really got them pissed off! In it, he described his hobby to pass the time while out on the road doing speaking engagements. This hobby involved collecting the obituaries of dead doctors. Sounds a little morbid huh? Well what he learned from this hobby was a shocking truth that doctors do not want to admit. And that is, maybe they are not as well informed in their specialties as they may think! The vast majority of their deaths were being caused the very specialty they practiced! Heart specialists dying from heart attacks, Oncologists dying from cancer, Repository Specialists dying from COPD and so on. There were only a few conclusions that could be drawn from this rather remarkable feedback - 1) their specialties were wrong when it came to their medical practice beliefs, 2) they were in serious denial when it came to their own illnesses, or 3) their arrogance would not let them admit their treatments did not work for their own illness or others for that matter.

I tell you this not to despair, but to offer hope. There is still a great deal we do not know about human physiology when it comes to cause and effect. In your case the initial diagnosis was not entirely accurate and you were right to have your doubts and question it. It sounds like the team you have now are true healers and not just the average practitioners that treat you like just another number on the conveyor belt of patients. GOOD FOR YOU SIR! You're on a good path and are going to improve.

Here is a live and personal example of what I am saying. My knucklehead, and serious alcoholic brother-in-law was admitted to the hospital years ago in very bad shape. He was told then that he needed to stop drinking immediately and he needed a liver transplant in the next 6 months or he would not survive. That was nearly 10 years ago. He quit drinking, smoking, and pill popping - which is good! But then went on the fitness kick from hell along with vitamins and a healthy diet. And just over a year later was told his liver was NORMAL with no signs of damage and it still is. I assure you it was no miracle because he is still a serious a$$hole, but I think one or many of his doctors were just plain wrong and in our current system they often are.

Take care
 
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Aways sorry to hear of trouble. Always prefer such though with good attitude and a problem solving determination. Seemingly appears you got that down.

Good luck to you sir! If you do not mind such, will keep you in our prayers.
 
Thank you for sharing your personal journey through this challenge. I will be thinking about and praying for you. There is so much more to this than we all know. Talk to you soon.
 
Steve, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you travel through this situation. Stay positive, kick at this thing and go for the win. Stan
 
Steve, best of luck and look forward to seeing you back online shortly.

You are in our thoughts.

Wayne, Carol & Blue
 
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BEst of luck Steve. Prayers. Hope all goes well. When you are on the other side and heart going pitty pat again I will be more than happy to send the ECU on the new to me 18 down for the Mountain Runner treatment. Git r dun.
 
I don't know how to say it, but just make this curve. There is a whole community here pulling for you.
We will be here waiting for your next 7th gear or flash.
Praying for ya.
 
Steve, I sort of know you since we talked on the phone for over an hour one time and had a great conversation, and I had the pleasure of meeting you personally at Helen GA. Please make it through this tough turn and full throttle on as you exit with the perfect line.
 
You've got this Steve!
Show them that ill people are not all the same, & can't be cookie cutter treated. But more importantly is that they need to update their knowledge of their speciality & look for a cause, not just treat the symptoms.
Prayers to you & Dr.
Prayers of comfort to your wife & daughter. Jo
 
Life is better when you are reminded you're alive... like making that curve by the skin of your teeth. That's what I'm doing now... diving into that curve, and feeling very alive.

Steve

Steve, wanted to drop a quick line as I read this tonight. I was over in Pasco County this weekend to start the rehab on the house I've been holding onto for 13 years. Time to fix it up and sell. Like you said, the market is HOT. I had actually thought about making a quick run up north to drop in on you while I was in that part of the woods. If I have to make a trip back over to FL it'll be in the next week or two. I'd like to see if maybe I can swing by and check in on you, depending on where on the calendar you are (pre-, post-surgery or recovery & rehab). Will drop you a line by email.

Prayers for some steady hands, keen eyes and positive outcomes on Wednesday. We're all pulling for you! Talk soon, AB
 
Big day tomorrow Buddy.
This fix has been a long time coming, and tomorrow you will finally be able to get this solved.
Yahooo!!

