Hi Salty-
Last 4 years have been a mess for me. 2020 with Covid was actually no more than an inconvenience and actually not going to stores sort of stopped us from buying stuff we didn't need. Neither of us caught it, or if we did, no symptoms. Got all of our vaxxes. Got diagnosed with prostate cancer, but very mild.
2021 was a bummer. Lost both our senior dogs. Dexter was diagnosed with lymphoma and we spent the year pursuing cancer treatments at the NC State Vet College. He passed on November of that year at 13 1/2 y.o.. Boomer passed suddenly when his collapsed trachea finally gave out. He was a true rescue, Westie/Cairn mix, and we think he was about 15 (had him 12 years). Broke our spirits for a long time.
2022 was the worst. I had been having some problems increasingly with balance since about 2018. Started getting some pain in legs in 2021 and could no longer bend over to pick up Dexter for treatment (20 lb Cairn terrier). In Feb I woke up in severe pain and screaming out of control. Gail recorded it to play for the doctors- screaming for her to take out the 9 mm and kill me to to put me out of my pain (if she ever does shoot me it will be for different reasons). Thru the year 53 healthcare visits, numerous scans and tests, just over $30K in Medicare billings (glad I have a good plan). By the time the year was done, diagnosed with extensive osteoarthritis in the hips, acetabular schlerosis, scoliosis (which I already knew), degenerative disk disease, and moderate to severe spinal stenosis from (T12 to S1), the source of the severe pain. Now a spinal epidural every three months, often use a cane and a gimp tag for the car. In April suffered a lateral bicep rupture which also tore my left rotator cuff. Mentally debilitating as I had played sports up into my 50s and ran three marathons, including NYC and Montreal.
2023 was focused mostly on pain management, but balance getting worse. Second half of year caught 3 colds in less than 5 months. End of year re-injured the rotator cuff and the discovered I had a vitamin B12 deficiency, so started weekly shots (now monthly). B12 apparently regulates a lot of stuff from immune system to balance and motor skills to neurological functions among other things. More tests, more MRIs and $34K in Medicare billings.
Finally starting to see some improvement in what little can be improved. Better balance. Immune system seems to be recovering. In and out of neurology dept, but so far testing negative for early signs of Parkinsons, but I do shake (rattle and roll), Lewy Barr dementia and Alzheimers (doesn't run in the family). Guess I am just a forgetful crazy old bastard. Pain basically under control. New pills for edema in the legs. Left rotator cuff beyond conventional repair. Orthopedics suggested a reverse shoulder replacement. Going to try P.T. first and tomorrow going for a non-invasive stem cell procedure.
Did not do a lot of trading the past two years and garden was a disaster. Getting back to both. And some options trading. Gotta pay off the 2024 Santa Cruz we got in the fall. LOL. Could no longer drive the B3000 because with my legs and occasional spasms could no longer use the clutch safely and Gail was getting tired of a stick at her age.
After our two senior dogs passed we had to get our Scottie a buddy. Ended up with a long-haired Jack Russell/Chee-hooa-hooa mix. Ball of energy.
Reviving the bank board. The one at iHub? I'm game. Have not really focused in on any particular industries. Did have a few European banks. Took a major hit when CS was suddenly shut down by the Swiss government. Did recoup some $$ when my LOGQ went from $0.12 to $2.00. Sitting on a couple of sub-penny ones.
That's the short update.
Have been keeping in touch with GenLou
Last 4 years have been a mess for me. 2020 with Covid was actually no more than an inconvenience and actually not going to stores sort of stopped us from buying stuff we didn't need. Neither of us caught it, or if we did, no symptoms. Got all of our vaxxes. Got diagnosed with prostate cancer, but very mild.
2021 was a bummer. Lost both our senior dogs. Dexter was diagnosed with lymphoma and we spent the year pursuing cancer treatments at the NC State Vet College. He passed on November of that year at 13 1/2 y.o.. Boomer passed suddenly when his collapsed trachea finally gave out. He was a true rescue, Westie/Cairn mix, and we think he was about 15 (had him 12 years). Broke our spirits for a long time.
2022 was the worst. I had been having some problems increasingly with balance since about 2018. Started getting some pain in legs in 2021 and could no longer bend over to pick up Dexter for treatment (20 lb Cairn terrier). In Feb I woke up in severe pain and screaming out of control. Gail recorded it to play for the doctors- screaming for her to take out the 9 mm and kill me to to put me out of my pain (if she ever does shoot me it will be for different reasons). Thru the year 53 healthcare visits, numerous scans and tests, just over $30K in Medicare billings (glad I have a good plan). By the time the year was done, diagnosed with extensive osteoarthritis in the hips, acetabular schlerosis, scoliosis (which I already knew), degenerative disk disease, and moderate to severe spinal stenosis from (T12 to S1), the source of the severe pain. Now a spinal epidural every three months, often use a cane and a gimp tag for the car. In April suffered a lateral bicep rupture which also tore my left rotator cuff. Mentally debilitating as I had played sports up into my 50s and ran three marathons, including NYC and Montreal.
2023 was focused mostly on pain management, but balance getting worse. Second half of year caught 3 colds in less than 5 months. End of year re-injured the rotator cuff and the discovered I had a vitamin B12 deficiency, so started weekly shots (now monthly). B12 apparently regulates a lot of stuff from immune system to balance and motor skills to neurological functions among other things. More tests, more MRIs and $34K in Medicare billings.
Finally starting to see some improvement in what little can be improved. Better balance. Immune system seems to be recovering. In and out of neurology dept, but so far testing negative for early signs of Parkinsons, but I do shake (rattle and roll), Lewy Barr dementia and Alzheimers (doesn't run in the family). Guess I am just a forgetful crazy old bastard. Pain basically under control. New pills for edema in the legs. Left rotator cuff beyond conventional repair. Orthopedics suggested a reverse shoulder replacement. Going to try P.T. first and tomorrow going for a non-invasive stem cell procedure.
Did not do a lot of trading the past two years and garden was a disaster. Getting back to both. And some options trading. Gotta pay off the 2024 Santa Cruz we got in the fall. LOL. Could no longer drive the B3000 because with my legs and occasional spasms could no longer use the clutch safely and Gail was getting tired of a stick at her age.
After our two senior dogs passed we had to get our Scottie a buddy. Ended up with a long-haired Jack Russell/Chee-hooa-hooa mix. Ball of energy.
Reviving the bank board. The one at iHub? I'm game. Have not really focused in on any particular industries. Did have a few European banks. Took a major hit when CS was suddenly shut down by the Swiss government. Did recoup some $$ when my LOGQ went from $0.12 to $2.00. Sitting on a couple of sub-penny ones.
That's the short update.
Have been keeping in touch with GenLou
We are the people our parents warned us about!