Ride safe/heal fast, Ted

PS: By the way; While your recuperating, can I borrow your motorcycle?
(I really hate to see it set) <sneaky grin>
 
I just talked to Steve's wife.
She said that the surgery went very good. Told me that the Dr's said it couldn't have gone any better. (y)
She said that he's out of intensive care and {I assume} moved to a surgical recovery room now.

I asked her to tell him that we're all cheering for him.

Ride safe, Ted
Awesome. Thanks for checking on him, Ted.
 
Steve
I think about you an awful lot since we spoke last. I'm ecstatic that you found the answers you needed to get through this! I don't dance, but I'm doing the happy dance for you! One day I'm gonna call and see if I can drain your cell phone battery again.
Take care Steve!
 
Well, I made it! I'm home and pretty beat up but on the mend. The surgery was 5+ hours. The Dr was able to save 2/3 of my kidney, which I'm very grateful for. Adrenal gland and both adrenal and kidney tumors gone. The Surgeon was "ecstatic" that my heart held up and with the results of the surgery. Now they have to go for testing to find out what they are, and if I need to expect cancer in more parts of my body. I'll update. That's enough for now, I'm tired.
Thanks to everyone who cared, it means the world to me.
Steve
 
Just awesome news. Very happy for you and the Mrs. Pace yourself, do what you need to do the follow the marching orders and get better every day. Prayers
 
Great news Steve thanks for giving is a heads up!!!

As you can and see fit keep us posted; lots of caring folks here - you’re not alone.
 
Glad to hear you are on the mend Steve. Hopefully your surgeon gave you the 2 minute mod and installed overflow tubes while he had you apart - stronger, faster and protected!!

Yeah, I had a drain line in my abdomen, with a sponge on the end. about 1.5 feet of it. felt like they were pulling my guts out when they removed it.
 
SNIP>like making that curve by the skin of your teeth. That's what I'm doing now... diving into that curve, and feeling very alive.

Hey man. I thought we fixed that when we were roomies at the Rally........just sayin.

Glad to hear the news, our prayers were answered.

Keep us posted, I'll save a seat for you at the Blast......lo-cal of course.

Larry
 
Steve called me today. Sounded ok, but tired.
Good to talk with him, but we cut it short so he could rest.

By the way;
Just heard from another COGger. His name is Thorson (Ted) Reichelt. ie; Redline...
(I call him Kuzin' Ted)
He's going in soon to have his Adrenal Gland removed.
(similar reasons as Steve's Adrenal Gland Surgery)

Ride safe, Ted
 
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I have thought quite abit about even posting this, but I have learned that folks do better with information than being kept in the dark. I have some information to share.

In late 2015, I developed a sudden onset of high blood pressure. Nothing my Dr did could effectively lower it. He continued trying all kinds of meds and combinations thereof, but nothing worked. By mid 2018, the high BP damaged my heart, I developed AFIB and I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. A cardioversion got me out of AFIB, but the high pressure remained, and nothing helped. In mid 2019, I went back into AFIB, and it has been permanent for over 2 years, despite 2 ablations, several attempts at using some very dangerous drugs, and 7 more attempts at cardioversions. During this time my heart was getting worse and worse, to the point that my DR sent me to the University of Florida for a new (still experimental) open heart surgery. During the workup for the surgery, CT imaging was done, and the results were that I has tumors in my lungs, liver, kidney and adrenal gland. I was very sick at that point - oct 2020 - and figured "this is it". Ultimately more testing was done, and the list was trimmed down to "only" my kidney and adrenal gland having tumors. WHEW! The cardiologist wanted to proceed with the heart surgery, but I had misgivings... I felt that my heart was not the culprit, but instead the symptom. Meanwhile surgery was sceduled for early march 2021 to remove my kidney and adrenal gland, as they are considered cancerous.
As time for the surgery closed, testing on my heart was done to be sure I could tolerate the surgery. My ejection fraction was a solid 15%. If you know about hearts, you know what that means. The surgeon cancelled the surgery as he said he didn't think I would survive it. Well, I've been studying and studying about my situation, and come to find out the cardiologists were being blinded by their specialty, and failed to consider the effects of hormones (adrenal gland) on the heart. I was a PITA to my heart failure DR and told him to stop treating me like his other patients, as I am his only patient with a known adrenal tumor. I found a you tube video by a Harvard endocrinolgy research DR that completely explains my situation, and what I have living through with my heart. I got my DR to put me on a drug the Harvard DR said would resolve the issue - Eplerenone. It blocks aldosterone, which causes the kidneys to retain salt and water, and drives the BP crazy, while wearing out the heart. The medicine has helped so much I've been in cardiac rehab for the last 2.5 months, and have brought my EF up to 20-25%. Not good, but not as bad.
Meanwhile, surgery has been rescheduled, and I go in 3 days from now, Sept 8. My kidney and adrenal gland are going to be removed. There is a team of DR's, as they consider this "high risk" and "complex". They probably hit the lotto with me as a patient in a teaching hospital... my situation is so rare no DR even though to consider it, and it was by luck the tumors were found. The medical people have a word for that - "incidentaloma".
I honestly don't know how this is going to turn out. My heart is the wild card. Nobody knows if I can tolerate 4.5 hours of surgery and anesthesia. There is a special anesthesiologist for that. My surgeon (Dr Su) literally wrote the book on robotic urological surgery. The endocrinologist has made arrangements for specialized drugs to be administered if the adrenal tumor turns out to be a pheochromocytoma and it drops a load of adrenalin on me. The result from that could be stroke / heart attack / death. I'm going to try to avoid that.
Anyways, the bottom line here is what this means to you, my customers. I'm not going to be flashing for ??? I can't give a date. Like I said, I don't know how this is going to turn out. For carburetor customers, I have trained the perfect mechanic to do your carbs, using all my equipment and methods. His name is Kevin, and he does a great job. Don't hold out on carb work waiting for me to come back, just reach out to Kevin, he knows what to do. If you email me, I'll auto response with Kevin's contact information.
For my COG friends... it's been a mostly great and always entertaining ride. I have met some of the best people I know through COG, folks that are and will be lifelong friends. I'm humbled and thankful for that. Hopefully my ride here isn't done, but you never know how a ride is going to end up... that's not a reason to ride a couch. Life is better when you are reminded you're alive... like making that curve by the skin of your teeth. That's what I'm doing now... diving into that curve, and feeling very alive.

Steve
Thanks for sharing and really glad you got through that ordeal. they found a tumor on my adranal gland and have to remove it this 29th. Hope and pray you recover quickly. Ted
 
STEVE!! Great to hear the surgery went so well and your back home. Now, don't forget...don't take the drowsy meds and the ex-lax meds on the same night.
 
Shit, I'm just reading about this now. I've been on a MC trip in New Hampshire for the past 2 weeks & had not been online. Steve, I'm only a little more than an hour away, If you need help with ANYTHING just let me know & I'll ride up !
 
I have some crazy good news! I have the pathology report... neither tumor is cancerous! Nobody expected this at all, I think I should play the lottery! The kidney tumor is called an "oncocytoma" and from what I understand it resembles renal cell carcinoma and can't be determined until removed and gone through pathology.
The other good news is that I'm finally urinating without needing diuretics, which is a hallmark of heart failure. This supports my theory that the adrenal overload of aldosterone was the culprit wrecking my heart for all these years. I need more time under my belt, but I'm lighter than I was when I came home from the hospital, and haven't had but 1 mg of my diuretic in 9 days, and that was because I was not sure what to expect. I am dealing with a smashed sciatic nerve - a pre-existing issue - as I layed on the nerve for about 6 hours during the surgery. I'ts been 3X more painful than any of the surgery, but it's subsiding now with lots of ice applications.
This whole deal could have gone in a much worse direction, but this news is so good it's better than any of the scenarios I had considered. I'm truly thankful for a skilled surgeon, it looks like I have a strong shot to get better now. :)
Steve
 
Years ago, an ER doc diagnosed me with lymphoma. Turned out to be mono (long story). The feeling of relief when someone tells you its not cancer is like nothing else.

Always happy to hear good news.
 
This whole deal could have gone in a much worse direction, but this news is so good it's better than any of the scenarios I had considered. I'm truly thankful for a skilled surgeon, it looks like I have a strong shot to get better now. :)
Steve
Steve this is miraculous news, awesome!

This result seemed furthest from anyone’s mind just 10 days ago - think of where you’ll be in a month!

Wayne, Carol & Blue
 
Great news Steve! Sounds like you found some doc's who can diagnose the human body (with your help) as well as you can motor vehicles.
 
I have some crazy good news! I have the pathology report... neither tumor is cancerous! Nobody expected this at all, I think I should play the lottery! The kidney tumor is called an "oncocytoma" and from what I understand it resembles renal cell carcinoma and can't be determined until removed and gone through pathology.
The other good news is that I'm finally urinating without needing diuretics, which is a hallmark of heart failure. This supports my theory that the adrenal overload of aldosterone was the culprit wrecking my heart for all these years. I need more time under my belt, but I'm lighter than I was when I came home from the hospital, and haven't had but 1 mg of my diuretic in 9 days, and that was because I was not sure what to expect. I am dealing with a smashed sciatic nerve - a pre-existing issue - as I layed on the nerve for about 6 hours during the surgery. I'ts been 3X more painful than any of the surgery, but it's subsiding now with lots of ice applications.
This whole deal could have gone in a much worse direction, but this news is so good it's better than any of the scenarios I had considered. I'm truly thankful for a skilled surgeon, it looks like I have a strong shot to get better now. :)
Steve

Excellent news.
Praise God.
Bob
 
I have some crazy good news! I have the pathology report... neither tumor is cancerous! Nobody expected this at all, I think I should play the lottery! The kidney tumor is called an "oncocytoma" and from what I understand it resembles renal cell carcinoma and can't be determined until removed and gone through pathology.
The other good news is that I'm finally urinating without needing diuretics, which is a hallmark of heart failure. This supports my theory that the adrenal overload of aldosterone was the culprit wrecking my heart for all these years. I need more time under my belt, but I'm lighter than I was when I came home from the hospital, and haven't had but 1 mg of my diuretic in 9 days, and that was because I was not sure what to expect. I am dealing with a smashed sciatic nerve - a pre-existing issue - as I layed on the nerve for about 6 hours during the surgery. I'ts been 3X more painful than any of the surgery, but it's subsiding now with lots of ice applications.
This whole deal could have gone in a much worse direction, but this news is so good it's better than any of the scenarios I had considered. I'm truly thankful for a skilled surgeon, it looks like I have a strong shot to get better now. :)
Steve

Partially parlaying another thread with the Warren Zevon video where he said "...enjoy every sandwich..." as this is sooooo ripe for a mashup.

SISF Zevon is telling us to "...enjoy every pee..." because ya never quite know when you won't be able to. LOL

So happy to hear that you're on the mend Steve! Take yer time and heal up the right way.

Peace mano! AB
 
Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the support. I'm still pretty beat, but it's time to get back to work. If You need any of my services, please email, I'm ready!

Steve
 
I have some crazy good news! I have the pathology report... neither tumor is cancerous! Nobody expected this at all, I think I should play the lottery! The kidney tumor is called an "oncocytoma" and from what I understand it resembles renal cell carcinoma and can't be determined until removed and gone through pathology.
The other good news is that I'm finally urinating without needing diuretics, which is a hallmark of heart failure. This supports my theory that the adrenal overload of aldosterone was the culprit wrecking my heart for all these years. I need more time under my belt, but I'm lighter than I was when I came home from the hospital, and haven't had but 1 mg of my diuretic in 9 days, and that was because I was not sure what to expect. I am dealing with a smashed sciatic nerve - a pre-existing issue - as I layed on the nerve for about 6 hours during the surgery. I'ts been 3X more painful than any of the surgery, but it's subsiding now with lots of ice applications.
This whole deal could have gone in a much worse direction, but this news is so good it's better than any of the scenarios I had considered. I'm truly thankful for a skilled surgeon, it looks like I have a strong shot to get better now. :)
Steve
Just saw this... (Non Cancerous)
That's,,, Great news!!!

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the support. I'm still pretty beat, but it's time to get back to work. If You need any of my services, please email, I'm ready!

Steve
Just saw this too; You "already" feel like working...
This is,,, Better news!!!

Ride safe, Ted <Glad your feeling better...>
 
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Steve,
All great news. Sometimes prayers go answered. Now get better soon and I’ll be the first one in line to get my Connie flashed.
getting right in line behind you. Just got a new to me 18 that had 2K miles on it 5 months out of the dealer. Having to ride it unflashed is a wake up call. GOing back and forth between the 2 is sometimes a bit unsettling and unpredictable.
 
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Ok, ok, I miss-spoke "just" a little. :eek:
At least you feel well enough that your hungry, and your going to do a "little" work. (to prevent starvation)

Ride safe, Ted
 
Same lump in my throat knowing this came out well.

You hang in there, better days are ahead!
 
Same lump in my throat knowing this came out well.

You hang in there, better days are ahead!
I'm still lethargic, but better every day.

I was thinking about what the surgeon was up against. I have been on blood thinner (for the AFIB) for over 3 years now. It was suspended 3 days prior to the surgery. I was given heparin shots 2x/day (blood thinner) in the hospital, post surgery. When I went home, I went back on the Eliquis. Now imagine what could have gone wrong... when the Surgeon cut through my kidney, he had to cut all the small blood vessels in the kidney. Had the kidney been fully removed (as I expected) there would have been a lot less cutting of blood vessels - it would have been a safer outcome for the surgery. Regardless, the Surgeon chose to save as much kidney as he could, and no doubt the risk factor went way up for internal bleeding post surgery. Now toss in the blood thinner, and you can see an accident waiting to happen. I've had no issues whatsoever with bleeding. I think this is a testimony to the Surgeon's ability and the effectiveness of robotic surgery. Amazing stuff.

Steve
 
Great news! The "chief surgeon" upstairs is having a cold one and continuing his training of the underlings!

Phil
#5879 2013 C14 Blue SR-71
 
Have always thought you can't keep a good man down!

Appreciate you letting us know the progress Steve. At some point we all need U!

You have helped me learn lots over the years about these Connies....all years.

Take care my friend and Happy Trails
 
I'm still lethargic, but better every day.

I was thinking about what the surgeon was up against. I have been on blood thinner (for the AFIB) for over 3 years now. It was suspended 3 days prior to the surgery. I was given heparin shots 2x/day (blood thinner) in the hospital, post surgery. When I went home, I went back on the Eliquis. Now imagine what could have gone wrong... when the Surgeon cut through my kidney, he had to cut all the small blood vessels in the kidney. Had the kidney been fully removed (as I expected) there would have been a lot less cutting of blood vessels - it would have been a safer outcome for the surgery. Regardless, the Surgeon chose to save as much kidney as he could, and no doubt the risk factor went way up for internal bleeding post surgery. Now toss in the blood thinner, and you can see an accident waiting to happen. I've had no issues whatsoever with bleeding. I think this is a testimony to the Surgeon's ability and the effectiveness of robotic surgery. Amazing stuff.

Steve
Good to see you're up and around and making progress.
I am on Eliquis also and it's added another risk factor on the last five surgery's I've had. Even a concern while on the bike. I carry "bleed-stop" as a backup.
Had the robotic surgery also. Great machine but still in the hands of the Dr.

Recover fast.

Bob Skinner
 
I have thought quite abit about even posting this, but I have learned that folks do better with information than being kept in the dark. I have some information to share.

In late 2015, I developed a sudden onset of high blood pressure. Nothing my Dr did could effectively lower it. He continued trying all kinds of meds and combinations thereof, but nothing worked. By mid 2018, the high BP damaged my heart, I developed AFIB and I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. A cardioversion got me out of AFIB, but the high pressure remained, and nothing helped. In mid 2019, I went back into AFIB, and it has been permanent for over 2 years, despite 2 ablations, several attempts at using some very dangerous drugs, and 7 more attempts at cardioversions. During this time my heart was getting worse and worse, to the point that my DR sent me to the University of Florida for a new (still experimental) open heart surgery. During the workup for the surgery, CT imaging was done, and the results were that I has tumors in my lungs, liver, kidney and adrenal gland. I was very sick at that point - oct 2020 - and figured "this is it". Ultimately more testing was done, and the list was trimmed down to "only" my kidney and adrenal gland having tumors. WHEW! The cardiologist wanted to proceed with the heart surgery, but I had misgivings... I felt that my heart was not the culprit, but instead the symptom. Meanwhile surgery was sceduled for early march 2021 to remove my kidney and adrenal gland, as they are considered cancerous.
As time for the surgery closed, testing on my heart was done to be sure I could tolerate the surgery. My ejection fraction was a solid 15%. If you know about hearts, you know what that means. The surgeon cancelled the surgery as he said he didn't think I would survive it. Well, I've been studying and studying about my situation, and come to find out the cardiologists were being blinded by their specialty, and failed to consider the effects of hormones (adrenal gland) on the heart. I was a PITA to my heart failure DR and told him to stop treating me like his other patients, as I am his only patient with a known adrenal tumor. I found a you tube video by a Harvard endocrinolgy research DR that completely explains my situation, and what I have living through with my heart. I got my DR to put me on a drug the Harvard DR said would resolve the issue - Eplerenone. It blocks aldosterone, which causes the kidneys to retain salt and water, and drives the BP crazy, while wearing out the heart. The medicine has helped so much I've been in cardiac rehab for the last 2.5 months, and have brought my EF up to 20-25%. Not good, but not as bad.
Meanwhile, surgery has been rescheduled, and I go in 3 days from now, Sept 8. My kidney and adrenal gland are going to be removed. There is a team of DR's, as they consider this "high risk" and "complex". They probably hit the lotto with me as a patient in a teaching hospital... my situation is so rare no DR even though to consider it, and it was by luck the tumors were found. The medical people have a word for that - "incidentaloma".
I honestly don't know how this is going to turn out. My heart is the wild card. Nobody knows if I can tolerate 4.5 hours of surgery and anesthesia. There is a special anesthesiologist for that. My surgeon (Dr Su) literally wrote the book on robotic urological surgery. The endocrinologist has made arrangements for specialized drugs to be administered if the adrenal tumor turns out to be a pheochromocytoma and it drops a load of adrenalin on me. The result from that could be stroke / heart attack / death. I'm going to try to avoid that.
Anyways, the bottom line here is what this means to you, my customers. I'm not going to be flashing for ??? I can't give a date. Like I said, I don't know how this is going to turn out. For carburetor customers, I have trained the perfect mechanic to do your carbs, using all my equipment and methods. His name is Kevin, and he does a great job. Don't hold out on carb work waiting for me to come back, just reach out to Kevin, he knows what to do. If you email me, I'll auto response with Kevin's contact information.
For my COG friends... it's been a mostly great and always entertaining ride. I have met some of the best people I know through COG, folks that are and will be lifelong friends. I'm humbled and thankful for that. Hopefully my ride here isn't done, but you never know how a ride is going to end up... that's not a reason to ride a couch. Life is better when you are reminded you're alive... like making that curve by the skin of your teeth. That's what I'm doing now... diving into that curve, and feeling very alive.

Steve
We are all thinking of you, and I will pray for you. Keep focused on the positive, as I know you are.
 
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